EP0043200A1 - Electrical connector assembly with releasably retained terminals - Google Patents
Electrical connector assembly with releasably retained terminals Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0043200A1 EP0043200A1 EP81302635A EP81302635A EP0043200A1 EP 0043200 A1 EP0043200 A1 EP 0043200A1 EP 81302635 A EP81302635 A EP 81302635A EP 81302635 A EP81302635 A EP 81302635A EP 0043200 A1 EP0043200 A1 EP 0043200A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- terminal
- portions
- passageway
- connector assembly
- flanges
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
- H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
- H01R13/428—Securing in a demountable manner by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
- H01R24/76—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R2107/00—Four or more poles
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
- H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
- H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
Definitions
- the invention relates to an electrical connector assembly in which an electrical terminal is releasably retained in an insulating housing and to an electrical terminal for such assembly.
- a prior electrical connector assembly disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-22595 comprises an insulating housing formed with a terminal-receiving passageway extending between a rear face and a mating face, a wall of the passageway being formed with an axially extending groove at the rear face to define a terminal-admitting mouth of keyhole section, forwardly facing terminal retaining shoulders being formed in the passageway on each side of Lhe groove; a terminal formed with a retaining portion between a mating end and a conductor connecting portion, the retaining portion comprising a pair of resilient flanges which extend adjacent each other outwardly of the terminal, the terminal being received mating end first in the passageway with the flanges having been resiliently flexed together in the groove and engaging the shoulders in a snap action releasably to retain the terminal in the passageway.
- a disadvantage of the prior assembly is that it may not completely satisfy both requirements for a stable mounting and limited float of the terminal.
- insertion of a releasing tool along the passageway from the mating face of the assembly would normally be necessary to release the terminal requiring prior unmating of mated connector assemblies and relatively difficult and time consuming manipulation.
- a transverse bore intersects the passageway adjacent the mouth to define the terminal retaining shoulders in a cavity receiving the flanges which have first substantially parallel portions and second portions which extend rearwardly from the first portions in a plane parallel to the terminal axis and in mutually divergent relation.
- the transverse bore provides ready access for a terminal releasing tool to the retaining portion without a need for access to the mating face of the connector assembly.
- an electrical terminal for the connector assembly described above comprises a retaining portion between a mating end and a conductor connecting portion, the retaining portion comprising a pair of resilient flanges which extend adjacent each other outwardly of the terminal and, is characterised in that, the flanges have substantially parallel first portions and second portions which extend rearwardly from the first portions in a plane parallel to the terminal axis and in mutually divergent relation.
- the connector assembly includes a housing lO moulded in one piece of plastics material with a front mating face 12 enclosed by a shroud portion 14.
- a series of terminal-receiving passageways 16 extend from the mating face 12 to the rear of the housing and are arranged in two rows on respective opposite -sides of a rearwardly extending wall 15.
- Rearwardly extending portions 18 of the passageways are of open channel section for mass termination and, if desired, may be closed by a cover, not shown. In an .alternative embodiment, where mass termination is not required, the portions 18 of the passageways may be closed by an integral top wall.
- each passageway 16 at a rear face 22 is formed with an axially extending groove 20 to define a terminal admitting mouth 21 of keyhole section.
- a bore 24 extends from a surface of the housing adjacent the face 22 to intersect the passageway 16 to define a retention cavity with terminal retaining shoulders 25 on each side of the groove 20 at a rear end and a tapering portion 27 towards a front end.
- a terminal 26 received in each passageway comprises a mating end which can be a pin 28 as-shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 or a socket 30 as shown in Figure 6.
- Each terminal includes a rear conductor connecting portion 32 including a pair of spaced parallel, side walls 34 and 36 each having inwardly turned ends 38, 40 and 42, 44, respectively, defining between them a pair of axially spaced slots adapted to penetrate the insulation and to effect electrical connection to the conductive core of an insulated wire 46.
- Each terminal also includes a pair of crimping ears 48 and 50 for strain relief.
- the operation and construction of the conductor connecting portion 32 is described in U.S. 4,243,288 (9269).
- the terminal is formed, preferably integrally, with a retaining portion comprising a pair of adjacent outwardly extending flanges 52 and 54 having substantially parallel first portions 53 and 55, respectively, and second portions 56 and 58, respectively, which extend rearwardly from the first portions in a plane parallel to the terminal axis and in mutually divergent relation.
- the terminals are assembled with the housing by insertion, mating end first, through the mouths of the passageways 16 where the flange portions 56, 58 are resiliently flexed together by the walls of the grooves 20 and subsequently engage the shoulders 25 of the retention cavity in a snap action as shown in Figure 4.
