FR2807217A1 - Tourist coach dash board push button/switch sets cable/electrical function connecting having mechanical/electrical cable wire connections directly connecting cable wires. - Google Patents

Abstract

The connection mechanism connects electrical cable wiring (24) to electrical functions (30,32) providing user interfacing. The electrical connections (42,44,60-62) provide electrical and mechanical contact directly to the cable wiring.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical function execution device comprising means of connection to a wiring. The device may in particular be a switching member, for example an electric switch type push or rocker, or a group of switches.

The wiring to which the device is intended to connect may consist of one or more insulated electrical son, the wiring being an example in the form of a bundle or a sheet of son. The connection can then be made at one end of the wire (s), the device thus constituting a termination member.

In an application envisaged, the device is made for mounting through a through hole of a console or other control board. The latter may be in particular a part of a dashboard, an armrest or equipment embedded in a vehicle, for example a passenger car.

FIG. 1 illustrates a known example of an electrical function execution device, in this case a switch, mounted on a plate. The device is in the form of a one-piece body 2 having at its respective ends a contact portion 4 to provide a connection to wiring wires, and a user interface, which here in the form of a pusher 6 (shown schematically) allowing to activate the switch. In the mounting position, the contact portion 4 and the user interface 6 are on either side of a through hole 8 of the plate The body 2 comprises on its periphery means for its mechanical attachment to the plate. In the illustrated example, the latter comprise a series of resilient tabs 12 which bear by snap-fitting lower flange 14 of the plate 10, located around the through hole 8.

The body 2 includes a switching assembly 16 (shown schematically in dotted lines) between the pusher 6 and the contact block The latter comprises male contacts 18a, 18b which extend in the lower extension of the body 2. The contacts are surrounded by an insulating sleeve 20 which provides a protection and holding function for a female connector 22.

The female connector 22 is a separate block and removable vis-à-vis the body 2, which incorporates clips 26a and 26b and means for connecting them electrically to son 24a, 24b of a wiring harness. Each clip 26a, 26b is arranged to engage with one of the corresponding male contacts 18a, 18b of the body 2. The female connector 22 is configured as a body, one end 22a of which includes access to the lugs 26a, 26b and the other end 22b provides clearance son 24a, 24b.

This configuration, which requires the provision of a specific and separate connection block ('' the female connector 22) which is attached to the wires of the wiring, makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the assembly in its connection configuration, especially at the level of the axial length.

Moreover, the electrical assembly of the device is complicated by the fact that it requires two operations, namely the connection of the beam to the female connector 22 and mounting of the latter on the contact pins 18a, 18b.

Finally, the assembly 2 requires separately storing and managing the device itself and the female connector 22.

In view of this precedes, the present invention proposes a new approach for the design of the electrical function execution device which makes it possible to increase the compactness, in particular in the mounting configuration, and to simplify its implementation.

To this end, the present invention provides an electrical function execution device, the latter incorporating for example at least one switch, comprising means for connecting at least one wire of an electrical wiring from which the function must be performed. electrical and user interface means for controlling the electrical function, the device being characterized in that the connection means are adapted to make an electrical and mechanical contact directly on the wire (s) of the wiring Otherwise, the connection means do not require to equip the wiring of a connection element, such as a male or female connector, before being able to connect this wiring to the device.

Advantageously, the connection means are of the so-called "insulating displacement" type, which may comprise an overmolded grid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection means comprise mobile means intended to receive at least one wire to be connected, these means being able to move relative to the remainder of the connection means between a first position which keeps each wire away from each other. a fixed electrical contact for which it is intended to be connected and a second position which holds each wire against its fixed contact.

The movable means may be slidably mounted on the remainder of the connection means, the first and second positions being established by locking points in the sliding stroke.

The device may further comprise test means for electrically connecting each wire to its corresponding contact when moving means are in the first position.

The test means may comprise, for each wire, a conductive element forming a stop against which a stripped end of the can come into contact.

Preferably, the movable means comprise, for each wire, at least one wire passage hole, access to each hole being released in said first position.

Furthermore, the device may comprise at least one externally accessible test point making it possible to establish an electrical contact on an internal conductor.

The test point can be achieved by an opening in a substrate on which said inner conductor rests.

In a typical application, the device comprises fixing means intended to cooperate with a housing made in a plate, so that the user interface and the connection means protrude from the opposite faces of the plate.

