JP4937461B2 - Plug connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors for connecting the pins of the detonator of an automotive airbag gas generator assembly.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Airbag gas generators have a primary starting charge to inflate an automobile airbag in a sufficiently extreme impact environment. The gas generator is an electronic explosive device (EED) or detonator that detonates with an electrical signal that initiates inflation of the airbag. When an impact force that falls within the parameter range indicating the necessity for air bag inflation is detected, the ignition circuit control device supplies an ignition signal to the detonator. Once the detonator receives an ignition signal from this controller, the explosive gas generated by the detonator quickly inflates the airbag. The control system is connected to the airbag by a harness wiring, which typically has an electrical plug and socket connector, and is easily electrically coupled after separately mounting the airbag assembly and control system. Enable the way. The integrity of the connector device is of utmost importance because the airbag is a safety device that is being relied upon to help protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accident.
[0003]
For those involved in the technology of airbag gas generators for detonators, it is well known that a pair of connector lead pins are inserted into a pair of socket connectors in a female connector housing inside the female connector housing. That is. It is also well known in the art to use a shorting clip that maintains an electrical short between the connector pins to protect the detonator from electrostatic discharge prior to installation. is there. The design of the male connector part for this well-known female connector part of the airbag gas generator assembly is therefore timely and properly deployed once the airbag is needed It must incorporate safety and reliability features to ensure safety.
[0004]
To this end, connector assemblies for airbag gas generators have been developed with the goal of mechanical and electrical connections between connector assemblies that are safe and reliable. One typical design of a connector assembly that is well known in the art is that a male connector housing is provided with a fixing rib on the outer surface and coupled to a groove on the inner wall of a female socket housing containing a pair of pins The fitted position is held by the method of making the position. The disadvantage of this connection assembly is that the assembler must forcibly pull to remove the locking piece. Disconnecting in a single action makes it uncertain to maintain a perfect mating, and plug connectors that are not in place can appear to the operator as if they are fully mated between parts There is sex.
[0005]
Manufacturers seeking to improve connector retention began adopting means to sense that the plug connector is securely held within the socket. An example of the prior art employing a positive latch mechanism is shown in US Pat. No. 5,314,345. This three-part connector incorporates a separate locking element having leg portions of hooks for insertion into the fitted connector. The reliability of this configuration is also impaired due to the possibility that the assembler forgets to insert the locking piece into the mated connector.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an electrical plug connector that provides a two-part connection assembly with a positive latch mechanism for the socket part of an airbag gas generator. This connector must automatically establish a connection assembly without requiring additional work from the assembler. It would also be desirable to provide an electrical connection assembly that allows a number of individual workers to notice disconnection. In addition, an electrical connection assembly for an airbag gas generator is desired that uses a minimal number of parts to ensure reliable assembly of the connector components. When the socket has a shorting clip, the assembly must maintain a short circuit connection between the airbag gas generator leads until after the shielded electrical connection is made to the electrical connector. It is also desirable for this connector to be mechanically locked connection assembly before the short circuit connection between the leads is subsequently removed. It is also desirable to be able to electrically short after that even when mechanically locked in place.
[0007]
【the purpose】
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly particularly suitable for an automobile air bag gas generator assembly. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plug connector having a socket connector wall defining a socket cavity and for insertion into a socket connector supporting a conductive socket contact in the socket cavity.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The plug connector has an elongated male connector housing and a housing shaft attached to it that supports a hook of the elongated elongated strainable housing. The distortion of the housing hook allows the housing shaft to be inserted into and withdrawn from the socket cavity. An elongated electrical contact held in the male connector terminates the cable and an interconnecting end that extends into the shaft for coupling with an electrical contact lead or pin held in the socket on the opposite side Have The plug connector also includes a block arm attached thereto, which extends between the latch and the shaft and has a first position that prevents distortion of the latch and a second that allows distortion of the latch. A housing cover is also included, which can be distorted between the two positions. The cover is biased to the first position by a spring.
[0009]
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a connector assembly including a plug connector having a housing that holds a pair of electrical terminals and a cover that is movably held in an overlapping arrangement with the housing. The connector assembly also includes a socket connector having a socket body that holds a pair of electrical contacts within the cavity. The plug connector is removably accommodated in the cavity of the socket body to realize electrical connection between the terminal and the contact. The housing has a hook that can be further distorted, and the distortion of the hook enables the plug housing to be inserted into and removed from the cavity of the socket body. In addition, the cover holds the block lugs so that the cover extends in a direction toward and away from the housing, and in the first position, the block lugs are separated from the latches and the connector latches of the shaft. Distorted through the socket opening in the direction, and in the second position, the blocking lug touches the connector hook and the hook is sufficiently distorted from passing through the socket cavity.
[0010]
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a connector assembly including a plug connector having a housing that holds a pair of electrical terminals and a cover that is movably held in an overlapping arrangement with the housing. The connector assembly also includes a socket connector having a socket body that holds a pair of electrical contacts within the cavity. The plug connector is removably accommodated in the cavity of the socket body to realize electrical connection between the terminal and the contact. The housing has a hook that can be further distorted, and the distortion of the hook enables the plug housing to be inserted into and removed from the cavity of the socket body. The plug connector also has a mechanical and electrical security button that includes a locking arm that can extend between the hook and the shaft and a mounting arm that can extend between the shorting clip and the shaft. is doing. The button can extend from the first position to the second position. The first position maintains an electrical short between the female socket contacts and distorts the hook in the direction of the shaft to allow the shaft to pass through the socket cavity. The second position releases the electrical short circuit of the female socket contact, prevents distortion of the hook and prevents the shaft from passing through the socket opening.
[0011]
The present invention also provides a shorting clip assembly that can be offset for electrical connection. The shorting clip assembly includes a socket housing having a socket housing wall defining a socket cavity and retaining a pair of socket contacts within the socket cavity. This socket contact defines a contact gap therebetween. The elongated shorting clip has a first end retained by the socket housing wall and a second end extending into the contact gap. The second end can be offset between a first position for coupling the socket contact pair to each other and a second position spaced from the mutual coupling with the socket contact pair.
[0012]
The present invention also provides a keying structure between the plug connector shaft and the socket wall to align the socket contacts and connector contacts before they are electrically connected.
[0013]
The present invention also contemplates a clamshell-shaped connector having a hinge extending laterally across both the cover and the housing, thereby providing a hinge offset between the cover clamshell part and the housing clamshell part. The The clamshell parts of the housing and cover define a clamshell cavity that can be closed between them. The clamshell parts of the housing and the cover can move toward and away from each other, so that an open structure exposing the clamshell cavity and a closed structure sealing the clamshell cavity are obtained. The crimp contact ends of the electrical contacts extend into the sealable clamshell cavity, making the mounting jig for crimping the wire even easier to operate when the clamshell component is in the open configuration. After the wire is attached to the crimp end of the electrical contact, the cover and the clam shell parts of the housing can be mated to enclose the crimp connection between the wire and contact of the ignition circuit. The clamshell component may further have a locking detent to maintain a closed structure.
