GB2136642A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Electrical connector Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2136642A
GB2136642A GB08406415A GB8406415A GB2136642A GB 2136642 A GB2136642 A GB 2136642A GB 08406415 A GB08406415 A GB 08406415A GB 8406415 A GB8406415 A GB 8406415A GB 2136642 A GB2136642 A GB 2136642A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
contact
conductor
connector
housing
arm
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08406415A
Other versions
GB8406415D0 (en
Inventor
Wilfred Bonney
Norman Warburton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Balfour Beatty PLC
Original Assignee
BICC PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB838306896A external-priority patent/GB8306896D0/en
Application filed by BICC PLC filed Critical BICC PLC
Priority to GB08406415A priority Critical patent/GB2136642A/en
Publication of GB8406415D0 publication Critical patent/GB8406415D0/en
Publication of GB2136642A publication Critical patent/GB2136642A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
    • H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
    • H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
    • H01R4/245—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/115—U-shaped sockets having inwardly bent legs, e.g. spade type
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/70—Insulation of connections

Abstract

An electrical connector comprising an electric contact (1) with insulation displacement means (3), and an electrically insulating housing (101) having an arm (102) with an extension (105). When arm (102) is snap-fitted to housing (101), extension (105) forces an insulated conductor positioned in openings (2) and (104) onto the insulation displacement means (3). Contact (1) may also include strain-relief tabs 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connector This invention relates to electrical connectors and electric contacts therefor.
According to the present invention an electrical connector comprises an electric contact comprising insulation displacement means for making an electrical connection with an insulated conductor, and a housing of electrically insulating material, wherein the housing has an arm which can be snap-fitted to the housing such that after placing a contact in the housing and positioning an insulated conductor ready for attachment to the contact, as the arm is snap-fitted to the housing the arm engages the insulated conductor to force it onto the insulation displacement means of the contact.
By insulation displacement means is meant means on the contact which pierce the insulation on the conductor to make the electrical connection between the conductor and the contact. Preferably the insulation displacement means comprises at least one opening wide enough to allow insertion of the insulated conductor, and a slot extending into the opening, the slot having substantially parallel edges spaced apart by a distance slightly smaller than the diameter of the conductor to be inserted, the arrangement being such that after an insulated conductor is positioned in the opening it is forced into the slot, the edges of which pierce the conductor insulation to make the electrical connection with the conductor. The opening may be circular and have a diameter slightly larger than the insulated conductor to be inserted.Preferably, however, the opening is an extension of the slot in which the edges of the slot taper away from one another and open onto an edge of the contact.
Alternatively the insulation displacement means comprises at least one spike which pierces the conductor insulation to electrically connect the conductor the contact.
Preferably the contact includes strain relief means for mechanically securing the conductor to the contact. The strain relief means preferably comprises at least two tabs which are attached to the contact and which are bent over by the arm of the housing to grip the conductor insulation. Preferably the tabs are bent over after the insulated conductor is attached to the insulation displacement means. The tabs are preferably integral with the contact and are formed during manufacture of the contact.
Alternatively the strain relief may comprise at least two spaced resilient fingers which are attached to the contact and which are so shaped that as the insulated conductor is pushed between the fingers, the fingers are moved apart and then moved back after full insertion to grip the conductor insulation. In this case the fingers are preferably integral with the contact and formed during manufacture of the contact.
The contacts may be made of any suitable mate rial, for example brass, nickel silver or phosphor bronze.
Preferably the contact is of the type suitable to receive a blade terminal, preferably a blade terminal which is to BS 5057.
The arm is preferably pivotally attached to the housing, preferably by an integral hinge.
The invention also includes an electric contact for use in an electrical connector as herein described.
The invention is further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of an electric contact for use in an electrical connector in accordance with the invention before and after respectively an insulated conductor is attached; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of alternative electrical contacts for use in an electrical connector in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an electrically insulating housing for an electrical connector in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative housing for an electrical connector in accordance with the invention.
The electric contact 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises insulation displacement means in the form of two tapered openings 2 each with a slot 3, and strain-relief means in the form of two tabs 4. An electric conductor 5 having an electrically insulating cover 6 is forced (described later) into the slots 3 such that the edges 7 of the slots 3 pierce the insulating cover 6 to electrically connect the conductor 5 with the contact 1. Substantially at the same time, the tabs 4 are bent over to grip the insulated conductor 5 to mechanically secure the conductor to the contact 1. The tabs 4 are integral with the contact 1.
An alternative electric contact 11 is shown in Figure 3. In this arrangement the insulation displacement means comprises a single tapered opening 12 and a slot 13, whereas the strain-relief means for gripping the insulating covering 16 on the conductor 15 still comprises two tabs 14. A further alternative contact 21 is shown in Figure 4. In this case the insulation displacement means comprises two tapered openings 22 each with a slot 23 formed from a bent over portion 28 of the contact. The strain-relief means is two tabs 24 as shown in Figure 3.
The contact 31 shown in Figure 5 is similar to that in Figures 1 and 2 except that the strain-relief means comprises two resilient fingers 39 which are so shaped that as the conductor (not shown) is pushed between them, they are moved apart and then move back after full insertion to grip the insulating cover on the conductor. This can be achieved as the conductor is forced into the insulation displacement means.
The electrically insulating housing 101 shown in Figure 6 can be used with the contacts 1,31 shown in Figures 1 and 5 to form an electrical connector in accordance with the invention. The housing 101 has an arm 102 attached to it by an integral hinge 103.
After a contact is positioned in the housing 101 and an insulated conductor is positioned in a slot 104 in the housing and the tapered openings of the insulation-displacement means of the contact, the arm 102 is pivoted over about the hinge 103. An extension 105 of the arm 102 engages the insulated conductor and forces it into the insulation displacement means of the contact. When the arm 102 is fully pivoted a ledge 106 on the arm snap-fits behind an edge 107 of the slot 104 to latch the arm in the engaged position.
Where strain-relief tabs are present, the extension 105 of the arm 102 also bends the tabs overthe grip the conductor insulation. If the contact has resilient strain-relief fingers, the extension 105 forces the conductor between the fingers.
The housing 201 shown in Figure 7 is for use with the contacts 11,21 shown in Figures 3 and 4. The arm 202 of the housing 201 is also attached by an integral hinge 203, and also has an extension 205, and a ledge 206. In this case, however, the ledge 206 makes a snap-fit in a groove 208 in the housing 201 when in the fuily pivoted position.

