EP2795734A1 - Plug for an electrical connector and assembly - Google Patents

Plug for an electrical connector and assembly

Info

Publication number
EP2795734A1
EP2795734A1 EP12808281.5A EP12808281A EP2795734A1 EP 2795734 A1 EP2795734 A1 EP 2795734A1 EP 12808281 A EP12808281 A EP 12808281A EP 2795734 A1 EP2795734 A1 EP 2795734A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plug
longitudinal axis
spikes
rear grid
pathway
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Withdrawn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
EP12808281.5A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mélanie GUILLANTON
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.)
Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
Original Assignee
Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
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 Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL filed Critical Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
Publication of EP2795734A1 publication Critical patent/EP2795734A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • H01R13/44—Means for preventing access to live contacts
    • H01R13/443—Dummy plugs
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01R13/5205—Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet
    • H01R13/5208—Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet having at least two cable receiving openings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a plug and the assembly of such a plug with a rear grid.
  • the present invention relates to a plug for an electrical or optical connector.
  • an electrical or optical connector classically comprises a housing which defines a plurality of pathways in which electrical or optical wires of cables are assembled. It further has a front portion, adapted to mate with another electrical connector, and a rear portion with a rear grid with apertures through which wires can be received. The rear portion often comprises a seal which guarantees the tight assembly of wires in the electrical or optical connector.
  • not all the pathways receive necessarily a wire.
  • a plug is used to block a non-occupied aperture. The interaction of the plug with the seal prevents the entry of moisture, dust or other foreign particles from a back side of the connector into an inner portion of a housing of the connector .
  • FIG. 1 shows such plugs of the prior art.
  • Plugs A according to this prior art are of a cylindrical shape C and have annular shoulders B for retention. These plugs come to be positioned with their shoulders B on either side of lips of a seal positioned at the rear of the connector housing when the plug is introduced into the housing. Moreover, if the plug is not properly positioned, the connector may not be correctly sealed .
  • specifications for such electrical or optical connectors require providing still further improvements to plugs in terms of a reliable and stable sealing, life expectancy, miniaturization and low cost manufacturing.
  • the present invention has notably for object to provide such an improved solution of the plug for electrical connectors .
  • a plug with a front part and a middle part .
  • the front part is elongated along a longitudinal axis, with a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis.
  • the middle part is located behind the front part along the longitudinal axis. It has a cylindrical profile defining spikes and concave portions between spikes, in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis. It defines a zone with a star-shaped cross-section for holding the plug in a rear passage of a connector housing .
  • the invention is related to an electrical connector equipped with at least one plug received in a rear passage of a rear grid.
  • FIG. 1 shows a plug according to a prior art embodiment
  • FIGS. 2a to 2c are respectively a perspective view, a front view and a sectional view along the line C - C in Figure 2b of a plug according to the present invention
  • FIG. 3a is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment comprising an electrical connector, wires, plugs according to the present invention
  • FIG. 3b is a detailed view of a front view of the cable according to arrow IIIB of Figure 3a,
  • FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the electrical connector according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is another partial perspective view of the electrical connector according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a rear view of a rear grid in the electrical connector in Figure 5
