MXPA01000998A - Board-mounted electronic device, in particular an electronic gas lighter, including means for fast connection of insulated electric wires to an electric circuit on the board - Google Patents

Abstract

A device including:a board for supporting electronic components and supporting an electric circuit for mutual connection of the electronic components;and at least one terminal for electrically connecting the circuit and a respective insulated electric wire having an inner conductor covered with a coated and/or applied insulating sheath;the terminal being defined by a metal blade forming part of the circuit and which is carried integrally by the board and projects from a first face of the board. The blade is so formed as to define means for mechanically retaining and electrically connecting the electric wire, and which act on an end portion of the inner conductor.

Description

ELECTRONIC DEVICE, PARTICULARLY AN ELECTRONIC GAS LIGHTER, MOUNTED WITH A BOARD, INCLUDING A DEVICE FOR CONNECTING ELECTRIC CABLES ISOLATED WITH AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ON THE BOARD 5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic device mounted on board, including a device for quickly connecting isolated electrical cables with an electrical circuit on the board. This device is particularly useful for producing electronic devices to ignite gas in gas stoves. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In electrical or electronic devices that are currently used, various methods are used to connect electrically one or more conductor wires with a printed circuit (or transported) on a board; the most common are to weld the wires in points or seats formed in the printed circuit; Another is to equip the circuit with terminals (normally applied or soldered to the board), which are pressed directly on them; conductive cables, or that are designed to receive corresponding male or female connectors that are already provided in the cables. These connection systems are obviously slow and complicated, and therefore are expensive and difficult to »< «« - &; - »SBÍ__ 2? '^ jj¿tA «___ S_j__J. ", _ Afe ,. incorporate into automated assembly procedures. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device that allows electrice connection. of one or more insulated cables with an electrical circuit in the device, which does not incur the disadvantages described above and which at the same time is compact and economical. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electronic device mounted on a board, in particular a gas lighter device for gas stoves comprising: a board for supporting electronic components and supporting an electrical circuit for mutually connecting the electronic components; and at least one terminal for electrically connecting the circuit and a respective insulated electrical cable comprising an inner conductor with an insulating layer that coats, or is applied, to the inner conductor; characterized in that the terminal comprises a metal blade that forms part of the circuit and is transported integrally by the board; and the blade is so formed as to define a device for mechanically retaining and electrically connecting the electric cable, and acting on an end portion of the inner conductor. The terminals can therefore be integrally formed with the circuit and the support board, which form a single entity, that is, when formed by molding the board in synthetic plastic resin with respective rails of the electric circuit defined by semicutated metal strips; and the electrical cables to be connected (which can be external cables to connect the device to the power supply or to a user's device, or cables to electrically connect one or more electronic components in the device to the electrical circuit mounted on the board) can be connected without requiring welding or cable terminations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two preferred and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of a first embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 shows a planar top view of a portion of the device of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a rear cross section of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention. Figure 4 and Figure 5 show rear and side views, respectively of a detail of the device , & Figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the number 1 indicates in general an electronic device according to the teachings of the present invention. The device 1, which in the example is a known gas lighter device which is not described in detail (and which is only partially shown in Figure 1 for simplicity, comprises a support board 2, an electrical circuit 3 carried by the board 2 (only part of board 2 and electrical circuit 3 is shown for simplicity), a pair of connector terminals 4a and 4b connected with respective rails of electrical circuit 3, a corresponding pair of insulated electrical cables 5a and 5b. 2 is molded from synthetic plastic resin, and has a face 6 for supporting electronic components The electrical circuit 3 is known, and comprises several rails (only the rails 7a, 7b and 7c are shown partially, for simplicity) each defined by a semi-metallic metal strip, molded with the support board 2. The isolated electrical cables 5a and 5b comprise respective inner conductors 8a and 8b of section essentially circular cross section, and coated with respective insulating layers 9a and 9b coated or applied to the inner conductors 8a and 8b. Accordingly, ch, flap 9a and 9b has an annular cross-section with an inner diameter equal to the diameter of the respective inner conductor. The terminals 4a and 4b are defined by respective conductor blades 10a and 10b forming part of the electric circuit 3 projecting from the face 6 of the board 2, and which are transported integrally by the board 2. The conductor blades 10a and 10b they are in the form of integral extensions of respective rails 7a and 7b of the electrical circuit 3, and each is bent in an L-shape facing outward from the plane of the board 2. Each blade 10a and 10b comprises, at one end longitudinal, a respective slot Ia and 11b in the form of V-shaped notch, to assist in the insertion of insulated electrical cable 5a and 5b within their respective semicircular seat 12a and 12b housing electric cable 5a and 5b; It is of a diameter essentially equal to the diameter of the conductor , 8a and 8b, and is formed at the apex of the V-shaped notch defining the slot Ia and 11b. The grooves lia and 11b have respective cutting edges 13 'and 13"(slot lla) and 14' and 14" (slot 11b) to practice respective incisions 15 'and 15", and 16' and 16", on opposite sides of the respective layers 9a and 9b when insert respective electrical cables 5a and 5b into respective seats 12a and 12b. Since the diameter of the seats 12a and 12b is smaller than the outer diameter ^ of the layers 9a and 9b, and is essentially equal to the diameter of the inner conductors 8a and 8b, incisions 15 ', 15", 16' and 16" are radial incisions. The inner conductors 8a and 8b, at least er. a point, therefore, come into contact with the conductor blades 10a and 10b to form respective electrical connections with the electric circuit 3 by means of the conductive blades. In addition, each incision 15 ', 15", 16' and 16" extends circularly over an arc of less than 180 °, so that the continuity of the layers 9a and 9b on respective portions 17a and 17b is maintained. In use, through the incisions 15 ', 15", 16' and 16" and the integral portions 17a and 17b, the layers 9a and 9b mechanically cooperate with respective seating edges 12i and 12b to retain the ends of the electric cables 5a and 5b, and thus prevent the cables from sliding longitudinally. The inner conductors 8a and 8b are therefore electrically connected to the electrical circuit 3 upon contact with the blades 10a and 10b previously described, and the ends of the cables 5a and 5b are firmly secured with the respective seats 12a and 12b. Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a variation of the device 1 described above, and in which, for simplicity, similar or identical details are indicated using the same reference numbers. The device in the second embodi comprises a support board 2; an electrical circuit 3; a pair of electrical cables 5a and 5b, and a pair of conductive blades 18a and 18b for electrically and mechanically connecting the electric cables 5a and 5b with the electrical circuit 3. The blades 18a and 18b are integrally adapted to the support board 2 by respective rods 19 'and 19"(blade 18a) and 20' and 20" (blade 28b), which also allow contact with respective rails 7d and 7e of the electric circuit 3. Figures 4 and 5 show the blade 18a; the blade 18b is identical, and therefore not shown in detail. The blade 18a comprises a first flange 21a and a second flange 22a, which are positioned at least partially opposite one another. The flange 22a is bent at an acute angle towards the flange 21a, so that an edge 23a of the flange 22a - .. «wlfeh-ii SSfoj. AMa? ^ Uai »jM» fl38B5sSM ^ taM »« «comes into contact with a surface 24a of the flange 21a. The flange 22a * is elastically deformable to allow the insertion of the cable 5a between the flanges 21a and 18b comprises a flange 21b, a flange 22b bent at an acute angle, an edge 23b and a surface 24b. Referring to Figure 3, the insulating layers 9a and 9b are removed from the respective ends 25a and 25b of the electric cables 5a and 5b to allow the inner conductor 8a to come into contact with the flanges 21a and 22a of the blade 18a , and that the inner conductor 8b comes into contact with the blade flanges 21b and 22b 18b. In the assembly, the electric cables 5a and 5b are inserted into the respective ducts 26a and 26b. By virtue of the stiffness of the inner conductors 8a and 9b, the electric cables 5a and 5b deform respective flanges 22a and 22b, so that the end 25a is inserted between the edge 23a and the surface 24a, and the end 25b is inserted between the edge 23b and the surface 24b. Accordingly, the blades 18a and 18b allow electric cables 5a and 5b to be electrically connected. 25 in addition to mechanically retaining them.