The invention and the advantages which emerge from it will appear more clearly on reading the description of the preferred embodiments, which are presented hereinafter purely by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the appended drawings in which - FIG. described, is a simplified view in axial section of a conventional switch for PCB mounting and a separate connector for connecting to a wiring; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical function execution device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a three-quarter view in partial section from below of the device of FIG. 2; - Figure 4 is an axial sectional view of the device of Figures 2 and 3; - Figure 5 is a bottom view of the device of the figure; - Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a device according to a second embodiment; FIG. 7 is a view from below of a device according to a variant of the invention which differs at the level of a locking key used; and FIG. 8 is a three-quarter view of a device according to a variant of the invention which differs in the direct connection of the wires of a wiring harness.

A first embodiment of a device for executing an electrical function according to the present invention will be described in the push-button switch frame with reference to FIGS. 2 to 2. As is more particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. switch 30 comprises, joined in a single structure, a main body 32, interface element in the form of push button 34 which is projecting from an upper end 34a of the main body, and an assembly 36 for connecting and fixing wires 24 (Figure 4) of a wiring harness which is integrated at a lower end 32b of the body.

The body 32 is intended to be fixed inside a through hole 8 made in a male control plate 10 so that the press button 34 and the connection and fixing assembly 36 are accessible from both sides. other of this stage (figure 4). In the example, the main body comprises two elastic tabs 38, each provided at one free end with a latching element 40. These tabs 38 engage and fix against respective faces 10a of the plate 10 which are parallel to the main axis AA 'of the body and depend on opposite edges of the hole 8.

Pusher 34 has a portion 34a forming a slider which is slidably mounted within the main body 32, against a spring 40, to activate a switch 16 (shown schematically in phantom).

The connection and fixing assembly 36 is of the so-called "insulating displacement" (ADI) type, that is to say in which the wires 24 of the wiring are presented to the respective contact elements without priorly stripping them. . In this case, each contact is shaped to cut the insulating coating of the wire at the point of contact during attachment, and thus connect to the conductive core.

According to the first embodiment, the connection and fixing assembly 36 is in the form of two parts 42 and 44 movable relative to each other.

One of these parts 42 is a connection base which is attached to the lower end 32b of the main body 32. It is in the form of an overmolded grid, that is to say an assembly consisting of a part of Rigid metal conductor tracks 46 (designated grid) which provides the various interconnections within the device and secondly a resin body 48, molded around the grid, which comprises the structural elements of the part.

In the example, the ADI connection is made at ends of the tracks 46 of the grid configured in fork 50. Each fork 50 has a groove with flared and sharp inner edges, designed to cut the insulation of the wire and come into electrical contact. with his conductive soul when the latter is forced towards the back of the throat.

In the example shown, the gate 46 has four ADI connection forks 50 for receiving two pairs of wires respectively to establish continuity by switching and to supply light-emitting diodes 52 used to illuminate the top of the press button 34.

The other piece 44 constituting the connection and fixing assembly 16 serves to receive the son 24 as well as guide and hold them towards the bottom of their respective forks ADI 50. This piece, designated locking key 44 , has a main wall 54 whose plane is substantially parallel to the axis AA 'of the body 32 of the device. The main wall has a face facing the ADI forks 50 and from which extends perpendicularly a series of flanges 56 mutually parallel. Each flange 56 comprises a series of through-holes 58 distributed along its length, the holes of the various flanges being parallel to the axis of the device 30. The holes 58 are configured to be traversed by the wires 24 of the wiring with their insulation coating , that each wire to be connected to the device 30 passing through aligned holes 58 of the series of flanges 56.

The locking key 44 further comprises a pair of branches 60 for guiding and fixing it with respect to the connection base 42. These branches extend from the lower part of the lateral edges of the main wall 54 The inner faces of the branches 60 are configured to bear and slide against respective lower lateral edges 61 of the connection base 42. The free end of each elastic branch 60 comprises a detent element 62 adapted to be housed in a housing. recess 64 or 66 provided for this purpose in one of the lower edges 61.

The mounting of the locking key 44 on the connection base 42 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5. The locking key 44 is shown mounted on the connection base 42 at a so-called waiting position, in which the axes of the through holes 58 are kept away from the ADI forks 50. The locking key 44 is held at this standby position by snapping each resilient branch 60 in a first recess 64 of the corresponding lower lateral edge 61.

