FR2724774A1 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH POLARIZED TERMINALS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (2) comprising an insulating housing (4) through which extend a plurality of cavities (6) for receiving cut and formed terminals (8). One of the side walls thereof has an upper bias protrusion and the other side wall has a lower bias protrusion, which protrusions are substantially diagonally opposed. They allow a polarization at 0 deg. or at 180 deg. terminals (8) to be inserted into the cavity (6). Scope of application: high density contact connectors, etc.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical connector containing terminals

  which are polarized with respect to the connector housing. Many electrical connectors usually include an insulating housing through which extend several cavities into which are inserted electrical terminals having, at one end, one end for connection on conductive wires and, at the other end of the terminal, a coupling end with a complementary terminal. Some terminals, in particular small terminals for high density packaging in an electrical connector, have approximately square or symmetrical shapes with respect to an axis. In addition, due to the high density of the terminals inside the housing, the walls separating the terminals become relatively thin and therefore very flexible. As a result of these last two points, it has become possible, in certain conceptions of the prior art, to insert the terminals by mistake in the

  wrong orientation inside their corresponding cavities-

  laying. Although such terminals are not required

  With a perfectly square profile, the thin walls of the connector are flexible and sometimes allow the terminal to be inserted in an orientation of 900 relative to its intended orientation. Such terminals may include two opposite cantilevered contact blades intended to be coupled with a contact with a complementary flat plug, such contacts therefore being unable to be coupled with the contact with male flat rod when they are oriented at approximately around their axis with respect to their correct coupling orientation. However, these terminals can be coupled even if they are oriented at 1800, because the contact blades cantilever are thus again

  aligned with the complementary flat plug contact plane

  to hush up. It is desirable to have connector assemblies having a high density of terminals, while preventing wrong orientation to 90 of these terminals in a reliable manner. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a connector assembly in which high density electrical terminals are mounted, the terminals not being able to be inserted into a housing of the connector being oriented

    from the planned orientation.

  An object of the invention is to provide a terminal having an approximately square or asymmetrical profile in cross section, whereby the terminal cannot be inserted into a connector housing while being oriented at 900 relative to its intended orientation, d '' in a reliable way,

robust and inexpensive.

  An object of the invention has been achieved by means of an electric terminal cut and formed, having a part

  U-shaped base extending between a portion of the

  connection intended to be connected to conductive wires, and a coupling part intended for an electrical connection with a complementary terminal, a side wall of the

  U-shaped base part rising beyond an extremi-

  tee from an opposite side wall of the base portion, and the opposite side wall having a downwardly extending beyond a base wall of the U-shaped base portion so that the terminal can be climb in a

  cavity of an electrical connector in a first orien-

  or in a second orientation at 180 with respect to the first orientation, but not at 90 with respect to it, the connector enclosing grooves intended to house the

  side wall extensions.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting examples and in which: - Figure 1 is a top view of a terminal according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Figure 2; - Figure 5 is a section along line 5-5 of Figure 2; - Figure 6 is a sectional view of a part

  a connector housing comprising the terminal of the

  gure 1; - Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a housing having several terminals, one of the terminals being shown misaligned by 90; - Figures 8 to 10 are bottom, side and top views, respectively, of an inner contact body of the terminal of Figure 1; - Figure 11 is a plan view of an outer reinforcing spring cut, partially completed, of the terminal of Figure 1; - Figure 12 is a view of the outer reinforcing spring partially cut and formed, in a more advanced stage than in Figure 11; - Figure 13 is a sectional view along line 13-13 of Figure 12; and - Figure 14 shows an interior contact body, cut, partially completed, shown on the

Figures 8 to 10.

  Referring first to FIG. 6, an electrical connector 2 comprises an insulating housing 4 through which extends a terminal receiving cavity 6 intended to receive a cut and formed electrical terminal 8. Terminal 8 comprises a body of internal contact 10 (see also Figures 8 to 10) and an external reinforcement spring 12

  (see also Figures 12 and 13).

  Referring now to Figures 8 to 10, the inner contact body 10 shown has a conductor connection portion 14 extending axially into a transition portion 16 which extends into a portion 18 of shaped body U having a base wall 20 and side walls 22, 24. A contact portion 26 extends from the side walls 22, 24 and comprises two opposite cantilever contact blades 28 intended for

  receive a complementary flat plug terminal between them.

  One of the side walls 22 has an upper extension 30 which projects beyond an upper edge 32 of the opposite side wall 24. An upper edge 34 of the upper extension 30 has a profile similar in shape to that of the upper edge 32 and 15 has a raised central part 36 bordered on each side by front and rear edges 38, 39 of riveting, respectively, on which the external reinforcing spring is intended to be riveted as described below. The other side wall 24 similarly has front and rear edges 41, 43 of riveting. A lower extension 42, having a lower edge 44 which projects below the base wall 20, projects from a lower edge 40, in a position substantially opposite to that of the front edge 41 of riveting. Referring to Figure 14, the inner contact body is shown in a partially cut state before being bent into a U-shape, the approximate plane of

  symmetry being indicated by the mixed line 46.