Claims (15)

1. An electrical connector comprising insulation displacement means for making an electrical connection with an insulated electrical conductor, and a housing of electrically insulating material, wherein the housing has an arm which can be snap-fitted to the housing such that after placing the contact in the housing and positioning an insulated conductor ready for attachment to the contact, as the arm is snap-fitted to the housing the arm engages the insulated conductor to force it onto the insulation displacement means of the contact.
2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the insulation displacement means comprises at least one opening wide enough to allow insertion of the insulated conductor, and a slot extending into the opening, the slot having substantially parallel edges spaced apart by a distance slightly smaller than the diameter of the conductor to be inserted, the arrangement being such that after an insulated conductor is positioned in the opening it is forced into the slot, the edges of which pierce the conductor insulation to make the electrical connection with the conductor.
3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the opening is an extension of the slot in which the edges of the slot taper away from one another and open onto an edge of the contact.
4. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the insulation displacement means comprises at least one spike which pierces the conductor insulation to electrically connect the conductor to the contact.
5. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the contact includes strain relief means for mechanically securing the conductor to the contact.
6. A connector as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the strain relief means comprises at least two tabs which are attached to the contact and which are bent over by the arm of the housing to grip the conductor insulation.
7. A connector as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the tabs are bent over after the insulated conductor is attached to the insulation displacement means.
8. A connector as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the tabs are integral with the contact and are formed during manufacture of the contact.
9. A connector as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the strain relief means comprises at least two spaced resilient fingers which are so attached to the contact and which are so shaped that as the insulated conductor is pushed between the fingers, the fingers are moved apart and then moved back after full insertion to grip the conductor insulation.
10. A contact as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the fingers are integral with the contact and are formed during manufacture of the contact.
11. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the arm is pivotally attached to the housing.
12. A connector as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the arm is pivotally attached to the housing by an integral hinge.
13. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. An electric contact for use in an electrical connector as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.
15. An electric contact substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08406415A 1983-03-14 1984-03-12 Electrical connector Withdrawn GB2136642A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08406415A GB2136642A (en) 1983-03-14 1984-03-12 Electrical connector

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB838306896A GB8306896D0 (en) 1983-03-14 1983-03-14 Electric contact
GB08406415A GB2136642A (en) 1983-03-14 1984-03-12 Electrical connector

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8406415D0 GB8406415D0 (en) 1984-04-18
GB2136642A true GB2136642A (en) 1984-09-19

Family

ID=26285500

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08406415A Withdrawn GB2136642A (en) 1983-03-14 1984-03-12 Electrical connector

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2136642A (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1395292A (en) * 1972-06-14 1975-05-21 Amp Inc Electrical connector
GB1521361A (en) * 1976-01-13 1978-08-16 Amp Inc Apparatus for closing a lid on a housing of an electrical connector
EP0073098A1 (en) * 1981-08-20 1983-03-02 AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) Electrical connector for flat cable
GB2109180A (en) * 1981-11-04 1983-05-25 Racal Acqustics Limited Highway cable connector
GB2122036A (en) * 1982-06-07 1984-01-04 Methode Electronics Inc Electrical connector

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1395292A (en) * 1972-06-14 1975-05-21 Amp Inc Electrical connector
GB1521361A (en) * 1976-01-13 1978-08-16 Amp Inc Apparatus for closing a lid on a housing of an electrical connector
EP0073098A1 (en) * 1981-08-20 1983-03-02 AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) Electrical connector for flat cable
GB2109180A (en) * 1981-11-04 1983-05-25 Racal Acqustics Limited Highway cable connector
GB2122036A (en) * 1982-06-07 1984-01-04 Methode Electronics Inc Electrical connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8406415D0 (en) 1984-04-18

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)