EP2795733B1

EP2795733B1 - Connector assembly with blocking mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP2795733B1
Application number: EP12798264.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric MENEZ; Sébastien DEUBEL; Erwan Guillanton
Original assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
Current assignee: Aptiv Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2011-12-23
Filing date: 2012-12-03
Publication date: 2018-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-03
Also published as: EP2795733A1; WO2013092192A1; EP2795733B8

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to connectors and assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the instant invention is related to connectors such as electrical or optical connectors i.e. found in FR2731559 and DE19543497 . Such connectors usually comprise a housing which defines a plurality of pathways. Electrical wires of a cable, terminated with terminals (contacts), are assembled in each pathway, to be placed in electrical with a corresponding contact of a mating connector.
Some of these connectors have already been provided with a front grid. It is important that the connectors are correctly wired, in particular that the electrical contacts are correctly locked into the connector.
EP 2115821 (A2 ) already describes a connector comprising a housing for the electrical contacts and a front grid to be mounted onto the plugging face of the housing. The front grid ensures that the connector can not be plugged if the contacts are not locked in the housing. Therefore the plugging is rendered impossible if the connector is not correctly wired. Hence, the front grid is often considered as providing an indicative function of the correct state of a connector. Therefore, when the front grid is not in its lock position, it should be understood as default. However, in the above document, improper forceful mating of a connector assembly having a connector with a front grid in its pre-lock position is still possible if the personnel is untrained. This would likely result in a mis-correction, and ought to be avoided.
The present invention has notably for object to mitigate those drawbacks.
To this aim, the present invention discloses an electrical connector assembly according to claim 1. Moreover, each front grid is mounted onto the plugging face of the housing of each connector.
In addition, each front grid is movable with respect to the respective housing, along a moving path, from a pre-lock position to a final lock position, along the longitudinal direction.
The assembly comprises a blocking mechanism that prevents the first connector and the second connector from mating with each other when either one of the front grids is not in its final position.
With these features, a blocking mechanism is provided that prevents the first connector and the second connector from mating with each other if either one of the connectors is not properly provided. Thus, the risk that a non-compliant device be connected is reduced.
In some embodiments, one might also use one or more of the features as defined in the dependent claims.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description of one of its embodiments, provided as non-limitative examples, and of the accompanying drawings.
On the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views of the first and second connectors in a mated position,
Figure 3 shows two partial sectional views of the second connector and its front grid in a pre-locked and locked position, respectively,
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the first and second connectors, in which the front grid of the first connector is in a locked position and the front grid of the second connector is in a pre-locked position,
Figure 5 is a sectional view of first and second connectors, in which the front grid of the first connector is in a locked position and the front grid of the second connector is in a pre-locked position, and
Figure 6 shows two partial sectional views of the first connector and its front grid in a pre-locked and locked position, respectively.

On the different Figures, the same reference signs designate like or similar elements.
Figures 1 and 2 show an electrical connector assembly 1 comprising a first electrical connector 2 and a second electrical connector 3 adapted to mate with each other along a longitudinal direction, referred as X-axis on Figures.
The present description is given by reference to electrical connectors. However, it is believed that it could be applied to other types of connectors, notably to optical or electro-optical connectors.
The connector assembly 1 may further comprise other features, which are not necessarily shown on the drawings, such as a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) system comprising a part borne by one of the electrical connectors and movable with respect to it, only once the two connectors are locked in mated state.
Each connector comprises a housing 22, 32 adapted to receive wires.
The housings 22, 32 may be formed by molding in an electrically insulator material and preferably in a plastic material.
Referring to Figure 1, the housings 22, 32 may have a general sectional parallelepipedic shape with an external shell 24, which surrounds at least partly the housing 22, 32. The first connector 2 also has a plugging face 21. The external shell 24 is separated from the central casing of the housings by a gap.
The second connector 3 further comprises an external shell 34 comprising at least a locking arm, as shown.
The shell 24 of the first connector 1 comprises a rib 241 formed for interfitting engagement with an opening 341 provided on the shell 34 of the second connector 3. The rib 241 and the opening 341 form a locking system adapted to lock the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 when they mate with each other.
The electrical connector assembly 1 comprises a front grid 4 adapted to be mounted on the first connector 2. The front grid 4 comprises a mounting arrangement and is adapted to be mounted onto the housing 22 and more precisely, onto the plugging face 21 of the housing 22 of the first connector 2.
