EP0109297B1 - Eléments de contacts électriques et d'assemblages de connecteurs électriques - Google Patents

Eléments de contacts électriques et d'assemblages de connecteurs électriques Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0109297B1
EP0109297B1 EP83306927A EP83306927A EP0109297B1 EP 0109297 B1 EP0109297 B1 EP 0109297B1 EP 83306927 A EP83306927 A EP 83306927A EP 83306927 A EP83306927 A EP 83306927A EP 0109297 B1 EP0109297 B1 EP 0109297B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
contact member
longitudinal axis
plate portions
conductor
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.)
Expired
Application number
EP83306927A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0109297A1 (fr
Inventor
Helen Dechelette
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Publication of EP0109297A1 publication Critical patent/EP0109297A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0109297B1 publication Critical patent/EP0109297B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • H01R4/2466—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 the contact members having a channel-shaped part, the opposite sidewalls of which comprise insulation-cutting means
    • 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
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/111—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section
    • 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
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/502—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces
    • H01R13/506—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces assembled by snap action of the parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
    • H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
    • 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
    • H01R4/02—Soldered or welded connections

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to electrical contact members and electrical connector assemblies for terminating electrical conductors and, more specifically, to an electrical contact member and a connector assembly having the capability of being highly miniaturized as a result of its contact configuration and contact mounting structure.
  • Connector assemblies for terminating insulated electrical conductors have become increasingly relied upon in the manufacture of complex electronic and electro-mechanical equipment.
  • miniature connectors are often a preferred means for interconnecting printed circuit board assemblies with discrete wiring leading from other components.
  • the printed circuit boards are often adapted with generally elongated pin terminals which have been electrically connected to conductive circuit paths defined on the boards.
  • the pin terminals may either be free standing or part of a preassembled unit, customarily called a wafer.
  • Connectors of a type suitable for terminating discrete insulated conductors to elongated pin terminals typically comprise a dielectric housing fitted with a plurality of metallic contact members. Each contact member has a portion such as a receptacle for selectively receiving or mating with one of the pins.
  • Insulation displacement comprehends forcing a conductor into a slot formed in a contact such that the conductor insulation is severed and displaced from the region of the electrical interface between the edges of the slot and the conductor core.
  • This connector employs a unitary electrical contact member for terminating an insulated conductor, the contact member comprising a body member, a pair of plate portions, each of said plate portions being formed with a slot for penetrating and displacing the insulation of a conductor disposed within the slot thereby to terminate the conductor to the contact member, and a formation or formations extending from an edge of the body member and being shaped to provide at least part of a female terminal portion for biased contact with a generally elongated male terminal member having its longitudinal axis orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of an insulated conductor terminated to the contact member.
  • the present invention is characterized in that the body member is of plate-like form having said formation or formations extending integrally from one edge thereof and in that the plate portions extend integrally, respectively, from a further pair of opposite edges of the body member, which edges are disposed one to each side of, and adjacent, said one edge thereof.
  • said female terminal portion includes a first finger extending from an edge of the body member and a second finger depending from one of the plate portions, the first and second fingers being disposed in opposed, spaced apart relationship and co-operating to provide said biased contact with a generally elongated terminal member having its longitudinal axis orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of an insulated conductor terminated to the contact member.
  • said female terminal portion comprises a pair of said first fingers cantilevered generally outwardly from one another and a pair of said second fingers depending one from each of the plate portions and cantilevered generally toward one another the pairs of first and second contact fingers co-operating to provide a receptacle for establishing said biased contact with a generally elongated pin terminal having its longitudinal axis orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of an insulated conductor terminated to the contact member.
  • the present invention includes a connector assembly comprising a dielectric housing fitted with a plurality of electrical contact members in accordance with the present invention received in respective recesses of the housing.
  • Fig. 1 there is shown a circuitry arrangement of the type suitable for use in electro-mechanical or electronic applications.