[0014]
The connector of the present invention can also be formed such that the plug connector can be inserted into the socket when the blocking key is in the locked position. This connector has a hook arm that can be distorted, and these fitting ribs can be tightened by a fastener, whereby the fitting rib is distorted and can be inserted into the fitting groove of the socket. The connector of the present invention may further incorporate a ferrite block, a pair of cylindrical ferrite members, or an induction coil. The contacts of the present invention may further include a stress relief tab that couples to the housing body where the terminated wire is pulled in tension. The connector of the present invention can also be used for termination of circular cross-section wire or flat cable wiring.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1-3, the present invention provides a plug connector 10 that connects to a socket connector 26 to implement an ignition circuit for a detonator (not shown) of an automotive airbag gas generator. is there. As will be described hereinbelow, the plug connector 10 requires only one work operation or insertion force to establish a reliable mechanical and electrical connection in the connector assembly, but is mechanical and electrical. In order to separate the connector assembly, two independent work operations are required. Plug connector 10 includes a connector housing 12 and a hinged connector cover 14 for securely holding first and second elongated electrical contacts 16, 18 and a separate ferrite assembly 20. The first and second contacts 16 and 18 are terminated with opposing first and second socket contacts 17 and 19 and first and second connecting wires 22 and 24, respectively. Connecting wires 22 and 24 are desirably crimped to contacts 16 and 18 respectively in ferrite assembly 20, but the present invention passes wires 22 and 24 through or outside ferrite assembly 20. Crimping is also intended. Housing 12 and cover 14 are formed of a suitable dielectric material.
[0016]
The connector 10 shown in FIGS. 2A-E provides a releasable fit with a socket connector 26 having a socket housing 28 that defines a socket cavity 30. Socket connector 26 holds first and second socket leads or pins 32 and 34 within socket cavity 30 for constructing an electrical circuit with first and second contacts 16 and 18 in connector 10. The socket housing 28 also defines a mating groove 66 that communicates with the socket cavity 30 for mechanical connection with the connector 10. Connector 10 may also include an electrical shorting clip (not shown) for releasably coupling between pins 32 and 34.
[0017]
The housing 12 has a pair of cantilevered arms 50, 52 extending from the distal end 54 a of the connecting shaft 54. The shaft 54 is terminated at the connector surface 56 and can be inserted into the socket cavity 30 for both mechanical and electrical connection between the connector 10 and the socket 26. The connector surface 56 defines a pair of socket openings 58, 60 located below the socket contacts 17, 19 so that the lead pins 32, 34 are inserted therethrough and the air bag gas generator and ignition circuit. To achieve electrical connection between the two. The arms 50 and 52 that can be displaced are provided with protruding ribs 62 and 64 for insertion into the fitting grooves 66 of the socket housing 28, respectively. The releasable arm further has lugs 150, 152 protruding inward facing the shaft 54 for purposes described below.
[0018]
The housing 12 further includes a base wall 69 that defines an internal cavity 72 and a peripheral housing wall 70. The internal cavity 72 receives the first and second contact elements 16, 18 and the ferrite component 20 therein. The housing wall 70 has a pair of opposing retaining clips 74 and 76 (not shown) that mate with a pair of oppositely extending locking ledges 78, 80 formed on the ferrite component 20. To face each other across the internal cavity 72. The base wall 69 has a protrusion 82 that can be distorted facing the internal cavity 72 and presses the locking protrusions 78, 80 of the ferrite part 20 against the holding clips 74, 76 of the housing wall 70. A spring retaining wall 95 having a spring retaining edge 95 a is located in the internal cavity 72 between the contacts 16 and 18.
[0019]
The housing wall 70 further includes a pair of outwardly facing detents 100 (not shown) and 102. The housing 12 further includes a rear wall 82 having a gap and an inner wall 84 having a gap in parallel with a gap therebetween. Both walls 82 and 84 provided with scissors define a pair of adjacent openings 86, 88 and 90, 92 for receiving the wires 22 and 24 therethrough.
[0020]
The cover 14 has a fixed cover member 120 and a distortable cover member 122 attached to the fixed cover member 120 by three hinges 122, 124 and 126. As shown in FIG. 3, these hinges include a substantially rigid hinge coupling body (indicated by 124a) extending long between the cover members 120 and 122, and an active narrow hinge connected thereto, respectively. (Denoted by 124b and 124c) to move the distortable cover member 122 closer to a more linear motion. The fixed cover portion 120 has a flat upper wall 128 and a peripheral wall 130 attached thereto. The cover member 122 that can be distorted similarly has a flat upper wall 132 and an attached peripheral wall 134. Surrounding walls 132 and 134 define a cover cavity 136 that can be positioned overlying the housing internal cavity 72.
[0021]
The fixed cover member 120 also has a rear chamfered wall (not shown) that protrudes from the top wall 128, which extends between the chamfered walls 82 and 84 of the housing 12. Are defined so as to define a path of a pair of connecting conductors passing through. Further, the peripheral wall 130 includes first and second fastener detents 130 (not shown) and 132 that fit together with the detents 100 and 102 of the housing 12 thereby holding the housing 12 and the cover 14 together. Have.
[0022]
The upper wall 132 of the cover member 122 which can be distorted has an attached cantilever spring 138 located in the center and having a free end 138a. As shown in FIG. 3, a spring stop edge 95a is adjacent to the free end 138a of the spring, thereby pushing the cover member 122, which can be distorted, away from the spring stop wall 95. . By pushing the upper wall 132 of the flat plate in the direction of the housing 12, the spring 138 is distorted to release the strainable cover member 132, and the spring 138 pushes the cover member 132 away from the housing 12.
[0023]
The warpable cover member 122 further includes first and second fixed, elongated block arms 140 and 142. Block arms 140 and 142 have flat block lugs 144 and 146 at their ends that define elongated indentations 140a and 142a extending between the block lugs 144 and 146 and the surrounding walls, respectively. Accordingly, the block lugs 144 and 146 move in a substantially linear manner between the undistorted position and the distorted position with the cover member 122 capable of being distorted, against the pressure of the spring 138. Can do.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the blocking lugs 144 and 146 are positioned without distortion adjacent to the internal latch lugs 150 and 152 so that the latch arms 50 and 52 are in the direction of the shaft 54. Prevents distortion. In this way, in a position without distortion, the external hook ribs 62 and 64 are located at a position far away from the shaft 54, so that the connector 10 cannot be inserted into and removed from the socket cavity 30. FIG. 2A shows that electrical contact can be made between the leads 32 and 34 and the socket contacts 17 and 19 respectively before the hook ribs 62 and 64 extend into the socket cavity 30. Electrical contact is achieved until mechanical retention is even more favorable by contacts 17 and 19 being located deeper in shaft 54 or leads 32 and 34 being located deeper in socket cavity 30. It is the intent of the present invention that it can be delayed. FIG. 2B illustrates that the spring 138 is distorted because the distortable cover member 122 is distorted in the direction of the housing 12, and the blocking lugs 144 and 146 extend further toward the free end connector surface 56 of the shaft 54, thereby The indentations 140a and 142a are shown adjacent to the slug lugs 150 and 152. Thus, when the distortable cover member 122 and the blocking lugs 144 and 146 are in the distorted position, the hanger arms 50 and 52 can be distorted in the direction of the shaft 54 so that the connector 10 is a socket. It can be inserted and removed from the cavity 28.