The front grid 4 may be formed in a single piece by molding and, preferably, in an electrically insulator material, such as plastic material.
The front grid 4 preferably comprises a front face 41 parallel to the plugging face 21 of the connector housing 22. The front grid 4 further comprises peripheral walls 42.
The front grid 4 and the housing 22 comprises a locking system that enables the locking of the front grid 4 and the housing 22 to each other. The front grid 4 comprises at least an opening 43 on its peripheral walls 42, adapted to cooperate with at least one rib 23 provided on the housing 22 of the first connector 1. In a locked position of the front grid 4 with the housing 22 of the first connector 1, the opening 43 cooperates with the rib 23 which is provided on the housing 22 of the first connector 1 to secure the front grid 4 to the housing 22.
The electrical connector assembly 1 further comprises a front grid 5 adapted to be mounted on the second connector 3. The front grid 5 comprises a mounting arrangement and is adapted to be mounted onto the housing 32 and more precisely, onto a plugging face 31 of the housing 32 of the second connector 3.
As aforementioned, the front grid 5 may be formed in a single piece by molding and preferably in an electrically insulator material, such as plastic material.
The front grid 5 preferably comprises a front face 51 parallel to the plugging face 31 of the housing 32 of the second connector 3. The front grid 5 comprises further peripheral walls 52.
The front grid 5 and the housing 32 comprise a locking system that enables the locking of the front grid 5 and the housing 32 to each other. The front grid 5 comprises at least an opening 53 on its peripheral walls 52, adapted to cooperate with at least one rib 33 provided on the housing 32 of the second connector 3. In the locked position of the front grid 5 with the housing 32 of the second connector 3, the opening 53 cooperate with the rib 33, which is provided on the housing 32 of the second connector 3 to secure the front grids to the housing 32.
The front grid 5 further comprises a front shell which extends forward of the front face 51, whereas the opening extends backward. The front shell for example comprises portions of the peripheral walls 52.
The electrical connector assembly 1 further comprises a locking system allowing to lock the the first connector 1 and the second connector 3 to each other, once mated.
This locking system is provided by at least the rib 241 on the external shell 24 of the first connector 2 and a retaining element for abutting the rib 241. Preferably the retaining element is the opening 341 on the external shell 34 of the second connector 3. The rib 241 and the opening 341 form an interfitting engagement.
In a mated position of both the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 showed in Figures 1 and 2, the front grids 4, 5 of the first connector 2 and of the second connector 3 are in a locked position with the first connector 2 and of the second connector 3.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the peripheral walls 52 of the front grid 5 of the second connector 3 cover at least a section of the peripheral walls 42 of the front grid 4 of the first connector 2 and prevent the front grid 4 from being separated from the housing 22 of the first connector 2. The peripheral walls 52 of the front grid 5 prevent the peripheral walls 42 of the front grid 4 of the first connector 2 from being deflected in an outwardly direction and to be disengaged from the rib 23.
The external shell 24 of the first connector 2 covers the peripheral walls 52 of the front grid 5 and prevents said peripheral walls 52 from being deflected and from disengaging from the ribs 33 of the housing 32 of the second connector 3.
The electrical connector assembly 1 may further comprise other features, which are not necessarily shown on the drawings, such as a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) system comprising a part borne by one of the first connector 2 and/or of the second connector 3 and movable with respect to it, only once the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 are locked in the mated position.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the external shell 34 of the second connector 3.
With the aforementioned features, a double latching of the front grids 4, 5 is provided when the front grids 4, 5 are in a final lock position.
The gap, which separates the external shell 24 from a central casing of the housing 22 of the first connector 2, is able to receive the peripheral walls 52 of the front grid 5.
More precisely the gap, which separates the external shell 24 from the central casing of the housing 22 of the first connector 2 is able to receive both peripheral walls 42, 52 of the front grids 4, 5, when the peripheral wall 52 of the front grid 5 covers the peripheral wall 42 of the front grid 4.
Moreover, the gap, which separates the external shell 34 from a central casing of the housing 32 the second connector 3, is able to receive the external shell 24 and the peripheral walls 52 of the front grid 5.
As visible on Figure 3, the front grid 5 of the second connector 3 can be in a pre-locked and in a locked position.
In the pre-locked position, as shown in the top of the Figure 3, the rib 33 of the housing 32 makes contact with a portion of the peripheral wall 52 of the front grid 5.