  Referring now to Figures 11 to 13, the outer reinforcing spring 12 is shown in various stages of its cutting and forming process, Figures 12 and 13 showing the outer reinforcing spring just before it is removed from the strip 48 of support and its riveting around the internal contact body 10. The external reinforcement spring 12 comprises a body part 50 intended to be wound around the part 18 of the internal contact body B, and cantilevered spring leaves 52 which protrude axially to be positioned approximately parallel to and against the cantilever contact blades 28, the spring blades 52 having rounded protrusions 54 near their free ends to apply spring pressure against blades 28 of

  internal contact body in order to increase its elasticity.

  The body portion 50 has a base wall 56, opposite side walls 57, 58 and, projecting from their upper edges 60, front and rear tabs 59, 61, 62, 63, respectively, of riveting. Locking lugs 64 are cut in the side walls 57, 58 and project obliquely towards the rear to block the terminal 8 inside the cavity 6 of the housing as shown in the

figure 6.

  The side walls 57, 58 are mounted substantially against the side walls 24, 22 of the internal contact, respectively, a side wall 58 of the external reinforcement spring projecting more upwards than the other side wall so that the tabs front and rear 62, 63 of riveting this spring can

  be folded over the edges 38, 39 of riveting, respectively

  tively, from the side wall 22 of the interior contact body. This last point is best shown in Figures 4 and 5 o the tabs 59, 61, 62, 63 of riveting are folded down on their respective side walls 24, 22 of the inner contact body in a similar manner, except side wall projecting more than the other. The front and rear riveting tabs 59,

  61 and 62, 63 of each of the side walls 22, 24, respectively

  tively, are connected, near their free ends, by bridges 66 which are folded over the raised central parts 36 and against the side walls 22, 24. A cutout 68 adjacent to the bridge 66 makes it possible to position the projection 30, 36 of the upper edge so that it fits between the front and rear tabs 59, 61 and 62, 63, respectively, of riveting, thus constituting a secure means of retaining the external reinforcement spring on the internal contact body. side 57 has a lower extension 70 of U-shape which extends below the base wall 56 so as to fit around the lower extension 42 of the side wall 24 of the internal contact body. The lower extension 70 of U-shape is thus placed in a diagonal arrangement substantially opposite with respect to the upper extension 30, 60. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower extension 70 of U-shape has proportions and a profile substantially similar, in reflected image, to those of the U-shaped riveting blades 62, 63 which are folded over the riveting edges 38, 39 of the side wall 22 of the

internal contact body.

  The diagonally opposite upper and lower extensions of the external reinforcement spring and of the internal contact body form polarization extensions 70, 72, respectively, for the purpose described below with reference to FIG. 7. The cavity 6 of the housing has an almost square profile defined by opposite lateral faces 74, 76 and, extending between them, opposite upper and lower faces 78, 80, respectively. Flared entry surfaces 82, 84 serve to guide the contact blades and the body portion between the side walls 74, 76. The side face 76 extends upward beyond

  the lateral face 74 and extends up to a significant angle

  so U-shaped which joins the upper face 78 and forms a portion of cavity 86 of substantially U-shaped intended to receive one or the other of the extensions of

  polarization 72, 70. Similarly, diagonally-

  opposite side, the other lateral face 74 extends lower than the lateral face 76 and forms a cavity section 88 of substantially U-shaped shape intended to receive one or the other of the polarization projections 70, 72. made of diagonally opposite parts 86, 88 of the polarization cavity, the general cross-sectional profile of the cavity is approximately in diamond shape. The latter allows a narrow positioning of the spacing of the cavities 6 stacked on each other and which must be separated by a wall portion 90 which must be of a minimum thickness for purposes of robustness, ease of manufacture and other properties10 such as transverse electrical resistance. Since the polarization projections 70, 72 have similar profiles in cross section and similarly the corner cavities 86, 88 have similar profiles, the terminals 8 can be inserted in the cavities 6 by being arranged at 0 or at 180 relative to them as shown by terminal 8 '. However, a provision at 90, as shown by the