[0025]
2C-E, the hook arms 50 and 52 are distorted in the direction of the shaft 54 so that the connector 10 can be inserted into the socket cavity 28, thereby fitting the hook ribs 62 and 64. Can be aligned with the slot 66. By tapering the tips of the latch ribs 62 and 64, the operator need not manually distort the latch arms 50 and 52. This is because the force is inserted when the cover member 122 is distorted. That is, since the connector 10 is inserted into the female connector 26, the coupling of the protruding ribs 62 and 64 to the connector wall 28 results in the arms 50 and 52 being distorted in the direction of the male connection portion 54. Regardless of the insertion method, once the projecting ribs 62 and 64 reach the fitting groove 66, the distortable arms 50 and 52 are spring-backed outward from the male connection portion 54, and the connector 10 and the female A mechanically locked connection with connector 26 is provided. In order to pull out the connector 10 from the female connector 26, the cover member 122 is distorted in the direction of the housing 12 until the ribs 62 and 64 are pulled out of the cavity 30 away from the fitting groove 66 and can be distorted. 50 and 52 must likewise be distorted in the direction of the male connection 54.
[0026]
Referring to FIGS. 4-14B, connector 210, which is another option of the present invention, is shown. Connector 210 requires two independent work operations to achieve mechanical and electrical connections within the connector assembly, and three independent work operations to mechanically and electrically separate from the connector assembly. Need. The connector 210 includes a housing 212 and a cover 214 that mates with the housing 212 and houses the first and second contact elements 216 and 218 and the ferrite component 220. The first and second contact elements 216 and 218 terminate at opposing first and second socket contacts 217 and 219 and first and second wires 222 and 224, respectively. Wires 222 and 224 each extend through the ferrite component 220 and provide connecting wire ends 222a and 224a outside the connector 210. Connector 210 has an adjustable locking key 215 to control both the mechanical lock of connector 210 and the electrical short circuit of the ignition circuit and air bag gas generator detonator (not shown) made by connector 210. Adopted. Housing 212 and cover 214 are formed of a suitable dielectric material. Connector 210 provides for mating with a female connector 226 of an airbag gas generator assembly (not shown), as shown in FIGS.
[0027]
The socket connector 226 has a connector wall 228 that defines a female connector cavity 230 in which a pair of lead pins 232 and 234 are disposed. The connector wall 228 defines a mating groove 266 that opens in the direction of the connector cavity 230, thereby providing mechanical retention of the connector therein. Female connector 226 further includes a conductive shorting clip 236 that can extend between pins 232 and 234 in cavity 230 and is introduced from one of the lead pins 232 or 234 from an electrostatic discharge arc. The electrical current provides protection against inadvertent initiation of the airbag gas generator assembly. In some configurations, the shorting clip 236 is provided by an intermediate insert 238 located within the cavity 230. As shown in FIG. 13C, an exemplary shorting clip 236 includes a clip body 240 and a pair of clip attachments 242 and 244 that are bent to contact one of the pins 232 and 234, respectively. Provides a short circuit at its intersection. Upon insertion of connector 210, clip attachment portions 242 and 244 are pulled away from pins 232 and 234 by the dielectric material of the housing, thereby completing the ignition circuit in the airbag gas generator.
[0028]
The housing 212 has cantilevered hook arms 250, 252 extending from the distal end 254a of the shaft 254. The shaft 254 is terminated with a flat connector surface 256 and can be inserted into the female connector cavity 230 for mechanical and electrical connection. The connector surface 256 defines a pair of socket openings 258, 260 at positions that overlap the socket contacts 217, 219, whereby lead pins 232, 234 are inserted therein to electrically connect the air bag gas generator and the ignition circuit. Connection is now possible.
[0029]
The distortable hook arms 250, 252 have protruding ribs 262, 264 for insertion into mating grooves 266 in the socket wall 228, respectively. Since the connector 210 is inserted into the socket connector 226 at the position where the lock key 215 is raised, the hook arms 250 and 252 are distorted in the direction of the shaft 254 when the protruding ribs 262 and 264 and the connector wall 228 are coupled. It becomes. Once the protruding ribs 262, 264 reach the mating groove 266, the distortable hook arms 250, 252 spring back out of the shaft 254, and between the connector 210 and the female connector 226. A mechanically locked connection is provided. In order to pull the connector 10 out of the female connector 226, the hook arms 250, 252 that can be distorted at the same time of the shaft 254 until the ribs 262, 264 are pulled out of the cavity 230 away from the fitting groove 266. It must be distorted in the direction.
[0030]
The shaft 254 defines a pair of adjacent elongated passages 294, 296 that open facing away from the attachment portions 242, 244 of the shorting clip 236 when the connector 210 is inserted into the female connector 226. is doing. The connector portion 254 further defines a pair of socket cavities 298, 299 for receiving socket contacts 217, 219.
[0031]
Referring now to FIG. 11, the housing 212 further has a peripheral housing wall 270 and a base wall 269 that define an internal cavity 272. Internal cavity 272 receives first and second contact elements 216, 218 and ferrite component 220 therein. The housing wall 270 has a pair of retaining clips facing across an internal cavity 272 for mating with a pair of oppositely extending locking ledges 278, 280 formed in the ferrite component 220. The base wall 269 has a deformable protrusion 281 facing into the cavity 272 to press the locking protrusions 278, 280 of the ferrite component 220 against the retaining clips 274, 276 of the housing wall 270. .
[0032]
The housing 212 further includes a rear wall 282 with claws and an internal wall 284 with claps, spaced in parallel. Both chamfered walls 282 and 284 define a pair of adjacent openings 286, 288 and 290, 292 for receiving the wires 222 and 224. The rear wall 282 further has locking barbs (not shown) that extend into the openings 290 and 292 to hold the wires 222 and 224 in place.
[0033]
Referring additionally to FIGS. 9-10 and 12A, the cover 214 of the connector 210 is attached to the housing 212 by distortable detent arm means 319a-e that couple and hold projections 271a-e formed on the housing 212. It is fixed. The cover 214 includes a flat upper wall 320, a front key receiving member 322, and an attached peripheral wall 324. The peripheral wall 324 defines a cover cavity 326 that is positioned to overlap the internal cavity 272 of the housing 212 when the connector 210 is assembled. The cover 214 also includes an inner wall 350 with a nail protruding from the top wall 320 into the cover cavity 326. The chamfered wall 350 defines a pair of wire passages for receiving the wires 224, 226 once the connector 210 is assembled. The wall 350 provided with the gap is formed to extend between the wall 282 and 284 provided with the gap of the housing 212.
