EP0823755A1 - Connector - Google Patents

Connector Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0823755A1
EP0823755A1 EP96912220A EP96912220A EP0823755A1 EP 0823755 A1 EP0823755 A1 EP 0823755A1 EP 96912220 A EP96912220 A EP 96912220A EP 96912220 A EP96912220 A EP 96912220A EP 0823755 A1 EP0823755 A1 EP 0823755A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
post portions
socket
header
contacts
portions
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP96912220A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0823755B1 (en
EP0823755A4 (en
Inventor
Masao Suzuki
Izuru Sunnyresidence C-105 KUMAGAI
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.)
ABB Installation Products Inc
Original Assignee
Thomas and Betts Corp
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 Thomas and Betts Corp filed Critical Thomas and Betts Corp
Publication of EP0823755A1 publication Critical patent/EP0823755A1/en
Publication of EP0823755A4 publication Critical patent/EP0823755A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0823755B1 publication Critical patent/EP0823755B1/en
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
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • 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
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
    • H01R13/5213—Covers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a connector for connecting a battery unit.
  • connectors of this kind the popular type in which the contact of a male type connector or a female type connector or the contacts of connectors of both types are exposed outwardly.
  • the present invention has as its object to eliminate the above-noted defect peculiar to the connector according to the prior art.
  • the present invention provides a connector comprising a header having a plurality of post portions mounted thereon in such a manner as to protrude outwardly, and a socket having mounted thereon a plurality of contacts for contacting with the respective post portions of said header and being electrically connected thereto, said socket further having a plurality of guide grooves for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of said socket, said guide grooves forming slots thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions thereinto or sufficiently narrower than the width of the post portions, these regions of the contacts of said socket which contact with said post portions being provided so as not to be exposed outwardly of said socket.
  • the contacts of the socket are mounted in the housing of the socket and when the header and the socket fit to each other, the post portions of the header contact with the contacts while breaking or enlarging the guide grooves of the socket.
  • Figure 1 is a front view showing the header of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the header of Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a side view of the header of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the housing of the header of Figure 1.
  • Figure 5 is a plan view showing a contact (shorter one) used in the header of Figure 1.
  • Figure 6 is a plan view showing a contact (longer one) used in the header of Figure 1.
  • Figure 7 is a front view showing the socket of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 8 is a plan view of the socket of Figure 7.
  • Figure 9 is a side view of the socket of Figure 7.
  • Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the guide groove of the socket of Figure 7.
  • Figure 11 is a plan view showing a contact used in the socket of Figure 7.
  • Figure 12 is a side view showing the contact used in the socket of Figure 7.
  • Figure 13 is a partly cross-sectional view showing the fitted state of the socket and header.
  • FIGs 1 to 3 show the header 10 of a connector according to the present invention.
  • the header comprises a housing 10A and a plurality of contacts 11 and 12 mounted so that the post - portion thereof may protrude outwardly from the housing, and with predetermined intervals provided in the lengthwise direction of the housing (see Figures 1 to 3).
  • the details of the contacts are shown in Figures 5 and 6.
  • the contacts comprise post portions 11A, 12A, leg portions 11C, 12C and connecting portions 11B, 12B connecting these together.
  • the cross-sectional shape of the housing 10A with the post portions removed is shown in Figure 4. As shown the cross-section thereof has a short leg portion 10a provided at its bottom but generally presents a substantially rectangular shape.
  • At least one (11) of the post portions of the contacts is shorter than the other post portions (12) and the leg portions 11C and 12C of the contacts protrude downwardly from the bottom (leg portion) of the housing.
  • at least one of the post portions has its width made narrower than the width of the other post portions. As regards the position at which the post portions protrude from the housing, that of at least one post portion may be made to differ from that of the other post portions.
  • FIGS 7 to 10 show the socket 20 of the connector according to the present invention.
  • the socket comprises a housing 20A and a plurality of contacts 21 for contacting with the respective post portions of the header and being electrically connected thereto.
  • the contacts are mounted with predetermined intervals provided in the lengthwise direction of the housing. Also the contacts are mounted in the housing except terminal portions which will be described later so that the regions thereof contacting with the post portions may not be exposed outwardly of the housing.
  • the socket further has a plurality of guide grooves 22 for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of the socket.
  • These guide grooves form slots 22A which are thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions therein or sufficiently narrower than the width of the post portions.
  • each of the guide grooves is provided so that, as shown in Figure 10, the cross-sectional portion thereof may present a substantially M-shape or so that, as can be seen from Figures 7 to 9, it may be astride at least two (or three) adjacent surfaces of the housing.
  • the opposite side regions of each guide groove with respect to the slot are formed thinly as compared with the other portions of the housing and use a material rich in flexibility to thereby act as a spring.
  • Each of the contacts of the socket comprises a pair of contact pieces 21A, a terminal portion 21C and a connecting portion 21B connecting these together.
  • the contact pieces are provided so as to be opposed to each other as shown in order to receive the post portion of the header and sandwich it therebetween.
  • Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupled state of the header and the socket.
  • the post portions of the contacts of the header pass through the guide grooves of the socket and are received and sandwiched between the mutually opposed contact pieces of the socket and electrically connected thereto.
  • the socket although not shown, is attached in advance, for example, to a battery unit, and the terminals of the contacts are connected to the electrodes of the unit.
  • the header although not shown, is mounted, for example, on a printed substrate through the leg portions of the contacts.
  • the plurality of guide grooves for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of the socket are provided so as to form slots which are thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions and so that those regions of the contacts of the socket which contact with the post portions of the header may not be exposed outwardly of the socket and therefore, the contact portions of the contacts of the socket are not exposed outwardly of the housing, irrespective of before and after the connection of the socket and the header. Accordingly, even when the socket is attached, for example, to a unit including a battery of large capacity for use, short-circuiting will not take place and the safety in handling will be achieved.
  • each guide groove is provided so as to be astride at least two adjacent surfaces of the housing of the socket and therefore, it becomes possible for the post portions of the header and the contacts of the socket to be connected so as to become linear with one another or to intersect one another. Accordingly, about the connection of the header and socket, the degree of freedom of the direction of connection is great.
  • At least one of the post portions of the contacts of the header is shorter than the other post portions and therefore, when the post portions and the contacts of the socket are to be connected together, a difference in the time for connection occurs between the longer post portions and the shorter post portion.
  • the connection of a ground terminal may be staggered in time so as to take measures such as improving safety.

