JPS6378467A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to electrical connectors for low current devices such as cord terminating and connecting plugs for telephones and the like, and more particularly to A new and improved integrated modular plug for terminating double-wire telephone cords.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modular terminal plugs of the type described above are suitable for use between the telephone body and the handset, between the telephone body and a wall terminal block, and between the wall terminal block and other components of the telephone line. It is now widely used in the telephone industry as a quick and convenient means of making the necessary electrical connections between devices. The snap-off plugs are attached to and operatively secured to the ends of a length of double-conductor telephone cord.

Plugs are designed to precisely align contacts connected to wires within the plug with terminals within the various components of the communication line.
Plugs into various telephone line receptacles and jacks. One typical example of a connecting plug used in a comb is disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,860.316, and several other examples are described in that US patent. Although many of these plugs utilize two or more separate plug housing sections that are joined together during assembly, the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,860
, 316 discloses various advantages that can be obtained by forming and using an integrated modular connector. The disclosures of this US patent are therefore incorporated herein by reference.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention In the structure described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. arranged laterally within the electrically insulating housing of the connector, with the tongues inserted into the gold thread or strand core of each wire in the telephone cord to make a proper electrical connection. They are mounted in rows. However, if the tongue is slightly curved, the tongue may not be able to contact the core of the wire at all, or may shear part or all of the gold thread cord. As a result, various problems arise with respect to maintaining the required electrical continuity between the devices to be connected to each other. Furthermore, it is preferable that the sharp tongue is inserted into the wire while being aligned along the axial direction of the wire, so that the wire is pulled by the tongue and cannot be completely pulled out of the plug during use. There is a risk of it being damaged. This is particularly a problem when flat telephone cords are used and the jacket of the cord does not securely lock into the plug.

Furthermore, various laws and regulations require that each wire in a telephone cord, especially the single wire, be specially treated with Teflon insulation or sheathing so that the cord can be used in the area of a building. is required. However, such processing substantially increases the installation cost of the telephone. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for ways to reduce the cost of other components, such as terminal plugs, in order to reduce the overall cost of installing a telephone while complying with various regulations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention reliably locks each wire in place within a connector, even when the cord jacket or wire insulating cover is not securely engaged, thereby locking each wire in place at each terminal. The object of the present invention is to provide a connector of the type described above which makes it virtually impossible for the cord to separate from the connector. This is achieved economically while eliminating the problems associated with sharp terminal tongues. At the same time, the terminal and the core wire of the electric wire are reliably electrically connected, and the terminal, the electric wire, and the housing of the connector are firmly mechanically fixed.

In accordance with the present invention, these advantages are achieved by an improved electrical connector for terminating low current double wire telephone cords and the like. The connector of the present invention is a one-piece electrically insulative housing having a cord-receiving hole, with a plurality of terminal-receiving grooves extending between the cord-receiving hole and a first or upper outer surface of the connector. Contains a housing. The housing also includes a recess operatively associated with the terminal receiving groove and extending from the cord receiving hole toward an outer surface of the connector opposite the first outer surface. A simply constructed terminal plate is disposed within each terminal receiving groove, each terminal plate having a wire contact portion configured to extend into the recess along the longitudinal plane of the cord receiving hole. There is. When the terminals are pushed into the housing into electrical contact with the cord's wires, each terminal engages the cord's wires, bending the wires out of the longitudinal plane of the cord receiving hole and into the recess, while simultaneously Make the required electrical contact.

Therefore, the present invention is characterized by the structure, the combination of components, and the arrangement thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will be explained in detail below by way of example embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the accompanying figures, the present invention is illustrated as being embodied in an integrated modular connector (plug) 10 of the telephone plug type. The integrated modular plug accepts multiple wire telephone cords of various constructions such as flat cords or round cords having four, six, eight or more solid, stranded, or gold-threaded wires. designed to accept. The plug shown in the accompanying figures is a plug that accepts a round cord having eight wires, such as cord 12 shown in FIG. In the molded state, the plug is already fully molded and requires no further assembly or gluing.