[0034]
The key receiving member 322 has a pair of laterally spaced front legs 356, 358 that define an adjacent key insertion opening 355 in front of the front legs 356, 358. The key receiving member 322 also provides a pair of shoulders 360, 362 that are spaced from the cover perimeter wall 324 in the meridian direction and extend in opposite directions by a cross piece 364 with associated front legs 356, 358. . The cover 214 defines a key receiving space 366 between the cover shoulders 360 and 362 and the cover peripheral wall 324.
[0035]
With particular reference to FIGS. 6-8, the locking key 215 of the connector 210 has an upper button 370 that is manually coupled to operate and position the key 215 within the connector 210. The button 370 has an elongated flat plate-like upper wall 372 that is installed in the lateral direction, front and rear button walls 374 and 376 that are attached to the same, and an end that is laterally spaced. Part walls 378 and 380 are included. Walls 374, 378 and 380 define an internal button cavity 382. Knurled button walls 374 and 376 define notches 382 and 384, shown in meridian directions, for receiving the cross piece 364 of cover 214, respectively.
[0036]
The lock key 215 and the cover 214 have an interfitting detent for securely grasping the lock key in the up or down position. Detents 201-204 on cover 214 overlap with detent button walls 274 and 276 detents 205-208 to provide a loose fit. Locking key 215 and housing 212 also have an interlocking retaining shape that prevents the locking key from being removed from the rest of connector 210. Locking arms 286 and 288 define elongated retaining grooves 287 and 289, respectively, one end of which is closed by arm ends 286a and 288a, respectively. The housing 212 supplies holding pins 701 and 702 on the peripheral wall 270 facing the hook arms 250 and 252 so that the lock key 215 can be slid up and down in the holding grooves 287 and 289, respectively. Holding.
[0037]
Locking key 215 further includes a pair of mechanical locking arms 386, 388 extending in the longitudinal direction with lateral spacing and an electrical safety element 390 passing through button cavity 382 associated with upper wall 372. It is out. The electrical safety element 390 further includes a pair of laterally spaced fixed arms 392 and 394 that provide for attachment and detachment between the appendages 242 and 244 of the shorting clip 236 and the lead pins 232 and 234. Fulfills the function. The electrical safety element 390 is passed through the key insertion opening 355 when assembled. 3-10b, the locking key 215 provides a pair of latch arm stops 396, 398 within the button cavity 382 adjacent to the end walls 378, 380.
[0038]
The locking key 215 is adjustable within the connector 210 to both control the shorting by the shorting clip 226 between the lead pins 232, 234 and prevent inadvertent removal of the connector 210 from the female connector 226. ing. As will be described below, the locking key 215 is adjustable between an upper unlocked position and a lower locked position. In the upper unlocked position, the stationary arms 392, 394 are raised along the passages 294, 296 and do not prevent the lead pins 232, 234 from being shorted by the shorting clip attachments 242, 244. At the same time, the latch arms 250, 252 can be distorted in the direction of the shaft 254 when the locking key is in the upper unlocked position. Conversely, when the locking key 215 is in the lower locking position, the shorting clip attachment portions 242 and 244 are pulled away from the lead pins 232 and 234 by the fixed arms 392 and 394, and the locking arms 386 and 388 are hooked. The arms 250 and 252 are prevented from being distorted. The state where the lock key 215 is in the upper non-lock position is shown in FIGS. 12 to 13B, and the state where the lock key 215 is in the lower lock position is shown in FIGS.
[0039]
12A-B illustrate another characteristic of the connector 210. FIG. When the connector 210 is disconnected from the female connector 226, the locking key 215 is in the up position and the latch arms 250, 252 are in the outwardly distorted and relaxed position, so that their free ends 250a , 252a is positioned adjacent to the latch arm stops 396, 398 to prevent the locking key 215 from being lowered. This feature of the present invention ensures that the shorting clip 236 maintains a short between the lead pins 232, 234 while the connector 210 and the female connector 226 are mechanically coupled. By inserting the shaft 254 into the female connector 226, the hook arms 250, 252 are distorted inward toward the shaft 254 with or without manual assistance, and the ribs 262, 264 are inserted into the fitting groove 266. To be located.
[0040]
As apparent in FIGS. 13A-B, the rib arms 262, 264 are located within the mating groove 266, resulting in the hook arms 250, 252 being sufficiently inwardly distorted so that the free ends 250a, 252a are hooked. It is possible to move away from 396 and 398 and subsequently lower the lock key 215. Accordingly, the present invention ensures that the shorting of the lead pins 232, 234 is maintained until electrical connection between the lead pins 232, 234 and the socket contacts 217, 219 is made.
[0041]
Referring now to FIGS. 14A-B, the locking key 215 can now be depressed to a down position, thereby mechanically locking the connector in place and electrically energizing the airbag ignition circuit. Both can be enabled. In the lowered position, the locking key 215 extends the stationary arms 392, 394 along the passages 294, 296 of the shaft 254 and pulls the shorting clip attachments 242, 244 away from the lead pins 232, 234. Further, in the lower position, the locking key 215 places the locking arms 386, 388 next to the hook arms 250, 252 so that they are distorted inward and the connector 210 is disconnected from the female connector 226. To prevent the necessary condition to As shown in these figures, the hanger arms 250, 252 preferably have the same contour as the end walls 378, 380, and further prevent inadvertent removal of the locking key 215. It is. Similarly, once the connector 210 is mechanically locked to the female connector 226, the locking key 215 can optionally be raised and lowered, thereby optionally causing a short circuit and non-short circuit between the lead pins 232 and 234. Become.
[0042]
With reference to FIGS. 15-20, yet another connector 410 according to the present invention requires two independent work operations in both assembling and disconnecting the connector for secure mechanical and electrical connections. The connector 410 has a housing 412 and a cover 414 for fitting into the housing 412 to accommodate the first and second contact elements 416, 418 and the ferrite component 420. First and second contact elements 416 and 418 are terminated at opposite first and second socket contacts 417 and 419 and first and second wires 422 and 424, respectively. Wires 422, 424 extend through the ferrite component 420 and provide connecting conductor ends 422a, 424a outside the connector 410.
[0043]
The housing 412 and cover 414 are formed from a suitable dielectric material. Connector 410 provides for mating with female connector 426 of an airbag gas generator (not shown) as shown in FIGS. 16A and 17.
