GB2517969A

GB2517969A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB2517969A
Application number: GB1315933.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Edward Aldridge
Original assignee: Contour Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Contour Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2013-09-06
Filing date: 2013-09-06
Publication date: 2015-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-06
Also published as: GB201315933D0; GB2517969B

Abstract

A quick-release electrical connector 1 comprises: a body 12 with an electrical contact mounting portion 13 that holds at least one electrical contact 11; and retaining means 14, 15 located towards either side of the contact mounting portion 13 for retaining the connector in contact with a mating connector. The retaining means comprises first 15 and second 14 releasable mechanical couplings. The first releasable mechanical coupling 15 is a quick-release rotational bayonet coupling requiring less than a half-turn to engage, or release, the connector 1 with, or from, the mating connector. The second releasable mechanical coupling 14 comprises a hook that extends from a face of the electrical contact mounting portion 13 and engages a loop or bar of the mating connector. The body 12 of the connector 1 has an opening for receiving the quick-release rotational coupling 15. The rotational coupling 15 has a shaft with a first shaft portion 157 of smaller diameter, and a second shaft portion 158 of larger diameter. The opening of the body comprises an elastically deformable portion which, upon insertion of the shaft into the opening, is deformed by the second shaft portion 158 and recovers when aligned with the first shaft portion 157 to retain the rotation coupling 15 in the body 12.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

The present invention relates to an electrical connector. In particular, the invention relates to an electrical connector which provides a rapid and secure electrical connection, and which is quickly and repeatably connectable and dis-connectable by use of a combination of mechanical connectors for retaining the electrical connections in contact with one another.

Numerous proposals have been made for electrical connectors in the past, some simply clicking into place, and being retained by friction or by light spring retaining foices, such as aie used in, for example, a headphone jack. These connections are quick and easy to insert and extiact, but the connection is relatively unsecure, since the force required to remove the jack is relatively small. More permanent connections have been provided, for uses in applications such as computer monitors, wheie threaded engagement means are piovided eithei side of an array of electrical pin/socket contacts to provide a secure mechanical connection between the body of the connector and the item to which it is being secured, or to a corresponding mating connector where two cables are being connected to one another. Other solutions are available, such as clips and connectors which must be squeezed to ielease a clamping or latching force. The bayonet style connectors aie sometimes used where single or plural electrical contacts are surrounded by a bayonet-style outer sheath, so that the outei part of the connector can be slid towards a coriesponding connectol and the whole outer body iotated relative to the electrical contacts to engage the bayonet connection. Bayonet connectors are also iell known in light bulbs. Threaded connectors can also be used in a similar manner, where a substantially annulai threaded sheath suriounds the electrical contacts of the cable to be connected. Rotation of the outer sheath can screw the outer sheath onto a corresponding threaded connector to secure the electrical connection.

The solutions proposed in the prior art can provide either quick and easy cable connection, or a more secure connection, but the more secuie connections are generally more cumbersome to implement, or require a relatively large mechanical connector to surround all electrical contacts within the connector, which can result in heavy use ot mateiials foi the mechanical connecting part.

In addressing the diaw backs of the prior alt, the piesent invention proposes an electrical connector comprising: at least one electrical contact; a body, comprising: an electrical contact mounting portion for holding the electrical contact, having a longitudinal axis substantially along which the connector is advanced toward a corresponding mating connector to place the electrical contact in electrical communication with an electrical contact of the corresponding mating connector; and retaining means for retaining the electrical connector in contact with the mating connector; wherein the retaining means comprises first and second releasable mechanical connection parts located toward first and second lateral sides of the electrical contact mounting portion; the first releasable mechanical connection part being a quick release rotational connector requiring less than a half turn to engage or release the connector.

The present invention therefore proposes the use of a quick release rotational connector located adjacent electrical contacts of the electrical contact mounting portion, in combination with secondary releasable mechanical connection means, located to a second lateral side. By use of this arrangement, the advantages of known quick release mechanisms can be implemented, while a reduction in the size of the mechanical connecting pieces can be achieved and the arrangement can be adapted to any number of electrical contacts required in a single connector, and adapted to various forms of connector. The invention therefore provides a rapid and secure means for connecting or releasing an electrical connector.

