EP0814541B1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a electrical connector.

The present invention relates to connectors electrics of the type comprising a housing element male with a series of channels in which are housed female electrical contact members, said male housing element being intended to be inserted in the skirt of a female housing element comprising a series of channels in each of which is housed a male electrical contact member terminated by a tab protruding into the skirt and intended to cooperate with the corresponding female electrical contact member.

We know locking key systems intended to block the electrical contact members females in the canals and which form, at the surface, protrusions so as to oppose the engagement of the male element into the female element if the key is not locked.

Such connectors offer great security because they do not allow the assembly of elements housing only if the electrical contact members females are perfectly inserted into the canals.

We also know key systems lock for electrical contact members males, but these systems do not allow oppose the assembly of the housing elements if they are not locked.

Such a system is known from document US-A 5,322,456.

One of the aims of the invention is to remedy to this disadvantage.

The connector according to the invention is of the type comprising a male housing element comprising a series of channels intended to receive, each, a female electrical contact member, means being provided for locking said contact members female electrical in said channels, an element female housing with a body with a series channels each intended to receive an organ for male electrical contact terminated by a tab, said body being extended by a skirt intended to receive the male housing element and in which the tongues protrude, said body having in each channel, locking bars resiliently movable and having a hook intended to cooperate with a notch of the organ of male electrical contact, the female housing element comprising a key U-shaped lock with two wings and one core, said key comprising spikes passing through its core body openings and opening into channels for cooperating with retaining members said male electrical contact members, said locking key that can occupy two positions, a pre-locking position in which the pins are cleared of the openings to allow the setting in place of the male electrical contact members in the channels and a locking position in which the pins cooperate with the retaining members, said connector being characterized in that the skirt has laterally, on two opposite walls and longitudinally, two conduits which, through a slit, open in the skirt, while the wings of the key each have a stopper, the tabs being made so that in the locked position of the key, the tabs are deleted in the conduits, whereas on the contrary, when the key is in pre-locking position, the tabs protrude in the skirt through the slits.

Thanks to this provision, if the organs of male electrical contacts are not properly the key cannot be placed in the locking position and the tabs oppose to the assembly of the housing elements. In addition, the key is located near the end of the housing element opposite the skirt and on the outside of said female housing element so that it is easily maneuverable.

Preferably, the cleats have a length such as in the pre-lock position of the key, the male housing element abutting against said cleats, the male electrical contact members and females stay away from each other.

The invention will now be described. in more detail with reference to an embodiment particular given as an example only and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention.

Figure 2 is also a perspective view of the connector according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the male housing element.

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the male housing element.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of figure 3.

Figure 6 is a similar sectional view in Figure 5, the key being in the locked position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 of figure 4.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the element female housing.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the element female housing.

Figure 10 is a sectional view along line 10-10 of figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view along line 11-11 of figure 9.

Figure 12 is a view similar to the figure 11, the key being locked.

Figure 13 is a sectional view along line 13-13 of Figure 10.

Figure 14 and Figure 15 are views in section showing the assembly of the two housing elements.

Figure 16 and Figure 17 are views in section showing the impossibility of assembly when the keys are not locked.

The connector shown in the figures includes an element of male housing 1 and an element of female housing 2.

The male housing element 1 is formed of a insulating plastic body having two lateral faces 1a and 1b, an anterior end 1c, one posterior end 1d and two side walls 1st and 1st.

The body is divided into a number channels 5 intended to receive, each, an organ female electrical contact 6 comprising, at one end, an elastic clamp 4 and, at the other end, crimping lugs 3 for an electrical conductor 14.

Each channel 5 has an insertion end 7 by which the female electrical contact member 6 is inserted and a stop 8 in the vicinity of the anterior end 1c for retaining said member, said stop being pierced an opening 9 for the passage of a tongue male 42.

In each channel, there is a bar elastic locking 11 having a hook 12 intended to cooperate with an opening 13 of the female electrical contact member 6.

In the wall 1f are practiced, transversely to the body, openings 15 which open out in channels 5 at an intermediate point in their length, the female electrical contact member having a thinned profiled portion 16 coming to be located in line with opening 15 and connected by a shoulder 17 to the part coming to bear against the stop 8.

The side faces 1a and 1b have first projections 21 and second projections 22, a U-shaped key 20 with a core 20a and two wings 20b being mounted on the body of element 1.

The lateral faces 1a and 1b include, each, projecting bars 24 for guiding edges of the wings 20b, while the core is provided, on its internal face, a series of pins 26 intended to fit into the openings 15.

Each wing 20b, on its internal face at near its free edge, has a hook 27 intended to cooperate, selectively, with the first projections 21 and the second projections 22.

As seen in Figure 5, the key 20 can thus occupy a pre-locking position in which the bars 11 can play elastically and the pins 26, separated from the channels, can well be set up.