[0044]
The female connector 426 has a connector wall 428 that defines a female connector cavity 430 in which a pair of electrical lead pins 432, 434 are disposed. Connector wall 428 defines a mating groove 466 that opens toward connector cavity 430, thereby providing mechanical retention of the connector therein. Female connector 426 further includes a shorting clip 436 connected in a distortable manner to pins 432, 434 within cavity 430, and current introduced from an electrostatic discharge arc into one of lead pins 432 or 434. Provides protection against unintentional detonation of the airbag gas generator assembly. In some configurations, the shorting clip 436 is provided by an intermediate insert 438 disposed within the cavity 430. The shorting clip 436 typically has a clip body 440 shown in FIG. 13C and a pair of clip attachment portions 442 and 444, each of which is bent, so that the pins 432 and 434 can be distorted. Contact one, thereby providing a short circuit at its intersection. When connector 410 is inserted, clip attachments 442 and 444 are distorted away from pins 432 and 434 by the dielectric material of housing 412, thereby providing an ignition circuit for the airbag gas generator.
[0045]
The housing 412 has cantilevered and deformable arms 450, 452 extending from the distal end 454 a of the shaft 454. The shaft 454 terminates at a flat connector surface 456 and can be inserted into the female connector cavity 430 to establish both mechanical and electrical connections. The connector surface 456 defines a pair of socket openings 458, 460 at positions overlapping the socket contacts 417, 419, whereby lead pins 432, 434 are inserted therein to electrically connect the airbag gas generator and the ignition circuit. A connection can be established.
[0046]
Each of the deformable arms 450 and 452 has protruding ribs 462 and 464 for insertion into the fitting groove 466, respectively. When the connector 410 is inserted into the female connector 426, the arms 450, 452 are distorted toward the shaft 454 by the protruding ribs 462, 464 joining the connector wall 428. Once the protruding ribs 462, 464 reach the mating groove 466, the deformable arms 450, 452 spring back out of the shaft 454 and mechanically locked between the connector 410 and the female connector 426. A bond is provided. In order to withdraw the connector 410 from the female connector 426, the arms 450 and 452 that can be distorted until the ribs 462 and 464 are pulled away from the fitting groove 466 and pulled out of the cavity 430 must be distorted toward the shaft 454 at the same time. Don't be.
[0047]
The shaft 454 defines a pair of elongated adjacent passages 494, 496 that open facing away from the attachment portions 442, 444 of the shorting clip 436 when the connector 410 is inserted into the female connector 426. ing. The shaft 454 further defines socket cavities 498, 499 for receiving socket contacts 417, 419.
[0048]
The housing 412 further has a base wall 469 and a peripheral wall 470 and defines an internal cavity 472. Internal cavity 472 receives first and second contact elements 416, 418 and ferrite component 420 therein. The housing wall 470 includes a pair of opposing retaining clips 474, 476 facing across an internal cavity 472 for mating with a pair of opposite locking ledges 478, 480 formed in the ferrite component 420. Have. The base wall 469 has a deformable protrusion 481 facing the internal cavity 472 for pressing the locking protrusions 478, 480 of the ferrite part 420 against the retaining clips 474, 478 of the housing wall 470.
[0049]
The housing 412 further has a rear wall 482 provided with scissors and an inner wall 484 provided with scissors in a spaced parallel manner. Both walls 482 and 484 provided with a gap define a pair of adjacent openings 486, 488 and 490, 492 for receiving the wires 422 and 424 therethrough. The rear wall 482 further includes locking elements 491, 493 extending into the openings 486, 490 for holding the wires 422, 424 in place.
[0050]
Housing wall 470 includes eight outwardly facing detents 500-508. The housing wall 470 also includes a pair of opposing stop elements 510, 512 extending oppositely, each having a flat stop surface 510a, 512a facing downward. The detents 500 to 308 are preferably located in the vicinity of a plane extending slightly above the plane including the stop surfaces 510a and 512a, and the detents 502, 503 and 506, 507 are preferably arranged with the stopper element 510 with which they come into contact. It extends slightly outside the housing wall 470 than 512.
[0051]
The cover 414 has a flat upper wall 520, a front wall 522 attached thereto, and a peripheral wall 524 attached thereto. Attached to the front wall 522 is a pair of fixed arms 446, 448 that function to provide coupling and separation between the attachment portions 442, 444 of the shorting clip 436 and the lead pins 432, 434. The peripheral wall 524 defines a cover cavity 526 that receives the peripheral wall 470 of the housing 412 when the connector 410 is assembled. The cover 414 also has an internal wall 550 with a nail that protrudes from the top wall 520 to the cover cavity 526. The clasped wall 550 defines a pair of wire passageways 552, 554 that receive the wires 424, 426 therein once the connector 410 is assembled. A nail wall 550 extends between the nail walls 482 and 484 of the housing 412.
[0052]
Cover 414 has opposing indentations 570 and 572 for receiving distortable arms 450 and 452, respectively. Flat upper wall 520 and peripheral wall 524 support blocking lugs 574 and 575 in recess 570 and blocking lugs 576 and 577 in recess 572. Block lugs 574, 575 and 576, 577 should be located next to the free ends of hooks 450, 452 that can be distorted when cover 414 is in the lowered position as shown in FIG. 16A. So that they are distorted in the direction of the shaft 454 to prevent the shaft 454 from being inserted or removed from the socket cavity 430. When the cover 414 is in the raised position, the blocking lugs 574, 575 and 576, 577 move away from the distortable hooks 450 and 452 as shown in FIG. The shaft 454 can be inserted into and removed from the socket cavity 430.
[0053]
The peripheral wall 524 of the cover 414 has eight inwardly facing detents 530-538 formed to contact the detents 501-508 of the housing 412 in a lowered and locked configuration. The detents 531-538 cross over the detents 501-508 when the cover 414 is moved between the locked configuration below and the unlocked configuration above and crosses when returning. The relative movement of the cover 414 and the housing 412 is formed between the stopper elements 510, 512 of the housing 412 and a pair of oppositely facing cover stoppers 540, 542, which are formed between the detents 532, 533 and 536, 537, respectively. It is limited by fitting in contact with. The cover stoppers 540 and 542 have flat stop surfaces 540a and 542a for fitting adjacent to the stop surfaces 510a and 512a, respectively.
[0054]
As depicted in FIG. 16A, the cover 414 is shown in a lowered and locked position with respect to the housing 412. In the lower locked position, the fixed arms 446, 448 extend fully into the passages 494, 496 in the housing 412 and the clip attachments 446, 448 are separated from the short-circuit coupling across the lead pins 432, 434 of the female connector 426. It will be the position to be. The lower locked position also causes the block lugs 574, 575 and 576, 577 to be positioned adjacent to the free ends of the latches 450 and 452 which can be distorted so that they are distorted in the direction of the shaft 454. Disturb. The cover 414 can also be pulled to the upper unlocked position shown in FIG. 16B, which removes the fixed arms 446, 448 from the block fit of the clip attachments 446, 448, thereby While the connector 410 is mechanically coupled to the female connector 426, a short circuit contact across the lead pins 432, 434 can be re-established. In this way, the blocking lugs 574, 575 and 576, 577 can only be distorted when the fixed arms 446 and 448 are separated from the shorting clip attachments 446 and 448. , Thereby allowing insertion and withdrawal through the socket cavity 430 of the connector 410. In other words, when the connector 410 is mechanically locked in the female connector 426, the cover 414 can be arbitrarily moved up and down, thereby short-circuiting and non-short-circuiting the path across the lead pins 432 and 434.