  • the arrangement generally comprises a printed circuit board 12 on which a plurality of semi-conductor or other electronic devices (not shown) are mounted.
  • the circuitry arrangement further includes a wafer assembly, generally designated 14, and a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention generally designated 16, for terminating a plurality of insulated electrical conductors 18.
  • the wafer assembly 14 includes a relatively rigid base member 20 through which a plurality of elongated conductive pin terminals 22 have been inserted.
  • the printed circuit board 12 is adapted with apertures 24 for receiving the pin terminals 22 such that the pin terminals 22 may be electrically connected by soldering to a plurality of corresponding circuit paths 26 defined on the printed circuit board 12.
  • the wafer assembly 14 is also adapted with latching arms 28 for latching with a cover member 21 (see Fig. 5) disposed at the other side of the connector assembly 16 for the purpose of holding the connector assembly 16 in fixed disposition with respect to the printed circuit board 12.
  • the connector assembly 16 comprises a dielectric housing 30 fitted with a plurality of metallic contact members 32 received in respective recesses 34 of the housing 30 opening at apertures 35 communicating with the recesses along an opposite pair of top edges 33 of the housing permitting connection of insulated conductors 18 to the contact members 32.
  • a plurality of apertures 36 communicate with the recesses 34 along a bottom edge 38 of the housing, permitting connection of the pin terminals 22to the contact members 32.
  • the contact member 32 is illustrated as it would appear in the form of a flat stamped blank, designated generally by the reference numeral 40.
  • the blank 40 includes a continuous carrier 42 having indexing apertures 44 which may be used to advance the blank 40 in the stamping and forming process.
  • the contact 32 which extends from the carrier 42 by a break-away tang 46, has a central body portion 48 with a pair of substantially identical plate portions 50 extending from each side thereof. Each plate portion 50 has a slot 52 with a chamfered opening 54 for receiving an insulated conductor 18 and establishing electrical contact with the conductor 18 by severing and displacing the conductor's insulative coating.
  • Each plate portion 50 is further adapted with a contact finger 56 cantilevered downwardly from a bottom edge thereof.
  • the body portion 48 of the contact member 32 also has a pair of contact fingers 58 cantilevered outwardly in opposite directions so as to form a T-shape configuration at its bottom edge.
  • the contact member 32 is illustrated in its fully formed state, wherein the plate portions 50 have been bent at substantially 90 degrees to the body portion 48 and thus are positioned in parallel spaced apart relationship one to another.
  • the contact fingers 56 are also formed inwardly of the plate portions 50 with a slight radius 60 in each of their ends.
  • the contact fingers 58 are bent at substantially 90 degrees to the body portion 48 to lie beneath the contact fingers 56 and each finger 58 is formed with a crown 62.
  • a locking lance 64 is stuck outwardly of the body portion 48.
  • An inwardly directed tang 66 is provided for strain relief of the insulated conductor 18 once the conductor 18 has been inserted into the slots 52.
  • a stop 68 not shown in Fig. 2 is struck from the body member 48 and is bent inwardly to limit excessive movement of the contact fingers upon insertion of a pin terminal 22 into the contact member 32.
  • Fig. 5 the contact member 22 is seen inserted in a recess 34 of the housing 30.
  • An insulated conductor 18 having its longitudinal axis disposed substantially normally of the plate portions 50 is terminated to the contact member 32 by means of the insulation displacement slots 52.
  • the configuration of the contact fingers 56 and 58 defines, essentially, a receptacle,designated generally by the reference numeral 70, into which the pin terminal 22 is slidingly receivable in parallel relation to the conductor 18. Multiple points of contact are established with the pin terminal 22 by the radiused portions 60 and crowns 62 of the contact fingers 56 and 58, respectively..
  • the instant contact 32 is manufacturable with very little waste of material because of the efficient orientation of the pairs of contact fingers 56 and 58 in the blank 40.
  • the contact 32 may be highly miniaturized without the requirement of intricate and expensive tooling or fixtures.
  • a connector assembly according to the invention can be readily formed to have a contact pitch or center spacing as small as two millimeters. It can be further appreciated from the cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 that close spacing of the conductor 18 and pin terminal 22 centerlines is likewise possible, facilitating a highly compact overall assembly.
  • the receptacle or female terminal portion 70 may alternatively be formed entirely from a lower extension of the body portion 48 by means of a progressive bending operation so as to have a generally triangular configuration in transverse section with outwardly flared ends to receive and guide the pin terminal 22.
  • An elastic lance is sheared from the lower extension of the body portion and folded into the interior of the female portion to enhance flexibility and ensure a good biased contact.
  • the female terminal portion as just described can be located very close to the insulation displacement part of the contact for optimum miniaturization, and may be supported fully within the respective cavity of its connector housing by means of the insulation displacement part ideally without any part of the female terminal portion in physical contact with any part of the connector housing.

