EP0767515A2 - Connecteur électrique avec élément de rétention secondaire pour chargement frontal - Google Patents

Connecteur électrique avec élément de rétention secondaire pour chargement frontal Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0767515A2
EP0767515A2 EP96115451A EP96115451A EP0767515A2 EP 0767515 A2 EP0767515 A2 EP 0767515A2 EP 96115451 A EP96115451 A EP 96115451A EP 96115451 A EP96115451 A EP 96115451A EP 0767515 A2 EP0767515 A2 EP 0767515A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
locking member
contact
connector
retention arm
connector 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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96115451A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0767515A3 (fr
Inventor
Alan John Beken
Maganlal Mistry
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 EP0767515A2 publication Critical patent/EP0767515A2/fr
Publication of EP0767515A3 publication Critical patent/EP0767515A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
    • H01R13/436—Securing a plurality of contact members by one locking piece or operation
    • H01R13/4364—Insertion of locking piece from the front
    • H01R13/4365—Insertion of locking piece from the front comprising a temporary and a final locking position
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/14—Terminal arrangements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical connectors and in particular to electrical connectors having a front loadable locking member to assure the electrical contacts loaded therein are positively retained.
  • the electrical connector described therein includes a housing having a cavity for receiving an electrical contact therein, where extending from the cavity walls are contact retention arms that act to positively retain in position the contact by fitting behind a shoulder thereupon, thereby preventing the contact from backing out.
  • a locking member is fitable upon the front of the housing and includes a first position where contacts may be loaded into the connector housing by deflecting the arms and a second position where the arms are backed-up by wedges extending from the locking member to fit behind the arms. These wedges extend sufficiently forward so that in the first position they overlap respective arms of the connector housing, thereby preventing the arms from deflecting behind their retention wedges.
  • an electrical connector comprising a connector housing and a locking member where the connector housing includes a contact cavity for receiving an electrical contact that has a retention arm extending from a wall thereof to a free end that carries a stop shoulder thereupon, the stop shoulder being formed to cooperate with a shoulder of the contact when inserted therein to prevent displacement thereof and where the retention arm is deflectable to allow the contact to be inserted into the cavity and after the contact passes thereby resiles therebehind, the locking member having a wedge extending therefrom that includes a backup surface and where the locking member has a first position relative the connector housing such that the retention arm is deflectable to allow the contact to pass and a second position where the wedge is located behind the retention arm and prevents deflection thereof, the connector being characterized in that the wedge includes an abutment shoulder along the backup surface that is oriented transversely to the direction of displacement of the locking member such that the abutment shoulder stubs the retention arm when the retention arm is in a deflecte
  • the locking member may be displaced into a locking position whenever the arms are in a undeflected position. This undeflected position is also obtainable when the electrical connector is being transported to the user prior to loading contacts therein.
  • the first position is a temporary position
  • the second or locked position is meant to be relatively permanent and therefore the associated latching members are difficult to disengage. It is a time consuming and difficult procedure that is disruptive to assembly techniques when a connector housing that is to be loaded with contacts is delivered to an assembly station already in the second position. Therefore, what is needed is a simple and economical feature to assure that the locking member is not accidentally displaced from the first to the second position. It is further required that this be a simple and unintrusive addition to the components of the connector.
  • an electrical connector comprising a connector housing having a contact cavity therein for receiving a contact and a locking member for assuring the contacts are positively retained in the connector housing, the locking member having a first position upon the housing where the contact is receivable in the cavity and a second position where the locking member effects obstruction of the cavity, thereby preventing insertion or assuring retention of the contact, the connector being characterized in that a resilient tab is provided on the locking member that interferes with the connector housing, unless deflected, when moving between the first and second positions.
  • an electrical connector according to the present invention is shown generally at 2.
  • the electrical connector 2 includes a connector housing 4 and a locking member 6.
  • the electrical connector 2 is configured as a relay housing and includes a resilient arm 8 for positively retaining the relay (not shown).
  • the invention is not to be limited by the configurations described herein.
  • a plurality of contact receiving passageways 10 are open through the locking member 6 for receiving a mating contact (not shown).
  • the locking member 6 is receivable into an opening 12 in the connector housing 4 that is defined by outer walls 14 that further define an upper surface 16 thereof.
  • the locking member 6 includes a supporting plate 18 having openings 20 therein that are in communication with the contact cavities 10 when the locking member 6 is mounted upon the connector housing 4. Extending from one side of the support plate 18 is a shroud 22 that is bifurcated such that side portions 24 are freely cantilevered from a base wall 25. Each side portion 24 includes a tab 26 carried thereupon that extends outwardly therefrom in an L-like manner. The tab 26 is free from an upper wall portion 28 opposite the base wall 25, thereby enabling the side portions 24 to be resiliently deflectable such that displacement of the tabs 26 may be achieved.
  • Multiple latching arms 30 extend from the opposite side of the support plate 18 and include a hook portion 32 for engaging catch surfaces upon the connector housing to define both a first position for the locking member 6 and a second position for the locking member 6 that are displaced from each other. Further included in the locking member 6 and extending in the same direction as the locking arms 30 are wedge members 34 that will be described in greater detail below.
  • the electrical connector 2 is shown assembled in the first and second position respectively.
  • one of the latch arms 30 is engaged with a first position catch 36 so that the locking member 6 is prevented from being displaced from the connector housing 4.
  • the locking member 6 is shown positioned above the opening 12 that is defined by the side walls 14. In this position, the side walls 24 carrying the tabs 26 are in their free position such that the tabs 26 extend out over the upper surface 16 of the connector housing 4.
  • exertion of a force in the direction of arrow A without first deflecting the tabs 26, results in abutment of the tabs 26 with the upper surface 16, thereby preventing the locking member 6 from being further inserted into the opening 12.
  • the second position cannot be achieved as the tabs 26 interfere with the upper surface 16 of the housing 4.
  • the freely cantilevered side arms 24 may be deflected in a way such that the tabs 26 may be received within the opening 12 without interference with the side walls 14 or the upper surface 16 carried thereupon.
  • another one of the latching arms 30 of the locking member 6 engage a second lock position catch surface 38 in order to establish the second position of a connector 2.
  • the connector housing 4 includes the contact cavities 10 which from a wall thereof protrudes a cantilevered contact retention arm 40.
  • the retention arm 40 has a free end 42 carrying a stop shoulder 44 that cooperates with a corresponding shoulder of an electrical contact to be inserted therein in a manner that is well known. As the retention arm extends slightly away from the cavity wall 39, a space 46 is defined therebetween.
  • the wedges 34 that extend from the locking member 6 are described in detail with reference also to Figure 6.
  • the wedge 34 includes a backup surface 48 that may be inclined to correspond to the angle at which the retention arm 40 extends from the wall 39. Opposite the backup surface 48 is a support surface 50 that corresponds to the cavity wall 39.
  • the wedge further includes a free end 52 that is configured to fit within the space 46.
  • the backup surface 48 is truncated in such a manner that an abutment shoulder 54 is provided that is generally transverse to the wedge 34.
  • the truncation further defines the free end 52 as a nose portion 56 that when the locking member 6 is in the second position, as shown in Figure 5, the nose 56 overlaps the free end 42 of the retention arm such that it is not possible for the retention arm 40 to be displaced behind the wedge 34.
  • the stop shoulder 54 provides for clean stubbing or abutment with the free end 42 of the retention arm 40 that prevents further insertion of the locking member 6 without the possibility that the gradual backup surface 48 would interact with the free end 42 to deform the arm 40 or the stop shoulder 44.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP96115451A 1995-10-03 1996-09-26 Connecteur électrique avec élément de rétention secondaire pour chargement frontal Withdrawn EP0767515A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9520188 1995-10-03
GBGB9520188.5A GB9520188D0 (en) 1995-10-03 1995-10-03 Electrical connector having front loadable secondary locking member