Said portion of the peripheral wall 52 forms a mechanical stop surface for the front grid 5.
In the pre-locked position, the opening 53 does not cooperate with the rib 33. The front surface of the front grid 5 is offset with respect to the plugging surface 31.
To reach the locked position of the front grid 5, as shown in the bottom of Figure 3, the peripheral wall 52 of the front grid 5 is being deflected in an outwardly direction until the rib 33 provided on the housing 32 makes an interfitting engagement with the opening 53 provided on the front grid 5.
To this matter, a force is exerted by pushing the front grid 5 along the longitudinal direction toward the housing 32 until the deflection of the peripheral wall 52 up to the rib 53. At least one portion of the peripheral wall 52 is adapted to be deflected in an outwardly direction to latch and unlatch the front grid 5.
It is to be noticed that the peripheral wall 52 can be deflected when the front grid 5 is made with a suitable elastic material. Moreover no surface should prevent the deflection of the peripheral wall 52. The peripheral wall 52 of the front grid 5 is flexible.
In Figure 4, the front grid 4 of the first connector 2 is in a locked position with said first connector 2 and the front grid 5 of the second connector 3 is in a pre-locked position with said second connector 3. The front grid 5 being inserted in the external shell 24 of the first connector 2, the external shell 24 forms a mechanical stop surface for the peripheral wall 52 of the front grid 5, which can not be deflected, even through assembly force urges the front grids 4, 5 toward its lock position, this force being applied by the front grid 4.
As above mentioned, the portion of the peripheral wall 52 forms a mechanical stop surface for the front grid 5 and prevents the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 from mating with each other.
As visible on Figure 6, the front grid 4 of the first connector 2 can be in a pre-locked and in a locked position.
In the pre-locked position, as shown in the top of Figure 6, the rib 23 of the housing 22 makes contact with a portion of the peripheral wall 42 of the front grid 4.
Said portion of the peripheral wall 42 forms a mechanical stop surface for the front grid 4.
In the pre-locked position, the opening 43 does not cooperate with the rib 23. The front surface of the front grid 4 is offset with respect to the plugging surface 21.
To reach the locked position of the front grid 4, as shown in the bottom of Figure 6, the peripheral wall 42 of the front grid 4 is being deflected in an outwardly direction until the rib 23 provided on the housing 22 makes an interfitting engagement with the opening 43 provided on the front grid 4.
To this matter, a force is exerted by pushing the front grid 4 along the longitudinal direction toward the housing 22 until the deflection of the peripheral wall 42 up to the rib 43. At least one portion of the peripheral wall 42 is adapted to be deflected in an outwardly direction to latch and unlatch the front grid 4.
It is to be noticed that the peripheral wall 42 can be deflected when the front grid 4 is made with a suitable elastic material. Moreover no surface should prevent the deflection of the peripheral wall 42. Profitably the peripheral wall 42 of the front grid 4 is flexible.
Figure 5 shows a mounting arrangement in which the front grid 5 of the second connector 3 is in the locked position with said second connector 3 and the front grid 4 of the first connector 2 is in a pre-locked position with said first connector 2.
The front grid 4 is inserted in the front grid 5 of the second connector 3, and more precisely the peripheral walls 42 are inserted in the peripheral walls 52, the peripheral walls 52 of the front grid 5 form a mechanical stop surface for the peripheral wall 42 of the front grid 4, which cannot be deflected. The portion of the peripheral wall 42 forms a mechanical stop surface for the front grid 4 and prevents the first first connector 2 and the second connector 3 from mating with each other.
Such features form a simple blocking mechanism. Said blocking mechanism is efficient in a mating front direction of the first connector 2 and the second connector 3, which corresponds to the mounting direction of the front grids 4, 5.
In an embodiment of the invention, the front grid can be a Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) member. In such case, the front grid of a given connector is prevented from moving from the pre-lock position to the lock position if a wired terminal is not correctly inserted, before any mating with the counterpart connector. This is achieved, for example, when a mis-inserted terminal pushes a locking lance of the housing out of its rest position, in an outer position in which it is provided as an abutment on the way of the front grid from the pre-lock position to the lock position. However, the invention as described here would also operate if the front grid does not fulfil a TPA function.
Alternatively or additionally, said first connector 2 is a female part and said second connector 3 is a male part.
It will be noted that the front grids 4, 5 may have another shape than the aforementioned.