In the standby position, the locking key 44 is thus attached to the connection base 42 while allowing free access to the holes 58 for the passage of the ends of the wires 24 of the wiring.

When the threads are introduced into the respective holes 58, they can be engaged in the ADI forks 50 by sliding the locking key 44 towards the center of the connection base 42. The snap-fastening elements 62 of the elastic branches 60 then leave. the first recess 64 and continue their stroke along the lower edges 61 to reach and penetrate into respective second recesses 66, where the key 44 is then locked in the so-called locking position (configuration shown in phantom).

In the locking position, the axes of the holes 58 of the key 44 coincide with the respective axes of the grooves 50 between the blades forming the ADI forks 50. In this way, the insulation of each wire 24 housed in the aligned holes of the flanges 56 is cut by the blades of the fork ADI 50 during the race towards the locking position. The core of each is then exposed and brought into contact with the fork, thus achieving the required electrical connection.

To ensure a good mechanical strength of the key 44 in its locking position, particularly with regard to stresses the direction of traction of the son 24, the connection base 42 has flanges 68 facing the main wall 54 of the key and configured to interpose without play against the flanges 56 thereof. Grooves 70 are formed in the flanges 58 of the connection base 42, in line with the ADI forks 50, to allow the passage of the son 24 when the key 44 is in the locking position. Note that the locking key 44 has two flanges 56 which pass respectively just above and below forks ADI 50 to push well and hold the son 24 against them.

It will now be described with reference to FIG. 6 a second embodiment of the device 30 which furthermore makes it possible to carry out electrical continuity tests before the final installation of the wires 24 of the wiring harness.

The device 30 'according to the second embodiment incorporates the same functions and structural elements as the device just described, and only the differences relative to the latter will be described for the sake of brevity. Likewise, identical or equivalent elements of the second embodiment are designated by the same references.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device 30 'at the connection base 42, showing one of the conductive tracks 46 of the lead frame.

Each conductive track has a first section 46a a first level which is located on the inner surface 42a of the overmolded bottom of the connection base 42. It serves one or more points of contact within the device 30 'by connecting them with a fork of ADI connection 50, like the tracks 46 shown in particular in Figures 2 and 4.

In addition to being connected to an ADI connection fork 50, each first track section 46a is electrically connected to a bent gate of its own. This bent grid has a second section of track 46b located on a plane parallel to the first section and a third portion 46c, perpendicular to the first and second sections, which electrically connects them. Like the first section, the second and third sections 46b are pressed against respective planes of the overmolding part.

The second track section 46b is positioned at a connecting base top 42 and extends toward the locking key so as to be slightly above the highest flange 56 thereof. The projection of the second section of track ends slightly beyond the perpendicular holes 58 of the flanges 56 of the key when it is in the waiting position, that is to say when the wires 24 to be connected are set back from the ADI connection forks 50 (see Figure 6).

This arrangement makes it possible to carry out a first test of the device 30 'with its wiring, in particular to check the correct assignment of the wires 24, without however definitively fixing the latter on the connection ADI. To do this, we proceed as follows for each wire 24 to be connected.

Part of the end of the wire is stripped so that it has a stripped end 24a of the conductive core. The wire is passed through the corresponding through-holes 58 of the flanges 56 of the key 44 until the stripped end abuts against the second track portion 46b. The wire 24 is then sufficiently retained by friction of its insulating sheath against the through holes 58 to allow to maintain adequate electrical contact with the second portion waiting position. To ensure better contact against the second runway portion 46b, it may optionally provide means for exerting an axial pressure on the end of the wire 24, for example a clamp (not shown).

In this way, the wiring harness is also electrically connected to the device 30 'even when the locking key 44 is in the standby position, and therefore before the insulation of the wire is cut off by the ADI connector. If, during electrical tests carried out in this waiting position, it turns out that a wire is not in its proper position with respect to its runway 46 or that it is defective, it would be possible to reconfigure or change it before its insulation has been cut by the fork ADI 50. The wire 24 can then be reinstalled, for example in a new location within the key, in the same state as it was before. This effect is advantageous because, for reasons of reliability, it is generally not feasible to reinstall a wire, especially in a connector of the ADI, when its insulation has already been cut by the latter.