The first releasable connection may comprise a bayonet connector. Bayonet connectors can provide an effective means of providing a rotational connector which requires a minimal amount of rotation but which is still relatively secure. Use of a bayonet connector adjacent the electrical contact, rather than surrounding the electrical contact in a so-called "co-axial" configuration, allows the rotational connector to be of a smaller and more efficient construction, whilst still realising its related benefits, of security of connection and speed and simplicity of connection and release.

The second releasable mechanical connection may comprise a laterally extending engagement portion arranged outwardly of a face of the electrical contact mounting portion, to permit translation of the engagement portion with a corresponding engagement portion of the mating connector. The use of both a translational releasable mechanical connection in combination with a quick release rotational connector combines the speed of connection and release of both types of connector, but reduces the drawbacks of using the same type of connector towards both of the first and second lateral sides of the electrical contact mounting portion.

For example, if translational connections are used on both sides, then simple translation of the whole connector may disconnect the connector and this reduces the security of the electrical connection. The use of combined rotational connectors on either side of the electrical contact or contacts can be secure, but means that two rotational operations are required to connect or release the connector, which is a more cumbersome operation for a user. The use of a combined translation action and a rotation action for mounting the connector in its connected state is more secure and allows the user to mount or dismount the connector in a single operation without releasing the connector. Use of a rotational releasable mechanical connection combined with a non-rotational releasable mechanical connection in the connector of the invention can therefore be beneficial.

The second releasable mechanical connection may comprise a hook and the corresponding engagement portion of the mating connector may comprise a corresponding hook, loop or bar for engaging the hook, or vice versa, in that the second releasable mechanical connection of the connector may comprise a hook, loop or bar for engagement with a corresponding hook which forms a part of the corresponding engagement portion of the mating connector.

The first releasable mechanical connection may comprise biasing means for biasing the quick release rotational connector into an engaged position. This helps to prevent inadvertent release of the quick release rotational connector. This can further be used to cause the body of the electrical connector to be biased towards a corresponding mating connector.

Biasing means may further be provided for biasing the second releasable mechanical connection in an engaged position. This can help to increase a friction force between the opposing parts of the second releasable mechanical connection and can prevent looseness or vibration in the overall connection due to any play between parts of the second releasable mechanical connection.

The biasing means provided for biasing the second releasable mechanical connection in an engaged position may comprise a raised resilient portion of a face of the electrical contact mounting portion. This means that by retaining opposing faces of opposing connectors adjacent one another, a raised portion of a face of the electrical contact mounting portion can be compressed, which can create the desired biasing force biasing the second releasable mechanical connection into an engaged position.

The biasing means for biasing the second releasable mechanical connection in an engaged position may comprise a iaised ridge around the electrical contacts for forming a seal when engaged with the face of the corresponding mating connector.

The body of the electrical connectol may fuithei comprise an opening foi receiving the quick release rotational connector. The quick release iotational connector may comprise a shaft having a first shaft portion having a relatively smaller diameter and second shaft portion having a relatively larger diameter. The opening in the body may comprise an elastically defoimable piojection. The projection may be deformed by the second, larger diameter, shaft portion, upon insertion of the shaft into the opening and may be further arranged to recover, when subsequently aligned with the first, lower diameter shaft portion, so that the quick release rotational connector is retained in the body by the projection.

Biasing means for biasing the quick release rotational connectol into an engaged position may be arranged to be held between the quick release rotational connector and the elastically deformable projection of the opening of the body of the connector. This results in an efficient constiuction and facilitates a correspondingly efficient assembly method when assembling the component.

The electrical connector may comprise a bayonet connector mounted non-coaxially with any electrical contact of the connector.

The invention may further provide an electrical connector comprising a quick release rotational connector substantially as shown in and/or described in reference to Figures ito 4.

The invention further provides an electrical connector comprising a releasable mechanical connection arranged to permit tianslational engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of a mating connector, substantially as shown and/or described with reference to Figures 1 to 2.

The invention further piovides an electiical connector substantially as shown in and is desciibed with reference to the figures.

The invention further provides a corresponding connector, arranged to engage the first and second releasable mechanical connections located towards first and second lateral sides of the electrical contact mounting portion to retain electrical contacts in electrical communication with the contacts of the connector of the S invention.

Either connector and/or corresponding mating connector of the invention can be incorporated into an electrical or electronic system or assembly.

