EP1267451B1

EP1267451B1 - Electrical connectors for power and control lines, particularly for switches/regulators

Info

Publication number: EP1267451B1
Application number: EP02011508A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianni Piovesan
Original assignee: Inarca SpA
Current assignee: Inarca SpA
Priority date: 2001-06-12
Filing date: 2002-05-22
Publication date: 2009-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-22
Also published as: HRP20020507A2; EP1267451A2; ATE424636T1; ITPD20010049U1; EP1267451A3; DE60231360D1

Abstract

Electrical connectors for power and control lines, particularly for switches/regulators, comprising two bodies, one (11) for the power connection and one (12) for the control connection, each body being shaped asymmetrically and being constituted by hollow elements for inserting electrical terminals in only one way, and being shaped for connection to complementary terminals of the switch/regulator only in an unambiguous position and according to a predefined succession. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to combined electrical connectors for power and control lines, particularly for switches/regulators.
An electrical power and control connector according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from JP. 9-306582 .
It is known, particularly in the field of electrical household appliances, that there are switches and/or regulators that act on electrical devices, for example resistors, which require a power supply.
Such switches and/or regulators act on non-power adjustments by having connections to control lines.
It is evident, therefore that the operation for connecting the electrical wires is particularly important, since the wires, by supplying different circuits, must not be mixed up during wiring and during connection to the switch/regulator.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate or substantially reduce the problems linked to the connection of electrical power and control wires to switches/regulators, particularly for electrical household appliances.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide combined electrical connectors that allow to connect the power and control wires to the switch/regulator in only one way.
Another object is to provide electrical connectors that have a simple structure.
A further object is to provide electrical connectors that have a low cost.
This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by electrical power and control connectors particularly for switches/regulators, characterized in that they comprise two bodies, one for the power connection and one for the control connection, each body being shaped asymmetrically and being constituted by hollow elements for inserting electrical terminals in only one way, and being shaped for connection to complementary terminals of said switch/regulator only in an unambiguous position and according to a predefined succession.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but note exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1 to 3 are respectively a perspective view, a plan view and a side view of a switch/regulator with combined connectors, according to the invention, applied thereto;
Figures 4 to 6 are respectively a perspective view, a plan view and a side view of a first electrical connector according to the invention;
Figure 7 to 9 are respectively a perspective view, a plan view and a side view of a second electrical connector according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, combined electrical power and control connectors particularly for switches/regulators, according to the invention, are generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
The connectors 10 comprise two bodies, one for the connection of power lines and one for the connection of control lines, such bodies being shaped asymmetrically and being designated by the reference numerals 11 and 12, respectively.
The first body 11 is substantially U-shaped and the second body is substantially bridge-shaped.
The first body 11 and the second body 12 are to be arranged in a cross-like configuration with mutually intersecting dimensions.
The first body 11 comprises three hollow elements in a monolithic unit made of plastics for inserting female electric terminals, not shown in the figure, in only one way.
Of the three hollow elements, two, designated by the reference numerals 13 and 14, are arranged monolithically side by side and are joined to the third hollow element 15 by means of a first transverse element 16.
When the first body 11 is connected to a switch/regulator 22, the first transverse element 16 rests against a rear wall 23 of the switch/regulator 22, and corresponding male terminals, such as the ones designated by the reference numeral 24 and arranged on the rear wall 23 of the switch/regulator 22, enter the base openings of the hollow elements 13, 14 and 15.
The second body 12 also comprises three hollow elements, in a monolithic unit made of plastics, for inserting in only one way corresponding female terminals, designated by the reference numerals 18, 19 and 20, which are joined in an upward region by a second transverse element 21 so as to form a substantially bridge-like shape in which the two hollow elements 18 and 19 are arranged on the same side of the bridge-like shape and the hollow element 20 is arranged on the other side.
The hollow elements 18 and 19 are spaced by means of a third upper transverse element 17, which lies at right angles to the second transverse element 21.
Corresponding male terminals of the switch/regulator, not shown in the figure, are arranged within the base openings of the hollow elements 18, 19 and 20.
Therefore, the first body 11 must be the first one to be connected to the switch/regulator, so that the first transverse element 16 rests on its rear wall 23, while the second body 12 must be the second one to be connected and must be arranged so that the second transverse element 21 be arranged in a cross-like configuration above the first transverse element 16.
In this manner it is evident that the first and second bodies 11 and 12 are arranged in a cross-like configuration, with mutually intersecting dimensions.
In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.
The problem of mixing up the connection of power and control electrical wires on a switch/regulator is avoided.
The power wires must in fact be inserted beforehand, with corresponding female terminals, in one of the two bodies, while the control wires are connected to the other body, and the asymmetrical configuration avoids incorrect connections.
In turn, the first and second bodies must be arranged in only one position and according to a predefined succession on the switch/regulator.
Errors are also avoided during wiring, because each connector is only for power wires or control wires.
The connectors according to the present invention further have a simple structure and can also be used easily even by users having no particular technical skills.
The details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
The materials, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Electrical power and control connectors (10) particularly for switches/regulators, comprising a first body (11) and a second body (12), each body (11, 12) being shaped asymmetrically and being constituted by hollow elements (13,14,15,18,19,20) for inserting electrical terminals in only one way, and being shaped for connection to complementary terminals of a switch/regulator only in an unambiguous position and according to a predefined succession,
characterized in that the first body (11) is for the power connection and comprises a first substantially U-shaped body, the second body (12) is for the control connection and comprises a substantially bridge-shaped body, said first (11) and second (12) bodies being arranged in a cross-like configuration with mutually intersecting dimensions.
The connectors according to claim 1, characterized in that said first body (11) comprises three hollow elements (13,14,15) for inserting female terminals in only one way, two of said elements (13,14) being arranged monolithically side by side and being joined to the third one (15) by way of a first transverse element (16), said first transverse element resting against a rear wall (23) of said switch/regulator, corresponding male terminals (24) being arranged within the base openings of said hollow elements (13,14,15).
The connectors according to claim 1, characterized in that said second body (12) comprises three hollow elements (18,19,20) for inserting corresponding female terminal in only one way, said elements (18,19,20) being joined by a second upper transverse element (21) so as to form a bridge-like shape with two hollow elements arranged so that they are spaced on the same side of the bridge-like shape, corresponding male terminals being arranged within the base opening of said hollow elements (18,19,20).
The connectors according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said first body (11) must be the first one to be connected and said second body (12) must be the second one to be connected so that said second transverse element (21) lies above, and in a cross-like configuration, with respect to said firs transverse element (16).
The connectors according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second bodies (11,12) are provided by means of a monolithic plastic unit.
The switch/regulator, characterized in that it comprises electrical terminals to which are connected connectors according to one or more of the preceding claims.