- the terminals can be released from the cavities by inserting a bifurcated tool 60 with the bore 24 to compress the second portions 56 and L8 to the width of groove 20 to permit passage therethrough.
- the interaction of the retaining portion and the retention cavity walls provides good terminal orientation and stable mounting whilst permitting limited float of the terminal to permit mating of misaligned terminals without overstress - which is particularly important in matable connector assemblies having a large number of terminals.
- access is possible to the conductor connecting portions without affecting the accessibility or release of the retaining portion.
- the retaining portion also permits close spacing of the terminals.
- the connector assembly is reasonably economical to manufacture.
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to an electrical connector assembly in which an electrical terminal is releasably retained in an insulating housing and to an electrical terminal for such assembly.
- There is frequently a requirement for electrical connector assemblies in which electrical terminals are releasably retained in insulating housings and it is often important that such assemblies not only provide a stable mounting for such terminals but also permit limited float of the terminal to permit mating of misaligned terminals without overstress. In addition, release of the terminals from the housings should be effected conveniently.
- A prior electrical connector assembly disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-22595 comprises an insulating housing formed with a terminal-receiving passageway extending between a rear face and a mating face, a wall of the passageway being formed with an axially extending groove at the rear face to define a terminal-admitting mouth of keyhole section, forwardly facing terminal retaining shoulders being formed in the passageway on each side of Lhe groove; a terminal formed with a retaining portion between a mating end and a conductor connecting portion, the retaining portion comprising a pair of resilient flanges which extend adjacent each other outwardly of the terminal, the terminal being received mating end first in the passageway with the flanges having been resiliently flexed together in the groove and engaging the shoulders in a snap action releasably to retain the terminal in the passageway.
- A disadvantage of the prior assembly is that it may not completely satisfy both requirements for a stable mounting and limited float of the terminal. In addition, insertion of a releasing tool along the passageway from the mating face of the assembly would normally be necessary to release the terminal requiring prior unmating of mated connector assemblies and relatively difficult and time consuming manipulation.
- According to the invention, a transverse bore intersects the passageway adjacent the mouth to define the terminal retaining shoulders in a cavity receiving the flanges which have first substantially parallel portions and second portions which extend rearwardly from the first portions in a plane parallel to the terminal axis and in mutually divergent relation.
- Interengagement of the flanges and the cavity wall provides stable mounting whilst permitting limited float of the mating end. In addition, the transverse bore provides ready access for a terminal releasing tool to the retaining portion without a need for access to the mating face of the connector assembly.
- According to another aspect of the invention, an electrical terminal for the connector assembly described above comprises a retaining portion between a mating end and a conductor connecting portion, the retaining portion comprising a pair of resilient flanges which extend adjacent each other outwardly of the terminal and, is characterised in that, the flanges have substantially parallel first portions and second portions which extend rearwardly from the first portions in a plane parallel to the terminal axis and in mutually divergent relation.
- A specific example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
- Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in cross-section of an electrical connector assembly according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is a plan view of a rear end of a connector housing of the assembly with an electrical terminal according to the invention partly inserted therein;
- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;
- Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2 showing the terminal fully inserted into the housing;
- Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 showing a portion of a terminal releasing tool operatively aligned to release the terminal; and,
- Figure 6 is a perspective view-of an alternative socket terminal according to the invention.
- The connector assembly includes a housing lO moulded in one piece of plastics material with a front mating face 12 enclosed by a
shroud portion 14. A series of terminal-receivingpassageways 16 extend from the mating face 12 to the rear of the housing and are arranged in two rows on respective opposite -sides of a rearwardly extendingwall 15. Rearwardly extendingportions 18 of the passageways are of open channel section for mass termination and, if desired, may be closed by a cover, not shown. In an .alternative embodiment, where mass termination is not required, theportions 18 of the passageways may be closed by an integral top wall. - An upper wall of each
passageway 16 at arear face 22 is formed with an axially extendinggroove 20 to define a terminal admitting mouth 21 of keyhole section. Abore 24 extends from a surface of the housing adjacent theface 22 to intersect thepassageway 16 to define a retention cavity with terminal retainingshoulders 25 on each side of thegroove 20 at a rear end and a taperingportion 27 towards a front end. - A
terminal 26 received in each passageway comprises a mating end which can be apin 28 as-shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 or asocket 30 as shown in Figure 6. Each terminal includes a rearconductor connecting portion 32 including a pair of spaced parallel,side walls ends wire 46. Each terminal also includes a pair of crimpingears conductor connecting portion 32 is described in U.S. 4,243,288 (9269). - As shown particularly in Figure 6, the terminal is formed, preferably integrally, with a retaining portion comprising a pair of adjacent outwardly extending
flanges first portions 53 and 55, respectively, andsecond portions - The terminals are assembled with the housing by insertion, mating end first, through the mouths of the
passageways 16 where theflange portions grooves 20 and subsequently engage theshoulders 25 of the retention cavity in a snap action as shown in Figure 4. - The terminals can be released from the cavities by inserting a bifurcated
tool 60 with thebore 24 to compress thesecond portions 56 and L8 to the width ofgroove 20 to permit passage therethrough. - It should be noted that the interaction of the retaining portion and the retention cavity walls provides good terminal orientation and stable mounting whilst permitting limited float of the terminal to permit mating of misaligned terminals without overstress - which is particularly important in matable connector assemblies having a large number of terminals. In addition, access is possible to the conductor connecting portions without affecting the accessibility or release of the retaining portion. The retaining portion also permits close spacing of the terminals. The connector assembly is reasonably economical to manufacture.