Detailed embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 shows an electrical connector of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an electrical socket embodying a corresponding mating connector of the present invention; Figure 3A shows a cut-away section of a body of a connector of the invention with its related rotational connection located outside the body; Figure 3B shows the arrangement of Figure 3A in an assembled state; and Figure 4 shows a cut away section of a portion of a plug and socket embodying the connector and corresponding mating connector of the invention, in a connected state.

Figure 1 shows an electrical connector 1, which comprises a plurality of electrical contacts 11, which are housed in a body 12.

The body comprises an electrical contact mounting portion 13 for holding the electrical contacts. The body further comprises mechanical retaining means 14 and 15 for retaining the electrical connector in contact with a mating connector. These are provided in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a hook portion 14 located towards a first side of the electrical contact mounting portion 13 which holds electrical contacts 11. A quick release rotational connector 15 is located towards a second lateral side of electrical contact mounting portion 13. The electrical contact mounting portion 13 is arranged to present the electrical contacts of the connector in such a manner that advancing the electrical contact mounting portion 13 in a direction of the axis marked Z in the figure will bring the electrical contacts 11 into contact with corresponding electrical contacts of a corresponding mating connector.

The Z axis in the figures is defined as the longitudinal axis, while the lateral direction, in which the retaining means 14 and 15 are located toward the outer sides of the contacts 11, is generally in the plane of the X and Y axes indicated in Figure 1.

Quick release rotational connector 15 can be described as a bayonet connector and it comprises a substantially cylindrical wall 151, which comprises an axial bore 152. At least one contoured slot 153 is provided in the wall 151. The contoured slot 153 advances through the wall in a substantially axial direction (following the Z-axis in the figure) and then turns so as to substantially circumnavigate the bore 152 within the wall 151 in a substantially circumferential direction. This allows the rotational connector to be connected to a corresponding connecting piece by a first relative movement that is in an axial direction and then by rotating the connector relative to the connecting piece so that a protrusion 155 of the corresponding connecting piece travels in the groove 153 into the substantially circumferential portion. This can act to resist axial forces acting on the connector 15 relative to a corresponding rotational connecting piece 154/155. Such a corresponding connecting piece can be seen in Figure 2. where a substantially cylindrical shaft 154 can be seen to further comprise at least one lateral protrusion 155, which is configured to engage the slot 153 of the connector and to travel along the slot 153 when the connector iSis advanced towards shaft 154 and then rotated about the shaft 154.

A second releasable mechanical connection 14 in Figure 1 can be seen to have an engagement poition 141 which extends in a substantially lateral direction and is arranged outwardly from the face 131 of electrical contact mounting portion 13. The laterally extending portion 141 is connected to the electrical contact mounting portion of the connection via longitudinally extending portion 142, which allows the laterally extending portion to be held at a spaced location from the face 131 of the connector. A corresponding portion for engagement with the connector 14 can be seen in Figure 2, which comprises a further laterally extending portion 143, which is configured to be located between the laterally extending portion 141 and the face 131 of the first connector when the two connector parts are located against one another with face 131 and the face of the corresponding contact mounting portion 22 located against one another in a substantially parallel arrangement. To permit this engagement, it is necessary to induce a relative lateral movement between the portion 143 and the laterally extending engagement portion 141. This type of releasable mechanical connection can therefore be termed a translational connection.

In Figure 2, a corresponding connector 2 for the connector 1 of Figure 1 can be seen. Connector, or socket, 2 can be mounted to a device, which may be any piece of electrical equipment, such as a radio. It will also be appreciated that such a corresponding portion could be formed in a corresponding connector for attachment to a cable, where it is desired to connect two cables to one another. It will further be appreciated that the arrangement of the hook 14 and the corresponding engagement portion 143 could be reversed on the two connectors. Similarly, it would also be possible to locate the portion of the rotational connector 15 having walls 151 or 152 and groove 153 on the corresponding mating connector2 and the shaft 154 comprising protrusions 155 on the rotatable connector 15. One of the two parts 15 and 1541155 will be rotatable relative to its corresponding connector body, while the other corresponding part will be fixed relative to its corresponding connector body, so that relative rotation can be induced between the two parts by rotation of one of the two parts.

The corresponding connector 2 may further comprise a body 21, a corresponding electrical contact mounting portion 22, for holding electrical contacts 23, and releasable mechanical connections 24 and 25, located towards first and second lateral sides of the electrical contact mounting portion 22. Similarly to Figure 1, the Z axis in the figure is an axis along which the connector is advanced to bring contacts 23 into contact with corresponding contacts 11 of Figure 1, while the lateral direction in which the mechanical connections 24 and 25 are located adjacent to, or outside, the electrical contacts is generally in the plane of the axes marked X and Y in Figure 2, perpendicular to the Z axis.

