EP0363804B1 - Mécanisme de verrouillage pour connecteur électrique du type fiche et douille - Google Patents

Mécanisme de verrouillage pour connecteur électrique du type fiche et douille Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0363804B1
EP0363804B1 EP89118417A EP89118417A EP0363804B1 EP 0363804 B1 EP0363804 B1 EP 0363804B1 EP 89118417 A EP89118417 A EP 89118417A EP 89118417 A EP89118417 A EP 89118417A EP 0363804 B1 EP0363804 B1 EP 0363804B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
arm
plug
latching
lever arm
cover member
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP89118417A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0363804A1 (fr
Inventor
Aldo Bruni
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
Whitaker 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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0363804A1 publication Critical patent/EP0363804A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0363804B1 publication Critical patent/EP0363804B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/62933—Comprising exclusively pivoting lever

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a latching mechanism for a plug and socket type electrical connector assembly.
  • Assemblies of this type typically are elongated and contain a multitude of electrical terminals.
  • a typical arrangement as more fully described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,586,766 and 4,435,033, consists of two or three rows, each containing a number of terminals.
  • One housing of such assembly is provided with male terminals , as arrayed above, or plugs, blades or tabs, with the terminals aligned parallel to the axis of the elongated housing.
  • a cover member, matable therewith, is provided with complementary arrayed series of female terminals, such as blade-type terminals, where opposed spring-pressed contacts are provided to receive such male terminals.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,542,951 discloses an operating mechanism for a plugboard system to connect and disconnect electrical terminals of a front bay with respective electrical terminals of a rear bay comprises hanger plates and sliding cam plates mounted on a rear frame, the cam plates having profiled cam slots and L-shaped slots therein.
  • An operating member is pivotally mounted into the rear frame and includes rollers which are disposed in-the L-shaped slots so that when the operating member is moved from one position to another position, the rollers move along the L-shaped slots causing the cam plates to move along the rear frame which causes the cam slots to linearly move support members on a front frame thereby connecting or disconnecting the electrical terminals.
  • a key requirement of such a connector assembly is ease of mating engagement, while maintaining its reliability. Since the electrical connector assemblies of the type described above are often placed in remote locations of the automobile, or locations which are not readily accessible to an operator, it is implicit that the assembly be mated such as by a single hand. Further, such assembly must be able to withstand vibrations, typically associated with automobiles , and other adverse conditions. As a consequence of the need for ease of terminal engagement and reliability, the present invention as defined in claim 1 evolved as an answer sought by the automotive industry.
  • Such answer comprises matable housing and cover members, respectively containing a plurality of male tabs or plugs, and a like plurality of female contacts or sockets matable therewith.
  • the housing member comprises a fixed member and a movable member in sliding engagement therewith, where said movable member is provided with at least one can groove, a portion of which extends in the sliding direction.
  • the cover member which includes at least one cam projection for engagement in said can groove of the movable member, may be placed by "feel" by an operator onto the housing member.
  • the operator may activate the latching mechanism comprising a lever arm, one end of which contains dual pivot points where such pivot points are pivotal with respect to said fixed member and said movable member.
  • the opposite end of the lever arm contains a latching slot engageable with a projection on said cover member, where said latching slot is formed by an angled arm member, such that on pivoting the lever arm by the operator to bring the members into full mating engagement, the projection on said cover member contacts said angled arm member during mating of said members prior to engagement with said latching slot.
  • the latter position represents the condition of full mating engagement.
  • FIGS 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary type of electrical connector assembly 10 suitable for practicing this invention.
  • Such assembly 10 comprises an elongated housing 12 composed of a fixed member 14 having an internally directed longitudinal flange 16, and a movable member 18 in sliding engagement therewith. More particularly, movable member 18 is contiguous with and slidably engages side walls 20,22 and base 24, while underlying the flange 16. The bottom 26 of movable member 18, and base 24, are open, for reasons more fully explained hereinafter, to accommodate and receive the electrical terminal component shown in Figure 5.
  • the movable member 18 is further characterized by one or more opposing pairs of cam grooves 30 having an entry leg 32, a slanted leg 34, and a horizontal leg 36 which lies in the relative sliding direction of the members 14,18.
  • a vertically oriented slot 40 At one end 38 of movable member 18, there is provided a vertically oriented slot 40, the function of which will be described hereinafter.
