EP1220370A1 - Fiche de connection et câble la comprenant - Google Patents

Fiche de connection et câble la comprenant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1220370A1
EP1220370A1 EP01205173A EP01205173A EP1220370A1 EP 1220370 A1 EP1220370 A1 EP 1220370A1 EP 01205173 A EP01205173 A EP 01205173A EP 01205173 A EP01205173 A EP 01205173A EP 1220370 A1 EP1220370 A1 EP 1220370A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
latch
rim
counterpart
extension
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Withdrawn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
EP01205173A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hendrikus Petrus Gijsbertus Van Der Steen
Marcel Peter Meijer
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
FCI SA
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 FCI SA, Framatome Connectors International SAS filed Critical FCI SA
Publication of EP1220370A1 publication Critical patent/EP1220370A1/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6275—Latching arms not integral with the housing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R11/00—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
    • 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 invention pertains to a connector comprising a housing, a plurality of electrical contacts, and at least one resilient latch for establishing a mechanical connection with a connector counterpart comprising an opening, such as a slot or notch, for receiving the latch.
  • a connector of this type is disclosed in European patent application 0 898 333 A2, which describes (in conjunction with inter alia figure 1) a cable connector (numeral 20) including a terminal block or housing (22) formed of an insulating material. Terminals (24) are placed in slots in the housing (22) and extend beyond the front face of the said housing (22).
  • the housing (22) further includes a pair of laterally spaced guidance pegs (26) that may include polarising features for insuring correct mating with a receptacle connector (e.g. as shown in figure 13). Because the terminals (24) are spring-loaded in order to develop sufficient contact forces by compression against stationary contacts (84) in the receptacle connector (80), there is inherently a force that tends to separate the two connectors.
  • each of the pegs (26) is provided with a resilient latch arm (30) which includes a distal portion carrying a latch pawl (32).
  • the receptacle connector (80) comprises two openings (88) the front edges (89) of which, upon connection, are engaged by the latch pawls (32). The said connector (20) is released by pressing the latch pawls (32) downwards.
  • the connector according to the present invention is characterised in that the latch comprises an extension which, upon connection of the connector to the counterpart, engages with a rim or inner wall of the said opening and in that the surface of the extension that contacts the said rim or inner wall is curved.
  • the use of a curved surface instead of a straight surface allows more effective control over the so-called retention force, i.e. the force with which the connector is retained in its counterpart in a direction substantially parallel and opposite to the insertion direction of the connector. As a result, inadvertent release of the connector is less likely to occur.
  • the latch comprises a second extension which reaches beyond a second rim or inner wall of the opening opposite the first rim or inner wall and which abuts the counterpart upon rotation of the connector about an axis substantially perpendicular to the insert direction of the connector.
  • the latch will be withdrawn from the said opening, thus releasing the connector and reducing the risk of damage to the connector or its counterpart when, e.g., someone trips over a cable which has been attached to a mobile telephone.
  • Figure 1 shows in perspective a connector in which the features of the present invention can be applied.
  • Figure 2 shows part of a cross-section through a connector according to the present invention, which is otherwise similar to the connector shown in figure 1.
  • Figures 3A and 3B show in perspective a bottom and a top view of a connector counterpart for use in a mobile device.
  • Figure 4 shows a detail of the connector according to figure 2.
  • Figures 5A and 5B a first alternative to the connector according to figure 2.
  • Figure 6 shows a second alternative to the connector according to figure 2.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a connector or plug 1, such as an input/output plug for a mobile telephone, suitable for connection to a connector counterpart or receptacle 2 (shown in figure 3).
  • the plug 1 comprises an outer housing consisting of a lower or main part 3 and an upper part or cover 4.
  • the outer housing contains an inner housing 5 is made of an electrically insulating thermoplastic material and is placed inside a shielding 6 of a folded metal sheet.
  • the inner housing 5 is fitted with a plurality of spring-loaded terminals 7 arranged in a row and extending through the front of the inner housing 5.
  • the terminals 7 are electrically connected to respective wires (not shown) in a cable 8, whereas the shielding 6 of the housing 5 is electrically connected to a braid (not shown) in the cable 8, which braid surrounds and thus shields the said wires.
  • a strain relieve 9 is provided in the rear of the outer housing so as to avoid excessive forces on the (solder)connection between the terminals 7 and the wires when the cable 8 is being bent.
  • the inner housing 5 is provided with two substantially parallel pegs 10, 10', for aligning and polarising the plug 1 with respect to the receptacle 2, each of which pegs 10, 10' contains a resilient latch 11 respectively 11'.
  • the latch 11 is part of a substantially flat element 12, which further comprises a barbed retention portion 13 for securely positioning the element 12 in a corresponding cavity in the inner housing 5, and a release stub 14.
  • the release stub 14 co-operates with a push button 15 on the cover 4. When this push-button 15 is pushed down, the latches 11, 11' flex downwards.
  • the elements 12 can, for instance, be stamped from a single metal sheet.
  • EP 0 898 333 For further details on the connector 1 and counterpart connector 2, reference may be had to EP 0 898 333.
  • the terminals 7 are described in more detail in EP 718 918.
  • FIGS 3A and 3B show, in top and bottom view, a receptacle 2 which has been soldered on a printed circuit board (PCB) 16 of a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone.
  • the receptacle 2 comprises a housing 17 of an electrically insulating thermoplastic material placed inside a shielding 18.
  • the housing 17 comprises a row of first cavities 19, each of which contains a contact element 20, and two larger second cavities 21, 21' for receiving the pegs 10, 10'.
  • the number and pitch of the cavities 19, 21, 21' and contact elements 20 correspond to those of pegs 10, 10' and the terminals 7 in the connector 1, thus allowing effective electrical contact between the terminals 7 and the contact elements 20 upon connection of the plug 1 to the receptacle 2.
  • the contact elements 20 further extend through the rear of the housing 17 and are soldered to leads (not shown) on the PCB 16.
  • the shielding 18 comprises two rectangular openings 22, 22' for receiving the latches 11, 11' so as to establish a secure mechanical connection between the connector 1 and its counterpart 2.
  • the latch 11, which is shown in more detail in figure 4, comprises a first extension or pawl 23 having a curved, preferably concave surface 24 which, upon insertion of the plug 1 into the receptacle 2, engages the front rim 25 of the said rectangular opening 22.
  • a curved surface instead of a straight surface, the angle between the plane of the opening 22 and a tangent of the said surface 24 at the point of contact with the rim 25 can be controlled for each position of the pawl 23.
  • this position can be expressed by way of an angle ⁇ of downward or inward rotation, a distance L of downward or inward translation or a combination of the two.
  • the friction at the point of contact and, hence, the retention force with which the connector 1 is retained in it counterpart 2 is mainly determined by the coefficient of friction and the force exerted on the said point. If the tangent through the point of contact is comparatively steep, as would be the case in point 24A, the force exerted by the latch 11 on the rim 25 and, hence, the resulting friction will be relative high. Conversely, a relatively flat tangent, as would be the case in point 24B, will result in a relatively low force and friction. Accordingly, the said force and friction can be controlled by selecting a suitable tangent, preferably for each point of the surface 24.
  • FIG. 4 in conjunction with figures 5A, 5B. and 6 shows a second extension 26 of the latch 11 which reaches beyond a second rim 27 of the opening 22 opposite the first rim 25.
  • This second extension 26 abuts the shielding 18 of the receptacle 2 upon rotation of the plug 1 about an axis both substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction (ID) of the plug 1 and parallel to the row of terminals 7, as might occur when someone trips over the cable 8.
  • ID insertion direction
  • first extension 23 and the second extension 26 build an angle, as shown in figures 5A and 5B, the latter extension 26 will not abut the shielding 18 during normal use and inaccuracies resulting from the manufacture of e.g. the element 12 will not initiate the said release prematurely.
  • the pegs 10, 10' are rounded, at least at the side farthest removed from the latch 11.
  • the rounded portion 28 is preferably shaped such as to allow the pegs 10, 10' to rotate out of the shielding 18 without breaking of causing the shielding 18 to deform plastically.
  • the connector according to the present invention may be a part of a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone, instead of to a cable.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP01205173A 2000-12-28 2001-12-21 Fiche de connection et câble la comprenant Withdrawn EP1220370A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1017001A NL1017001C2 (nl) 2000-12-28 2000-12-28 Connector en kabel die deze omvat.
NL1017001 2000-12-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1220370A1 true EP1220370A1 (fr) 2002-07-03