Figure 3A illustrates how the quick release rotational connector 15 can be incorporated into the body 12 of the connector 1. The connector 15 comprises a grip portion 156, which is connected to a shaft 157. At an end of shaft 157 distal from grip 156, there is provided an engagement portion 158, which comprises the wall 152 and grooves 153 described in relation to Figure 1. The engagement portion 158 is of a generally greater diameter than a central portion of shaft 157.

The body 12 comprises an opening 121, which generally extends through the body in a direction of its longitudinal axis Z. The opening 121 comprises an elastically deformable projection 122, which is engaged by the engagement portion 158 of the rotational connector 15 when the rotational connector 15 is advanced into the opening in a direction of arrow 31. After the engagement portion 158 has passed the deformable portion 122, deformable portion 122 returns to its substantially un-deformed state is located between 156 and 158 of the rotational connector 15 to prevent the rotational connector 15 from falling out of the body 12.

Figure 3B shows the rotational connector 15 in an assembled state in body 12 of the connector. A biasing means is provided in the form of a coiled spring 32.

As can be seen from Figures 3A and 3B, when the rotational connector 115 is assembled in the body 12 of the connector 1, the spring is compressed between the body 12, or protrusions 122, of the opening 121, and the grip portion 156 of the rotational connector 15. The spring 32 biases the rotational connector 15 in a direction away from the face 131 of the electrical contact mounting portion, so that the rotational connector can be retained in an engaged position, when assembled with a corresponding connector or socket.

As can be seen in all of Figures 1 to 3B, a raised ridge or wall 132 may be provided around the electrical contacts on the front face 131 of the electrical contact mounting portion 13. This wall can be resilient and can act as a seal against a corresponding face 22 of the corresponding mating connector 2. This raised portion 132 need not necessarily be a whole wall fully surrounding the electrical contacts if the sealing function is not required, and may simply be a resilient section which provides some biasing force to bias the laterally extending portion 141 of the second mechanical connector against its corresponding feature 143, to prevent unwanted play or looseness in those parts. This biasing force also acts in opposition to the biasing member 32 of the releasable rotational connector.

Figure 4 shows a cut away section of the connector 1 and a corresponding mating connector in a connected state. As can be seen in the figure, the engagement portion 158 of the rotational connection 15 engages the shaft 154 and projection 155 of the corresponding connector 2, with the projection 155 having passed initially in a substantially axial direction along slot 153 relative to rotational connector 15, and it has subsequently passed in a relative circumferential direction around engagement portion 158 in the groove 153 after rotation of the rotational connector 15 in the direction of arrow 40.

