EP0634889B1 - Dispositif pour l'introduction et le support de composants électriques - Google Patents

Dispositif pour l'introduction et le support de composants électriques Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0634889B1
EP0634889B1 EP93830346A EP93830346A EP0634889B1 EP 0634889 B1 EP0634889 B1 EP 0634889B1 EP 93830346 A EP93830346 A EP 93830346A EP 93830346 A EP93830346 A EP 93830346A EP 0634889 B1 EP0634889 B1 EP 0634889B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electric
thread
supporting element
terminals
tubular housing
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
EP93830346A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0634889A3 (fr
EP0634889A2 (fr
Inventor
Cesare Gallone
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.)
SIGNAL LUX INTERNATIONAL S.A.
Original Assignee
SIGNAL LUX INTERNATIONAL SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SIGNAL LUX INTERNATIONAL SA filed Critical SIGNAL LUX INTERNATIONAL SA
Publication of EP0634889A2 publication Critical patent/EP0634889A2/fr
Publication of EP0634889A3 publication Critical patent/EP0634889A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0634889B1 publication Critical patent/EP0634889B1/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
    • H01R33/00—Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
    • H01R33/05—Two-pole devices
    • H01R33/06—Two-pole devices with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other
    • H01R33/09—Two-pole devices with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other for baseless lamp bulb
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R33/00—Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
    • H01R33/945—Holders with built-in electrical component
    • H01R33/95—Holders with built-in electrical component with fuse; with thermal switch