  • the fixed member 14 is provided along the flange 16 with one or more pairs of notches 42, which notches 42 are aligned with the entry legs 32 of the cam grooves 30 in the unmated condition.
  • the end of fixed member 14, corresponding to end 38, is provided with projection receiving openings 44, the purpose of which shall become apparent in the description which follows.
  • cover member 50 comprising an elongated wire receiving housing 52, where wire, in the form of a multi-conductor cable, enters the cover member 50 through end opening 54.
  • the mating portion 56 thereof within which are provided the electrical terminals for engagement with complementary terminals in housing 12, is situated below housing portion 52.
  • the mating portion 56 are one or more pairs of cam projections 58 whose size is such as to be capable of being received in cam grooves 30.
  • a further and final feature of the cover member 50 is the single pair of latching projections 60 along side walls 62.
  • the full engagement of the cover member 50 with housing 12, and electrical engagement of the complementary terminals therein, is achieved by means of the pivotal motion of the lever arm 70, and the latching thereof at the end of the rotation cycle.
  • the lever arm 70 formed of a flexible plastic material, consists of a body portion 72 separating the pivot end 74 from the latching end 76.
  • the pivot end 74 is characterized by dual pivot points 78,80 each of which are provided with pivot projections.
  • Pivot point 80 containing the longer projections, is intended to engage openings 44 for rotational movement therein.
  • the adjacent pivot projections 78 are to be received in sliding relationship within slot 40.
  • a first leg 82 fixed relative to the lever body portion 72, and an adjacent leg 84, is provided, where said leg 84 is free to move relative to the first leg 82.
  • the free leg 84 is provided with a latching catch 86 which is formed by angled arm 88 and a horizontal catch surface 90.
  • the lever arm is rotated whereby the latching projection 60 first contacts angled arm 88 riding up the surface thereof until it reaches end 92 whereupon it snaps into position along horizontal catch surface 90 adjacent free leg 84.
  • the respective legs 82,84 are squeezed toward one another, while putting a lifting motion on the lever arm 70.
  • the free leg 84 laterally shifts a sufficient amount to free the latching projection 60.
  • FIG 4 is a perspective view of an alternative latching arm 93, there such arm is characterized by a body portion 94, a double action pivot end 96, and a latching end 98.
  • the pivot end 96 features two pairs of pivot projections 100,102, respectively for engagement with the fixed member 14 and movable member 18, in a manner similar to lever arm 70.
  • the opposite end, or latching end 98 comprises a fixed leg 104 and free leg 106, that is free relative to the body portion 94.
  • the lower end of free leg 106 features angled arm 108 joined to the base of fixed leg 104, and a latching slot 110 formed by the diverging angled arm 108 and the vertically oriented free leg 106.
  • Joining the remote ends 112 of the free legs 106 is a transverse bar 114 which can function to provide visual confirmation of the full mating and latching, and to assist in unmating of the respective components.
  • unmating of the housing components is accomplished by squeezing together the free leg 106 and fixed leg 104. Since the fixed leg 104 is secured to the body portion 94, the net effect of such squeezing is to move the free leg 106 toward the fixed leg 104 thereby releasing the latching projection 60 from the latching slot 110.
  • the male tab housing 120 comprises an intermediate, elongated plate 122 adapted to be secured to base 24 of fixed member 14, such as by fasteners through aligned holes 124,126. Upstanding from such plate 122 is wall enclosure 128 within which are provided a plurality of arrayed male tabs 130, or blades, aligned parallel to the major axis of plate 122. As noted previously, the base 24 and bottom 26, respectively of the fixed and movable members, are open to receive the male tab housing 120. The dimensions of the wall enclosure 128 are limited only to the extent that the movable member 18 must be free to slide between the wall thereof, and side walls 20,22.
  • cover member 50 To mate the cover member 50 with elongated housing 12, and thereby achieve electrical contact between male tabs 130 and female contacts ( Figure 6), to be more fully discussed hereinafter, the cover member 50 is placed onto housing 12 with cam projections 58 received in notches 42 and cam grooves 30. The cover member 50 is urged downward along entry legs 32 to a premating condition where corresponding male and female contacts are about to mate.
  • the female terminal preferably comprises a stamped and formed, one-piece, blade type terminal 140 ( Figure 6), which features opposing spring-pressed contact arms 142 capable of directly receiving a complementary blade, i.e. male tab 130 therebetween.
  • the respective female terminals 140 and male tabs 130 are vertically aligned such that each male tab 130 enters between the opposing contact arms 142 of a corresponding female terminal 140.
  • the cover member 50 moves toward fixed member 14 as the cam projections 58 ride along cam grooves 30. Pivotal or downward movement of lever arm 70 causes movable member 18 to move horizontally, while at the same time causing the cover member 50 to move vertically downwardly toward fixed member 14 to fully mate the terminals provided therein.
  • lever arm 70 At the end of the rotational movement of lever arm 70, or the alternative embodiment of the lever arm shown in Figure 4, the latching projections 60 snap into position along horizontal catch surface 90,110 of leg 84,108.