This is because the plug is designed as a one-piece member and requires no components other than a separate metal terminal plate 14 attached to it. The plug 10 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped 71 housing portion 16 and a spout/tuck tab portion 18 that is integrally formed therewith and extends diagonally downward. For purposes of illustration, (d) extends substantially rearwardly from the bottom surface of the housing portion proximate the front end of the housing portion 16. The plug is designed to be easily molded using conventional injection molding techniques to provide a one-piece, rigid insulating member that can be quickly and economically mass-produced.

The elongated substantially rectangular parallelepiped 71 housing portion 16 has a central hole extending in the longitudinal direction from the rear wall 20 to a position in front of the front surface 22. At the rear or cord-receiving end of the housing, the central hole has a large cord-receiving entrance sized and constructed to receive a fully encapsulated double-conductor telephone cord 12 of the type described above. It has 24 forms. The inlet portion 24 is flared at the bulge 26 for receiving the cord and extends approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the total length of the plug. At the inner end of the inlet section 24, the central hole is constricted by tapered upper and lower surfaces 28 and 30 and directly communicates with a relatively narrow longitudinally extending wire receiving section 32. This wire receiving portion 32 of the central hole extends to the inside of the front wall 36 towards the front face 22 of the plug. The central hole is divided into a plurality of elongated wire receiving grooves parallel to each other in this portion, and each wire receiving groove is set to a size such that it can receive the wire and its insulating cover. The wire-receiving groove is formed by providing a plurality of tooth-like ridges disposed facing each other on the upper or lower surface or both of the central hole. A lateral row of laterally communicating, longitudinally extending grooves for receiving each insulated wire of a double-conductor cord is provided to prevent unwanted lateral displacement of the conductor. It has been used more effectively than before to restrain people. These grooves also ensure that the conductors of the wires are clearly separated from each other when the telephone cord is inserted into the plug, and that the wires are properly aligned to engage their respective terminals within the housing portion. ensure that flat code is used,
If the jacket is not removed, ridges facing each other are not needed.

The housing portion 16 is also provided with means for holding the cord and its insulated wires securely after they have been installed in the plug.

This means includes a cord catch 38 integrally connected to the rear part of the housing part of the plug via a plastic hinge 40. The cord catch 38 is disposed in a laterally extending recess 42 formed in the upper surface of the housing part above the entrance part 24 of the central hole and serves as a solid stabilizing part of the housing. It extends laterally across a major portion of the width of the housing portion, leaving both sides of the portion.

The cord catch 38 is a very thin web 4 of electrically insulating material.
4 to the housing portion at its front end, the web 44 is such that it is easily broken when the locking portion 38 is pushed inwardly into the central hole. The locking portion 38 is formed in the shape shown in the figure so as to come into contact with the round cord 12 or the flat cord in a well-known manner in order to perform its cord locking function.

Additionally, housing portion 16 is provided with a similar type of locking member for engaging all insulating covers of each wire 48 located within wire receiving portion 32 of the central bore. In this case, the top surface of the housing part has a second recess 50 extending across the center of the housing part between the rigid sides, with a deformable wire locking bar in the recess. A wire locking member in the form of 52 is provided. Bar 52 is spaced forward of cord catch 38 a sufficient distance so that bar 52 extends above narrow wire receiving portion 32 of the central hole. The bar 52 is moved or deformed inwardly into the wire receptacle 32, as shown in FIG. It is integrally connected to other parts of the housing part for fixation.

This locking structure is similar to the corresponding structure described in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. shall be taken as a thing.

As described in this patent, these members not only independently secure the cord 12 and the multiple wires 48 therein, but also provide strain relief to the conductors during consumer use. to assist with things.