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the electrical connector along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7.
  • a connector 11 is designed to be coupled with a complementary housing, not shown, and designed to receive electrical wires 5 from the rear of the housing.
  • the electrical connector 11 is made at least of three main plastic moulded parts being produced separately:
  • front portion 10 also called front grid 10
  • rear portion 6 also called rear grid 6, through which the electrical cables, wires or plugs are received .
  • a front seal 9 can also be provided on the housing portion 8 to efficiently seal its assembly to a counterpart connector.
  • a pathway 13, as shown in Figure 8, is defined as corresponding longitudinal pathways provided in the housing portion 8, the mat-seal 7 and the rear grid 6 along a longitudinal direction.
  • Electrical wires 5 are arranged in the connector 11, for example as a single row of seven contacts. Each wire 5 is received in a respective pathway 13, as shown in Figure 8, of the electrical connector 11.
  • each wire 5 comprises a terminal portion 22, and a wire portion having a core 23 placed in electrical communication with the terminal portion 22, and an insulating sheath 25 surrounding this core and extending to the rear.
  • the housing portion 8 viewed in section in Figure 8, comprises a front part 11a for holding contacts, a recessed middle part lib in which the mat-seal 7 is placed, and the rear grid 6 having apertures 12.
  • the rear grid 6 is a separate grid that is inserted into the housing portion 8 on top of the mat-seal 7 and closes the rear of the housing, but it is possible to consider a rear grid 6 that is part of an element of the rear of the housing or of one piece with the housing.
  • the mat-seal 7 is made of silicone, an incompressible but deformable material which will press around the wire 5.
  • the mat-seal 7 comprises lips 24 which project radially inward.
  • the sheath 25, as shown in Figure 3b, is broader than the lips 24 of the mat-seal 7 which will be compressed when the wire 5 is inserted. Interaction of the sheath 25 with the mat-seal 7 might prevent the leaking of moisture and entry of foreign matter from the outside.
  • the pathways 13 in the housing portion 8 comprise a lock 15 to cooperate with a complementary lock 16 of the contact to lock the terminal portion 22 in the pathway 13.
  • the shape of the aperture 12 at the rear grid 6 corresponds to the shape of the electrical contact and of the sheath 25 so as to allow their access therethrough into the housing portion 8, as shown in more detail in Figure 3a.
  • the aperture 12 will have two opposite accurate portions 26a and 26b corresponding to the sheath, a planar portion 26d corresponding to a planar face of the contact, and a face 26c having a recess shaped to receive the lock 15, as shown in Figure Some other pathways 13 will not receive electrical contacts. Since it is not desired to let non-filled pathways 13 open, a plug 1, or sealing plug 1, is used.
  • a sealing plug 1 is designed to be inserted into the aperture 12 of the rear grid 6 when the pathway 13 is not filled with any wire 5.
  • Such a plug 1 finds application, for example, in the case of a sealed automobile or aircraft connector provided to receive several wires 5, including additional wires 5 depending upon the version of the vehicle or the aircraft .
  • the plug 1 is shown in Figure 2a.
  • the plug 1 is made of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic.
  • the plug 1 has a front part 2, a middle part 3 and a rear part 4 along a longitudinal direction.
  • the middle part 3 is provided with a star-shaped profile for holding the plug 1 in one of the aperture 12 of the rear grid 6 when the plug 1 is introduced into the aperture 12, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b.
  • the middle part 3 has, in cross- section transverse to the longitudinal axis, six spikes 17a-17f, as shown in Figure 2b.
  • Two neighbour spikes are spaced from one another by a concave portion 123 which can, for example, be provided as two angled flat faces 27.
  • the rear part 4 of the plug 1 is broader than the middle part 3, so that a shoulder 14 is provided at the transition between the middle part 3 and the rear part 4.
  • FIG. 4 A first example of the use of an embodiment of the plug 1 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7 together with the housing portion 8 designed to receive it.
  • Plug 1 is inserted through the aperture 12 of the rear grid 6, and has its front part 2 provided within the mat- seal 7.
