IL32829A - Miniature connector - Google Patents

Description

τρτ ^aniD A JaUTlATURB CONNECTOR THE BUMER-RAIIO CORPORATION The present invention relates to a miniature connector of the closed entry type, each connector part including a block and contacts mounted in cavities in the block, A broad object of the invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing character including a block having cavities and contacts insertable into the cavities, in either direction, and removable in either direction.

Another object is to provide a connector member of the foregoing character in which the contact is normally positively, but releaseably, held in operative position, against movement in either direction.

Another object is to provide a connector member of the character stated in which the contact is easily inserted merely by moving it into the cavity and when it reaches its operative position, it is positively detained against further movement in that inserting direction and latched and positively held against movement in the opposite direction.

Still another object is to provide a device of the foregoing character in which the contact is a single one piece metal arti-cle, and the block is a single one piece molding of dielectric material , Still another object is to provide a connector member of the character stated in which the block includes a special design having shoulders for normally positively locking the contact in position, and is of such design to facilitate molding thereof.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a connector embodying the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a partial view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a large scale perspective view of a contact embodying the present invention; FIGURE 5 is a view of the subject matter of FIGURE 4 but at -A a 90° angle relative thereto; FIGURE 6 is a view taken at line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 · FIGURE 7 is a view taken at line 7 -7 of FIGURE 4 ; FIGURE 8 is an end view taken from the left end of FIGURE 6; FIGURE 9 is a view oriented according to FIGURE 4 representing a step in the removal of the contact; FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 but representing a step in the removal of the contact from the opposite end; and 10 FIGURE 11 is a large scale perspective view, in exaggerated proportions, of a pin cavity, taken at line 11 -11 of FIGURE 4 .

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a connector 16 which includes two main parts or members 18 and 19 which in general, and as except for the detailed disclosure hereinbelow, are of known character. In the connector member 18 is a dielectric block 20 having a plurality of socket contacts or female members 23 mounted in cavities 24 therein while the member 19 includes a dielectric block 25 with a plurality of pin contacts or male members 26 mounted in a plurality of 20 cavities 28 (FIGURE 2 ) . The socket contacts 23 , and the construction of the cavities 24 cooperating therewith, form the features of the present invention. The cavities 24, 28 are usually large in number.

The pin contacts 26 may be of any suitable character and mounted in the cavities in any manner which is not pertinent to the present invention, but the stems thereof indicated at 30 in the present instance are of rectangular cross section although this is not a critical limitation. A cavity 24 of the block 20 of the connector member 18 in which a socket contact 23 is mount-30 ed, is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 . The cavity is generally rectangular in cross section and is provided on each of opposite sides disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line, indicated at 40. While it is preferable to have the stops 32 , 3 on each of opposite sides of the cavity, for convenience in inserting the pin contact in either of opposite directions, the invention is not limited to such an arrangement but encompasses provision of these stops on only one of those sides. Preferably the shoulders are spaced apart forming a gap 4 therebetween.

Beside the ribs are grooves 44 , 46 which lead longitudinally from the respective shoulders, forming bottom surfaces or floors in a plane common with the floor of the gap 42, The ribs 38 on the opposite sides of the cavity are symmetrical relative to rotation about a longitudinal center axis through the cavity. The cavity preferably is chamfered at the ends as indicated at 48 facilitating entry of the contacts into the cavity. If desired, one end of the cavity may be provided with a counterbore 50 of cylindrical shape and leading inwardly from the corresponding end of the cavity but terminating short of the shoulders.