Other variants, notably a clip could be provided instead of the openings described on the peripheral walls of the front grid to retain the connector.

Claims

An electrical connector assembly (1) comprising first and second connectors (2, 3) adapted to mate with each other along a longitudinal direction (X),
wherein first and second connectors (2, 3) comprise each, a housing (22, 32), adapted to receive wires and terminals, and a front grid (4, 5), said housing having a plugging face (21, 31);
wherein each front grid (4, 5) is mounted onto the plugging face (21, 31) of the housing of each connector (2, 3); wherein each front grid (4, 5) is movable with respect to the respective housing (22, 32), along a moving path, from a pre-lock position to a final lock position, along the longitudinal direction (X);
wherein the assembly comprises a blocking mechanism that prevents first and second connectors (2, 3) from mating with each other when either one of the front grids (4, 5) is not in its final position
wherein each front grid (4, 5) comprises a front face (41, 51) and peripheral walls (42, 52) with a mounting arrangement for allowing the mounting of the front grid (4, 5) onto the housing (22, 32) of each connector; and;
wherein each housing (22, 32) has a shell (24, 34); wherein the blocking mechanism comprises said shell(24, 34) ; characterized in that at least one portion of the peripheral wall (42, 52) is adapted to be deflected in an outwardly direction to latch and un-latch the front grid (4, 5) from the connector housing; wherein in a pre-lock position of the front grid (4, 5) of the second connector, the other front grid (5, 4) being in a lock position, the shell (24) of the first connector (2) covers the one front grid (4, 5) such that the portion of the peripheral wall of said front grid (4, 5) is prevented from being deflected in an outwardly direction; wherein the front grid (5) of the second connector (3) has a shell (34);
wherein the blocking mechanism comprises said shell (34); wherein in a pre-lock position of the front grid (4) of the first connector (2), the other front grid (5) being in a lock position, the peripheral wall of the front grid (5) of the second connector covers the front grid (4) of the first connector (2), such that the portion of the peripheral wall of said front grid (4) is prevented from being deflected in an outwardly direction.
The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion adapted to be deflected in an outwardly direction comprises at least one opening (43, 53) adapted to cooperate with ribs (23, 33) belonging to the housing of the connector to latch the front grid (4, 5) to the connector housing.
The electrical connector assembly of claim 2, wherein in the pre-lock position of the front grid (4, 5), the openings (43, 53) of said grid (4, 5) do not cooperate with the ribs (23, 33), and the front face (41, 51) is offset with respect to the plugging face along the longitudinal direction.
The electrical connector assembly of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein in a pre-lock position of at least one of the front grids (4, 5), mechanical stop surfaces (S1, S2) prevent first and second connectors (2, 3) from being mated with each other.
The electrical connector assembly of any of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the first connector (2) is a female part and the second connector is a male part (3).
The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 and claim 2,
wherein the front grid (4) of the female part (2) being in a pre-lock position and the front grid (5) of the male part (3) being in a lock position, the shell (24) of the female part covers both front grids (4, 5) and blocks the deflection of the grid (4, 5) peripheral walls such that the rib (23) belonging to the female part housing shapes a mechanical stop surface (S2) for its front grid (4).
The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 and claim 2,
wherein the front grid (4) of the female part being in a lock position and the front grid (5) of the male part being in a pre-lock position, the shell (24) of the female part covers both front grids (4, 5) and blocks the deflection of the male grid peripheral walls (52) such that the rib (33) belonging to the male part (3) housing shapes a mechanical stop surface (S1) for its front grid (5).
The electrical connector assembly of any of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the outer shell (24, 34) of the housing comprises means (241, 341) adapted to mate first and second connectors (2, 3) with each others.
The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the means (241, 341) adapted to mate first and second connectors with each other provided on the outer shell (24, 34) comprise a rib (241) and an opening (341); wherein said rib (241) is formed for interfitting engagement in said opening (341).
The electrical connector assembly of claim 9,
wherein the opening (341) is provided on a shell (34) of the second connector (3) and the rib (241) is provided on a shell (24) of the first connector (2).
The electrical connector assembly of any of claims 1 to 10,
wherein the front grid (4, 5) is a terminal position assurance (TPA) member.
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 and any of claims 9-11,
wherein the means (241, 341), the at least one opening (43, 53) and the ribs (23, 33) provide for a double latching of the front grids provided when the front grids (4, 5) are in a final lock position and first and second connectors mate with each other.