GB2308022A

GB2308022A - Flat connector rail

Info

Publication number: GB2308022A
Application number: GB9625429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Juhani Pelander
Original assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Oyj
Priority date: 1995-12-08
Filing date: 1996-12-06
Publication date: 1997-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-06
Also published as: DE19652337A1; FI955917A; HK1004786A1; FI955917A0; FI100144B; GB2308022B; GB9625429D0

Description

2308022 1 Flat connector rail The invention relates to a flat connector

rail comprising electroconductive connecting means for a plural number of flat connectors to be connected in parallel to the connector rail, and an insulating casing that encases said connecting means.

Previously known connector rails for connecting a plural number of parallel connectors often contain connecting means that comprise several components and casing structures in which connecting means are difficult to arrange and separate attaching means between the different components are often needed. The contact and connecting force between the connectors and the connecting means of the connector rail are often weak. With time, the contact and connecting force continue to weaken due to the fatigue of the connecting means. Because of this, the useful life of the connector rail is also short, since in the event of contact failure, the rail will have to be abandoned altogether.

For the above reason, it is customary to use several separate flat connectors connected in parallel, each flat connector comprising separat e wires and often also comprising separate branching pieces. These connectors as a whole, however, take up a considerable amount of space, for example, on a circuit board. In addition, since much force is needed in separate connectors for making or breaking a connection, it may be cumbersome and, ergonomically speaking, unwise to attach or detach even a single connector in a narrow space. The use of much force may also damage components that are to be connected to each other or to a circuit board or a wire.

2 The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks. This is achieved by a flat connector rail of the type described above, the inventive flat ' connector rail being primarily characterized in that the connecting means comprise a single plate functioning in a spring-like manner, the plate being folded to form a block with two opposite branches, and a space between the branches forming a space for connection of the connectors; and th at the casing accommodates means that provide local support for at least one of said branches so that when a connector is connected to the connecting block, the branch will yield in the connecting area and thereby press the connector between the branches of the connecting block.

Generally, the invention is thus based on the idea of providing a casing structure by which a spring like connecting block designed specifically for the purpose can be pressed in a controlled manner.

Controlled pressing is necessary, sincethe connecting force generated by a single spring-like connecting block is not sufficient as such to ensure a reliable connection of long life. The means used for the pressing can maintain a moderate connecting force of long life in a connecting block, for they eliminate fatigue of the spring material in the connecting block.

The support means preferably consist of support pins arranged inside the casing at points located essentially rearward of the longitudinal line of the casing defined by the tips of the connectors to be connected. Individual pins formed integrally with the casing are a simple and reliable way of providing support means. The support means or pins should also be located as described above, i.e. they should be as close to the connection point as possible and yet 3 spaced sufficiently from the connection point, so that the branch of the connecting block can bend and the force resisting the bending is sufficiently great.

Preferably, the casing comprises two essentially identical or symmetrical parts. The structure is thus extremely simple, which naturally also lowers the costs of the product. Pressing means can be arranged in both parts, but if they are not intended to affect both branches of the connecting block, then the connecting block branches must be configured to be different. It is naturally also possible to arrange said means in one casing part only.

The flat connector rail provided by the invention also helps to solve the problem of aligning the connector rail: the casing structure can be sized in accordance with the restrictions set by the place of installation.

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by means of one preferred embodiment with reference to the attached drawing, in which fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a flat connector rail provided by the invention, fig. 2 shows a cross section of one casing part taken along line A-A of fig. 1, fig. 3 shows a connecting block seen from direction B of fig. 1, fig. 4 shows an assembled flat connector rail according to fig. 1, and fig. 5 shows a cross section taken along line C-C of fig. 4.

The flat connector rail shown in the drawing comprises an electroconductive connecting block 1 for a plural number of flat connectors F to be connected in 4 parallel to the connector rail, and an insulating casing that encases said connecting block.

The connecting block 1 comprises a single plate functioning in a- springlike manner, the plate being folded to form a block with two opposite branches 2,3, and a space between the branches 2,3 forming a space for connection of the connectors F.

In this example, the casing comprises two identical plastic casing parts 5, each of which comprises pins 6 integral with the part in question provided on the inside thereof, the pins of one part providing local support for branch 2, which is located on the side of the part in question, so that when a connector F is connected to the connecting block 1, the branch will yield in the connecting area and thereby press the connector F between the branches of the connecting block 1. The casing parts 5 are interconnected with resilient tongues 7 located at the ends of the parts by a 'snap connection'.

The pins are arranged at points in casing part 5 that are located essentially rearward of the longitudinal line of the casing defined by the tips of the connectors F to be connected (the face through which the pins F enter being regarded as the front of the casing). All the pins 6 are located on the same longitudinal line of casing part 5, and there are two pins for each connection point.

