EP0731532B1 - Connecteur pour allumeur d'un airbag - Google Patents

Connecteur pour allumeur d'un airbag Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0731532B1
EP0731532B1 EP96103400A EP96103400A EP0731532B1 EP 0731532 B1 EP0731532 B1 EP 0731532B1 EP 96103400 A EP96103400 A EP 96103400A EP 96103400 A EP96103400 A EP 96103400A EP 0731532 B1 EP0731532 B1 EP 0731532B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plug
locking
socket
resilient
arms
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
EP96103400A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0731532A1 (fr
Inventor
Matthias Pfaff
Franz Ch. Pacher
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.)
FCI SA
Original Assignee
Framatome Connectors International SAS
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 Framatome Connectors International SAS filed Critical Framatome Connectors International SAS
Publication of EP0731532A1 publication Critical patent/EP0731532A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0731532B1 publication Critical patent/EP0731532B1/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
    • H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
    • H01R13/6395—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap for wall or panel outlets
    • 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
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6271—Latching means integral with the housing
    • H01R13/6273—Latching means integral with the housing comprising two latching arms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical connector for use with igniters for vehicle occupant inflatable restraint systems, generally known as airbags, and in particular, to means for maintaining the connector plug in engagement with the socket.
  • airbag systems in motor vehicles has become virtually universal in recent years, and is mandatory in many jurisdictions.
  • Such systems normally include an airbag assembly mounted in a hidden compartment beneath the dashboard, and an electrical or electronic control system for activating the assembly upon the occurrence of a crash.
  • the airbag assembly is generally connected to the control system by a wiring harness provided with a plug with socket contacts and a socket which receives pin contacts of the igniter.
  • a connector system of this type is shown, for example, in EP 0 591 947, in which the system is associated with an interlock including a locking element which is inserted into the connection to prevent separation of a pair of male connector elements carried by a first component from a pair of female connector elements carried by a second component and releasably mated therewith.
  • a shorting element is associated with the first component and includes a pair of contact elements each biased into electrical contact with one of the pair of first connector elements for producing a short therebetween.
  • the second component has a body comprising a portion contoured to enter between the pairs of connector elements so as to disconnect the short upon mating of the first and second components, which are mechanically latched together.
  • the locking element prevents release of the latch and hence separation of the two components while in the lock position.
  • the female connector has a short-circuiting terminal extending into a connector fitting chamber thereof, as well as a temporary arresting projection and a flexible locking arm with a final arresting projection.
  • the male connector has a connecting terminal, a flexible engaging pawl, and an engaging portion.
  • the connector according to the present invention comprises a plug part with socket contacts which have a wire connection side for attachment of wires and a pin receiving side for receiving pin contacts projecting from the airbag igniter.
  • the pin contacts extend from a socket part located on the igniter.
  • a connector having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in DE-A-4 317 344.
  • the plug part is provided with a snap on cover which assures retention of the cable and which is provided with lateral and front resilient locking lugs, as well as a downwardly projecting element which engages a complementary aperture in the socket part to permit 360° positioning of the plug in the igniter socket and the application of torque force.
  • the cover maintains the socket contact in position.
  • the downwardly facing side of the end of the cover opposite the downwardly projecting element is provided with nipples which bite into the wire-insulating cable in order to assure its retention on the U-shaped rear portion of the plug part.
  • Figs. 1 to 7 illustrate a connector plug 1 with socket contacts 2 with a wire connection side 3 for the attachment of cable-clad wires 4 and a pin-receiving side 5 beneath the socket contacts.
  • plug 1 is surmounted by a cover 9 with lateral locking lugs 10 and resilient front locking lugs 11.
  • the underside of the rear end of cover 9 is further provided with nipples 12 which bite into the cables to prevent them from shifting longitudinally in the U-shaped rear portion of the plug.
  • Plug 1 is designed to mate with a socket part 8 located on the airbag igniter 7 and comprising pin contacts 6 which mate with socket contacts 2.
  • the forward part of plug 1 is provided with a projecting arm 40 which engages in a complementary aperture 50 extending from the top surface of the socket part 8.
  • the plug is provided with a pair of substantially vertical resilient locking arms 21 extending perpendicularly from the pin receiving side 5 of the plug 1, against the mating direction of the plug 1, the locking arms 21 provided with lateral, outwardly facing detent projections 17, each comprising an upwardly divergent outer surface 17a and a horizontal upper surface 17b which abuts against a corresponding facing surface of a locking slot 30 provided in socket 8.
  • resilient arms 21 spread apart and self-lock in locking slot 30.
  • the locking arm arrangement of the present invention is a significant improvement over that of EP 0 537 751, as shown in Fig. 9, in which locking arms 27, while also provided with detent projections 26, do not flex outwardly and hence cannot perform the self-locking function of applicants' locking arms 21.
  • the invention hence results in a more secure interengagement of the plug and socket, this being critical in the case of airbag igniter connectors.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Un ensemble de connexion électrique destiné à un allumeur d'airbag et comprenant un l'élément de connexion mâle (1) et un élément de connexion femelle (8), dans lequel l'élément de connexion mâle (1) est muni d'un premier moyen de contact électrique (2) apte à se raccorder avec l'élément de connexion femelle (8), celui-ci étant muni d'un second moyen de contact électrique (6), et ledit élément de connexion mâle (1) comprend un moyen souple de blocage (20) apte à s'engager dans un orifice (30) prévu dans ledit élément de connexion femelle (8), et ledit moyen souple de blocage (20) comprend au moins deux bras souples (21), et le moyen souple de blocage (20) s'engage dans un logement de blocage (30) prévu dans ledit élément de connexion femelle (8), et l'élément de connexion mâle (1) comprend des contacts électriques sous forme de douille (2) présentant un premier côté (3) destiné au raccordement d'un fil de connexion, et un second côté destiné à recevoir des broches de contact (6) sortant dudit élément de connexion femelle (8), caractérisé en ce que lesdits bras souples de blocage (21) se prolongent selon un axe perpendiculaire à partir du côté (5) destiné à recevoir les broches de contact de l'élément de connexion mâle (1), à l'encontre du sens d'insertion du connecteur, ces bras de blocage pouvant s'écarter afin de se bloquer dans ledit logement de blocage (30) lorsqu'une force d'extraction est appliquée à l'élément mâle du connecteur.
  2. Un ensemble de connexion électrique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits bras (21) comprennent un moyen d'encliquetage formé de parties divergentes vers le haut solidaires de parties horizontales pouvant s'appuyer contre l'épaulement dudit logement de blocage (30), afin d'empêcher le retrait dudit élément de connexion mâle (1) dudit élément de connexion femelle (21) lorsque ladite force est appliquée.
  3. Un ensemble de connexion électrique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit élément de connexion mâle (1) est coiffé d'un couvercle (9) muni de pattes de blocage latérales et de pattes de blocage de devant, destinées à maintenir en position un câble contenant des conducteurs électriques.
  4. Un ensemble de connexion électrique selon la revendication 3, dans lequel ledit couvercle (9) présente une face inférieure munie de saillies (1) aptes à mordre dans ledit câble (4) afin de contribuer au maintien en position dudit câble (4).
  5. Un ensemble de connexion électrique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel un élément (40) faisant saillie dudit élément de connexion mâle (1) et se logeant dans un orifice (50) situé sur ledit élément de contact, est destiné à permettre, d'une part, un positionnement sur 360° et, d'autre part, l'application d'une force de couple auxdits éléments (1, 8).
EP96103400A 1995-03-08 1996-03-05 Connecteur pour allumeur d'un airbag Expired - Lifetime EP0731532B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US40025195A 1995-03-08 1995-03-08
US400251 1995-03-08