[0055]
Referring now to FIGS. 21-23C, it is desirable to apply key usage between the shaft and plug of the present invention. Utilizing a key for the shaft and plug helps to prevent relative twisting between the shaft of the plug connector and the socket connector, which can cause misalignment of the socket contacts and leads. Improper alignment between the socket and the lead can result in bending the lead by inserting the shaft into the socket. The present invention ensures mechanical alignment between the shaft and socket so that the lead and socket are aligned by providing a keyed structure for both the shaft and socket connector. Desirably, the fit tolerance between the shaft and socket is sufficiently strong to ensure that alignment is established before the socket lead enters the socket contact of the plug connector.
[0056]
21 to 23, the key utilization structure employs an interface 801 having a gap between the shaft 854 of the plug connector 810 and the socket connector 826 or the socket insert 838 that supports the short-circuit clip. The plug connector 854 and socket housing 825 are formed with interlocking grooves 810 and protrusions 812 to ensure that the plug connector 810 is correctly oriented with respect to the socket 826 prior to insertion. In addition, as can be seen in FIGS. 23A-C, the key utilization structure 801 has a single socket passage 814 and 1 to allow diversification of connectors and sockets for various locations or airbags in a single vehicle. It can be changed by shifting the two shaft protrusions 816. The diversification of key utilization structures is particularly useful for multiple airbag applications where more than one airbag is provided and deployed in response to various impact environments.
[0057]
With reference now to FIGS. 24-27, a shorting clip for use in a socket connector is disclosed. The shorting clip 900 is an elongated means having a single wedge-shaped head 902 for mating with a pair of leads 932, 934 within a socket cavity 930 defined by a socket housing 928. . Leads 932 and 934 define a gap 933 through which head 902 of shorting clip 900 extends to short-circuit them. Head 902 has a pair of tapered edges 902a and 902b that contact leads 932 and 934, respectively, to establish a short circuit across the leads.
[0058]
The shorting clip 900 also has a tail 904 that fits into either the socket housing 926 itself or the socket insert 938 held in the socket cavity 930. The tail 904 has a retention barb 904a that is retained with the socket insert 938 to allow insertion of the tail 904 into the prepared shorting clip opening 941 and prevent withdrawal therefrom. Join.
[0059]
The shorting clip 900 further includes an elongated clip body 906 extending between the head 902 and the tail 904. Beginning with the tail 904, the body 906 has a first portion 906a that bends away from the leads 932 and 934 toward the body center 906b, the body center 906b being bent approximately 180 degrees to be the third body. Portion 906 c is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from portion 906 a and extends in a direction returning toward leads 932 and 934. Third body portion 906c extends to a fourth portion 906d that is bent to extend substantially parallel to and spaced from leads 932 and 934. Head 902 extends about 90 degrees from body portion 906 d and extends toward leads 932 and 934.
[0060]
The bending of the body portion 906 imparts spring-like distortion to the shorting clip 900, whereby the head 902 is pressed against the gap 941 due to the distortion and is short-circuited to the leads 932 and 934. The spring bias of the shorting clip 900 is desirably sufficient to allow the leads 932 and 934 to limit head 902 distortion away from the tail 904 in practice. The head 902 preferably extends below the free end of the plug connector shaft that is inserted into the socket cavity 930, thereby maintaining a short circuit connection between the leads 932 and 934 while the shaft is held therein. Since the plug connector shaft does not disengage the head 902, an electrical short can be caused by a separate connector member such as the stationary teeth 392 and 394 of the connector 210 or the stationary arms 446 and 448 of the connector 410 being dropped. Or it can be coupled to 906d and thereby maintained until the head 902 is pulled out of short circuit coupling with leads 932 and 934. As another option, the head 902 is formed with a notch 57, such as the shaft 54 of the connector 10, and is recessed to remove the head 902 after the proper mechanical connection between the shaft 54 and the socket housing 26 is established. It can also be separated by the shaft of the plug connector that defines the ledge 579. It is also contemplated that the plug connector of the present invention provides a single tooth or arm for coupling to the body portion 906c-d of the shorting clip 900.
[0061]
28-32 depict a clamshell connector 610, yet another embodiment of the present invention. The clamshell connector 610 is a variation of the connector 210 and has similar reference numbers to depict similar parts. Connector 610 further favors the installer to terminate electrical conductors 623 and 625 at the crimped ends 616a and 618a of retained contacts 616 and 618 rather than the connecting conductors 22 and 24 described above. Intended for use. To make the crimp ends 616a and 618a of the contacts 616 and 618 accessible, the connector 610 has a modified connector housing 612 and connector cover 614, which are respectively clamshell housing parts 612a and clamshell held by hinges. It has a cover part 614a.
[0062]
The housing 612 has a functioning hinge 712 that holds the deformable housing clamshell part 612a to the stationary housing part. Similarly, the cover 614 has a functioning hinge 714 that holds the cover clamshell part 614a, which can be distorted, to the fixed cover part 614b. The fixed housing and cover parts 612b and 614b are preferably fitted together and supplied with a locking key 615 held therein. Locking key 615 desirably provides both mechanical and electrical positioning as described hereinabove as locking key 215.
[0063]
Clamshell parts 612a and 614a define a clamshell cavity 720 between which the crimp ends 616a and 618a of contacts 616 and 618 are retained. The clamshell parts 612a and 614a have an open configuration with the crimp ends 616a and 618a of the contacts 616 and 618 exposed to the installer, and terminations of the conductors 623 and 625 to the contacts 616 and 618 in the clamshell cavity 720. Can be distorted between a closed configuration in which is enclosed. The open configuration of clamshell connector 610 is depicted in FIG. 28, and the closed configuration is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 5 as connector 210, but in use a separately terminated conductor. Passes through the connector. The clamshell parts 612a and 614a have interlocking hoop shapes 717 and 718 for maintaining both clamshell parts together in the closed position. The hanger shapes 717 and 718 desirably include a distortable hanger arm 717 that defines a receiving opening 719 for receiving a hanger lug 718. Clamshell parts 612a and 614a further define conductor outlet openings 715 and 716 in a closed configuration through which conductors 623 and 625 pass through connector 610 and extend to the ignition control circuit.