Claims (4)

  1. Mécanisme de verrouillage pour un assemblage (10) de connecteur électrique du type à fiche et douille, dans lequel la fiche et la douille peuvent être accouplées dans un première direction, ledit mécanisme comprenant : un boîtier (12) composé d'un élément de boîtier fixe (14) et d'un élément mobile (18) enclenché de façon coulissante avec ledit élément de boîtier fixe (14), ledit élément de boîtier fixe (14) étant destiné à recevoir un boîtier (120) de bornes qui comporte des bornes (130) et qui forme ladite douille ; un élément de capot (50) destiné à loger des bornes complémentaires (140) formant ladite fiche ; et un bras de levier (70 ; 93) contenant des points de pivotement doubles (78, 80 ; 100, 102) à une extrémité (74 ; 96) du bras de levier (70 ; 93), l'un de ces points de pivotement (80 ; 100) pouvant pivoter par rapport audit élément de boîtier fixe (14) et l'autre point de pivotement (78 ; 102) étant reçu de façon coulissante dans une fente (40) dudit élément mobile (18), le bras de levier (70 ; 93) pouvant ainsi pivoter pour assujettir l'élément de capot (50) en engagement de verrouillage avec le boîtier (12), dans lequel ledit élément mobile (18) peut coulisser par rapport audit élément de boîtier fixe (14) dans une seconde direction perpendiculaire à la première direction par une rotation dudit bras de levier (70 ; 93) pour effectuer un accouplement complet de ladite fiche et de ladite douille à partir d'un état de préaccouplement, ledit élément mobile (18) étant pourvu d'au moins une gorge (30) de came dont une partie (36) s'étend dans ladite seconde direction, ledit élément de capot (50) comprenant au moins une saillie (58) de came qui s'engage dans ladite gorge (30) de came dudit élément mobile (18) dans l'état accouplé pour ledit élément de capot (50) et ledit élément mobile (18),
       caractérisé en ce que l'extrémité opposée (76 ; 98) dudit bras de levier (70 ; 93) contient un bec (86 ; 110) de verrouillage pouvant être engagé avec une saillie (60) sur ledit élément de came (50), ledit bec (86 ; 110) de verrouillage étant formé par un élément de bras incliné (88 ; 108) grâce à quoi, lorsque ledit élément de capot (50) est déplacé vers ledit élément de boîtier fixe (14) suivant ladite première direction par un mouvement de rotation dudit bras de levier (70 ; 93) pendant l'accouplement dudit élément de capot (50) et dudit boîtier (12), ledit élément à bras incliné (88, 108) vient en contact avec ladite saillie (60) sur ledit élément de capot (50) et, à la fin du mouvement de rotation du bras de levier (70 ; 93), ledit bec de verrouillage (86, 110) engage ladite saillie (60) .
  2. Mécanisme de verrouillage pour un assemblage de connecteur électrique du type à fiche et douille selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'un bras coopérant (82, 104), adjacent audit élément à bras incliné (88, 110), est fixé audit bras de levier (72, 94), et en ce que ledit élément à bras incliné (88, 108) est mobile par rapport audit bras coopérant (82, 104).
  3. Mécanisme de verrouillage pour un assemblage de connecteur électrique du type à fiche et douille selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il y a une paire d'éléments à bras inclinés (88, 108) ayant chacun un prolongement (84, 106), lesdits prolongements (84, 106) étant reliés par un bras (114).
  4. Mécanisme de verrouillage pour un assemblage de connecteur électrique du type à fiche et douille selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit bras (114) est mobile vers ledit bras coopérant (82, 104) durant un accouplement et un désaccouplement de l'assemblage de connecteur (10).
EP89118417A 1988-10-10 1989-10-04 Mécanisme de verrouillage pour connecteur électrique du type fiche et douille Expired - Lifetime EP0363804B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888823738A GB8823738D0 (en) 1988-10-10 1988-10-10 Latching mechanism for plug & socket type electrical connector
GB8823738 1988-10-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0363804A1 EP0363804A1 (fr) 1990-04-18
EP0363804B1 true EP0363804B1 (fr) 1994-06-08

Family

ID=10644965

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89118417A Expired - Lifetime EP0363804B1 (fr) 1988-10-10 1989-10-04 Mécanisme de verrouillage pour connecteur électrique du type fiche et douille