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0767515A2 true EP0767515A2 (fr) 1997-04-09
EP0767515A3 EP0767515A3 (fr) 1998-01-07

Family

ID=10781706

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96115451A Withdrawn EP0767515A3 (fr) 1995-10-03 1996-09-26 Connecteur électrique avec élément de rétention secondaire pour chargement frontal

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0767515A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB9520188D0 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0955695A2 (fr) * 1998-05-05 1999-11-10 Framatome Connectors International Connecteur électrique ayant des contacts verrouillés

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4708662A (en) 1986-06-20 1987-11-24 Amp Incorporated Connector assembly with pre-staged terminal retainer

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4557542A (en) * 1984-06-11 1985-12-10 Amp Incorporated Connector with means for retaining terminals and verifying seating
GB8615183D0 (en) * 1986-06-21 1986-07-23 Lucas Ind Plc Electrical connectors
JPH0770334B2 (ja) * 1989-12-27 1995-07-31 矢崎総業株式会社 端子係止具付コネクタ
FR2702889B1 (fr) * 1993-03-18 1995-04-21 Cinch Connecteurs Sa Connecteur électrique .

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4708662A (en) 1986-06-20 1987-11-24 Amp Incorporated Connector assembly with pre-staged terminal retainer

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0955695A2 (fr) * 1998-05-05 1999-11-10 Framatome Connectors International Connecteur électrique ayant des contacts verrouillés
FR2778501A1 (fr) * 1998-05-05 1999-11-12 Framatome Connectors Int Connecteur electrique a verrouillage des bornes de contact
US6132252A (en) * 1998-05-05 2000-10-17 Framatome Connectors International Electrical connector with locking of the contact terminals
EP0955695A3 (fr) * 1998-05-05 2002-04-17 Framatome Connectors International Connecteur électrique ayant des contacts verrouillés

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0767515A3 (fr) 1998-01-07
GB9520188D0 (en) 1995-12-06

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