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0731532A1 EP0731532A1 (fr) 1996-09-11
EP0731532B1 true EP0731532B1 (fr) 2000-07-12

Family

ID=23582838

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96103400A Expired - Lifetime EP0731532B1 (fr) 1995-03-08 1996-03-05 Connecteur pour allumeur d'un airbag

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP0731532B1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013158245A1 (fr) * 2012-04-18 2013-10-24 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Ensembles allumeurs de faible encombrement conçus pour être utilisés avec des systèmes d'airbag gonflable

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5876231A (en) * 1996-09-10 1999-03-02 Framatome Connectors Usa Connector for airbag system
EP0831562A1 (fr) * 1996-09-23 1998-03-25 Motorola, Inc. Boítier pour dispositif électronique
GB9624366D0 (en) * 1996-11-22 1997-01-08 Amp Great Britain Squib connector
DE19728448C1 (de) * 1997-07-03 1998-09-24 Framatome Connectors Int Flachbauender Steckverbinder
DE19847872A1 (de) * 1998-10-16 2000-05-04 Framatome Connectors Int Zündbuskontaktgehäuse, insbesondere für Airbag-Anwendungen
FR2938115B1 (fr) * 2008-11-03 2014-01-24 Legrand France Fiche electrique munie de moyens de verrouillage sur un appareil modulaire
FR2938114B1 (fr) * 2008-11-03 2012-10-19 Legrand France Appareil modulaire electrique

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2536467Y2 (ja) * 1991-10-17 1997-05-21 矢崎総業株式会社 スイッチコネクタの防水構造
US5314345A (en) * 1992-10-09 1994-05-24 Trw Inc. Electrical connection system with interlock
DE4317344A1 (de) * 1993-05-25 1994-12-01 Framatome Connectors Int Elektrischer Steckverbinder

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013158245A1 (fr) * 2012-04-18 2013-10-24 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Ensembles allumeurs de faible encombrement conçus pour être utilisés avec des systèmes d'airbag gonflable

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0731532A1 (fr) 1996-09-11

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