GB2140981A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector including a connector body 11 having first and second latch members 14, associated with opposite walls of the body respectively, each latch member 14 being coupled to the body by means of an integral web 16 extending between the latch member and the associated wall of the body, and, a component 21 formed separately from the body, and extending across the ends of terminal receiving passages through which the terminals are introduced into the body, said component including retaining legs 22 for retaining the component in position on the body 11, said retaining legs 22 co-operating with said webs 16 of said body latch members in such a manner as to retain the component in position on the body while at the same time permitting movement of the latch members to effect latching and unlatching of the body with respect to a mating electrical component. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connector This invention relates to an electrical connector of the kind wherein the connector body can be latched in engagement with a mating component by means of a pair of latch members on the body, the latch members having a hinged connection to the body whereby the members can be moved relative to the body to effect latching and unlatching.

In a known, particularly convenient, form of connector of the kind specified in the preceding paragraph, each latch member extends parallel to, but spaced from a respective end wall of the generally rectangular body of the connector and is hingedly connected to the body by means of a web integral both with the body and the latch member. The web is both flexible and resilient, and thus permits movement of the latch member relative to the body to effect latching and unlatching, but by virtue of the resilience of the web each latch member is urged to a predetermined rest position relative to the body.

The rectangular body has extending therethrough a plurality of passages each of which houses an electrical terminal of the connector. The terminals are inserted into their passages from a first, open end ofthe body, and are accessible to mating terminals at the opposite end of the body. Frequently the connector is to be used in an environment where it is unimportant that the end of the body through which the terminals are inserted into the body is open. However, there are occasions where a cover, our a member which prevents movement of the terminals relative to the body in a withdrawal direction, is needed and it is thus an object of the present invention to provide a connector of the kind specified above, additionally including a cover, or terminal retention member in a simple and convenient form.

A connector according to the invention includes a connector body having first and second latch members associated with opposite walls of the body respectively, each latch member being coupled to the body by means of an integral web extending between the latch member and the associated wall of the body, and, a component formed separately from the body, and extending across the ends of the terminal receiving passages through which the terminals are introduced into the body, said component including retaining legs for retaining the component in position on the body, said retaining legs co-operating with said webs of said body latch members in such a manner as to retain the compo nent in position on the body while at the same time permitting movement of the latch members to effect latching and unlatching of the body with respect to a mating electrical component.

Conveniently said component which extends across the terminal inserton ends of the passages is adapted to coact with the terminals received in the passages to resist movement of the terminals relative to the body in a withdrawal direction.

Alternatively said component is a cover member which closes the body at the terminal insertion end of the passages.

Preferably said component is both a cover member and a terminal retaining member.

Desirably said retaining legs of said component are resilient, and engage said webs as a snap-fit.

Conveniently, where said webs are formed with an aperture then said retaining legs extend through the aperture of their respective web and engage beneath the web. - Preferably eachreta ining leg is~ifurcated and passes through an aperture of its respective web, the ends of the two parts of the bifuracted leg having abutments which spring outwardly to engage beneath the web after passing through the aperture.

Conveniently the two limbs of each bifurcated leg are displaced laterally with respect to one another, and partially overlap so as to effect a "scissor" action when flexed inwardly to permit passage of the leg through an aperture of the respective web.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 and 2 are a fragmentary perspective, and a broken plan view respectively of a known connector body; Figure 3 is a plan view of a cover/terminal retaining member for use with the body of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a view of the member shown in Figure 3, but from beneath; Figure 5 is a view in the direction of arrow A in - Figure 3; and Figure 6 is an end view of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the known connector body 11 is moulded in synthetic resin material, and is rectangular in transverse cross-section. The body is divided internally into a plurality of terminal receiving passages 12 by partition walls 13. The passages 12 are open at top and bottom (as seen in Figure 1) and the partition walls 13 are extended laterally (at 13a) atthe upper side of the body to define channels extending at right-angles to the passages 12. Terminals are inserted downwardly into the passages 12, and the terminals have associated electrical leads extending at right-angles to the length of the terminal. Thus while the terminal is housed within the passage 12 its lead and lead connecting portion lies within the respective channel defined between the partition wall extensions 13a.