The socket contact 23 is shown as a whole and in perspective in FIGURE 3 * and is made up of a single piece of metal (e.g. copper) and shaped and fabricated to provide the various functional elements required. It is made as a stamping from a blank in the form of a flat piece of metal and is of generally tubular form, although having specific conformations, and shapes at different portions thereof, having for convenience in identification, four side elements 52 , 54 , 6, 8 the latter, at one end, being made up of elements 58a and 58b on opposite sides of the longitudinal parting line 59 formed by bounding edges of the original blank. At the other end, the side element may be a single element 58c_ extending across the side of the device. This relation will be referred to again hereinbelow. The four side elements 52 , 5 , 56, 58 surround and form an open end or socket 60 for reception of the contact end of a in contact. On two of from the plane of the respective sides, and biased inwardly for electrical contact engagement with the entry end of the pin contact. On one of the other sides, e.g., the side 58, are formed oppositely directed tangs 66 , 68, one of them, 66 , being part of and extending from the element 58a and the other, 68 , being part of and extending from the element 58c_. The tang 66 overhangs the element 58c_ for a purpose referred to hereinbelow, this relation being made possible by the provision of the two separate elements 58a and 58b . The tangs 66 and 68 function as spring detents and are biased outwardly from the plane of the side 58 and have end stop surfaces 70 , 72 , facing in longitudinally opposite directions and positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal parting line 59 these detents corresponding with the shoulders 32 , 3 mentioned above and as referred to again hereinbelow.

The detents 66 , 68 are provided with inclined surfaces 74 , 76 to facilitate flexing of them in removal thereof, as referred to below, and to enable them to be cammed onto the ribs in the removal operation. The end of the contact opposite the entry end 60 is formed as a tubular element 78 which may be of any suitable peripheral shape, such as cylindrical, rectangular, etc., this element being utilized for connection with a conductor in a known manner. However, if desired, the contact 23 may be formed instead with an extension 79 (FIGURE 5 ) to which a conductor may be connected externally.

The contact is inserted into the cavity as from the left end of FIGURE 4 , the detents 66, 68 being presented to one or the other of the sides of the cavity having the shoulders 32 , 34 .

In inserting the contact in the manner stated, the detent 66 rides in the groove 44 while the detent 68 engages the rib 36 and is flexed inwardly thereby and the movement is continued until the detent 66 engages the shoulder 3 which limits the movement then engages the shoulder 32, latching the contact against removal in the opposite direction, the longitudinal spacing between those shoulders being such as to accommodate the detents and the contact is thereby held positively in position against removal in either of opposite longitudinal directions.

The contact is insertable into the cavity from the opposite end as well, and in this instance, the detent 68 rides in the groove 46 while the detent 66 rides on the rib 38, until the detent 68 engages the shoulder 32 and the detent 66 falls off of the rib and in opposed engagement with the shoulder 3 , the position of the contact in that case being the same as the limit position mentioned before, positively preventing removal of the contact in either direction.

When the contacts 23 are all in position in the connector member 18 (FIGURE 1) and the corresponding pin contacts 26 are in the other connector member 19, the two connector members are connected, with the pins entering into the socket contacts, in the usual manner.

Preferably the contact extension 30 of the pin contact is rectangular in cross section (see FIGURE 2) as mentioned above and upon entering into the space between the contact tongues 62, 64 they present flat surfaces against those tongues for more effective contact engagement, the tongues being straight in transverse direction. The entry end or socket 60 of the contact 23 is also rectangular, for accommodating the pin extension 30 and maintaining proper alignment therebetween.

The construction enables the removal of the contact, and such removal in either direction longitudinally. A pry 80 may be utilized for inserting into the cavity, and insofar as the con-struction of the contact is concerned, it can be inserted from either end; however, it often occurs that the contact is posi matter from what is known as a "front end", or the right end as viewed in FIGURES 4 -6. Considered in the broad sense, and without any space limitations of the nature mentioned, the pry can be, in one instance, inserted in the groove 46 (FIGURE 9) until it engages the inclined surfaces 7 of the detent 68 whereupon it flexes it inwardly beyond the shoulder 32 , and then the contact is withdrawn to the left . Similarly the pry can be inserted from the opposite end, in the groove 44 (FIGURE 10 ) until it engages the detent 66 which it flexes inwardly beyond the shoulder 3 and enables the contact to be withdrawn. When the contact is put in a position where it is not possible to insert the pry from each end, as referred to, it is most usually the case that it can be inserted only in the direction indicated, i.e., as represented in FIGURES 4 -6 . It is however desired that the contact can be removed in either direction, and the present invention is capable of enabling that maneuver, - because of the overhang of the tang 66 over the element 58c_, that tang upon depression thereof engages the element 58c_ and the latter is accordingly depressed, carrying with it the tang 68 and thus with both tangs depressed, the contact can be withdrawn from either end.