Claims (3)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16391580A | 1980-06-27 | 1980-06-27 | |
US163915 | 1993-12-07 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0043200A1 true EP0043200A1 (en) | 1982-01-06 |
EP0043200B1 EP0043200B1 (en) | 1984-06-06 |
Family
ID=22592155
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19810302635 Expired EP0043200B1 (en) | 1980-06-27 | 1981-06-15 | Electrical connector assembly with releasably retained terminals |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0043200B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS5743372A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1147415A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3163967D1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES259178Y (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4456317A (en) * | 1983-03-10 | 1984-06-26 | Amp Incorporated | Commoning strip |
EP0572317A1 (en) * | 1992-05-26 | 1993-12-01 | Framatome Connectors International | Multi-contact binding terminal |
GB2279507A (en) * | 1993-06-16 | 1995-01-04 | Jack Shen | Electrical connector |
WO1998019366A1 (en) * | 1996-10-29 | 1998-05-07 | The Whitaker Corporation | Contact with latch for contact retention and housing therefor |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS59164172U (en) * | 1983-04-18 | 1984-11-02 | 日本航空電子工業株式会社 | connector |
JPS613680U (en) * | 1984-06-13 | 1986-01-10 | 日本航空電子工業株式会社 | connector |
JPH0226136Y2 (en) * | 1984-12-05 | 1990-07-17 | ||
US4620766A (en) * | 1985-04-01 | 1986-11-04 | Molex Incorporated | Terminal with improved retention means |
JPS62175571U (en) * | 1986-04-24 | 1987-11-07 |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU6300869A (en) * | 1969-10-29 | 1971-05-06 | Amp Incorporated | Improvements in and relating to electrical connector housings |
US3601746A (en) * | 1968-06-15 | 1971-08-24 | Amp Inc | Connector housing assemblies |
JPS5222595U (en) * | 1975-08-07 | 1977-02-17 | ||
US4243288A (en) * | 1979-06-28 | 1981-01-06 | Amp Incorporated | Connector assembly for mass termination |
-
1981
- 1981-06-15 DE DE8181302635T patent/DE3163967D1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-06-15 EP EP19810302635 patent/EP0043200B1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-06-22 CA CA000380285A patent/CA1147415A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-06-26 JP JP9850981A patent/JPS5743372A/en active Granted
- 1981-06-26 ES ES1981259178U patent/ES259178Y/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3601746A (en) * | 1968-06-15 | 1971-08-24 | Amp Inc | Connector housing assemblies |
AU6300869A (en) * | 1969-10-29 | 1971-05-06 | Amp Incorporated | Improvements in and relating to electrical connector housings |
JPS5222595U (en) * | 1975-08-07 | 1977-02-17 | ||
US4243288A (en) * | 1979-06-28 | 1981-01-06 | Amp Incorporated | Connector assembly for mass termination |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4456317A (en) * | 1983-03-10 | 1984-06-26 | Amp Incorporated | Commoning strip |
EP0572317A1 (en) * | 1992-05-26 | 1993-12-01 | Framatome Connectors International | Multi-contact binding terminal |
FR2691845A1 (en) * | 1992-05-26 | 1993-12-03 | Cit Alcatel | Multi-contact connection terminal. |
GB2279507A (en) * | 1993-06-16 | 1995-01-04 | Jack Shen | Electrical connector |
WO1998019366A1 (en) * | 1996-10-29 | 1998-05-07 | The Whitaker Corporation | Contact with latch for contact retention and housing therefor |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA1147415A (en) | 1983-05-31 |
JPS5743372A (en) | 1982-03-11 |
ES259178U (en) | 1982-07-16 |
EP0043200B1 (en) | 1984-06-06 |
JPS6367753B2 (en) | 1988-12-27 |
DE3163967D1 (en) | 1984-07-12 |
ES259178Y (en) | 1983-02-01 |
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