GB2112217A

GB2112217A - An electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB2112217A
Application number: GB08138113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Peter Taylor
Original assignee: BROOMADIT Ltd
Current assignee: BROOMADIT Ltd
Priority date: 1981-12-17
Filing date: 1981-12-17
Publication date: 1983-07-13
Also published as: GB2112217B

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises one or more electrical connector elements 6 disposed in a housing 1 of electrically insulating material. The or each element 6 is stamped out from a plane sheet of metal to form two arms 21 arranged in respective planes disposed at an angle to each other and defining a slot therebetween. When an insulated wire is pushed into the slot along a plane P which approximately bisects the angle between the planes of the arms the sharp edge of each arm presented to the insulation by the angling of the arms to it slices through the insulation to make electrical contact with the conductor beneath. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An electrical connector The present invention relates to a connector for forming an electrically conductive connection with an electrically insulated conductor.

One connector of this general type which is known comprises one or more connector elements each of which has two arms. The arms define a gap between which an insulated wire to be connected thereto is pushed and which cut through the insulation to make the connection with the wire conductor core. The element is usually stamped out from a sheet of metal and the arms lie in the same plane. When the wire is forced between them they may be displaced from that plane and a good connection may not be made.

According to the present invention, there is provided a connector for forming an electrically conductive connection with an electrically insulated conductor comprising a housing made of an electrically insulating material and defining a recess accommodating, and positively locating, an electrically conductive connector element, the element being made from a flat strip of material formed to produce two arms disposed in two planes at an angle to one another such that they define a slot therebetween whereby a wire which is insulated and has a transverse dimension slightly greater than the gap dimension of the slot may be pushed between the arms with a force fit so that the arms cut through the insulation to make electrical contact with the wire.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may comprise any one or more of the following advantageous features:- (a) The connector element consists of a single piece of electrically conductive material, (b) The connector element is stampled out from a sheet of electrically conductive material, (c) The two planes in which the arms are respectively disposed are substantially at right angles to one another.

(d) The two arms are respectively located in and project from corresponding arms forming part of the housing.

(e) The housing arms define a channel into which the arms of the element project and into which a wire may be inserted, the axis of the channel being disposed in a plane which substantially bisects the angle between the planes in which the arms of the element are respectively disposed, (f) Insulated wire guides are formed on the arms of the housing, (g) Two pairs of insulated wire guides are formed on the arms of the housing on opposite sides respectively of the connector element, (h) The connector element is formed with a terminal at its end remote from the two arms, (i) The free ends of the arms of the connector element are bevelled to facilitate entry therebetween by a wire, (j) The gap between the arms of the connector element widens towards the base thereof, (k) The housing is moulded from synthetic plastics material, (I) The housing defines a plurality of recesses accommodating and positively locating respective connector elements, (m) The housing defines a plurality of pairs of arms and the arms of respective connector elements are located in and project from corresponding arms of respective pairs.

(m) The housing is formed with mounting formations enabling it to be mounted on a connector board.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an underplan view of a connector according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a side elevational view, in partial section, of the connector of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a plan view of the connector of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows an end elevational view, in partial section along the line A-A of Figure 3, of the connector of Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a connector element forming part of the connector of Figures 1 to 4, Figure 6 shows a side elevational view, in partial section, of an alternative form of connector to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, Figure 6a shows a perspective view of a connector element forming part of the connector of Figure 6, and Figure 6b shows a cross-sectional view through the connector of Figure 6a taken along section line 6IH6b of Figure 6a.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a connector for forming electrically conductive connections with electrically insulated conductors comprises a housing 1 moulded from an electrically insulating synthetic plastics material. The housing 1 defines three recesses 2 (see Figure 1 in particular) each of which extends from the base 3 of the housing 1 up into corresponding arms 4 (see Figure 2 in particular) formed on the upper part of the housing 1. There are four such arms 4 defining three wire channels 5 therebetween.

Each recess 2 accommodates and positively locates with a force fit a connector element 6 made of an electrically conductive material. One such element 6 is shown in perspective view in Figure 5. Each element is stamped from a sheet of metal. It comprises two arms 1 7 and 1 8 respectively disposed in two planes at right angles to one another and defining a slot 9 therebetween. The top of each arm is curved or bevelled at 10 and the base of the slot 9 terminates in an enlarged portion 1 The arms extend from a base portion 12 which defines a right angled bend to produce the orientation of the arms and which incorporates a terminal 13.