Abstract

A connector comprises a header having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon in such a manner that the post portions thereof protrude outwardly, and a socket having mounted thereon a plurality of contracts for contacting with the respective post portions of the header and being electrically connected thereto. The socket further has a plurality of guide grooves for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of the socket. The guide grooves form slots thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions thereinto or sufficiently narrower than the width of the post portions. Those regions of the contacts of the socket which contact with the post portions are provided so as not to be exposed outwardly of the socket.

Description

Technical Field
This invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a connector for connecting a battery unit.
Background Art
Among connectors of this kind, the popular type in which the contact of a male type connector or a female type connector or the contacts of connectors of both types are exposed outwardly.
Disclosure of Invention
However, when the number of electrodes becomes great and the distance between the contacts becomes short, the danger of being short-circuited between the contacts becomes correspondingly great. Especially, in a connector attached to a battery unit containing a battery of large capacity therein, a contact leading to the electrode of the battery will suffer from great damage when short-circuiting takes place, and will also be dangerous.
The present invention has as its object to eliminate the above-noted defect peculiar to the connector according to the prior art.
To achieve such object, the present invention provides a connector comprising a header having a plurality of post portions mounted thereon in such a manner as to protrude outwardly, and a socket having mounted thereon a plurality of contacts for contacting with the respective post portions of said header and being electrically connected thereto, said socket further having a plurality of guide grooves for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of said socket, said guide grooves forming slots thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions thereinto or sufficiently narrower than the width of the post portions, these regions of the contacts of said socket which contact with said post portions being provided so as not to be exposed outwardly of said socket.
In the present invention, the contacts of the socket are mounted in the housing of the socket and when the header and the socket fit to each other, the post portions of the header contact with the contacts while breaking or enlarging the guide grooves of the socket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front view showing the header of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the header of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of the header of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the housing of the header of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan view showing a contact (shorter one) used in the header of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a plan view showing a contact (longer one) used in the header of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a front view showing the socket of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the socket of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a side view of the socket of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the guide groove of the socket of Figure 7.
Figure 11 is a plan view showing a contact used in the socket of Figure 7.
Figure 12 is a side view showing the contact used in the socket of Figure 7.
Figure 13 is a partly cross-sectional view showing the fitted state of the socket and header.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The invention will hereinafter be described with respect to an embodiment thereof shown in the drawings.
Figures 1 to 3 show the header 10 of a connector according to the present invention. The header comprises a housing 10A and a plurality of contacts 11 and 12 mounted so that the post - portion thereof may protrude outwardly from the housing, and with predetermined intervals provided in the lengthwise direction of the housing (see Figures 1 to 3). The details of the contacts are shown in Figures 5 and 6. As can be seen from these figures, the contacts comprise post portions 11A, 12A, leg portions 11C, 12C and connecting portions 11B, 12B connecting these together.
The cross-sectional shape of the housing 10A with the post portions removed is shown in Figure 4. As shown the cross-section thereof has a short leg portion 10a provided at its bottom but generally presents a substantially rectangular shape.