Between the front face 22 of the housing portion and the recess 50 for the wire locking bar 52 there is a series of narrow terminal receiving grooves 54 extending in the longitudinal direction of the plug. The number of these grooves corresponds to the number of wires in the cord connected to the plug, and in the illustrated embodiment eight grooves are provided, these grooves 54 being laterally spaced apart from each other. arranged in aligned and parallel rows. These grooves 54 directly connect the top surface of the plug and the wire receiving portion 32 of the central hole. The width of the groove is large enough to accommodate one terminal plate and its length is defined by the front wall 36 of the plug and the front wall 56 of the recess 50 for the locking bar. The upper part of the housing portion of the plug is provided with longitudinally extending partition walls 58 between the adjacent pairs of grooves 54, which partition walls separate the grooves from each other and also separate the plug from one another. It is designed to guide the terminal contact member of the jack into which it is inserted.

The front end of the housing part of the plug is provided with a mounting shelf 62 which projects forward of the front face 22 of the housing part substantially below the central hole. A resilient locking tab portion 18 is integrally molded onto the underside of the housing portion such that its longitudinal axis forms an angle of approximately 15″ with the plane of the housing portion along the axis of the housing portion. .The locking tab part 18 is used to insert the plug into a normal jack,
This deflects the tab portion toward the lower surface 64 of the housing portion and must be configured to slide into engagement with a corresponding locking surface on the jack when the shelf 62 engages the jack.

The structure and function of the locking tab section are described in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 3,
860,316.

According to the invention, the front end of the housing portion is provided with a recess 66 below the wire receiving portion 32 of the central hole and adjacent to the inner surface of the front wall 36 of the plug.

A recess 66 extends laterally across the plug;
It is in full communication with the central hole and extends downwardly through the lower surface 64 to provide adequate wire clearance. If desired, the recess 66 may extend from the central hole toward the underside of the plug to a depth approximately equal to its width. In any case, a cavity is formed within the housing part which is substantially L-shaped in longitudinal section, with the wire receiving portion 32 of the central hole forming a first long narrow leg of the cavity. , a recess 66 forms a second short, wide leg of the cavity. A shoulder 68 formed at the connection between the wire receiving portion 32 and the recess 66 extends laterally across the housing portion between the rigid sides of the housing portion and is integral with the sides. It has a connected anvil. The recess 66 and anvil 68 extend below the row of terminal receiving grooves 540, and the anvil 68 provides a wire receiving area when a wire is pressed against the anvil by a corresponding terminal plate 14 mounted in the groove 54. 32
It is of sufficient size and strength to bend and shape the wires that are sufficiently placed within it.

The terminal plate 14 used in the plug of the present invention does not have the conventionally used protruding tongue, but has conductivity in the form of a simple L-shaped flat plate or flat sheet. It is a metal member. Each terminal plate 14 has a flat upper edge surface 72 for engaging a complementary conductive member of the corresponding jack. The upper edge surface 72 has a length approximately equal to the leading edge surface 74 that intersects it, and the length of the terminal receiving groove 54 (whose length is substantially greater than the width of the recess 66 extending below the groove 54). almost equal to. The front edge surface 74 abuts the front wall 36 of the housing part of the plug, and the terminal plate 14 is moved from the pre-secured position shown in FIG. 3 to the fixed position shown in FIG. Stabilizes the terminal board when moving.

Terminal block 14 includes a leg 76 with a sharp rear corner edge 78 which, together with a lower surface 80 of leg 76, engages receiving portion 32 as terminal block 14 moves to its fixed position.
It engages with the electric wire 48 inside.