  • the plug 1 is inserted through the rear grid 6 and has its front part 2 provided within the mat-seal 7.
  • the front part 2 of the plug 1 is smooth and has a slightly conical shape with an increasing diameter starting from a front zone, part of the front part 2 opposed to the middle part 3, to the middle part 3.
  • This front part 2 is inserted between the lips 24 of the mat-seal 7 so as to create a tight barrier with these lips 24.
  • the compression of the mat-seal 7 is obtained in this pathway 13.
  • a transition 31 from the front part 2 to the middle part 3 is conical, as it can be seen in Figure 2a, so as to ease insertion of the plug 1 in the aperture 12, and has a centering effect.
  • the retention of the plug 1 is mainly provided by an inner wall 30 of the pathway 13 in the rear grid 6 cooperating with the outer surface of the middle part 3 of the plug 1.
  • the middle zone 3 bears a step. This step is created by the transition 31 from a rear zone of the front part 2 having a diameter j3 ⁇ 4 to a front zone of the middle part 3 having a diameter 0 2 , as shown in Figures 2b and 2c.
  • the rear part 4 is generally cylindrical with the diameter 0 2 corresponding to the distance of two opposed spikes 17a, 17d of the star- shaped profile of the middle part 3 of the plug 1.
  • This symmetrically star-shaped profile of the middle part 3 of the plug 1 permits to keep the constant compression force as the plug 1 is pushed into the pathway 13.
  • One of the advantages of the present solution is to dissociate the means creating the sealing and the means creating the retention of the plug 1.
  • the sealing is made on the front part 2 of the plug 1 and the force for insertion and holding the plug 1 is created at the middle part 3 of the plug 1.
  • the insertion and holding forces can be optimized.
  • This symmetrically star-shaped profile of the plug 1 is particularly suitable even for axially non-symmetrical pathways 13.
  • the pathway 13 and the middle part 3 of the plug 1 are each provided so as to have different contour shapes, suitable for creating discontinuous contact zones defined by the spikes 17a - 17f as shown on Figure 6a, between the outer surface of the plug 1 and the inner wall 30 surrounding the pathway 13 in the rear grid 6.
  • the aperture 12 bears recessed corners 20 and 21. These corners 20, 21 present an advantage so as to create limited and discontinuous contact zones defined by the spikes 17a-17f with the rear part 4 of the plug 1.
  • the spike 17d which is diametrically opposed to the spike 17a of the plug 1 which is in contact with the pathway 13 of the rear grid 6, is free from contact with the inner wall 30 of the pathway 13 created in the rear grid 6.
  • Retention by multiple zones assures an effective wedging of the plug 1 in the aperture 12 at a great distance from the front part 2, so as not to create any damaging constraint on this front part 2 or on the lips 24 of the mat-seal 7.
  • the invention is not limited to the examples shown, and in particular, the distal cylindrical end of the rear part 4 of the plug 1 may be provided as having a geometry similar to the middle part 3 to be inserted into the aperture 12.
  • one advantage of the solution is that another configuration of the assembly of the plug 1 and the aperture 12 is possible.
  • two neighbour spikes 17a and 17b rest on the flat portion 26d of the aperture 12.
  • a third contact point 17d is provided.
  • more than 6 different orientations of the plug 1 are possible for assembly.
  • the maximal axial rotation of the plug 1 with respect to the aperture 12 upon assembly is here of 15°.
  • the present embodiment has 6 spikes 17a-17f.
  • Other embodiments with between 3 and 10 spikes are possible, as shown on Figures 6c to 6f.
  • the spikes 17a- 17f will be provided along the periphery of the plug 1.
  • the spikes 17a-17f will be sufficiently broad so as to be able to mechanically withstand the retention forces, but sufficiently narrow so that their faces do not interfere with protrusions of the aperture 12.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plug (1) comprising : - a front part (2) being elongated along a longitudinal axis with a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, - a middle part (3) located behind the front part (2) along the longitudinal axis, characterized in that the middle part (3) comprises spikes and concave portions between spikes in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, and defining a zone with a star-shaped cross-section, suitable to hold the plug (1) in a pathway of a housing portion of a connector.