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0363804B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2887396B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE68915925T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2054976T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB8823738D0 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6193530B1 (en) 1998-04-20 2001-02-27 Yazaki Corporation Connector mating structure
DE19602293B4 (de) * 1996-01-23 2008-01-03 The Whitaker Corp., Wilmington Verriegelungsmechanismus für eine elektrische Steckverbinderanordnung

Families Citing this family (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2812015B2 (ja) * 1991-10-21 1998-10-15 住友電装株式会社 コネクタ
FR2702889B1 (fr) * 1993-03-18 1995-04-21 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Connecteur électrique .
JPH06302353A (ja) * 1993-04-19 1994-10-28 Yazaki Corp 低挿入力コネクタ
FR2717319B1 (fr) * 1994-03-11 1996-05-31 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Boîtier de connecteur électrique.
DE69530364T2 (de) * 1995-01-16 2004-02-12 Molex Inc., Lisle Elektrischer Steckverbinder mit verbessertem Nockensystem
DE19508605C1 (de) * 1995-03-10 1996-07-11 Harting Elektronik Gmbh Elektrische Steckverbindung
EP0820647B1 (fr) * 1995-04-12 1999-07-28 The Whitaker Corporation Connecteur electrique modulaire
JP3107148B2 (ja) * 1996-04-26 2000-11-06 矢崎総業株式会社 低挿入力コネクタ
JP3315314B2 (ja) * 1996-05-30 2002-08-19 矢崎総業株式会社 低挿入力コネクタ
JP3086656B2 (ja) * 1996-06-24 2000-09-11 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタの嵌合構造
DE19626079A1 (de) * 1996-06-28 1998-01-02 Whitaker Corp Anordnung zur Sicherung von Kontakten in einem Kontaktgehäuse
JP3467373B2 (ja) * 1997-03-12 2003-11-17 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタの嵌合構造
JP3457146B2 (ja) * 1997-06-06 2003-10-14 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタの係止構造
JP3457172B2 (ja) * 1998-03-04 2003-10-14 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタ嵌合構造
JP3472698B2 (ja) * 1998-03-04 2003-12-02 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタの嵌合構造
US6142800A (en) * 1998-03-09 2000-11-07 Yazaki Corporation Low coupling force connector
JP3568775B2 (ja) * 1998-04-20 2004-09-22 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタ結合構造
FR2778275B1 (fr) * 1998-04-30 2000-07-21 Proner Comatel Sa Dispositif de connexion electrique a verrouillage
IT1303186B1 (it) 1998-11-27 2000-10-30 Framatome Connectors Italia Connettore elettrico.
DE19939408C1 (de) * 1999-08-20 2001-03-29 Framatome Connectors Int Elektrischer Steckverbinder
DE10007988A1 (de) * 2000-02-22 2001-08-23 Delphi Tech Inc Steckverbinder
ES2170015B1 (es) * 2000-10-23 2003-11-01 Lear Automotive Eeds Spain Caja de conectores
ITTO20050089A1 (it) 2005-02-16 2006-08-17 Fci Italia S P A Connettore elettrico
CN103225729B (zh) * 2013-05-17 2015-11-04 四川长虹空调有限公司 家用电器支架及其滑动支架安装方法
CN103441379B (zh) * 2013-08-22 2016-02-10 厦门唯恩电气有限公司 连接器及其对接紧配方法

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4435033A (en) * 1980-08-19 1984-03-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Two-part separable electrical connection arrangement

Family Cites Families (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4332432A (en) * 1978-12-06 1982-06-01 Molex Incorporated Low insertion force connector assembly
US4542951A (en) * 1984-04-13 1985-09-24 Amp Incorporated Operating mechanism for a plugboard system
FR2563950B1 (fr) * 1984-05-07 1989-11-03 Lb International Sa Air Connecteur electrique a contacts multiples et a verrouillage
US4586771A (en) * 1985-03-04 1986-05-06 Amp Incorporated Connector assembly having camming system for mating and unmating

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4435033A (en) * 1980-08-19 1984-03-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Two-part separable electrical connection arrangement

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19602293B4 (de) * 1996-01-23 2008-01-03 The Whitaker Corp., Wilmington Verriegelungsmechanismus für eine elektrische Steckverbinderanordnung
US6193530B1 (en) 1998-04-20 2001-02-27 Yazaki Corporation Connector mating structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8823738D0 (en) 1988-11-16
JPH02123681A (ja) 1990-05-11
DE68915925D1 (de) 1994-07-14
EP0363804A1 (fr) 1990-04-18
DE68915925T2 (de) 1994-09-22
JP2887396B2 (ja) 1999-04-26
ES2054976T3 (es) 1994-08-16

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