Initially, the upper edge surface 72 of the terminal plate 14 is connected to the partition wall 5.
8 and such that the lower surface 80 of the leg portion 76 is located sufficiently above the longitudinal plane of the wire receiving portion 32.
It is located within 4. When the terminal plate 14 is pushed into the plug housing, the lower surface 80 of the leg 76 abuts the wire 48 projecting into the recess 66, recessing the free end of the wire against the restraining action of the anvil 68. Push it into 66. When the terminal plate contacts the wire, the terminal plate bends the unsupported portion of the wire onto the anvil. The resistance to bending movement of the wire is then increased by the restraining action of the anvil, resulting in sharp corner edges 7 as the wire 48 curves.
8 cuts into the insulation coating of the wire, thereby bringing it into electrical engagement with the core wire of the wire. As the terminal strip 14 is moved further downward, the wire is bent further and its insulation is cut until the remaining portion of the main portion of the terminal strip engages the supported portion immediately above the anvil 68. It will be in a state of matching. Of course, this action locks the curved wire to the anvil so that the wire, terminal plate, and housing portion of the plug are mechanically engaged firmly and reliably. At the same time, the terminal plate reliably electrically connects the core wire of the wire to the terminal plate, thereby ensuring electrical continuity as well as a mechanical holding effect. This action is performed smoothly, efficiently, and effectively regardless of whether the core wire of the electric wire is a solid wire, a twisted thread, or a gold thread, and the electric wire and the terminal plate are brought into reliable electrical contact. Additionally, the wire's resistance to bending forces the leading edge surface 74 of the terminal plate 14 into engagement with the front wall 36 of the plug housing, thereby mechanically wedging the wire within the recess. The terminal plate is firmly locked within the housing portion.

The housing portion, wire, and terminal plate thus cooperate with each other to mechanically retain all of the assembled components.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and it is understood that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, showing a plug as a modular connector of the present invention before being attached to the end of a double-wire telephone cord. FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front portion of the plug shown in FIG. 1, showing the wires of the telephone cord secured within the plug. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plug of FIG. 1, showing the cord inserted into the plug before it is fixed. 10... Plug (connector), 12... Cord, 1
4...Terminal board, 16...Housing part, 18...
Locking tab part, 20... Rear wall, 22... Front, 2
4... Cord receiving entrance part, 26... Lip, 28
...Top surface, 30...Bottom surface, 32...Wire receiving part, 36...Front wall, 38...Cord locking wedge, 40...
・Hinge, 42... Recess. 44... Web, 48... Electric wire, 50... Recess, 52... Electric wire locking bar, 54... Terminal receiving groove,
56... Front wall, 58... Partition wall, 62... Shelf,
64...Bottom surface, 66...Recess, 68...Shoulder (
anvil), 72...upper edge surface, 74...front edge surface, 7
6...Legs, 78...Corner edges, 80...Bottom side Patent applicant: Agent Journo 1 de Fester Patent attorney Masaki Akashi (method/spontaneous) Procedural amendment November 17, 1985

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An electrical connector for terminating a low-current double-wire electrical cord, including an integral electrically insulating housing having a central cord-receiving hole, and a plurality of terminal-receiving grooves connected to the central hole and the and a first outer surface of the connector, a terminal is disposed within the terminal receiving groove so as to be movable toward the central hole, and the housing is provided corresponding to each terminal receiving groove. the terminal includes a recess extending from the central hole toward an outer surface of the connector opposite the first outer surface to define a substantially L-shaped wire receiving cavity; a wire engagement extending into the recess along a longitudinal plane of the central hole, thereby bending the wire from the longitudinal plane of the central hole into the recess, thereby retaining the wire within the cavity. 1. An electrical connector having a wire engaging portion including a means for electrically contacting the wire. (2) An electrical connector for terminating a low-current double-wire electrical cord, comprising a substantially rectangular parallelepiped integrated electrically insulating housing, with a front wall and a rear wall provided at its longitudinal ends. a wall; a cord-receiving center extending longitudinally through the housing from the rear wall toward the front wall and having a size close to the front wall to receive the wire of the cord; a row of terminal-receiving grooves proximate said front wall and extending between said central hole and an upper outer surface; and a row of terminal-receiving grooves extending below at least a portion of said terminal-receiving grooves in said row. a transverse recess extending from the central hole toward a lower surface of the housing to provide a wire-receiving cavity having a substantially L-shaped cross section in the central hole; and an anvil shoulder for supporting the wires of the cord. a plurality of terminals movably disposed within the terminal receiving groove toward the cavity, the terminals extending from the central hole into the recess around the anvil shoulder; a wire engaging portion configured to extend into the recess along a longitudinal plane of the central hole to curve the wire and thereby retain the wire within the cavity; The electrical connector includes a plurality of terminals in which the wire engaging portion includes a corner edge for electrically contacting the wire when the wire is bent into the recess.