Coil spring 32 acts on the body 12 or deformable projections 122 to bias the rotational connector 15 away from the corresponding connector 2, which helps ensure that projection 155 is retained in the returning portion 159 of slot 153. The action of coil spring 32 also acts to bias sealing ridge 132 towards corresponding connector 2, such that it may provide a resilient seal against a mating face of corresponding mating connector 2.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electrical connector comprising: at least one electrical contact; a body comprising: an electrical contact mounting portion for holding the electrical contact, having a longitudinal axis substantially along which the connector is advanced toward a corresponding mating connector to place the electrical contact in electrical communication with an electrical contact of the corresponding mating connector; and retaining means for retaining the electrical connector in contact with the mating connector; wherein the retaining means comprises first and second releasable mechanical connection parts located toward first and second lateral sides of the electrical contact mounting portion; the first releasable mechanical connection part being a quick release rotational connector requiring less than a half turn to engage or release the connector.
2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first releasable connection pad comprises a bayonet connector.
3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second releasable mechanical connection part comprises a laterally extending engagement portion arranged outwardly of a face of the electrical contact mounting portion, to permit translational engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of the mating connector.
4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the second releasable mechanical connection part comprises a hook and the corresponding engagement portion of the mating connector comprises a loop or bar for engagement with the hook, or vice versa.
5. An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first releasable mechanical connection pad comprises biasing means for biasing the quick release rotational connector into an engaged position.
6. An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising biasing means for biasing the second releasable mechanical connection in an engaged position.
7. An electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein the biasing means comprises a raised resilient portion of a face of the electrical contact mounting portion.
8. An electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein the biasing means comprises a raised ridge arranged around the electrical contact to form a seal when engaged with a face of the corresponding mating connector.
9. An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body further comprises an opening for receiving the quick release rotational connector; the quick release rotational connector comprising a shaft having a first shaft portion having a relatively smaller diameter and a second shaft portion having a relatively larger diameter; the opening comprising an elastically deformable projection, which can be deformed by the second shaft portion on insertion of the shaft into the opening and which can recover when aligned with the first shaft portion to retain the quick release rotational connector in the body.
10. An electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein biasing means for biasing the quick release rotational connector into an engaged position are arranged to be held between the quick release rotational connector and the elastically deformable projection of the opening of the body of the connector.
11. An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a bayonet connector mounted non-coaxially with any electrical contact of the connector.
12. A corresponding mating connector configured for connection to the electrical connector of any of the preceding claims, comprising: an electrical contact; a body comprising: an electrical contact mounting portion for holding the electrical contact, having a longitudinal axis substantially along which the connector is advanced toward a corresponding mating connector to place the electrical contact in electrical communication with an electrical contact of the corresponding mating connector; and retaining means for retaining the electrical connector in contact with the connector of any of the preceding claims; wherein the retaining means comprises first and second releasable mechanical connection parts located toward first and second lateral sides of the electrical contact mounting portion; the first releasable mechanical connection part for connection to a quick release rotational connector requiring less than a half turn to engage or release the connector.
13. An electrical connector, comprising a quick release rotational connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
14. An electrical connector, comprising a releasable mechanical connection arranged to permit translational engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of a mating connector, substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figures 1 to 2.
15. An electrical connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figures 1, 3A, and SB.
16. An electrical connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figure 2.
17. An electrical or electronic system or assembly comprising an electrical connector and/or a corresponding mating connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to the Figures.Amendment to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. An electrical connector comprising: at least one electrical contact; a body comprising: an electrical contact mounting portion for holding the electrical contact, having a longitudinal axis substantially along which the connector is advanced toward a corresponding mating connector to place the electrical contact in electrical communication with an electrical contact of the corresponding mating connector; and retaining means for retaining the electrical connector in ct contact with the mating connector; IF..... wherein the retaining means comprises first and second releasable mechanical connection parts located toward first and o second lateral sides of the electrical contact mounting portion; the first releasable mechanical connection part being a 0 quick release rotational connector requiring less than a half turn to engage or release the mating connector; wherein electrical connector further comprises biasing means for biasing the second releasable mechanical connection in an engaged position; and wherein the biasing means comprises a raised resilient portion of a face of the electrical contact mounting portion.2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first releasable connection part comprises a bayonet connector.3. An electrical connector according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the second releasable mechanical connection part comprises a laterally extending engagement portion arranged outwardly of a face of the electrical contact mounting portion, to permit translational engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of the mating connector.4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the second releasable mechanical connection part comprises a hook and the corresponding engagement portion of the mating connector comprises a loop or bar for engagement with the hook, or vice versa.5. An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first releasable mechanical connection part comprises biasing means for biasing the quick release rotational connector into an engaged position.6. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprises a raised ridge arranged around the electrical contact to form a seal when engaged with a face of the corresponding mating connector.o 7. An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body further comprises an opening for receiving the quick release 0 rotational connector; the quick release rotational connector comprising a shaft having a first shaft portion having a relatively smaller diameter and a second shaft portion having a relatively larger diameter; the opening comprising an elastically deformable projection, which can be deformed by the second shaft portion on insertion of the shaft into the opening and which can recover when aligned with the first shaft portion to retain the quick release rotational connector in the body.8. An electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein biasing means for biasing the quick release rotational connector into an engaged position are arranged to be held between the quick release rotational connector and the elastically deformable projection of the opening of the body of the connector.9. An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a bayonet connector mounted non-coaxially with any electrical contact of the connector.10. An electrical connector, comprising a quick release rotational connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.11. An electrical connector, comprising a releasable mechanical connection arranged to permit translational engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of a mating connector, substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figures 1 to 2.12. An electrical connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figures 1, 3A, and 3B.13. An electrical connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figure 2.14. An electrical or electronic system or assembly comprising an electrical tX) connector and/or a corresponding mating connector substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to the Figures.