It is clear that changes can be made to the device 1 that is desiribed herein, but without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS 1. An electronic device mounted on a board, in particular a gas lighter device for gas stoves, comprising: a board for supporting electronic components and supporting an electrical circuit for mutually connecting the electronic components; and at least one terminal for electrically connecting the circuit and a respective insulated electrical cable comprising an inner conductor with an insulating layer coated or applied to the inner conductor; characterized in that the terminal comprises a metal blade that is part of the circuit and is integrally transported by the board; the blade projects from a first face of the board; and the blade is so formed as to define a device for mechanically retaining and electrically connecting the electric cable, and acting on an end portion of the inner conductor. A device as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the blade comprises a respective groove having cutting edges for cutting the insulating layer; the groove comprises a respective semicircular seat with a diameter essentially equal to that of the inner conductor of the electric cable, and which in any case is smaller than the diameter of the insulating layer; the slot receives one end of the electric cable to cut the insulating layer to
2. such a depth that contact is made between the blade and the inner conductor of the electric cable, and at the same time a gasket is formed to mechanically retain the electric cable inside the seat. 3. A device as specified in claim 2, characterized in that the slot has essentially a V-shaped notch shape, to assist in the insertion of the end of the electric cable into the seat, which is formed in the vertex of the V that defines the 10 notch. A device as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the blade comprises first and second flanges that extend, at least partially, essentially one in front of the other; when
3. 15 minus the first flange is bent towards the second flange, so that one edge of the first flange comes into contact with a surface of the second flange; the first tab is elastically deformable to allow the insertion of the end of the electric cable between the tabs
4. 20 first and second. 5. A device as specified in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade has the shape of an integral extension of a circuit rail, and is bent in an L oriented towards
5. 25 outside the plane of the board.
6. 6. A device as specified in claim 5, characterized in that the circuit comprises several rails, each defined by a half-metal strip applied to the board.
7. 7. A Jomo device as specified in claim 6, characterized in that the board is molded from synthetic plastic resin, where the fringes are molded with the board.
8. 8. A device as specified in claim 4, characterized in that the blade is integrally adapted on the board, and is electrically and mechanically connected to a circuit rail.

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