[0064]
FIGS. 29 and 30 further depict details of the housing 612 including an inner wall 722 disposed centrally to define a central housing cavity 672 a across the housing cavity 672. Wall 722 further includes portions 722a, 722b, and 722c that define notches 723 and 725 through which crimp ends 616a and 618a of contacts 616 and 618 pass. A pair of central cavity steps 726 and 728 are provided adjacent to the housing wall 670 and face across the central cavity 672a. FIGS. 29-30 show that contacts 616 and 618 have also been modified to hold induction coil 730 instead of a ferrite member.
[0065]
Due to the presence of induction coil 730, contacts 616 and 618 effectively cross over each other and connect to respective socket contacts 617 and 619. Contacts 616 and 618 have central contact portions 616 b and 618 b that extend at an angle across housing base 669. Central contact portion 618b extends from socket contact 619 along base 669 through notch 723 and finally to crimp end 618a. The central contact portion 616b extends along the base 669 to extend beyond the socket contact 617 to the wall portion 722c and is terminated with a first crimp arm 616c. The second crimp arm 616d extends freely from the wall portion 722 adjacent to the crimp end 616a, descends along the wall portion 722a, and terminates at the crimp end 616a through the notch 723.
[0066]
Coil 730 has a first straight free end 730a, a second straight free end 730b, and a helical winding 740 extending cylindrically therebetween. Winding 740 further has a first end 740a adjacent to the free end 740a of the coil and a second end 740b adjacent to the free end 740b of the coil. As shown in FIG. 33, the coil 730 is located in the central cavity 672 with the coil ends 740a and 740b at steps 726 and 728, respectively, thereby spacing the overlying central contact portions 616b and 618b. . Free ends 730a and 730b are crimped to crimp arms 616c and 616d, respectively. Although the coil 730 is employed instead of a ferrite core, in one technique, the central cavity 672 can hold a ferrite core similar to the ferrite 220 of the connector 210 or can be modified as described below. Thereafter, either the contacts 616 and 618 or the terminated conductors 623 and 625 are similarly modified to extend through the ferrite core to be terminated on one side. As another option, connectors 10, 210, and 410 can each be modified to retain coil 730 therein according to connector 610 instead of a ferrite core. As yet another option, each of the clamshell components 612a and 614a holds opposite halves of separate ferrite beads that surround each of the leads 623 and 625 adjacent to or over the ends 616a and 618a of the contacts 616 and 618, respectively. It is possible to do.
[0067]
FIGS. 31 and 32 depict an elongated hollow storage sleeve 850 for receiving a plurality of clamshell connectors of the present invention. Storage sleeve 850 provides for access and storage and storage of contacts 616 and 618 for crimping a pair of electrical conductors with clamshell connector 610 in an open configuration. The plurality of connectors 610 are stored side by side in the storage sleeve 850 and can be accessed through their first open end 852. The storage sleeve 850 has an elongated hollow sleeve wall 854 that defines an elongated sleeve cavity 856 for receiving the connector 610. Sleeve wall 854 defines first, second, and third protrusions 858, 860, and 862, which outline the normally open clamshell connector 610. The protrusions 858 are substantially the same shape as the locking key 615 and the housing shaft 654, and the protrusions 860 and 862 are respectively a distortable housing clamshell part 612a and a distortable cover clamshell part 614a. It is almost the same shape. A long extending rigid support flange 864 extends into the sleeve cavity 856, desirably between the second and third protrusions 860 and 862, thereby providing structural rigidity to the storage sleeve 850. . The storage sleeve 850 is desirably configured to extrude a suitable rigid dielectric material to form opposing open ends 854 and 856. Desirably, the open ends 854 and 856 of the storage sleeve 850 are removable plugs, as is well known in the storage container art, such that several connectors 850 are removably retained within the cavity 856. Accept (not shown) or closed, crimped or sealed as another option.
[0068]
Termination of a pair of conductor wires into the connector 610 by the installer is accomplished by crimping one of the contacts 616 and 618 to the free end of the respective conductor wire. Once the conductors are properly terminated, preferably the installer then directs the respective clamshell parts 612a and 614a toward each other so that the retainer 717 can lock through the locking lug 718. Rotate until mated. As a result, the connector 610 is ready for connection to the ignition detonator of the automotive airbag gas generator.
[0069]
Attachment and removal of connector 610 is similar to that described for connectors 10, 210, and 410. In addition, each connector of the present invention can be inserted into the socket when the locking keys 215, 615 are in the lower locked position. The distortable hook arms 250, 252 or 650, 652 may be resiliently formed so that the protruding ribs 262, 264 or 662, 664 are distorted inward when they first enter the socket. When the protruding rib reaches the position where it overlaps the fitting groove 226, the hook arm 250, 252 or 650, 652 which can be distorted returns to the outside and the protruding rib 262, 264 or 662, 664 becomes the fitting groove of the socket. 226 is inserted. The distortion of the latch arm 250, 252 or 650, 652 will cause a buckling action when the free end 250a, 252a or 650a, 652a of the latch arm contacts the block member of the locking key 215 or 615. Take. This feature of the invention ensures the mechanical integrity of the connection between the connector and the socket and requires a number of independent work operations to remove it.
[0070]
FIGS. 33 and 34 depict yet another embodiment of the present invention, a connector 1010 adapted to accommodate a flat wire conductor cable 627. Housing 1012 and cover 1014 have chicanes 1080 and 1082 that are mated oppositely, where flat wire cable 627 is folded and held in place when clamshell components 1012a and 1014a are in the closed position. The pulling force of the flat wire cable 627 from outside the connector 1010 will be absorbed by the engaged chicanes 1080 and 1082 rather than between the flat wire cable 627 and the terminal ends 1016a and 1018a.
[0071]
FIG. 35 depicts a right angle contact 1116 that can be used with any of the connectors of the present invention, with similar parts numbered similarly. Contact 1116 has a distal end 1116b for crimping to an electrical conductor and an opposing socket contact 1116a for receiving a conductor pin of the socket connector. Contact 1116 has a stress relief tab 1116c adjacent to end 1116b. A stress relief tab 1116c is provided in contact with the wall portion 1184 of the housing 1112 to prevent tension on the conductor 623 or 625 from damaging the contact 1116. Although the contact 1116 is shown with a round wire termination 1116b, the stress relief tab 1116c is also intended to be used to terminate the flat cable conductor 627.
[0072]
36 and 37 are drawn using cylindrical ferrite beads 1220 and 1221 on conductors 623 and 625. Ferrite beads 1220 and 1221 are elongated cylindrical ferrite parts, which have a lower profile on the connector of the present invention, thereby occupying less space than the ferrite block 220 of connector 210. Make it possible. By way of illustration but not limitation, ferrite beads 1220 and 1221 may be shaped with an outer diameter of 3 mm, an inner diameter of 1.8 mm, and a length of about 10 mm. Such a ferrite bead allows the upper housing portion of the connector of the present invention to be 5 mm or less in height. Although the housing 1212 having the clamshell shape of FIG. 42 is not shown, the present invention contemplates that the clamshell connector of the present invention can similarly accommodate the ferrite beads 1220 and 1221.