  terminal 8 ", should be avoided as it is not possible to insert

  rer an additional flat plug terminal between the

  contact 88 in this provision. The 8 "terminal is shown

  tee positioned against one of the side walls 74 and thus the upper projection 70 "of polarization is arranged to penetrate into the cavity against the lateral face 76. The lower projection 72" of polarization, however, abuts against the flared entry surface 84 and prevents the insertion of the terminal 8 "into the cavity 6. Due to the use of polarization extensions 70, 72 projecting in opposite directions, these extensions can extend only over half the distance beyond of the terminal in comparison with a terminal having only one polarization projection. In addition, due to the positioning of the polarization projections, 72 in the immediate vicinity of the lateral faces 74, 76, the polarization projection abuts against parts of angle of the walls of the housing cavity which are much more robust and less flexible than a central part of the partition walls of the cavity, such as 90, whereby a polarization projection ion located centrally can allow a forced introduction of the terminal into the cavity 6 by deformation of the wall 90 of the housing. In addition, since the polarization projections 70, 72 and the corresponding cavities 86, 88 are diagonally opposite, terminals can be stacked in a compact configuration

  while retaining a minimum thickness T of the wall 90 between adjacent cavities 6. Another advantage is the possibility of inserting the terminals in an arrangement at 0 or 10 to 180, which increases the possibilities of assembly.

  Consequently and advantageously, the diagonally opposite projections 72 of polarization allow a less bulky configuration while nevertheless providing a robust and reliable polarization system which

  allows a polarization at 0 or at 1800.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the terminal described and shown without

depart from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

  1. Electrical terminal (2) having an approximately square or asymmetrical cross section of its external profile, having a contact body (10) comprising a connection part 14 intended for connection on a conductive wire, a contact part (26) intended for coupling with a complementary terminal and a U-shaped base part (18) extending between them, the base part (18) having a base wall (20) and first and second side walls (22 , 24) which extend approximately orthogonally from the edges of the base wall to the free upper edges (34, 32), respectively, characterized in that the free upper edge (34) of the first wall side (22) has an upper projection   (30, 71) of polarization which extends further outwards   laughing from the base wall (20) as the free upper edge (32) of the second side wall (24), and the second side wall (24) has a lower projection (42, 72) of polarization projecting below the base wall (20) in a direction substantially opposite to that of the free upper edge (32), the upper and lower polarization projections being diametrically opposite and capable of cooperating with a cavity (6) of a connector housing to allow a polarization of the terminal, in this cavity, at 0 or 180, while preventing polarization at 90 or 270. 2. Electrical terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance over which the upper polarization projection (30, 71) rises beyond the free upper edge (32) of the second wall is substantially equal to the distance from which the lower projection (42,   72) of polarization protrudes from the base wall (20).   3. Electrical terminal according to one of the res   dications 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises an external reinforcement spring (12) mounted around the base and side walls (20, 22, 24) and contiguous to these walls, and comprising upper tabs (59, 61 , 62, 63) of riveting folded over the free upper edges (32, 34) to fix the external reinforcement spring (12) on the internal contact body (10). 4. Electric terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that the external reinforcement spring (12) has a lower extension (70) of U-shape folded around the lower projection (42) of the contact body,   with external profiles, in cross section, similar   res to the upper tabs (62, 63) of riveting, so as to constitute similar projections (71, 72) of polarization for its insertion in an orientation at 0 or at 1800 in the cavity (6) of the housing.   5. Electrical terminal according to one of the res-   dications 3 and 4, characterized in that the upper front and rear tabs (59, 61, 62, 63) for riveting each side wall (22, 24) border, on each side, an extension (36) for retaining the edges free upper (32, 34) of the contact body to prevent the reinforcing spring   to move axially relative to the contact body.   6. Terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that the tabs (59, 61, 62, 63) of riveting, U-shaped, are connected, near their ends   free, by a bridge (66) intended to reinforce the terminal.   7. Electrical connector comprising several   terminals according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the   connector further comprising an insulating housing (4) through which extend several receiving cavities (6)   terminals, the cavities (6) being arranged in one or more   rows, the cavities (6) having a pair of upper and lower polar grooves (86, 88), diametrically opposed, adjacent to the opposite side surfaces (76, 74) of the cavities (6), for receiving the projections   upper and lower (71, 72) of polarization.   8. The connector of claim 7, charac-   terized in that adjacent cavities (16) are separated by walls (90) arranged at an angle so as not to be perpendicular to the direction of the row of cavities, whereby the upper groove (86) of polarization tion of the previous cavity and the lower groove (88) of   polarization of the next cavity are substantially imbricated   quées for a very compact layout.   9. Connector according to one of claims 7 and   8, characterized in that the upper and lower projections   terminal (71, 72) of polarization of the terminal are arranged near opposite side walls (74, 76) of the cavity (6), respectively, to ensure a rigid abutment of the projections of the terminal against angle parts of cavity partition walls of the housing when the terminal is inserted in the wrong orientation (90 or 270) relative to the cavity.