ES363477A1 - Housings for Electrical Connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector housing 11 of resilient insulating material comprises an open-ended tubular body having flexible side walls 13 each comprising an outwardly curved portion, stop means 18 extending from a wall at/adjacent an open end of the body and a projection 16 extending inwardly from the upper/lower wall at a location intermediate the ends of the body. To insert a connector in the housing, the walls 13 are pressed towards each other under finger pressure causing the walls 13 to unbow and the walls 12a, 12b to move apart. The connector is inserted (Fig. 4, not shown) until its leading end engages the stops 18, the connector walls (8, Fig. 1, not shown) freely passing the projection 16. On releasing the pressure on the walls 13, the walls 12a, 12b move towards their original positions, the projection 16 enters a space in the connector which is thus locked in position and a rib 14 extending centrally of the wall 12a and terminating in the transverse projection 16 maintains the connecter longitudinally aligned with the housing. To remove the connector, finger pressure is applied laterally to walls 13 to cause the walls 12a, 12b to move apart so that the rib 14 and projection 16 are lifted free of the connector which is then free to be withdrawn. The side walls 13 may be longitudinally corrugated to increase their flexibility. The curved portion may extend over only part of the width of the wall and the wall may have two or more such curved portions.