When the organs 6 are housed in the channels 5, you can lock the key 20 by pass the hooks 27 behind the projections 22, the pins 26 then cooperate with the profiled parts 16, while the core 20a, bearing against the bars elastic 11, blocks these.

The face of the element 1 comprises a member 30 to ensure the locking of the two elements of case 1 and 2 when they are engaged one in the other.

The female housing element 2 has a body 36 with channels 37 intended to receive, each, a male electrical contact member 38 having, at one end, crimp tabs 40 for a conductor 41 and, at the other end, a tongue 42 intended to be inserted in the clamp 4.

Each male electrical contact member 38 has a perforation 43 and a notch 44.

Channels 37 have an opening introduction 45 by which the organs are inserted male electrical contacts 38 and a reduced section end 46 to limit the engagement of said male electrical contact members 38 in said channels 37, the body 36 being extended by a skirt 35 in which extend the tabs 42. The skirt 35 affects a parallelepiped shape with four walls lateral 35a, 35b, 35c and 35d.

The skirt 35 is shaped so as to present two conduits 52 opening, on the one hand, onto the bottom and, on the other hand, on the free edge of said skirt, each duct, along the inside walls 35a and 35b, comprising a slot 53.

The wall 35c has a light 55 intended to receive the member 30 of the male housing element 1.

The body 36, on its corresponding side walls to the side walls 35a and 35b of the skirt 35, has two guide bars 56, the corresponding edge of the skirt forms a shoulder 57.

Between shoulders 57 and bars 56 are guided the wings 61 of a shaped key 60 of U whose core 62, along the edge facing the opening of introduction of the contact members electric male 38, is provided with a series of pins 64 intended to pass through openings 65 of the body 36, openings opening into the conduits 37.

The edge of the wings 61 is terminated by hooks 67 intended to cooperate, selectively, with first projections 68 and second projections 69 so that the key 60 can occupy a position of pre-locking to allow the insertion of organs male electrical contact 38 in channels 37 and a locking position to block said organs in said channels.

In each channel 37 is formed a elastic locking bar 70 having a hook 71 intended to cooperate with the notch 44.

The wings 61 of the key 60, on the turned side towards the skirt 35, are each extended by a cleat 75.

The cleats 75 are made so, in the key pre-locking position, to do protruding into the skirt 35 through the slots 53, while that in the locked position, said tabs fit fully into conduits 51.

Figures 14 and 15 show that when the key 20 occupies the locked position, the housing elements 1 and 2 can be assembled. In this position, the female contact organs 6 are inserted in channels 5 so that the hooks 12 cooperate with the openings 13, the pins 26 cooperating with the profiled parts 16 and the key 60 also being in the locked position.

Figure 16 shows on the contrary, when key 20 is not locked and key 60 being locked, that the male element 1 cannot be engaged in the skirt 35, the core of said key abuts against the free edge of the wall 35d of said skirt.

If key 20 is locked, but the key 60 is in the pre-locking position (see figure 17), the cleats 75 projecting from the skirt 35, the wall 1c of the male box element 1 abuts against said cleats 75 and the two housing elements cannot be coupled.

Preferably, the cleats have a length such that if they protrude into the skirt 35, the electrical contact members of the two elements of case can not touch, if we try to engage the male element 1 in said skirt 35.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and shown. We can make many modifications detail without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

1. Electrical connector of the type comprising a male housing element (1) having a series of channels (5) intended to each receive a female electrical contact member (6), means (11,20) being provided for clamping said electrical female contact members into said channels (5), a female housing element (2) having a body (36) with a series of channels (37) each intended to receive a male electrical contact member (38) terminated by a flat pin terminal (42), said body (36) being prolonged by a skirt (35) intended to receive the male housing element (1) and into which the flat pin terminals (42) protrude, said body (36) having flexibly mobile small clamping bars (70) in each channel (37) and having a hook (71) intended to co-operate with a scalloping (44) of the male electrical contact member (38), the female housing element (6) comprising a clamping key (60) in the shape of a U having two wings (61) and a core (62), said key having point bars (64) on its core, passing through openings (65) of the body and opening into the channels (37) to co-operate with retaining members (43) of said male electrical contact members (38), said clamping key (60) being able to occupy two positions, a pre-clamping position in which the point bars are disengaged from openings (65) so as to allow the introduction of male electrical contact members (38) into channels (37), and a clamping position in which the point bars co-operate with retaining members (43), characterised in that the skirt (35) has two conduits (51) laterally on two opposing walls and longitudinally, which open into the skirt (35) via a slit (53), whilst the two wings (61) of key (60) each have a catch (75), the catches being realised in such a way that the catches are effaced in conduits (51) in the locking position of key (60) whilst on the contrary, when key (60) is in the pre-clamping position, the catches (75) project into the skirt (35) through slits (53).
2. Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the catches (75) are of a length such that in the pre-clamping position of the key, the male housing element (1) abutting on said catches (75), the male and female electrical contact members remain spaced from one another.

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