Description

PLUG FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND ASSEMBLY .
The present invention relates to a plug and the assembly of such a plug with a rear grid.
In particular, the present invention relates to a plug for an electrical or optical connector. Such an electrical or optical connector classically comprises a housing which defines a plurality of pathways in which electrical or optical wires of cables are assembled. It further has a front portion, adapted to mate with another electrical connector, and a rear portion with a rear grid with apertures through which wires can be received. The rear portion often comprises a seal which guarantees the tight assembly of wires in the electrical or optical connector. Sometimes, not all the pathways receive necessarily a wire. In such a case, a plug is used to block a non-occupied aperture. The interaction of the plug with the seal prevents the entry of moisture, dust or other foreign particles from a back side of the connector into an inner portion of a housing of the connector .
WO 2007/083,003 provides an up-to-date solution to these plugs which currently exist. Figure 1 shows such plugs of the prior art. Plugs A according to this prior art are of a cylindrical shape C and have annular shoulders B for retention. These plugs come to be positioned with their shoulders B on either side of lips of a seal positioned at the rear of the connector housing when the plug is introduced into the housing. Moreover, if the plug is not properly positioned, the connector may not be correctly sealed . However, specifications for such electrical or optical connectors require providing still further improvements to plugs in terms of a reliable and stable sealing, life expectancy, miniaturization and low cost manufacturing. The present invention has notably for object to provide such an improved solution of the plug for electrical connectors .
It is provided a plug with a front part and a middle part .
The front part is elongated along a longitudinal axis, with a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis.
The middle part is located behind the front part along the longitudinal axis. It has a cylindrical profile defining spikes and concave portions between spikes, in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis. It defines a zone with a star-shaped cross-section for holding the plug in a rear passage of a connector housing .
Moreover, the invention is related to an electrical connector equipped with at least one plug received in a rear passage of a rear grid. With these features, it is provided a simple interface between the rear grid of a connector and a plug. Further information is provided in the detailed description .
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 three of its embodiments, provided as a non-limitative example, and of the accompanying drawings:
- Figure 1 shows a plug according to a prior art embodiment,
- Figures 2a to 2c are respectively a perspective view, a front view and a sectional view along the line C - C in Figure 2b of a plug according to the present invention,
- Figure 3a is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment comprising an electrical connector, wires, plugs according to the present invention,
- Figure 3b is a detailed view of a front view of the cable according to arrow IIIB of Figure 3a,
- Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the electrical connector according to the present invention,
- Figure 5 is another partial perspective view of the electrical connector according to the present invention,
- Figures 6a to 6f show detailed rear views of the sectional view of the rear grid in cross-section VI-VI in Figure 5, along two different orientations of the plug for various embodiment,
- Figure 7 is a rear view of a rear grid in the electrical connector in Figure 5, and
- Figure 8 is a sectional view of the electrical connector along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7.
On the different figures, the same reference designate like or similar elements.
According to an example shown in Figure 3a, a connector 11 is designed to be coupled with a complementary housing, not shown, and designed to receive electrical wires 5 from the rear of the housing. The electrical connector 11 is made at least of three main plastic moulded parts being produced separately:
- the front portion 10, also called front grid 10,
- the housing portion 8, which forms most of the electrical connector and
- the rear portion 6, also called rear grid 6, through which the electrical cables, wires or plugs are received .