Conveniently a known form of terminal latching arrangement is provided for retaining the terminals within their passages 12 after insertion from the upper ends of the passages. The terminals are accessible at the lower ends of the passages 12 to mating terminals of a component with which the body 11 is mated. For example the component with which the body 11 is mated. For example the component with which the body 11 is mated may well be a printed circuit board, in which case the terminals of the passages 12 will engage conductive tracks adjacent an edge of the printed circuit board.

alternatively of course the component with which the body 11 is mated can be a further moulded body of a further connector part.

Irrespective of the nature of the component with which the body 11 is mated, there is provided, at each end of the body 11, a latch member 14for latching the body 11 to the mated component. Each latch member 14 is moulded integrally with the remainder of the body 11 and comprises a strip-like element 15 extending parallei to, but spaced from the respective end wall of the body 11. Each strip-like element 15 is coupled to the respective end wall of the body by means of a web 16 integral both with the body 11 and the element 15. The web 16 merges with the element 15 intermediate its upper and lower ends, and the web 16 is both flexible and resilient.

Thus each latch member 14 is hingedly connected to the body 11 by the web 16, and can be moved relative to the body 11 by bending of the web 16. The portion of the element 15 which lies below the web 16 (again with reference to Figure 1) is formed with a through hole 17 within which a projection on the mating component is received. The latch member 14 can thus be moved byflexure of the web 16 to withdraw the latch member from the projection which fits within the aperture 17 and thus permit withdrawal of the body 11 from the mated component. However, the inherent resilience of the web 16 is such that provided the hole 17 and the projection of the mating component are correctly aligned then the member 14 will assume a position in which the projection is within the hole 17.

In order to facilitate moulding of the body 11 including the members 14 the web 16 of each of the members 14 is formed with a centrally disposed rectangular aperture 18.

The connector body described above and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is known, and is frequently used without the need for a cover to close the upper, open end of the body. Moreover, in certain applications itis acceptable to rely upon the latching between each terminal and the wall of its respective passage 12 to resist movement of the terminal relative to the body 11 in the withdrawal direction.

Thus the load imposed upon the terminals during mating of the connector with a mating component is accepted by the latching mechanism of the terminal and its respective passage.

Conveniently this latching will be in the form of a resilient lance integral with the terminal which snaps behind a projection on the wall of the passage 12 when the terminal is correctly located within the passage.

It has therefore been customary to procide the body 11 without a cover, or any form of terminal retainer. It is however now found that there are certain applications where a coverforthe open end of the passages is needed, and there are applications where it is not considered satisfactory to rely solely upon the latching of the terminal within its respec tive passage to prevent withdrawal movement of the terminals relative to the body. In order to accommo date these requirements without modification to the existing body there is provided a cover member 21 illustrated in Figures 3 to 6.

The cover member 21 not only closes the upper end of the passages 12 of the body, but also acts as a terminal retainer resisting movement of the termin als relative to the body 11 in the withdrawal direction, that is to say upwardly in Figure 1.

The cover member 21 comprises a generally planar moulded synthetic resin plato23 the dimensions of which are such that the plate 23 can overlie the upper end of the body 11.At its opposite ends the plate 23 is formed with integral retaining legs 22 which extend at right-angles to the piane of the plate 23. When the plate 23 is in position on the body 11 the legs 22 extend downwardly between the end walls of the body 11 and their associated latch members 14. Each retaining leg 22 is in a sense bifurcated in that it comprises a pair of limbs 22a, 22b. However, the limbs 22a, 22b of each leg 22 are not co-planar, since each limb 22a, is spaced from its companion limb 22b in the direction of the length of the member 21. At its free end each of the limbs 22a, 22b includes a barb-like projection 24.

When the cover 21 is fitted to the body 11 the legs 22 coact with the webs 16, the projections 24 coacting with the periphery of the aperture 18 of each web 16. The staggered relationship of the limbs 22a, 22b of each leg 22 permits the overall width of the leg 22 to be minimised thus facilitating the production of a leg 22 which can coactwiththe existing aperture 18 while at the same time preserving adequate physical strength and flexibility. It will be recognised that as the legs 22 are pressed through the apertures 18 of the web 16 the limbs 22a, 22b of each leg 22 overlap one another with a "scissor" like action.However, immediately the projections 24 pass through the webs 16 the limbs 22a, 22b spring back to their unstressed configuration such that the barbs 24 engage beneath the webs 16 and resist withdrawal of the legs 22 through the webs 16. Deliberate release can of course be achieved by manually flexing the limbs 22a, 22b of the legs 22 to permit withdrawal of the legs through the apertures 18 of the web 16.