[0073]
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the teachings of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a plug connector of the present invention.
2A is a cross-sectional view showing a fitting order of the connector of FIG. 1 inserted into the socket connector.
2B is a cross-sectional view showing the fitting order of the connector of FIG. 1 inserted into the socket connector.
2C is a cross-sectional view showing the fitting order of the connector of FIG. 1 inserted into the socket connector.
2D is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fitting order of the connector of FIG. 1 inserted into the socket connector.
2E is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fitting order of the connector of FIG. 1 inserted into the socket connector.
3 is a cross-sectional view in the meridian direction of the connector of FIG. 1 depicting a cover in an undistorted configuration.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of still another plug connector of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an assembly view of the plug connector of FIG. 4;
6 depicts one embodiment of the locking button of the plug connector of FIG.
7 illustrates one embodiment of the locking button of the plug connector of FIG.
8 illustrates one embodiment of the locking button of the plug connector of FIG.
9 is a top view of a cover of the plug connector of FIG.
10 is a cross-sectional view of the cover of FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10.
11 is a perspective view of a housing of the plug connector of FIG. 5. FIG.
12A is a cross-sectional view of another alternative of the plug connector of FIG. 5 prior to insertion into a socket connector.
12B is a cross-sectional view of the alternative plug connector of FIG. 5 prior to insertion into the socket connector.
13A shows the plug connector of FIG. 5 in the socket connector before mechanically locking the connector in place and fully pressing the locking button to electrically enable the airbag ignition circuit. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another option being inserted.
FIG. 13B shows the plug connector of FIG. 5 in the socket connector before mechanically locking the connector in place and fully pressing the locking button to electrically enable the airbag ignition circuit. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another option being inserted.
14A is a cross section of another option of the plug connector of FIG. 5 after mechanically locking the connector in place and electrically depressing the locking button to enable the airbag ignition circuit. FIG.
14B is a cross-section of another option of the plug connector of FIG. 5 after mechanically locking the connector in place and electrically depressing the locking button to enable the airbag ignition circuit. FIG.
FIG. 15 is an exploded view of yet another plug connector of the present invention.
16A is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector of FIG. 15 inserted into a socket having a pair of protruding lead pins when the cover is in the lowered and locked position to separate the shorting clip across the lead pins. .
FIG. 16B is inserted into a socket having a pair of protruding lead pins when the cover is raised and the shorting clip extends across the lead pins and the connector hook can be distorted; FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector of FIG. 15.
FIG. 16C is a diagram depicting a short-circuit clip employed in a socket connector that is fitted by the plug connector of the present invention.
17 is a cross-sectional view in the meridian direction of the plug connector of FIG. 15 inserted into the socket connector showing the shorting clip in the pulled position.
18 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 15 showing a wire in the connector.
19 is a top view of the plug connector housing of the connector of FIG. 15. FIG.
20 is a side view of a plug connector cover of the plug connector of FIG. 15. FIG.
FIG. 21 is an oblique sectional view showing a process of attaching a key for the plug connector and socket connector of the present invention.
22 is a top cross-sectional view of the key design of FIG. 21. FIG.
FIG. 23A depicts the diversity of encoding for the keyed design of the present invention.
FIG. 23B depicts the diversity of encoding for the keyed design of the present invention.
FIG. 23C depicts the diversity of encoding for the keyed design of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a first cross-sectional view of the socket connector of the present invention.
25 is a second cross-sectional view of the socket connector of FIG. 24. FIG.
26 is a perspective view of a short-circuit clip as another option employed in the socket connection of FIG. 24. FIG.
27 is a perspective view of a short-circuit clip as another option employed in the socket connection of FIG. 24. FIG.
FIG. 28 depicts yet another embodiment of the present invention in which the connector provides a clamshell shaped opening to allow access to the crimp ends of the electrical contacts.
29 is a perspective view of a clamshell housing of the connector shown in FIG. 28. FIG.
30 is a drawing depicting the housing of FIG. 29 being distorted and open, with the crimp ends of the electrical contacts exposed.
31 is a view depicting a container for transportation of the connector of FIG. 28. FIG.
32 is a diagram depicting option shapes for transporting the connector of FIG. 28 and a container outline for transport.
FIG. 33 depicts a cover and housing of yet another embodiment of a clamshell connector according to the present invention for terminating a flat conductor cable.
34 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG. 33 with a flat conductor cable terminated therein.
FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of a socket contact having stress relief means employed in the housing of the present invention.
FIG. 36 is a diagram depicting a state in which a long cylindrical ferrite bead is employed in the connector of the present invention.
FIG. 37 is a diagram depicting a state in which a long cylindrical ferrite bead is employed in the connector of the present invention.
[Explanation of main part codes]
10 Plug connector
12 Housing
14 Cover
16, 18 Electrical contact
26 Socket connector

Claims (5)

An electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a socket connector,
The plug connector has a housing and a cover attached to the housing, the housing having a shaft holding a pair of electrical terminals each having a terminated end for connection to a conductor;
The socket connector has a socket body with a cavity, the socket body holds a pair of electrical contacts in the cavity and engages both electrical contacts to electrically short the electrical contacts. Hold
The plug connector is removably accommodated in the socket body to establish an electrical connection between the electrical terminal and the electrical contact,
The housing of the plug connector further has a flexible hook formed integrally with the housing, and the housing is removably inserted into the cavity of the socket body by the bending of the hook,
The plug connector housing further includes a fixed housing portion and a clamshell housing portion hinged to the fixed housing portion, and the plug connector cover includes a fixed cover portion and a clamshell cover portion hinged to the fixed cover portion. The clamshell housing part and the clamshell cover part can be moved relative to each other between the open position and the closed position. The termination end is accessible from the outside, and the termination end is not accessible from the outside in the closed position, and the clamshell housing part and the clamshell cover part further cooperate to connect the clamshell housing part and the clamshell cover part to each other. Has a hook element to keep in the closed position,
Plug connector further includes a lock key which is supported by the housing of the plug connector performs mechanical and electrical assurance, lock key, a possible locking of the extending between the latch and the shaft of the housing electrical connector assembly according to claim and-law including the fixed arm capable of extend between one of formed on the side wall shorting clip and the shaft of the arm and lock key. The lock key can extend from a first position to a second position, wherein the shorting clip is maintained between the electrical contacts of the socket connector in the first position, and the hook is distorted in the direction of the shaft so that the shaft Enabling the insertion into the socket cavity, releasing the engagement between the electrical connector and the short-circuit clip by the fixing arm in the second position and preventing the hook from distorting by the locking arm. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft is prevented from being removed from the socket cavity. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, comprising an induction coil held by the housing and connected between one of the electrical contacts and a termination end thereof.   The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the termination end of the electrical contact is adapted for termination of a circular cross-section conductor wire.   The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the socket connector has a socket wall, and the shaft and the socket wall are keyed together.

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