The housing portion 8 and the rear grid 6 are separated by a rear seal 7, also called mat-seal 7. A front seal 9 can also be provided on the housing portion 8 to efficiently seal its assembly to a counterpart connector. A pathway 13, as shown in Figure 8, is defined as corresponding longitudinal pathways provided in the housing portion 8, the mat-seal 7 and the rear grid 6 along a longitudinal direction.
Electrical wires 5 are arranged in the connector 11, for example as a single row of seven contacts. Each wire 5 is received in a respective pathway 13, as shown in Figure 8, of the electrical connector 11.
As visible in Figure 3a, each wire 5 comprises a terminal portion 22, and a wire portion having a core 23 placed in electrical communication with the terminal portion 22, and an insulating sheath 25 surrounding this core and extending to the rear.
The housing portion 8, viewed in section in Figure 8, comprises a front part 11a for holding contacts, a recessed middle part lib in which the mat-seal 7 is placed, and the rear grid 6 having apertures 12.
According to the shown example, the rear grid 6 is a separate grid that is inserted into the housing portion 8 on top of the mat-seal 7 and closes the rear of the housing, but it is possible to consider a rear grid 6 that is part of an element of the rear of the housing or of one piece with the housing.
The mat-seal 7 is made of silicone, an incompressible but deformable material which will press around the wire 5. In each pathway 13, the mat-seal 7 comprises lips 24 which project radially inward. The sheath 25, as shown in Figure 3b, is broader than the lips 24 of the mat-seal 7 which will be compressed when the wire 5 is inserted. Interaction of the sheath 25 with the mat-seal 7 might prevent the leaking of moisture and entry of foreign matter from the outside.
The pathways 13 in the housing portion 8 comprise a lock 15 to cooperate with a complementary lock 16 of the contact to lock the terminal portion 22 in the pathway 13. The shape of the aperture 12 at the rear grid 6 corresponds to the shape of the electrical contact and of the sheath 25 so as to allow their access therethrough into the housing portion 8, as shown in more detail in Figure 3a. In the present embodiment, the aperture 12 will have two opposite accurate portions 26a and 26b corresponding to the sheath, a planar portion 26d corresponding to a planar face of the contact, and a face 26c having a recess shaped to receive the lock 15, as shown in Figure Some other pathways 13 will not receive electrical contacts. Since it is not desired to let non-filled pathways 13 open, a plug 1, or sealing plug 1, is used.
A sealing plug 1 is designed to be inserted into the aperture 12 of the rear grid 6 when the pathway 13 is not filled with any wire 5. Such a plug 1 finds application, for example, in the case of a sealed automobile or aircraft connector provided to receive several wires 5, including additional wires 5 depending upon the version of the vehicle or the aircraft .
For an under-equipped vehicle, there are connector pathways that lack cables and contacts, so to avoid a leaking of the moisture into the electrical connector 11, it is necessary to plug up these empty pathways.
The plug 1 is shown in Figure 2a. The plug 1 is made of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic.
The plug 1 has a front part 2, a middle part 3 and a rear part 4 along a longitudinal direction. The middle part 3 is provided with a star-shaped profile for holding the plug 1 in one of the aperture 12 of the rear grid 6 when the plug 1 is introduced into the aperture 12, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b. The middle part 3 has, in cross- section transverse to the longitudinal axis, six spikes 17a-17f, as shown in Figure 2b.
Two neighbour spikes are spaced from one another by a concave portion 123 which can, for example, be provided as two angled flat faces 27. The rear part 4 of the plug 1 is broader than the middle part 3, so that a shoulder 14 is provided at the transition between the middle part 3 and the rear part 4.
Moreover, as seen above, a correct longitudinal positioning of the plug 1 is obtained when the shoulder 14 abuts on a rear face 29 of the rear grid 6, and the rear part 4 of the plug 1 does also participate in its retention.
A first example of the use of an embodiment of the plug 1 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7 together with the housing portion 8 designed to receive it.
Plug 1 is inserted through the aperture 12 of the rear grid 6, and has its front part 2 provided within the mat- seal 7.
