EP0938758B1 - Elektrischer verbinder - Google Patents

Elektrischer verbinder Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0938758B1
EP0938758B1 EP97948230A EP97948230A EP0938758B1 EP 0938758 B1 EP0938758 B1 EP 0938758B1 EP 97948230 A EP97948230 A EP 97948230A EP 97948230 A EP97948230 A EP 97948230A EP 0938758 B1 EP0938758 B1 EP 0938758B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
section
latch member
wall portion
electrical contact
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
EP97948230A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0938758A1 (de
Inventor
Toru Yamamoto
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 EP0938758A1 publication Critical patent/EP0938758A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0938758B1 publication Critical patent/EP0938758B1/de
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
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
    • H01R13/428—Securing in a demountable manner by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
    • H01R13/432—Securing in a demountable manner by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members by stamped-out resilient tongue snapping behind shoulder in base or case
    • 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
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical contact that has a contact section that mates with a mating contact, and an electrical wire connection section. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrical contact provided with a flexible latching member that is latchable to a connector housing.
  • a conventional electrical contact shown in FIGS.6A, 6B and disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 145492/77 has a contact section 110 that mates with a mating contact (not shown); a wire crimp section that includes a wire barrel 131 and an insulation barrel 132 and is connected with an electrical wire (not shown) by crimping thereto; and a latching section 120 disposed between the contact section 110 and the wire crimp section 130, and that is latched to a connector housing (not shown).
  • the electrical contact 100 is formed by stamping and forming a metal sheet.
  • the contact section 110 is formed substantially in the shape of a box that has a base member 111, a pair of side walls 112, that are raised from both sides of the base member 111, and top plates 113, that are bent inward from the side walls 112 so that a tab or post-mating contact can be accommodated therein.
  • a plurality of spring contact members 114,115 engage the mating contact and are disposed so that the spring contact members extend rearward and approach each other from the front ends of the base member 111 and top plates 113 (i.e., the left end in FIG. 6B).
  • the latching section 120 has a flexible member 121 that is cut and raised from base member 111 so that flexible latch member 121 rises upward as shown in FIG. 6B) toward the rear from the base member 111, and a pair of side wall portions 122 extending rearward from the respective side walls 112 of the contact section 110, and whose upper ends are located beyond the free end of the latch member 121.
  • the side wall portions 122 prevent the electrical wire from becoming entangled with the latch member 121 during crimping, and also act to prevent reverse insertion of the electrical contact 100 when the electrical contact 100 is inserted and held in the connector housing.
  • a feature of the present invention is to provide, in a simple form, an electrical contact in which a latch member protective section protecting a flexible latch member and preventing reverse insertion of the electrical contact into a connector housing, is structurally strengthened, and the contact is equipped with an anti-overstress member that prevents overstress of the flexible latch member.
  • An electrical contact of the present invention comprises a contact section having a spring contact member, a latching section having a flexible latch member, and a latch member protective section, wherein the latch member protective section includes an outside wall portion extending upward from a side wall of the latch member protective section, an inside wall portion extending downward from an upper end of the outside wall portion, and an anti-overstress member extending from an inner end of the inside wall portion toward the other side wall of the latch member protective section so that the anti-overstress member can be engaged by the flexible latch member.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan view that shows an electrical contact of the present invention together with a carrier strip.
  • FIGURES 2 and 3 are right-side and front views of the electrical contact shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIGURES 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5 in FIGS. 2 and 1 respectively.
  • FIGURES 6A and 6B show a conventional electrical contact with FIG. 6A being a perspective view of the electrical contact, while FIG. 6B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electrical contact taken along line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A.
  • electrical contact 1 has a contact section 10, that mates with a mating contact (not shown), an electrical wire connection or crimp section 30 that includes a wire barrel 31 and an insulation barrel 32, and that is to be electrically connected to an electrical wire, and a latching section 20, that is disposed between the contact section 10 and wire crimp section 30.
  • Contact 1 is formed by stamping and forming a metal sheet, and in FIGS. 1 and 2, the contact is connected to a carrier strip 40 that is cut away after contact 1 has been manufactured, electrically connected to an electrical wire or inserted into a connector housing.
  • Contact section 10 is formed substantially in the shape of a box that has a base member 11, a pair of side walls 12 and 13, lower top walls 14a and 14b that are bent inward from an upper end of one of the side walls 12 (i. e., the upper end in FIG. 5) at the front end (left end in FIG. 5) of the contact section 10 and at the rear of the contact section 10, and an upper top wall 15 that is bent inward from an upper end of the other side wall 13, so that a tab or post-mating contact can be accommodated therein.
  • a spring contact member 16 is provided that extends forward and downward from the lower top wall 14b at the rear and of the contact section 10 and makes spring engagement with the mating contact, and a contact projection 18 that engages the mating contact is formed by punching in the forward portion of the base member 11.