Each recess 3 comprises, in cross section, a central portion 14 with branch portions 1 5 and 16 extending on opposite sides respectively therefrom. The connector element 6 is a push fit in the recess 3 and is inserted therein such that the outer lateral edges 1 7 and 1 8 locate in the branch portions with the central part on both sides of the longitudinal axis A of the element disposed in the central portion. In this way each element 6 is held in the corresponding recess 3 so that the plane P bisecting the angle between the planes of the arms 7 and 8 lies along the central axis of the wire channel 5 between those arms. At the same time the dimensions of the connector element 6 and housing recess 3 are such that the inner edges 19 and 20 of the element arms 7 and 8 project into the channel 5.The housing is also formed, in each channel 5, with pairs of wire guides 21 disposed on opposite sides respectively of the corresponding connector element 6. Each guide of each pair extends laterally inwardly from the corresponding arm 4 into the corresponding channel. Two integral mounting formations 22 and 23 each in the form of a hollow cylinder project from the base of the housing (not shown in Figure 4).

In use, in order to connect an insulated wire electrically to the connector, the wire is pushed down, usually with a tool specially designed for the purpose, into the desired wire channel 5 and substantially in the plane P extending through the channel. The bevelling 10 facilitates entry of the wire between the arms 7 and 8. The edges 19 and 20 of the connector element 6 cut through the insulation to make the electrical connection with the wire and the wire guides 21 grip the insulation on either side of the connection. To ensure positive connection and gripping the gap between the arms of the connector element is slightly less than the diameter of the wire and the gap between the guides of each pair of wire guides is slightly less than the external diameter of the insulated wire. The position of one inserted wire W is shown in dashed line in Figures 3 and 4.The V-shaped configuration of the arms ensures that the sharp edges of the arms are presented to the insulation and their resilience ensures a positive connection.

Figures 6, 6a and 6b together illustrate an alternative form of connector to that shown in Figures 1 to 5. This alternative connector is of the same general form construction and materials as the connector of Figures 1 to 5. Parts and members of this alternative connector have been allotted the same references as their equivalents in the connector of Figures 1 to 5 but preceded by the reference numeral 6. Referring to Figure 6, housing 61 is of substantially the same shape as housing 1 (see Figure 2) but the recesses 62 are different shaped to accommodate a different shape of connector element 66. Connector element 66 (see Figures 6a and 6b) is, in contrast to element 6 (see Figure 5) formed with shoulders 600 located substantially at the base of the arms 617 and 618. Also, as compared with elements 6, the tops of the arms 617 and 618 are angled at 610 instead of curved and the enlarged portion 611 of the slot 69 is of somewhat greater length than that of siot 9. The width of arm 617 is greater than that of arm 61 8. The shoulders 600 of the element abutt corresponding shoulders 601 formed on the interior surfaces of the recesses 62.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described, by way of example only, and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the angle between the planes in which the arms 7 and 8 are disposed could be other than 90 .

Claims

1. A connector for forming an electrically conductive connection with an electrically insulated conductor comprising a housing made of an electrically insulating material and defining a recess accommodating, and positively locating, an electrically conductive connector eiement, the element being made from a flat strip of material formed to produce two arms disposed in two planes at an angle to one another such that they define a slot therebetween whereby a wire which is insulated and has a transverse dimension slightly greater than the gap dimension of the slot may be pushed between the arms for a force fit so that the arms cut through the insulation to make electrical contact with the wire.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, in which the connector element consists of a single piece of electrically conductive material,

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the connector element is stamped out from a sheet of electrically conductive material,

4. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the two planes in which the arms are respectively disposed are substantially at right angles to one another.

5. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which the two arms are respectively located in and project from corresponding arms forming part of the housing.

6. A connector as claimed in Claim 5, in which the housing arms define a channel into which the arms of the element project and into which a wire may be inserted, the axis of the channel being disposed in a plane which substantially bisects the angle between the planes in which the arms of the element are respectively disposed.

7. A connector as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, in which insulated wire guides are formed on the arms of the housing.

8. A connector as claimed in Claim 5, 6, or 7 in which two pairs of insulated wire guides are formed on the arms of the housing on opposite sides respectively of the connector element.

9. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the connector element is formed with a terminal at its end remote from the two arms.

10. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the free ends of the arms of the connector element are bevelled to facilitate entry therebetween by a wire.

1 A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the gap between the arms of the connector element widens towards the base thereof.

12. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the housing is moulded from synthetic plastics material.

13. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the housing defines a plurality of recesses accommodating and positively locating repsective connector elements.

14. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the housing defiens a plurality of pairs of arms and the arms of respective connector elements are located in and project from corresponding arms of respective pairs.

1 5. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the housing is formed with mounting formations enabling it to be mounted on a connector board.

1 6. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or to Figures 6, 6a and 6b of the accompanying drawings.