As can be seen from Figures 2, 5 and 6, at least one (11) of the post portions of the contacts is shorter than the other post portions (12) and the leg portions 11C and 12C of the contacts protrude downwardly from the bottom (leg portion) of the housing. Also, at least one of the post portions has its width made narrower than the width of the other post portions. As regards the position at which the post portions protrude from the housing, that of at least one post portion may be made to differ from that of the other post portions.
Figures 7 to 10 show the socket 20 of the connector according to the present invention. The socket comprises a housing 20A and a plurality of contacts 21 for contacting with the respective post portions of the header and being electrically connected thereto. The contacts are mounted with predetermined intervals provided in the lengthwise direction of the housing. Also the contacts are mounted in the housing except terminal portions which will be described later so that the regions thereof contacting with the post portions may not be exposed outwardly of the housing.
The socket further has a plurality of guide grooves 22 for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of the socket. These guide grooves form slots 22A which are thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions therein or sufficiently narrower than the width of the post portions. For example, each of the guide grooves is provided so that, as shown in Figure 10, the cross-sectional portion thereof may present a substantially M-shape or so that, as can be seen from Figures 7 to 9, it may be astride at least two (or three) adjacent surfaces of the housing. In the showing, the opposite side regions of each guide groove with respect to the slot are formed thinly as compared with the other portions of the housing and use a material rich in flexibility to thereby act as a spring.
Each of the contacts of the socket, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, comprises a pair of contact pieces 21A, a terminal portion 21C and a connecting portion 21B connecting these together. The contact pieces are provided so as to be opposed to each other as shown in order to receive the post portion of the header and sandwich it therebetween.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupled state of the header and the socket. The post portions of the contacts of the header pass through the guide grooves of the socket and are received and sandwiched between the mutually opposed contact pieces of the socket and electrically connected thereto.
The socket, although not shown, is attached in advance, for example, to a battery unit, and the terminals of the contacts are connected to the electrodes of the unit. Also, the header, although not shown, is mounted, for example, on a printed substrate through the leg portions of the contacts.
In the socket of the present invention, the plurality of guide grooves for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of the socket are provided so as to form slots which are thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions and so that those regions of the contacts of the socket which contact with the post portions of the header may not be exposed outwardly of the socket and therefore, the contact portions of the contacts of the socket are not exposed outwardly of the housing, irrespective of before and after the connection of the socket and the header. Accordingly, even when the socket is attached, for example, to a unit including a battery of large capacity for use, short-circuiting will not take place and the safety in handling will be achieved.
Also, each guide groove is provided so as to be astride at least two adjacent surfaces of the housing of the socket and therefore, it becomes possible for the post portions of the header and the contacts of the socket to be connected so as to become linear with one another or to intersect one another. Accordingly, about the connection of the header and socket, the degree of freedom of the direction of connection is great.
At least one of the post portions of the contacts of the header is shorter than the other post portions and therefore, when the post portions and the contacts of the socket are to be connected together, a difference in the time for connection occurs between the longer post portions and the shorter post portion. Thereby, for example the connection of a ground terminal may be staggered in time so as to take measures such as improving safety. This also holds true of a case where with regard to a header differing in the width of the post portions thereof, the post portions are connected to the contacts of the socket in a direction intersecting the direction of protrusion thereof, and further holds true also of a case where with regard to a header differing in the position of protrusion of the post portions thereof, the post portions are connected to the contacts of the socket in a direction intersecting the direction of protrusion.