At each connection point, the present embodiment shows two opposite tongues 8 in the second branch 3 of the connecting block 1 separated transversely from branch 3, the tongues being folded transversely toward the connecting space 4 between the branches. Since the tongues 8 function like springs, branch 3 is released by the action of the pins 6 located on this side, with the help of apertures 9 aligning with but being bigger than pins 6. Pins 6 are thus not necessarily needed at all in the casing part 5 that is on the same side as branch 3, but since it is preferable with respect to manufacture that the casing - parts 5 are identical, pins 6 are provided in both parts. The reason why the second branch 3 is designed to be different from the first part 2 in the above manner will be discussed below.

In addition, the front part of branch 2 supported by the pins 6 is folded outward with respect to the space 4 between the branches 2,3 so as to make insertion of a connector F possible. The folding is made in respect of longitudinal folding line A, and a protuberance 10 is provided at the fold in alignment with each connector F to be connected, a protuberance being intended to function in cooperation with a corresponding aperture 11 found in each connector F. In this structure, the height of the pins 6 reduces obliquely from the front toward the rear.

When a connector F is inserted in an above-described connector rail provided by the invention, branch 2 will bend by the action of the pins 6. The pins thus force branch 2 to provide a better (tighter) connection. If even in spite of this the connection weakens, the tongues 8 of branch 3 will yield upward, yet simultaneously biting into the connector F to be connected by their rather sharp edges. Further, the aperture 11 in the connector F to be connected receives the protuberance 10 in the fold ridge, thereby further enhancing the firmness of the connection.

The branches 2 and 3 could naturally be identical, i.e. for example like branch 2, and the pins 6 could affect both branches, but the connection would then not be equally effective as the one achieved by the abovedescribed structure, in which a connector F is pressed by a ridge of branch 2 parallel to the 6 connector rail and by relatively sharp edges of branch 3 perpendicular to the rail.

In this example, the configuration of branch 3 including the tongues 8 is also such that the branch preferably rests directly against the bottom of casing part 5 without that the pins 6 have any effect on the branch.

The flat connector rail provided by the invention is here intended for connecting five flat connectors F, whereby the number of connections is in fact such that the connections can still be made simultaneously using a reasonable amount of force and yet they can be made sufficiently reliable and have sufficiently long life.

The connectors F can be arranged, for example, in safety switches connected in parallel to a chassis plate (not shown in the drawing). Further, to a flat connector part 12 connected to the other side of the connecting block 1, it is possible to connect an interconnecting cable 13 that is connected at one end, for example, to a distribution connector of a circuit board.

The invention is described above only by means of a single preferred embodiment serving as an example. A person skilled in the art, however, can implement the details of the invention in various ways, some of which have been mentioned. above. For example, the support means can be configured as a ridge extending inside the casing, lengthwise thereof. The casing parts can also be, for example, fixedly interconnected by a hinge means formed integrally with them. The support means can be screws with an adjustable height, etc.

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Claims

1. A flat connector rail comprising electro conductive connecting means for a plural number of flat connectors to be connected in parallel to the connector rail, and an insulating casing that encases said connecting means, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connecting means comprise a single plate functioning in a spring-like manner, the plate being folded to-form a block with two opposite branches, and a space between the branches forming a space for connection of the connectors; and that the casing accommodates means that provide local support for at least one of said branches so that when a connector is connected to the connecting block, the branch will yield in the connecting area and thereby press the connector between the branches of the connecting block

2. A flat connector rail according to claim 1, char acteri z edinthat the supportmeans consist of support pins arranged inside the casing at points located essentially rearward of the longitudinal line of the casing defined by the tips of the connectors to be connected.

3. A flat connector rail according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that there are two support pins affecting the branch per each connection point; and that the support pins are located on the same longitudinal line of the casing.

4. A flat connector rail according to claim 2 or 3, characteri zedinthat theheightof the support pins reduces obliquely from the front toward the rear.

5. A flat connector rail according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the casing comprises two essentially identical casing parts, each of which comprises said support means.

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6. A flat connector rail according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at each connection point, the second branch of the connecting block comprises two opposite tongues separated transversely from the branch, the tongues being folded transversely toward the connecting space between the branches; and that the branch is not affected in any way by possible connecting means.

7. A flat connector rail according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the branch provided with tongues comprises apertures at possible support means.

8. A flat connector rail according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the front part of the branch supported by the support means is folded outward with respect to the space between the branches.

9. A flat connector rail according to claim 8, cha racteri zedinthat the folding ismade in respect of a longitudinal folding line; and that a fold ridge comprises a protuberance at each connector to be connected, the protuberance being intended to function in cooperation with a corresponding aperture possibly found in each connector

10. A flat connector rail according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the support means are configured as a ridge extending inside the casing longitudinally thereof.

11. A flat connector rail substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.