As shown in Figure 8, the plug 1 is inserted through the rear grid 6 and has its front part 2 provided within the mat-seal 7. According to the example, the front part 2 of the plug 1 is smooth and has a slightly conical shape with an increasing diameter starting from a front zone, part of the front part 2 opposed to the middle part 3, to the middle part 3. This front part 2 is inserted between the lips 24 of the mat-seal 7 so as to create a tight barrier with these lips 24. The compression of the mat-seal 7 is obtained in this pathway 13. A transition 31 from the front part 2 to the middle part 3 is conical, as it can be seen in Figure 2a, so as to ease insertion of the plug 1 in the aperture 12, and has a centering effect. The retention of the plug 1 is mainly provided by an inner wall 30 of the pathway 13 in the rear grid 6 cooperating with the outer surface of the middle part 3 of the plug 1.
The middle zone 3 bears a step. This step is created by the transition 31 from a rear zone of the front part 2 having a diameter j¾ to a front zone of the middle part 3 having a diameter 02, as shown in Figures 2b and 2c.
According to the example, the rear part 4 is generally cylindrical with the diameter 02 corresponding to the distance of two opposed spikes 17a, 17d of the star- shaped profile of the middle part 3 of the plug 1. This symmetrically star-shaped profile of the middle part 3 of the plug 1 permits to keep the constant compression force as the plug 1 is pushed into the pathway 13. One of the advantages of the present solution is to dissociate the means creating the sealing and the means creating the retention of the plug 1.
According to the invention, the sealing is made on the front part 2 of the plug 1 and the force for insertion and holding the plug 1 is created at the middle part 3 of the plug 1.
With the star-shaped middle part 3 of the plug 1, the insertion and holding forces can be optimized. This symmetrically star-shaped profile of the plug 1 is particularly suitable even for axially non-symmetrical pathways 13. Thus, according to the different embodiments of the plug 1, the pathway 13 and the middle part 3 of the plug 1 are each provided so as to have different contour shapes, suitable for creating discontinuous contact zones defined by the spikes 17a - 17f as shown on Figure 6a, between the outer surface of the plug 1 and the inner wall 30 surrounding the pathway 13 in the rear grid 6. In particular, according to Figure 6a, the aperture 12 bears recessed corners 20 and 21. These corners 20, 21 present an advantage so as to create limited and discontinuous contact zones defined by the spikes 17a-17f with the rear part 4 of the plug 1.
In this configuration, the spike 17d which is diametrically opposed to the spike 17a of the plug 1 which is in contact with the pathway 13 of the rear grid 6, is free from contact with the inner wall 30 of the pathway 13 created in the rear grid 6.
Retention by multiple zones assures an effective wedging of the plug 1 in the aperture 12 at a great distance from the front part 2, so as not to create any damaging constraint on this front part 2 or on the lips 24 of the mat-seal 7. The invention is not limited to the examples shown, and in particular, the distal cylindrical end of the rear part 4 of the plug 1 may be provided as having a geometry similar to the middle part 3 to be inserted into the aperture 12.
As shown in Figure 6b, one advantage of the solution is that another configuration of the assembly of the plug 1 and the aperture 12 is possible. Here, two neighbour spikes 17a and 17b rest on the flat portion 26d of the aperture 12. A third contact point 17d is provided. Hence, more than 6 different orientations of the plug 1 are possible for assembly. Hence, the maximal axial rotation of the plug 1 with respect to the aperture 12 upon assembly is here of 15°.
This ensures that, whatever the orientation of the plug 1 initially is with respect to the aperture 12, it will be assembled thereto, after a slight rotation, if needed, which occurs naturally. There is no need to pre-position the plug 1 with a given orientation before assembly. This is true in the present case of an asymmetric aperture. However, the present plug 1 could be applied also with apertures 12 having some symmetry.
Further, the present embodiment has 6 spikes 17a-17f. Other embodiments with between 3 and 10 spikes are possible, as shown on Figures 6c to 6f. The spikes 17a- 17f will be provided along the periphery of the plug 1. The spikes 17a-17f will be sufficiently broad so as to be able to mechanically withstand the retention forces, but sufficiently narrow so that their faces do not interfere with protrusions of the aperture 12.