  • a relief slot 17 is formed in the forward portion of the upper top wall 15 and provides relief for the spring contact member 16 when the spring contact member 16 engages the mating contact and flexes upward. Since relief slot 17 is formed in the upper top wall 15, engagement of the free end of the spring contact member 16 with the upper top wall 15 can be avoided while keeping the vertical height of the contact section 10 low. Whereas contact section 10 is shown as being formed as a substantially box-shaped contact section, it would also be possible to form a circular-shaped contact section.
  • Latching section 20 has flexible latch member 25 bent so that it rises upward toward the rear from the upper top wall 15 of the contact section 10 and latches to a connector housing (not shown).
  • Contact 1 also includes a pair of side walls 22 and 23 extending rearward from the respective side walls 12 and 13 of the contact section; latch member protective section 21 comprising an outside wall portion 21a that extends upward from one of the side walls 22, and whose upper end protrudes upward beyond the free or upper end of the flexible latch member 25; and an inside wall portion 21b that is folded downward from the upper end of the outside wall portion 21a. Outside and inside wall portions 21a, 21b extend alongside one another and are preferably in engagement.
  • latch member protective section 21 is constructed from two metal plates (i.e., outside wall portion 21a and inside wall portion 21b connected thereto) latch member protective section 21 is structurally strong in the inside-outside direction (i. e., the left-right direction in FIG. 4). Accordingly, there is little likelihood that the latch member protective section 21 will be bent in the inside-outside direction during the electrical wire connection operation, or during the installation of the contact in the connector housing. Thus, there is no loss of the flexible latch member protective function, and this prevents the electrical wire from becoming entangled with the flexible latch member 25 and also prevents reverse insertion during contact insertion.
  • Latching section 20 has an anti-overstress member 24 bent toward the other side wall 23 from the inside wall portion 21b of the latch member protective member 21, and capable of engaging the underside of the flexible latch member 25. Accordingly, in cases where the flexible latch member 25 flexes downward to an excessive degree, the free end of the flexible latch member 25 engages the upper surface of the anti-overstress member 24, so that deformation of the flexible latch member 25 can be prevented. Furthermore, since the anti-overstress member 24 is not formed by being cut and raised from one of the side walls 22 and 23 constituting the latching section 20, but is instead formed by being bent from the inside wall portion 21b that is bent from the outside wall portion 21a, there is no decrease in the strength of the side walls 22 and 23.
  • anti-overstress member 24 may also be mounted on or fastened to the surface of the other side wall 23. If this is done, both ends of the anti-overstress part 24 will be supported; in such a case, therefore, the strength of the anti-overstress member 24 against bending is increased, and deformation of the anti-overstress member itself is prevented.
  • Anti-overstress member 24 may also be disposed on the other side wall 23.
  • the latching section is equipped with a latch member protective section comprising an outside wall portion that extends upward from one of the side walls of the contact section, and whose upper end protrudes upward beyond the free end of the flexible latch member, and an inside wall portion, that is folded downward from an upper end of the outside wall portion.
  • the latch member protective section is constructed from two metal plates, and is therefore structurally strong in the inside-outside direction. As a result, there is little likelihood that the latch member protective section will be bent in the inside-outside direction during the electrical wire connection operation, or during the installation of the electrical contact in the connector housing.
  • the latching section is equipped with an anti-overstress member that is bent toward the other side wall from the inside wall portion of the latch member protective section, and that is capable of engaging the underside of the flexible latch member. Accordingly, in cases where the flexible latch member flexes downward to an excessive degree, the flexible latch member engages the anti-overstress member, so that overstress and deformation of the flexible latch member can be prevented.
  • the anti-overstress member is not formed by being cut and raised from one of the side walls constituting the latching section, but is instead formed by being bent from the inside wall portion that is bent from the outside wall portion, there is no decrease in the strength of the side walls.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Elektrischer Kontakt, der aufweist: einen Kontaktabschnitt (10) mit einem Federkontaktelement (16); einen Einklinkabschnitt (20) mit einem elastischen Einklinkelement (25); und einen Einklinkelementschutzabschnitt (21), dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß:
       der Einklinkelementschutzabschnitt (21) umfaßt: einen Außenwandabschnitt (21a), der sich von einer Seitenwand (22) des Einklinkelementschutzabschnittes aus nach oben erstreckt; einen Innenwandabschnitt (21b), der sich von einem oberen Ende des Außenwandabschnittes (21a) nach unten erstreckt; und ein Überdehnungsschutzelement (24), das sich von einem inneren Ende des Innenwandabschnittes (21b) zur anderen Seitenwand (23) des Einklinkelementschutzabschnittes (21) hin so erstreckt, daß das Überdehnungsschutzelement (24) mit dem elastischen Einklinkelement (25) in Eingriff gebracht werden kann.
  2. Elektrischer Kontakt nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das obere Ende des Außenwandabschnittes (21a) über das freie Ende des elastischen Einklinkelementes (25) hinaus nach oben vorsteht.
  3. Elektrischer Kontakt nach Anspruch 1 und 2, bei dem das Federkontaktelement (16) aus einer unteren Deckwand (14b) herausgeschnitten ist und sich nach vorn zu einem vorderen Ende des Kontaktabschnittes (10) hin erstreckt.
  4. Elektrischer Kontakt nach Ansprüchen 1 bis 3, bei dem ein freies Ende des Federkontaktelementes (16) zu einer oberen Deckwand (15) des Kontaktabschnittes (10) hin gebogen ist.
  5. Elektrischer Kontakt nach Anspruch 4, bei dem die obere Deckwand (15) einen Schlitz (17) umfaßt, um das freie Ende des Federkontaktelementes (16) aufzunehmen.
  6. Elektrischer Kontakt nach Anspruch 1, bei dem sich der Außenwandabschnitt (21a) und der Innenwandabschnitt (21b) nebeneinander erstrecken.
EP97948230A 1996-11-12 1997-11-11 Elektrischer verbinder Expired - Lifetime EP0938758B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP31546996A JP3221557B2 (ja) 1996-11-12 1996-11-12 電気コンタクト
JP31546996 1996-11-12
PCT/US1997/020497 WO1998021784A1 (en) 1996-11-12 1997-11-11 Electrical contact

