FR2783638A1 - Female electrical connector, has inwardly projecting tabs to grip terminal, and outer support of stainless steel to provide greater strength - Google Patents

Abstract

The female electrical contact element is provided with grips (3,4) for attachment to the end of an electrical cable, and a channel (7) in which there are elastic bars (7) intended to grip an inserted male contact. The elastic section and the elastic bars (7) are reinforced by further counter-acting bars (9). The counter-acting bars form part of a second element which fits around the first in order to provide additional inwardly directed elastic force to ensure a good grip of the inserted male connector. Further retaining tabs (12) are provided on the outside of the connector, directed back from the aperture (6a) into which the male terminal is to be fitted.

Description

The present invention relates to a contact member

electric female.

  The invention relates, in particular, to female electrical contact members having, at one end, means for fixing an electrical conductor and, at the other end, a rectangular section channel intended to receive a male tab, in two opposite walls of the channel being cut out from elastic bars 10 folded towards the inside of said channel to form a clamp

  elastic intended to resiliently enclose said male tongue.

  The material in which the female organ is made must be a good conductor of electricity, which is incompatible with the mechanical qualities required to form the elastic clamp. In order to reinforce the elastic action of the bars, it has been imagined to add, on said part forming the channel, an element made of

  a metal such as spring steel, said element

  both counter-bars intended to cooperate with said bars to reinforce the elastic action of these and thus grip with a certain force the tongue

  male in order to obtain a good electrical connection.

  Such electrical contact members have

  in addition try retaining lugs, that is to say, two lugs located on two opposite sides and which, directed towards the fixing means of the conductor, are arched

  in order to move towards their free end from said sides.

  These retaining tabs are intended to wedge the electrical contact members in conduits of the housing elements of the electrical connectors. In fact, these housing elements include series of parallel conduits with one end making it possible to insert said members, while the other end has an opening for the passage of a male tab, said opening5 having a flange against which door l 'corresponding end of the female organ. In the conduits, stops are provided with which the free ends of the retaining tabs cooperate when the corresponding end of the female member comes into contact with the flange. 10 When the female electrical contact member has an added element, the retainers are cut in the end of the latter turned towards the side of the fixing means of the electrical conductor. Such an arrangement has a number of drawbacks. As the retaining tab must have a certain length

  in order to be able to play elastically, it is necessary to extend the insert and, consequently, to produce an electrical contact member having relatively large dimensions, which is incompatible with miniaturization.

  station. We could consider, to reduce the length

  of the insert, reduce the length of the counter

  bars, but this solution has the disadvantage of reducing their elastic action to the detriment

of the electrical connection.

  The object of the present invention is in particular to make it possible to reduce the length of such organs of

  female electrical contact, while retaining the

  electrical connection and locking devices.

  The female electrical contact organ, according to

  the invention is of the type produced from a metal blank

  that good conductor of electricity and suitably folded and cut to present, at one end, means for fixing an electric conductor and, at the other end, a channel of rectangular section and in which are cut elastic bars folded inwardly to form a clamp intended to enclose a male tongue inserted, by an introduction opening, in said channel, the elastic action of the elastic bars being reinforced by counter-bars of a insert and cooperating with said elastic bars, elastic retaining lugs directed towards the means for fixing a conductor being provided and said

  member being characterized in that the retaining tabs extend from the end of the insert adjacent to the insertion opening of the male tongue and towards the means for fixing the electrical conductor and above said insert.

  Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible to have retaining tabs having a certain length while

  decreasing the length of the female organ.

  According to a particular constructive characteristic, the retaining tabs are formed by plates of generally rectangular shape, one of the long sides of which is provided with an extension constituting the retaining tab, said plate being fixed on the element. reported

  in the vicinity of its end adjacent to the insertion opening of the male tab.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the retaining tabs can be made of a material different from that of the insert and the position and shape of which can be different so that the same female electrical contact member can be used with

  elements of shoemakers with different conduits.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention-

  tion, the retaining tabs are formed by extensions of the free ends of the insert adjacent to the insertion opening of the male tongue, said extensions being folded above the insert in the direction of the means pipe fixing

electric tor.

  The added element can consist of

  a box mounted and fixed on the rectangular section

body lair.

  The added element can also be

  killed by two plates fixed on opposite walls of the rectangular section and in which

  the elastic bars are cut.

  The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to particular embodiments given by way of example only and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

  Figure 1 is a perspective view of a female organ, according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is an elevational view showing

  the retaining tab fixed on the box.

  Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line

3-3 in Figure 2.

  Figure 4 and Figure 5 are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the retaining tabs.

  Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment.

  Figure 7 is an elevational view of the female electrical contact member of Figure 6.

  Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line

8-8 of figure 7.

  Figure 9 still shows in perspective an alternative embodiment.