Landscapes

  • Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Claims (8)

1. Elément de contact électrique unitaire (32) destiné à terminer un conducteur isolé, l'élément de contact comprenant un corps (48), une paire de portions en forme de plaque (50), chacune desdites portions en forme de plaque étant percée d'une fente (52) destinée à pénétrer dans et à déplacer l'isolation d'un conducteur (18) disposé dans la fente pour assurer la connexion terminale du conducteur avec l'élément de contact, et un organe ou des organes (58) s'étendant depuis un bord du corps (48) et étant conformé pour réaliser au moins une partie d'une portion de borne femelle (70) en vue de son contact sollicité avec un élément de borne mâle de forme sensiblement allongée (22) dont l'axe longitudinal est orienté sensiblement parallèlement à l'axe longitudinal d'un conducteur isolé (18) relié à l'élément de contact (32), caractérisé en ce que le corps (48) est en forme de plaque et ledit organe ou lesdits organes (58) s'étendent de manière intégrante depuis un bord de celui-ci et en ce que les portions en forme de plaque (50) s'étendent de manière intégrante respectivement depuis une autre paire de bords opposés du corps, bords qui sont disposés l'un de chaque côté et au voisinage dudit bord.
2. Elément de contact électrique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la portion de borne femelle (70) comprend un premier doigt (58) s'étendant depuis un bord du corps (48) et un second doigt (56) suspendu à une des portions en forme de plaque (50), les premiers et seconds doigts (58, 56) étant disposés l'un en face de l'autre avec espacement et coopérant pour réaliser ledit contact sollicité avec un élément de borne sensiblement allongé (22) dont l'axe longitudinal est orienté sensiblement parallèlement à l'axe longitudinal d'un conducteur isolé (18) relié à l'élément de contact (32).
3. Elément de contact electrique selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le second doigt (56) est disposé en porte-à-faux suivant une directionsensiblement vers l'intérieur de l'espace entre les deux portions en forme de plaque (50).
4. Elément de contact électrique selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel le premier doigt (58) comporte une couronne (62) destinée à établir un point de contact avec un élément de borne sensiblement allongé (22).
5. Elément de contact électrique selon la revendication 2, 3 ou 4, dans lequel la portion de borne femelle (70) comprend une paire de premiers doigts (58) disposés en porte-à-faux sensiblement vers l'extérieur l'un par rapport à l'autre et une paire de seconds doigts (56) suspendus chacun à une portion en forme de plaque (50) et étant disposés en porte-à-faux sensiblement en direc- . tion l'un de l'autre, les paires de premiers et seconds doigts de contact (58, 56) coopérant pour réaliser un réceptacle (70) destiné à établir un contact sollicité avec une borne en forme de broche sensiblement allongée (22) dont l'axe longitudinal est orienté sensiblement parallèlement à l'axe longitudinal d'un conducteur isolé (18) relié avec l'élément de contact (32).
6. Assemblage diélectrique (30) portant une pluralité d'éléments de contact électrique (32) selon la revendication 1, reçus dans des évidements respectifs (34) du boîtier.
7. Assemblage de connexion selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le boîtier comprend une pluralité d'ouvertures (36) communiquant avec les évidements au niveau d'un bord inférieur (38) du boîtier, pour permettre la connexion entre la borne en forme de broche (22) et les éléments de contact ainsi qu'une pluralité d'ouvertures (35) au niveau d'un bord supérieur (33) du boîtier pour permettre la connexion entre les conducteurs (18) et les éléments de contact (32).
8. Assemblage de connexion selon la revendication 7 ou 8, dans lequel le pas ou espacement central des éléments de contact (32) est de deux millimètres.
EP83306927A 1982-11-16 1983-11-14 Eléments de contacts électriques et d'assemblages de connecteurs électriques Expired EP0109297B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8232699 1982-11-16
GB8232699 1982-11-16