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a feeding and supporting device for electric components, of the type comprising the features recited in the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention in the embodiment described, is conceived for making control panels having signal lights of the type usually associated with household electrical appliances, being obviously understood that the innovatory concepts herein disclosed may be also utilized for uses different from the described ones.
  • control panels of the type associated with household electrical appliances, lighting installations or other electrical apparatus the arrangement of signal lights suitably connected to respective electric circuits is usually provided for the purpose of informing the operator, through switching on or off of each of the lights, about the operating state of one or more electric members to which the control panel is interlocked.
  • said signal lights essentially consist of bulb microlamps suitably connected, upon interposition of electric resistors connected in series and/or in parallel, to respective connecting connectors arranged in the form of a printed circuit on a small connecting board also having the function of mechanically supporting the microlamps.
  • Connection of the microlamps and respective electric resistors to the conductors arranged on the small connecting board can be carried out for example by directly welding thread-like terminals associated with the microlamps and/or the electric resistors on the small board itself.
  • a supporting element is provided to be associated with each signal light, which supporting element comprises a block of plastic material embodying appropriate contact elements for the operating engagement of the electric resistors, the thread-like terminals associated with the bulb microlamp being connected to said contact elements and being partly buried in the plastic material forming the block. Said contact elements are connected to a pair of terminals designed to be welded on the small connecting board made in the form of a printed circuit.
  • Documents DE-A-2 030 160 and GB-A-2 145 577 show devices of the type comprising a supporting element engageable by snug fitting through an opening provided on a support panel, and exhibiting a first engagement seat carrying a pair of contact plates between which a socket portion of a lamp is fitted.
  • the supporting element is also provided with a second engagement seat containing a second electric component such as a resistance.
  • the resistance has two thread-like terminals leading respectively to one of said contact plates and to a connecting terminal projecting outwardly from the bottom of the supporting element.
  • a second connecting terminal projecting from the supporting element is electrically connected to the other contact plate provided within the first engagement seat.
  • US-A-5 061 189 discloses a lamp-socked assembly for use with printed circuit board, provided with a supporting element having a tubular housing which engages a lamp.
  • the tubular housing is provided with oblique bottom walls for guiding thread-like terminals of the lamp to the outside of the tubular housing through outlet slots.
  • the thread-like terminals of the lamp are bent on respective portions of the supporting element in order to be firmly hold in the desired position
  • Document EP-A-0 070 034 which is herein referred as the most relevant prior art, shows the provision of a supporting element arranged for engagement with a connecting board carrying electric connecting conductors.
  • the supporting element exhibits a tubular housing which engages a lamp. Bottom walls are provided within the tubular housing for guiding thread-like terminals of the lamp to the outside of the tubular housing through outlet slots at the end of the bottom walls.
  • the supporting element is also provided with second engagement portions for engaging plate-like contact element which provides an electrical connection between the thread-like terminals and the connecting conductors provided on the connecting board.
  • each of the thread-like terminals crosses the plate-like element and lie on the surface of this latter on the opposite side with respect to the surface of the second component, which acts against tne supporting element.
  • a welding operation is carried out for firmly engaging the thread-like terminal on the plate-like contact element, as well as for granting a suitable electric connection between them.
  • the present invention relates to a feeding and supporting device for electric components, characterized by the features recited in the charaterizing portion of claim 1.
  • the above-mentioned problems are solved by providing a device in which all signal lights are associated, in a stable manner and by mere inserting operations to be carried in a completely automated fashion, with a supporting element to be engaged to the small connecting board by a snug fitting operation so as to obtain the simultaneous electric connection of all signal lights, without any welding and/or additional assembling operation being required.
  • a feeding and supporting device for electric components in accordance with the present invention has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.
  • the device 1 comprises a small connecting board 2 with which a plurality of electric connecting conductors 3 is operatively associated, said conductors being connected to respective electric members to which the device 1 is interlocked, for example through connecting terminals 3a of known and conventional type, or through extensions of the conductors 3 themselves projecting from the connecting board edges.
  • Said electric members may also consist of switches, thermostats or similar operating devices directly associated with the device 1 and not shown as known and not of importance to the ends of the invention.
  • the connecting conductors 3 essentially consist of respective elastic thin plates made of conductive material, suitably supported by respective ribs 4 projecting from the connecting board 2, as better clarified in the following.