Family

ID=19772664

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01205173A Withdrawn EP1220370A1 (fr) 2000-12-28 2001-12-21 Fiche de connection et câble la comprenant

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1220370A1 (fr)
KR (1) KR20020055395A (fr)
NL (1) NL1017001C2 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1429426A1 (fr) * 2002-12-12 2004-06-16 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB Connecteur semi-rigide
FR2849721A1 (fr) * 2003-01-07 2004-07-09 Framatome Connectors Int Connecteur a fiches muni de bornes de contact a compression
GB2408853A (en) * 2003-12-02 2005-06-08 Cheng Uei Prec Ind Co Ltd Electrical connector latching apparatus
WO2005081368A1 (fr) * 2004-02-13 2005-09-01 Fci Connecteur de conception plus mince
WO2010022436A1 (fr) * 2008-08-29 2010-03-04 Adc Gmbh Connecteur électrique possédant un écran de protection mobile

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4548455A (en) * 1983-10-24 1985-10-22 Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd. Connector with lock mechanism
EP0596766A1 (fr) * 1992-11-04 1994-05-11 Framatome Connectors International S.A. Dispositif de connexion déverrouillable
EP0898333A2 (fr) * 1997-08-19 1999-02-24 Berg Electronics Manufacturing B.V. Verrouillage de connecteur

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4548455A (en) * 1983-10-24 1985-10-22 Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd. Connector with lock mechanism
EP0596766A1 (fr) * 1992-11-04 1994-05-11 Framatome Connectors International S.A. Dispositif de connexion déverrouillable
EP0898333A2 (fr) * 1997-08-19 1999-02-24 Berg Electronics Manufacturing B.V. Verrouillage de connecteur

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1429426A1 (fr) * 2002-12-12 2004-06-16 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB Connecteur semi-rigide
FR2849721A1 (fr) * 2003-01-07 2004-07-09 Framatome Connectors Int Connecteur a fiches muni de bornes de contact a compression
WO2004066450A1 (fr) * 2003-01-07 2004-08-05 Fci Connecteur a fiches munis de bornes de contact a compression
US7144278B2 (en) 2003-01-07 2006-12-05 Fci Plug connector equipped with compression contact terminals
GB2408853A (en) * 2003-12-02 2005-06-08 Cheng Uei Prec Ind Co Ltd Electrical connector latching apparatus
WO2005081368A1 (fr) * 2004-02-13 2005-09-01 Fci Connecteur de conception plus mince
WO2010022436A1 (fr) * 2008-08-29 2010-03-04 Adc Gmbh Connecteur électrique possédant un écran de protection mobile
US8323043B2 (en) 2008-08-29 2012-12-04 Adc Gmbh Electrical connector having movable shield to protect electrical contacts
AU2009287404B2 (en) * 2008-08-29 2016-06-16 Commscope Technologies Llc Electrical connector having movable protective shield

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20020055395A (ko) 2002-07-08
NL1017001C2 (nl) 2002-07-01

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