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0109297A1 EP0109297A1 (fr) 1984-05-23
EP0109297B1 true EP0109297B1 (fr) 1987-01-21

Family

ID=10534298

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83306927A Expired EP0109297B1 (fr) 1982-11-16 1983-11-14 Eléments de contacts électriques et d'assemblages de connecteurs électriques

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0109297B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS59101781A (fr)
DE (1) DE3369434D1 (fr)
GB (1) GB2130448B (fr)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60109188A (ja) * 1983-11-16 1985-06-14 アンプ　インコーポレーテッド 電気コネクタ組立体
GB2198892B (en) * 1986-12-11 1990-11-28 Johnson Electric Ind Mfg Armature winding connections.
GB2203604A (en) * 1987-04-15 1988-10-19 Starpoint Electrics Ltd A connector-adaptor having a diode
JPS6474164A (en) * 1987-09-16 1989-03-20 Hitachi Ltd Motor-driven power steering device
JPH0718128Y2 (ja) * 1989-04-17 1995-04-26 ホシデン株式会社 多極コネクタ
GB2235341B (en) * 1989-06-15 1994-01-26 Amp Inc Electrical connector system
NL192314C (nl) * 1991-05-02 1997-05-07 Du Pont Nederland Connector bevattende een isolatieverplaatsingscontact.
DE4312781C2 (de) * 1993-04-20 1995-10-19 Vossloh Schwabe Gmbh Anschlußelement für wenigstens ein elektrisches Betriebsmittel
DE4312778C3 (de) * 1993-04-20 2001-10-25 Vossloh Schwabe Gmbh Elektrische Anschlußklemmeinrichtung
IT1303717B1 (it) * 1998-11-06 2001-02-23 Magneti Marelli Spa Dispositivo di illuminazione, in particolare per veicoli.
FR2803442B1 (fr) * 2000-01-04 2005-10-07 Entrelec Sa Piece de connexion auto-denudante pouvant etre reliee a une piece de connexion voisine
GB2358093B (en) * 2000-01-19 2003-10-08 Entrelec Sa Insulation-displacement connecting piece able to be connected to an adjacent connecting piece

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3388370A (en) * 1966-04-14 1968-06-11 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Solderless connector for insulated wires
NL174686C (nl) * 1975-05-15 1984-07-16 Du Pont Elektrische verbindingsinrichting voor elektrische geleiders.
NL7513722A (nl) * 1975-11-25 1977-05-27 Du Pont Meervoudige contactinrichting, alsmede werkwijze en assembleringsmachine voor het monteren van dergelijke contactinrichtingen aan geisoleerde stroomdraden ter verkrijging van een voorprodukt.
FR2403663A1 (fr) * 1977-09-16 1979-04-13 Socapex Element de contact pour connecteur a auto-denudage, et connecteur muni d'un tel element de contact
FR2421484A1 (fr) * 1978-03-31 1979-10-26 Socapex Element de contact auto-denudant a ancrage radial pour connecteur, et connecteur comportant un tel element de contact
US4255009A (en) * 1979-07-30 1981-03-10 Amp Incorporated Two row electrical connector
US4296988A (en) * 1980-02-20 1981-10-27 Amp Incorporated Connector with improved terminal support
EP0057780A1 (fr) * 1981-02-11 1982-08-18 AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) Connecteur électrique comprenant une borne ayant une partie fendue de réception du fil et des moyens pour atténuer l'effort de tension sur le fil
NL8101930A (nl) * 1981-04-21 1982-11-16 Philips Nv Contactinrichting voor een meeraderige kabel.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0373110B2 (fr) 1991-11-20
GB8330346D0 (en) 1983-12-21
JPS59101781A (ja) 1984-06-12
GB2130448A (en) 1984-05-31
EP0109297A1 (fr) 1984-05-23
DE3369434D1 (en) 1987-02-26
GB2130448B (en) 1986-07-16

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