  • a supporting element 5 is engaged by snug fitting to the small board 2 by hooking means not shown as made in known manner, said supporting element being advantageously designed to engage one or more of the first electric components 6, as well as second electric components 7 electrically interposed between one of the connecting conductors 3 and one of the first electric components 6.
  • each of the first electric components 6 is essentially formed with a bulb microlamp conventionally provided with two thread-like terminals 6a designed to supply the microlamp with current.
  • the second components 7 essentially consist of electric resistors provided with end caps 7a of conductive material at which contact with the respective connecting conductor 3 and one of the thread-like terminals 6a of the microlamp 6 occurs.
  • microlamps 6 and/or resistors 7 may be replaced by other electric components such as diodes, capacitors or the like, depending on requirements.
  • Each of the microlamps 6 is disposed in a tubular housing 8 defined within one engagement portion 9 exhibited by the supporting element 5.
  • This first engagement portion 9 advantageously has at least one bottom wall 10 obliquely intersecting the geometric axis "X" of the tubular housing 8.
  • the second bottom wall 11 terminates before intersecting said geometric axis "X", at an outlet slot 12 defined at the end of the first bottom wall 10, from which the thread-like terminals 6a of the microlamp 6 emerge.
  • a partition 13 associated with the first bottom wall 10 adjacent to the outlet slot 12 is interposed between the thread-like terminals 6 emerging from the slot itself, so that any possibility of a short circuit between said thread-like terminals is avoided.
  • each of the second engagement portions 15 may internally have at least one retaining lug 16 designed to abut on a shoulder 7b defined by the cap 7a made of conductive material associated at the end thereof with the resistor 7 so that said resistor, when fitting has occurred, will be retained in a stable manner in the corresponding coupling seat 14.
  • each of the second engagement portions 14 is an auxiliary slot 17 extending parallel to the "X" axis of the tubular housing 8 before the guide slot 12.
  • Each of the auxiliary slots 17 lends itself to advantageously engage the end of the corresponding thread-like terminal 6a associated with the microlamp 6 so as to retain said terminal according to a predetermined orientation.
  • auxiliary guide surfaces 18 converging towards the auxiliary slot itself away from the outlet slot 12 are defined in each of the coupling seats 14.
  • third engagement portions 24 may be provided, said portions consisting for example of fitting lugs externally projecting from the first bottom wall 10 and each designed to engage, by forced fitting, a third electric component that in the embodiment herein shown consists of an auxiliary electric resistor 25 arranged to get in touch with the connecting conductors 3 so as to carry out a connection in parallel between the thread-like terminals 6a of the corresponding microlamp 6.
  • the device 1 further comprises at least one front covering element 19 to be engaged to the supporting element 5, for example by snap fitting means generally denoted by 20 in Fig. 1 and not further described as known per se and conventional.
  • This front covering element 19 is provided, in known manner, with a plurality of signal lights 21, each arranged before one of the housing 8 so that light emitted by the corresponding bulb microlamp 6 may be visible from the outside.
  • the assembling modalities of the device described above mainly as regards structure are as follows.
  • the small connecting board 2 has the electric connecting conductors 3 disposed in the appropriate configuration so as to achieve a given circuit diagram for connection of the microlamps 6 and any external electric components, depending on the intended use of the device.
  • each of the microlamps 6 is first axially fitted in the corresponding housing 8. Concomitantly with this operation, the thread-like terminals 6a emerge from the slot 12 in an oblique orientation imposed by the orientation of the first bottom wall 10, and they introduce their ends into the auxiliary slots 17 formed in the second engagement portions 15.
  • resistors 7 can be axially fitted in the corresponding coupling seats 14. Following the execution of this operation, the thread-like terminals 6a, under the thrust of resistors 7 introduced into the corresponding seats 14, are such bent that they take an orientation perpendicular to the axis "X" of the corresponding housings 8. In this way, each microlamp 6 is engaged in a stable fashion to the supporting element 5 and, due to the orientation of the thread-like terminals 6a, its coming out of the housing 8 is prevented even in case of accidental overturnings or shakings.
  • resistors 7 are fixedly housed in the respective coupling seats 14, by virtue of the interference action exerted by the retaining lugs 16 on the shoulders 7b defined by the corresponding caps of conductive material 7a arranged at the ends of the resistors themselves.
  • the supporting element 5 lends itself to undergo any manipulation that may be necessary or may take place during transportation, storage and following mounting without involving any risk of losing one or more of the electric components associated therewith.
  • the supporting element 5 thus arranged can be engaged to the corresponding small connecting board 2 by a mere snug fitting operation.
  • the simultaneous electric connection of all microlamps 6, the respective electric resistors 7 and auxiliary resistors 25, if any, to the connecting conductors 3 is achieved.
  • the elastic thin plates forming the connecting conductors 3 lend themselves to act on the respective resistors 7 by urging them towards the thread-like terminals 6a in register therewith so as to ensure an excellent electric continuity.
  • the supporting element 5 and the corresponding connecting board 2 will be therefore engaged, upon connection of the terminals 3a to respective electric circuits arranged in the apparatus, to the front panel 22 of a household appliance or other apparatus with which the device 1 is going to be associated.
  • This engagement operation will take place too with the aid of further fitting means 23 not described in detail as known and not of importance to the ends of the invention.
  • the present invention attains the intended purposes.