It is apparent from Figures 3 to 6 inclusive that in the unstressed condition of the legs 22 the limbs 22a, 22b of each leg do not strictly speaking overlap one another since the outermost face of each limb 22b is substantially co-planarwith the inner face of the associated limb 22a. Similarly the inner edge of each limb 22a is co-planarwith the inner edge of the associated limb 22b.

It can be seen therefore that the member 21 constitutes a cover ciosing the open upper ends of the passages 12 and closing also the open top face of each of the channels defined by the partition wall extensions 13a.

Adjacent one edge of the plate 23 of the cover member 21 there are provided a plurality of lugs 25 which project downwardly from the lower face of the plate 23. The lugs 25 engage in the channels defined between the partition wall extensions 13a and partially close the open ends of the channels, there being sufficient clearance to permit the electrical leads of the terminals to extend from the channels.

Also projecting downwardly from the lower face of the plate 23 are a plurality of projections 26 which extend downwardly into the passages 12 of the body 11 and abut the upper ends of the terminals housed within the passages 12. The abutting of the projections 26 with the terminals when the cover member 21 is correctly engaged with the body 11 prevents movement of the terminals relative to the body in the withdrawal (upward) direction. Moreover, in the event that a terminal has not been fully inserted into its respective passage prior to fitting of the cover member 21, then the act of fitting the cover member 21 to the body 11 will, by virtue of engagement of the appropriate projection 26 with the terminal, move that terminal to its correct position within the respective passage 12.

It is to be understood that it is not essential that the retaining legs of the cover member pass through apertures of the web 16. As an alternative it would be feasible to mould the cover member 21 such that the integral legs 22 have limbs passing on either side of the web to engage beneath the web. Moreover, the staggered nature of the limbs of each leg although convenient are not absolutely essential since again other arrangements of the limbs can be envisaged. It isto be recognised however that whatever the nature of the engagement between the retaining legs of the cover member 21 and the webs 16, the latch members 14 must still be able to operate, that is say must still be capable of movement to effect latching and unlatching of the combined body 11 and cover member 21 in relation to the component with which the body 11 is mated.

The cover member 21 serves the function of a cover and terminal retaining member. It will be recognised that where a cover is not necessary then a terminal retaining member can be provided for example in the form of a strap or bar which passes across the open, upper ends of the passages 12 and which is again anchored to the body 11 by means of the retaining legs 22. Similarly, should a cover but not a terminal retaining member be required then the projections 26 can be omitted from the plate 23.

Where the component anchored to the body 11 by the legs 22 serves a terminal retaining function then it will be recognised that the presence of the component, which of course can be readily ascertained by visual inspection of the connector, gives an assurance that the terminals of the body are correctly located since when performing a terminal retaining action the component cannot be latched to the body 11 by means of the legs 22 unless the terminals are moved to their correct positions within the passages 12.

Claims (9)

1. An electrical connector including a connector body having first and second latch members associated with opposite walls of the body respectively, each latch member being coupled to the body by means of an integral web extending between the latch member and the associated wall of the body, and, a component formed separately from the body, and extending across the ends of the terminal receiving passages through which the terminals are introduced into the body, said component including retaining legs for retaining the component in position on the body, said retaining legs co-operating with said webs of said body latch members in such a manner as to retain the component in position on the body while at the same time permitting movement of the latch members to effect latching and unlatching of the body with respect to a mating electrical component

2.A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said component which extends across the terminal insertion ends of the passages is adapted to coact with the terminals received in the passages to resist movement of the terminals relative to the body in a withdrawal direction.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said component is a cover member which closes the body at the terminal insertion end of the passages.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said component is both a cover member and a terminal retaining member.

5. A connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said retaining legs of said component are resilient, and engage said webs as a snap-fit.

6. A connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein where said webs are formed with an aperture and said retaining legs extend through the aperture of their respective web and engage beneath the web.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein each retaining leg is bifurcated and passes through the aperture of its respective web, the ends of the two parts of the bifurcated leg having abutments which spring outwardly to engage beneath the web after passing through the aperture.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two limbs of each bifuracted leg are displaced laterally with respect to one another, and partially overlap so as to effect a "scissor" action when flexed inwardly to permit passage of the leg through an aperture of the respective web.

9. An electrical connector substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.