  The electrical contact member of FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a main body 1 made of a metal which is a good conductor of electricity and has a certain

  elasticity. The body 1 is made from a blank cut and folded to present, at one end, pat-

  tes 3 intended to be crimped on an electrical conductor protected by an insulating sheath and lugs 4 intended

  to be crimped on a stripped end of said conductor.

  On the side opposite the legs 3, the body 1 is extended by a gutter-shaped portion 5 from which extends a portion that is substantially in cross section.

  rectangular 6 forming a channel intended to receive, through an introduction opening 6a, a male tab.

  In part 6 are cut, in two opposite walls, elastic bars 7 in order to form

elastic pliers.

  On the part 6 is engaged a box 8 which is fixed for example by welding points, this box being made of a metal having good characteristics

  mechanical, for example spring steel.

  The box 8 has, cut out, counter

  elastic bars 9 intended to bear against the lateral surface of the elastic bars 7 in order to reinforce the elastic action of the latter so that the male tongue, introduced into the channel, is strongly clamped

  and so that the electrical connection is perfectly reali-

  sée. According to the invention, on the sides of the box 8 comprising the counter-bars 9 in the vicinity of the free end thereof adjacent to the introduction opening 6a, are welded plates 10 having a generally rectangular shape and from a mid-point on a long side 11 from which extends a retaining tab 12 comprising, in the vicinity of its free end,

a boss 13.

  The plates can be made from spring steel and the retaining lugs 12, even in relatively small contact members, can have a length sufficient to perfectly block said members in the conduits of electrical connector housing elements. by carrying, by their end

  free, against their shoulders.

  Figures 4 and 5 show variants of the plates 10. The plate 10a of Figure 4 has the retaining tab 12a offset upwards, while

  the plate 10b of FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the retaining tab 12b is offset downwards.

  Figures 6 to 8 show an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this variant, the organ

  of electrical contact comprises a body 15 with, at one end, lugs 16 for crimping a sheathed electrical conductor and lugs 17 for crimping the end

  stripped half of it, while the other end is shaped to have a rectangular section

  the strip 19 in which are cut elastic bars 20 forming a clamp for enclosing a male tab of electrical contact. Between the part 19 and the legs 17, the body 15 is shaped to present a part in the form of a gutter 18.

  On the part 19 is engaged and fixed a box 22 in which are cut counter-bars 23

  intended to cooperate with the elastic bars 20.

  The box is made of spring steel and the counter

  bars 23 reinforce the elastic action of the bars 20.

  The end 22a of the box 22, turned towards the side intended for the introduction of the male tongue, is provided with two extensions 25 which are arched and folded against the side walls of said box and which constitute

the retaining tabs.

  FIG. 9 shows, in exploded perspective, a last embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the female electrical contact member comprises a body 30 with, at one end, crimping lugs 31 and 32 and, at the other end, a rectangular section 33 intended to constitute a channel

  for receiving a male tab 35.

  In two opposite sides 33a of the part 33 are cut and folded inwards two elastic bars 34, while on said sides 33a are fixed for example, by welding points, two plates 38 in which are cut against bars 39

  intended to cooperate with the bars 34 to reinforce the elastic action of the latter.

  The plates 38 are provided with tabs 40 intended to be folded inside the channel and with a

  extension 41 folded outwards and which constitutes the retaining tabs.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described and shown. Many detailed modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

  1. Female electrical contact member of the type produced from a metal blank which is a good conductor of electricity and suitably folded and cut to present, at one end, means for fixing an electrical conductor (3, 4, 16, 17, 31, 32) and, at the other end, a rectangular section channel in which are cut elastic bars (7, 20, 34) folded inwards to constitute a clamp intended to grip a tongue male inserted, through an introduction opening, into said channel, the elastic action of the elastic bars being reinforced by counter-bars (9, 23, 39) of an insert and cooperating with said elastic bars, tabs of elastic retaining elements directed towards the means for fixing a conductor (3, 4, 16, 17, 31, 32) being provided and said member being characterized in that the retaining tabs extend from the end of element r brought adjacent to the insertion opening of the male tab and towards the means for fixing the electrical conductor and above said insert. 2. Female electrical contact member according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining tabs (12) are formed by plates of generally rectangular shape, one of the long sides of which is provided with an extension constituting the tab of retained, said plate being fixed on the insert (8) in the vicinity of its end adjacent to the opening for introducing the male tongue.   3. Female electrical contact member, according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining tabs (25) are constituted by extensions of the free ends of the attached insert (22)   at the insertion opening of the male tongue, said extensions being folded above the element   tee (22) towards the fixing means of the electrical conductor5.   4. Female electrical contact member, according to claim 1, characterized in that the added element   consists of a box mounted and fixed on the rectangular section part10 (6, 19) of the body (1, 15).   5. Female electrical contact member, according to claim 1, characterized in that the added element   consists of two plates (38) fixed on two opposite walls of the rectangular section (33) and from which are cut elastic bars that (34).