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0938758A1 EP0938758A1 (de) 1999-09-01
EP0938758B1 true EP0938758B1 (de) 2001-01-24

Family

ID=18065738

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97948230A Expired - Lifetime EP0938758B1 (de) 1996-11-12 1997-11-11 Elektrischer verbinder

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0938758B1 (de)
JP (1) JP3221557B2 (de)
CN (1) CN1104754C (de)
AU (1) AU5433498A (de)
DE (1) DE69703989T2 (de)
WO (1) WO1998021784A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3361308B2 (ja) * 1999-12-28 2003-01-07 タイコエレクトロニクスアンプ株式会社 雌型コンタクト及びそれを用いた電気コネクタ
DE20013570U1 (de) 2000-08-08 2001-01-11 Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co KG, 58507 Lüdenscheid Kontaktelement für Steckverbindungen
US7497721B2 (en) * 2006-09-14 2009-03-03 Tyco Electronics Corporation Tool extractable contacts for electrical connectors
DE202006017447U1 (de) * 2006-11-14 2007-01-11 Stocko Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg Flachsteckhülse
JP2009117112A (ja) * 2007-11-05 2009-05-28 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd 端子金具
KR102570265B1 (ko) 2016-04-26 2023-08-24 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 배터리 팩
EP3451467B1 (de) * 2017-09-01 2022-02-23 Tyco Electronics France SAS Elektrischer kontakt aus blech mit plastisch verlängerter rastzunge und/oder mit endanschlag und verfahren zur herstellung davon
US10826233B1 (en) * 2019-05-23 2020-11-03 Te Connectivity Corporation Resilient latch with low stress concentrations

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1463751A (en) * 1974-05-03 1977-02-09 Amp Inc Electrical tab receptacle
GB1543587A (en) * 1976-12-14 1979-04-04 Cannon Electric Great Britain Electrical contacts
US4781628A (en) * 1987-10-22 1988-11-01 General Motors Corporation Female electrical terminal
DE4131470A1 (de) * 1991-09-21 1993-04-01 Kostal Leopold Gmbh & Co Kg Elektrisches steckkontaktteil
GB9124572D0 (en) * 1991-11-20 1992-01-08 Amp Gmbh Electrical terminal having improved retention means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1998021784A1 (en) 1998-05-22
EP0938758A1 (de) 1999-09-01
JP3221557B2 (ja) 2001-10-22
DE69703989D1 (de) 2001-03-01
AU5433498A (en) 1998-06-03
DE69703989T2 (de) 2001-06-13
JPH10144378A (ja) 1998-05-29
CN1237280A (zh) 1999-12-01
CN1104754C (zh) 2003-04-02

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