Moreover, the connection base 42 of the device 30 'according to the second embodiment is configured to allow access from the outside to the various conductive tracks 46 in order to make it possible to carry out tests on internal functions, for example the operation of the diodes 52, switching, etc.

To this end, the bottom surface of the overmolded bottom of the connection base 42 is perforated by through holes 70 in line with the different tracks 46 to which it is desired to perform tests.

In the example shown, the lower part of the connection base comprises a sleeve 72 adapted to keep the periphery 71 of a head 74 of test tips 76. The test tips are aligned with respective through holes 70 in order to electrically connect to the different tracks 46 and thus allow to verify internal connections of the device directly from the outside.

This arrangement makes it possible to avoid dismantling part of the device in order to have access to the conductive tracks, or to have to wire the latter before being able to carry out this test.

It is clear that the technical means just described to enable on the one hand to perform the binding tests on the wire bundle (by the bent grid 46a, 46b) and other internal operation tests through a direct access to the tracks from the outside (by the openwork connection base 42) can be implemented independently of each other without departing from the scope of the present invention, these means also relating to optional aspects of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view from below of a device 33 according to a first variant, in which the ADI locking key is in the form of two substantially identical elements articulated on the connection base 42. Each of the elements 80 is integral with the connection base 42 by one of the ends, the hinge being obtained by bending the material of the attachment point element. The free end of the element 80b has flanges provided with through-holes 58, in a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, for receiving wires from a wiring harness. The free end 80b further includes a detent 62 for engaging a recess 66 to lock in a position where the through holes 58 are in the ADI connection fork alignment 50 to establish the connection with the son.

Although particularly advantageous when used with connection means on ADI type wiring, the invention is in no way limited to this type of connection.

Thus, as shown in Figure 8, the device 33 'may be provided with connection means in the form of lugs 80, each for receiving directly a denuded end of a wire 24 from a wiring harness. In the illustrated example, the lugs 80 are in the axis of the main body 32, at the extension of the lower part thereof, which makes it possible to establish a comfortable connection of the wires 24.

Alternatively (dashed), part 82 carrying the lugs 80 is arranged at 90 so that the lugs - as well as the ends of the son extend radially from the axis of the main body 32, which saves money. place in this direction. It will be understood that this arrangement can be achieved by folding the lugs of the first variant (arrows, FIG. 8).

Of course, other variants may be considered in the context of the present invention. Thus, the electrical function execution device may be other than a switch, which may be for example a dimmer, a touch screen, etc.

Finally, it will be noted that characteristics of the different embodiments and variants described can easily be juxtaposed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

Electric function execution device (30, 30 ', 33, 33'), comprising means for connecting to at least one wire (24) of an electrical wiring from which the electrical function and means must be performed. user interface device (34) for controlling the electrical function, characterized in that the connection means (42-66) are adapted to make electrical and mechanical contact directly on the wire (s) (24) of the wiring . Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection means (42-66) are of the type called "insulation displacement". 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection means (42-66) comprise an overmolded grid (46, 48). 4. Device according to any one of claims 3, characterized in that the connecting means (42-66) comprise movable means (44) for receiving at least one <B> wire </ B> (24) to connect, these means being movable relative to the remainder of the connection means between a first position which keeps each wire away from a fixed electrical contact (50) to which it is intended to connect a second position which holds each wire against its contact fixed. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the movable means (44) are slidably mounted on the remainder of the connection means (42-66) and in that the first and second positions are established by locking points in the sliding race. 6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it further comprises test means (46b, 46c) for electrically connecting each wire (24) to its corresponding contact (50) when the moving means (44) ) are in said first position. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the test means (46b, 46c) comprise, for each wire (24), a conductive element (46b) forming a stop against which a denuded end of the wire can come into contact . 8. Device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the movable means (44) comprise, for each wire (_24), at least one hole (58) of wire passage, access to each hole being disengaged in said first position. 9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one test point (70) accessible from the outside for establishing an electrical contact on an inner conductor (46a). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the test point is formed by an opening (70) in a substrate on which said inner conductor (46a). 1. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it incorporates at least one switch (16). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises fastening means (38) intended to cooperate with a housing (8) formed in a plate (10), so that the user interface (6) and the connecting means (42-66) protrude from the opposite faces of the platen.