The specific shape of the cavity 24 in the connector member 18 facilitates the molding operation of that member. Molding pins are put in place to form the grooves 44 , 46 and after the article is molded, the pins can be withdrawn longitudinally, eliminating any necessity for movement in transverse directions and disturbing the mold. The pins are put in position in a common plane to form the floors of the grooves, 44 , 46 and the gap 42, this plane extending accurately longitudinally enabling removal of the molding pins in the manner stated.

FIGURE 11 pictorially represents the arrangement of the ribs 36 , 38 , the grooves 44 , 46 and gap 42. The cavity may be pro

Claims (1)

1. A connector comprising a block a cavity and a contact into tho cavity into on operative tho cavity surface having on at least one side thereof a pair respectively on opposite sides of a central longitudinal plane and generally at opposite end portions of the cavity and forming grooves therebesido also respectively on opposite of that piano and longitudinally with respect to tho tho ribs provided with forming fixed otop facing longitudinally and aligned with respective grooves and grooves extending out through the ends of tho oavity away from tho shoulderss and tho oontact having stop longitudinally aligned with respective ribs and pursuant to insertion of the oontact into tho one of the stop elements on the contact rides in the aligned groove engages the aligned stop eleniont in tho and the other aligned rib and it thereby upon passing tho otop on that rib it moves outwardly and it engages that stop A connector according to wherein the ribs on their longitudinally outer ends aro provided inclined camming surfaces oporativo for coaming the stop eleaents on the contact to insertion of tho contact into tho according to Claim 1 or wherein tho fixed stop elements at the ends of the ribs in the cavity are spaced apart and of those on tho one overlaps the a pry can be inserted one of tho grooves for flexing tho corresponding otop elcnent on the contact A connector according to any of the preceding wherein yieldable stop element on the contact includes an in camming displaced longitudinally from the end thereof with a pry inserted into the groove whereby to facilitate of the op element by a camming A connector to any of wherein the and contact of complementcry polygonal shape to prevent rotation of the contact in the A connector to any of the preceding claims wherein the on the cavity surface include a set of such stop elements on each of sides of the cavity contact can be positioned in the cavity and each opposite positions relative to rotation about a longitudinal A socket contact for the connector according to any of the preceding the socket contact being fabricated of a single sheet and generally rectangular tubular cross sectional shape for defining an haviAg a longitudinal formed by the side edges c the the inner socket having stop elements on sides of seam directed in longitudinally opposite one of the stop elements extending inally beyond and both being yieldable laterally and flexing of the first of the stop elements beirg operative for the A socket contact according to Claim wherein surfaces on the yieldable stop elements are disposed generally transverse to longitudinal direction thereof for providing stop and stop elements have inclined surfaces laced lon itudinall from said sto surfaces for enablin cammin 9 A oontact according to Claim 7 or 8 and of laterally inwardly into the i of the socket for engagement with pin contact inserted into the A Docket contact according to Claim 8 or tongues are substantially in effective contact engagement with flat sides of a pin inserted into the and the socket contact at the end opposite the socket of tubular shape for connection a Δ contact according to any one of 7 to 10 adapted use in combination with a block to a block having cavity the oavity fixed stop elements at least one stop element of the contact yielding in to the of the contact the cavity and said contact elements positively restraining the withdrawal of the contact from the the of the cavity and connector being such to enable of a pry into the cavity to said contact out of engagement with the associated fixed stop said other contact element being operated upon by first contact atop element to bo flexed out of with fixed stop insufficientOCRQuality