Landscapes

  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Braking Systems And Boosters (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)
  • Hydraulic Clutches, Magnetic Clutches, Fluid Clutches, And Fluid Joints (AREA)
  • Connecting Device With Holders (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Common Detailed Techniques For Electron Tubes Or Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Dispositif pour l'introduction et le support de composants électriques, comprenant:
    - une plaquette de connexion électrique (2);
    - une pluralité de conducteurs de connexion électrique (3) associés de manière opératoire à ladite plaquette de connexion (2);
    - au moins un élément de support (5) fixé à la plaquette de connexion (2);
    - au moins une première portion d'engagement (9) portée par l'élément de support (5) et définissant un logement tubulaire (8) qui engage de manière opératoire au moins un premier composant électrique (6) présentant au moins deux bornes filiformes (6a) agencées de manière à être reliées électriquement auxdits conducteurs de connexion
    - au moins une première paroi de fond (10) prévue dans ledit logement tubulaire (8), couplant obliquement l'axe ("X") dudit logement tubulaire (8) et destinée à venir en contact avec les bornes filiformes (6a) du premier composant (6) pour les disposer selon une orientation inclinée et les guider vers l'extérieur du logement tubulaire (8) à travers au moins une fente de sortie (12) disposée à la fin de ladite première paroi de fond (10);
    - au moins une deuxième portion d'engagement (15) prévue sur ledit élément de support (5) et définissant un siège de couplage (14) s'étendant dans le prolongement de la fente de sortie (12), ledit siège de couplage étant agencé de manière à engager un deuxième composant électrique (7) en vue de réaliser une liaison électrique entre au moins l'un desdits conducteurs de connexion électrique (3) et l'une desdites bornes filiformes (6a) portées par le premier composant électrique (6),
    caractérisé en ce que ladite borne filiforme (6a) est engagée entre ledit élément de support (5) et le deuxième composant électrique (7) et est disposée par rapport à ce dernier de telle sorte qu'une action de poussée est exercée entre la borne filiforme (6a) et le deuxième composant électrique (7).
  2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte au moins deux desdites deuxièmes portions d'engagement (15).
  3. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdites deuxièmes portions d'engagement (15) s'étendent parallèles à l'axe ("X") du logement tubulaire (8).
  4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier composant électrique (6) comporte une microlampe à ampoule, chacun desdits deuxièmes composants électriques (7) comprenant une résistance électrique reliée entre l'un des conducteurs de connexion électrique (3) et l'une des bornes filiformes (6a) de la microlampe à ampoule (6).
  5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de support (5) présente une pluralité desdites premières portions d'engagement (9) engageant les premiers composants électriques correspondants (6), deux desdites deuxièmes portions d'engagement (15) étant associées à chacun desdits premiers composants électriques et recevant des deuxièmes composants électriques correspondants (7) pour les disposer en relation de contact chacun sur un conducteur de connexion (3) respectif.
  6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre un é1ément de couverture de face, destiné à être appliqué audit élément de support (5) et présentant une pluralité de feux d'indication (21), chacun disposé devant l'une desdites microlampes (6).
  7. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits conducteurs de connexion (3) comportent des plaques minces élastiques destinées à agir sur les deuxièmes composants électriques respectifs (7) dans le but de les pousser contre les bornes filiformes (6a) du premier composant électrique correspondant (6).
  8. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que chacun desdits deuxièmes composants électriques (7) est inséré dans le siège de couplage correspondant (14) par enfoncement à force.
  9. Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites deuxièmes portions d'engagement (15) prévoit à son intérieur au moins une saillie de retenue (16) venant buter contre un épaulement (7b) présenté par le deuxième composant électrique respectif (7) pour maintenir ledit composant électrique dans le siège de couplage (14).
  10. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites portions d'engagement (15) présente une fente auxiliaire (17) s'étendant parallèle à l'aile dudit logement tubulaire (8), devant ladite fente de sortie (12), et ménagée de manière à engager l'extrémité de la borne filiforme correspondante (6a) pour la maintenir selon une orientation prédéterminée.
  11. Dispositif selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que des surfaces de guidage auxiliaires (18) sont définies dans chacun desdits sièges de couplage (14), lesquelles convergent vers ladite fente auxiliaire (17) s'éloignant de la fente de sortie (12), et adaptéee à venir en contact avec les extrémités des bornes filiforme, (6a) et à les guider vers ladite fente auxiliaire.
  12. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite première portion d'engagement (9) présente en outre une deuxième paroi de fond (11) convergeant vers ladite première paroi de fond (10).
  13. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une cloison (13) est associée à la première paroi de fond (10) de ladite première portion d'engagement (9), à proximité de la fente de sortie (12), cette cloison étant intercalée entre les bornes filiformes (6a) sortant de la fente elle-même.
  14. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de support (5) et ladite plaquette de connexion (2) sont réciproquement engagés par encastrement.
EP93830346A 1993-07-12 1993-07-30 Dispositif pour l'introduction et le support de composants électriques Expired - Lifetime EP0634889B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT93MI000565U IT230348Y1 (it) 1993-07-12 1993-07-12 Dispositivo di supporto ed alimentazione per componenti elettrici
ITMI930565U 1993-07-12

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0634889A2 EP0634889A2 (fr) 1995-01-18
EP0634889A3 EP0634889A3 (fr) 1995-04-05
EP0634889B1 true EP0634889B1 (fr) 1997-10-01

Family

ID=11365480

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93830346A Expired - Lifetime EP0634889B1 (fr) 1993-07-12 1993-07-30 Dispositif pour l'introduction et le support de composants électriques

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0634889B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE158917T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69314333T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2108857T3 (fr)
IT (1) IT230348Y1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19646523C2 (de) * 1996-11-12 1999-06-02 Molex Inc Sockel für elektrische oder elektronische Komponenten
DE19646715A1 (de) * 1996-11-12 1998-05-14 Molex Inc Leuchtmittelsockel
DE19811901C1 (de) * 1998-03-18 1999-12-02 Polycontact Ag Chur Elektronisches Bauteil

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2030160A1 (fr) * 1970-06-19 1971-12-30 Alwega Albert F Weidmann
DE8120785U1 (de) * 1981-07-15 1982-12-23 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH, 8000 München Anzeigeleuchte
GB2145577A (en) * 1983-08-23 1985-03-27 Starpoint Electrics Ltd Lampholder having internally mounted diode
US5061189A (en) * 1989-10-31 1991-10-29 Harison Electric Co., Ltd. Lamp socket for use with a printed circuit board

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT230348Y1 (it) 1999-06-02
EP0634889A3 (fr) 1995-04-05
DE69314333D1 (de) 1997-11-06
DE69314333T2 (de) 1998-01-29
ATE158917T1 (de) 1997-10-15
ITMI930565U1 (it) 1995-01-12
EP0634889A2 (fr) 1995-01-18
ITMI930565V0 (it) 1993-07-12
ES2108857T3 (es) 1998-01-01

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