Claims

1. Plug (1) comprising :
- a front part (2) being elongated along a longitudinal axis with a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis,
- a middle part (3) located behind the front part (2) along the longitudinal axis,
characterized in that the middle part (3) comprises spikes (17a-17f) and concave portions (123) between spikes (17a-17f) in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, and defining a zone with a star-shaped cross-section, suitable to hold the plug (1) in a pathway (13) of a housing portion (8) of a connector (11) .
2. Plug (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front part (2) is smooth and slightly conical in shape with an increasing diameter starting from a front zone of the front part (2), opposed to the middle part (3), to the middle part (3) .
3. Plug (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a rear part (4) having a smooth and cylindrical shape along the longitudinal axis, wherein the middle part (3) is located between the front part (2) and the rear part (4) .
4. Plug (1) according to claim 3, wherein a circumscribed diameter of the middle part (3) and a circumscribed diameter of the rear part (4) are identical .
5. Plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plug (1) is made of a thermoplastic material.
6. Plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the middle part (3) comprises between 3 and 10 spikes, preferably between 6 and 8 spikes.
7. Plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spikes are evenly spaced along the periphery of the middle part (3) .
8. Plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein having a conical transition zone (31) from the front part
(2) to the middle part (3) .
9. Assembly of a rear grid (6) and a plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rear grid (6) comprises a pathway (13) defined by an inner wall (30), and wherein the middle part (3) of the plug (1) cooperates with the inner wall (30) to retain the plug (1) on the rear grid (6) .
10. Assembly according to claim 9, wherein the middle part (3) has n spikes (14), and wherein the plug (1) and the inner wall (30) cooperate to hold the plug (1) in the rear grid (6) in at least n+1 angular positions of the plug (1) with respect to the longitudinal axis.
11. Assembly of a rear grid (6) comprising a pathway (13) defined by an inner wall (30) and a plug (1) comprising :
- a front part (2) being elongated along a longitudinal axis with a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis,
- a middle part (3) located behind the front part (2) along the longitudinal axis,
characterized in that the middle part (3) comprises spikes (17a-17f) and concave portions (123) between spikes (17a-17f) in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, and defining a zone with a star-shaped cross-section,
wherein the middle part (3) cooperates with the inner wall (30) to retain the plug (1) on the rear grid (6) .
12. Assembly according to claim 11, wherein the middle part (3) has n spikes (14), and wherein the plug (1) and the inner wall (30) cooperate to hold the plug (1) in the rear grid (6) in at least n+1 angular positions of the plug with respect to the longitudinal axis .
13. Assembly according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the pathway (13) of the rear grid (6) is of asymmetrically-shaped section transverse to the longitudinal axis.
14. Assembly of a rear grid (6) comprising a pathway (13) defined by an inner wall (30) of asymmetrically- shaped section transverse to a longitudinal axis, and a plug (1) comprising :
- a front part (2) being elongated along the longitudinal axis with a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis,
- a middle part (3) located behind the front part (2) along the longitudinal axis,
characterized in that the middle part (3) comprises spikes (17a-17f) and concave portions (123) between spikes (17a-17f) in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, and defining a zone with a star-shaped cross-section for holding the plug (1) in the pathway (13) of a housing portion (8) of a connector (11), wherein the middle part (3) cooperates with the inner wall (30) to retain the plug (1) on the rear grid (6) .
15. Assembly according to claim 14, wherein the middle part (3) has n spikes (14), and wherein the plug (1) and the inner wall (30) cooperate to hold the plug in the rear grid (6) in at least n+1 angular positions of the plug (1) with respect to the longitudinal axis.
16. Assembly according to any of claims 9 to 15, wherein the plug (1) comprises a rear part (4) with a shoulder (14), wherein the rear grid (6) has a rear face (29), and wherein the shoulder (14) abuts on the rear face (29) of the rear grid (6) to prevent any forward movement of the plug (1) with respect to the rear grid (6) along the longitudinal axis.
17. Assembly according to any of claims 9 to 16, for which the middle part (3) creates discontinuous contact zones between the outer surface of the plug (1) and the inner wall (30) of the pathway (13) .
18. Assembly according to any of claims 9 to 17, for which a retention in the rear grid (6) is obtained by an elastic deformation of the plug (1) .
19. Assembly according to any of claims 9 to 18, further comprising a housing portion (8) and a mat seal joint (7), the housing portion (8) being attached to the rear grid (6) holding the mat-seal (7) between them, the rear grid (6) and the housing portion (8) together defining a part of a connector housing, the mat seal joint (6) having a passage corresponding to the pathway (13) of the rear grid (6), the front part (2) of the plug (1) being tightly received in the passage of the mat-seal (7) .
EP12808281.5A 2011-12-22 2012-12-04 Plug for an electrical connector and assembly Withdrawn EP2795734A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IB2011003305 2011-12-22
PCT/EP2012/074370 WO2013092202A1 (en) 2011-12-22 2012-12-04 Plug for an electrical connector and assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2795734A1 true EP2795734A1 (en) 2014-10-29

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12808281.5A Withdrawn EP2795734A1 (en) 2011-12-22 2012-12-04 Plug for an electrical connector and assembly

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2795734A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2013092202A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0277871U (en) * 1988-12-01 1990-06-14

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US4998896A (en) * 1989-09-25 1991-03-12 Amp Incorporated Sealed stamped and formed pin
JP2000133368A (en) * 1998-10-20 2000-05-12 Yazaki Corp Locking structure of waterproof connector and dummy plug
DE102004032572B4 (en) * 2004-07-05 2010-03-04 Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh Connecting arrangement with contact pin
US8241061B2 (en) 2006-01-19 2012-08-14 Fci Automotive Holding Obturator for a compartment of a junction unit and junction unit equipped with such a obturator
JP5160815B2 (en) * 2007-06-07 2013-03-13 タイコエレクトロニクスジャパン合同会社 Dummy plug
DE102009054831A1 (en) * 2009-12-17 2011-06-22 Robert Bosch GmbH, 70469 Contact housing arrangement with blind plugs

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0277871U (en) * 1988-12-01 1990-06-14

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2013092202A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2013092202A1 (en) 2013-06-27

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