Claims (7)

  1. A connector comprising a header 10 having a plurality of contacts 11, 12 mounted thereon in such a manner that the post portions 11A, 12A thereof protrude outwardly, and a socket 20 having mounted thereon a plurality of contacts 21 for contacting with the respective post portions of said header and being electrically connected thereto, said socket further having a plurality of guide grooves 22 for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of said socket, said guide grooves forming slots 22A thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions thereinto or sufficiently narrower than the width of post portions, those regions of the contacts of said socket which contact with said post portions being provided so as not to be exposed outwardly of said socket.
  2. A connector according to Claim 1, wherein the shape of the housing of the header is substantially rectangular shape in its cross-section, and said guide grooves are astride at least two adjacent surfaces of said housing.
  3. A connector according to Claim 2, wherein said guide grooves present a substantially M-shape in their cross-section.
  4. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the contacts of said socket each have a pair of mutually opposed contact pieces 21A for receiving and sandwiching the post portion of said header therebetween.
  5. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the post portions of said header is shorter than the other post portions.
  6. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the post portions of said header is smaller width than that of the other post portions.
  7. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the post portions of said header differs from the other post portions in the position at which it protrudes from the housing of the header.
EP96912220A 1995-04-24 1996-04-24 Connector Expired - Lifetime EP0823755B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP7098377A JPH08298159A (en) 1995-04-24 1995-04-24 Connector
JP9837795 1995-04-24
JP98377/95 1995-04-24
PCT/JP1996/001111 WO1996034430A1 (en) 1995-04-24 1996-04-24 Connector

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0823755A1 true EP0823755A1 (en) 1998-02-11
EP0823755A4 EP0823755A4 (en) 1998-09-02
EP0823755B1 EP0823755B1 (en) 2000-12-20

Family

ID=14218193

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96912220A Expired - Lifetime EP0823755B1 (en) 1995-04-24 1996-04-24 Connector

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0823755B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH08298159A (en)
AT (1) ATE198246T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2219131C (en)
DE (1) DE69611293T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2154403T3 (en)
WO (1) WO1996034430A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5203989B2 (en) * 2009-01-28 2013-06-05 タイコエレクトロニクスジャパン合同会社 Electrical connector

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0079665A1 (en) * 1981-11-18 1983-05-25 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Connector housing
JPS62116377U (en) * 1986-01-17 1987-07-24
JPH0466795U (en) * 1990-10-22 1992-06-12

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2095923A (en) * 1981-03-30 1982-10-06 Molex Inc Integrated-circuit connector assembly
JPH0673878U (en) * 1993-03-31 1994-10-18 日本航空電子工業株式会社 Socket connector

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0079665A1 (en) * 1981-11-18 1983-05-25 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Connector housing
JPS62116377U (en) * 1986-01-17 1987-07-24
JPH0466795U (en) * 1990-10-22 1992-06-12

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9634430A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0823755B1 (en) 2000-12-20
EP0823755A4 (en) 1998-09-02
DE69611293D1 (en) 2001-01-25
CA2219131A1 (en) 1996-10-31
JPH08298159A (en) 1996-11-12
WO1996034430A1 (en) 1996-10-31
ATE198246T1 (en) 2001-01-15
CA2219131C (en) 2002-08-13
ES2154403T3 (en) 2001-04-01
DE69611293T2 (en) 2001-05-17

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