US3793612A - Connector with unitary hinge - Google Patents

Connector with unitary hinge Download PDF

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Publication number
US3793612A
US3793612A US00231230A US3793612DA US3793612A US 3793612 A US3793612 A US 3793612A US 00231230 A US00231230 A US 00231230A US 3793612D A US3793612D A US 3793612DA US 3793612 A US3793612 A US 3793612A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cover
hinge portion
closed position
connector
walls
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00231230A
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English (en)
Inventor
A Driscoll
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
3M Co
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3793612A publication Critical patent/US3793612A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
    • H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
    • H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
    • H01R4/245—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions
    • H01R4/2454—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions forming a U-shape with slotted branches
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S16/00—Miscellaneous hardware, e.g. bushing, carpet fastener, caster, door closer, panel hanger, attachable or adjunct handle, hinge, window sash balance
    • Y10S16/13—Plastic hinge

Definitions

  • a connector including a body having an integrally formed unitary hinge portion.
  • the hinge portion connects a cover to a body member for relative movement to a closed position. As the cover is closed, material in the hinge portion deforms in at least two thin narrow strips of material at the bases of parallel grooves. Strain within each thin narrow strip is limited to a predetermined amount by the angle between walls defining the groove.
  • This invention relates to electrical connectors of the type having integrally formed hinge portions.
  • Hinge portions integrally formed with the polymeric body parts of prior art connectors can afford over 180 deg ees of relative movement between the body parts to attach the connector.
  • This deformation occurs in a single thin strip of material generally defining the axis of rotation for the hinge portion.
  • this thin strip undergoes a strain hardening during its first deformation which improves its strength.
  • strain hardening the thin strip is highly resistent to fracture even if the connector parts are relatively moved over 180 degrees when the hinge portion is at a low temperature (i.e. below Fahrenheit).
  • the first deformation of the thin strip occurs when the hinge portion is at a temperature of below 0 Fahrenheit, the incidence of fracture is relatively high. Such fracture detracts from the reliability of molded electrical connectors.
  • An integrally formed hinge portion in a connector distrubutes bending strain within the hinge portion between two or more parallel, spaced thin strips of material, and limits bending within any one thin strip of material to a predetermined amount.
  • the hinge portion can limit bending strain in a thin strip of a given material to an amount which will not produce fracture under anticipated use conditions so that connectors having hinge portions of polypropylene or less deformable materials need not be flexed during production even if they may be used in below zero conditions.
  • FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary end view showing the unitary hinge portion of a connector according to the present invention with the hinge portion in an open position;
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view showing the unitary hinge portion of FIG. 1 with the hinge portion in a closed position;
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the connector according to the present invention with an open cover attached by the hinge portion of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is an end view of the connector of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is an end flew of the connector of FIG. 3 showing the cover in the closed position.
  • FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 there is shown an electrical wire connector 46 according to the present invention having a hinge portion 12.
  • the hinge portion 12 is integrally formed in the body of the connector 46 and connects a first part or cover 50 to a second part or body member 52 for 180 degree relative movement I from an open position (FIGS. 3 and 4) to a closed position (FIG. 5).
  • the hinge portion 12, body member 52 and cover 50 are one piece and formed of a deformable polymeric material such as polypropylene.
  • a first surface on the cover 50 and a second surface 66 on the body member 52 are coplanar with the cover 50 and the hinge portion 12 in the open position FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.
  • the hinge portion 12 includes a generally triangular axially extending hinge segment 28 having its apex 30 approximately in the plane defined by the surfaces 70 and 66 when they are coplanar.
  • Two pairs of walls 26 define a pair of parallel V-shaped grooves 24 between the body member 52 and the cover 50.
  • the wall 26 are generally of equal height, and a slight radius may be formed at the abase of each groove 24.
  • the thickness of the hinge portion 12 at the base of each groove is not greater than 0.030 inch (preferably 0.015 inch) along precisely located narrow strips 32.
  • the polymeric material in the strips 32 will deform to afford 180 degree relative movement of the cover 50 and the body member 52 from the open position to the closed position with the surfaces 66 and 70 in contact (FIGS. 2 and 5).
  • the pair of walls 26 defining each groove 24 are disposed at a predetermined angle to each other when the surfaces 66 and 70 are coplanar. Relative movement of the cover 50 and the body member 52 toward the closed position will deform the material in a strip 32 until at least a portion of the walls 26 defining the associated groove 24 contact.
  • each groove 24 will determine the amount of bending strain which will occur in the corresponding-strip 32.
  • the hinge portion 12 is designed to afford 180 degree relative movement between the ea 6r ST and body member SZTt IIe wEIIs 26 defifiiiig" each groove 24 are disposed at about a degree angle to equally distribute the required strain in the hinge portion between the two strips 32 as may be'desirable to restrict fracture of the strips 32.
  • the connector 46 affords means for making an electrical connection between the ends of a pair of wires.
  • the connector 46 includes a U-shaped conductive contact element 54 having spaced planar parallel legs 56 with parallel aligned slots formed therein to provide spaced wire engaging fingers 60.
  • the insulative body member 52 is formed with a pair of parallel wire receiving cavities 62 extending into the body member 52 from inlet openings in the middle of an end wall 57 to an opposite end wall 58.
  • the cavities 62 communicate through openings 64 with the top or first surface 66 of the body member 52 to afford inspection of the position of wires in the cavities 62.
  • the body member 52 is formed with a pair of slots 68 extending transverse of the cavities 62 from the first surface 66 on the body member 52.
  • the slots 68 slidably receive the contact element 54 for movement between a first position with the fingers 60 spaced from the cavities 62 to afford positioning the ends of wires therein (FIG. 4), to a second position within the slots 68 at which the fingers 60 may engage and electrically connect the ends of wires in the cavities.
  • the cover 50 in its open position, is positioned with the inner surface 70 coplanar with and spaced from the first surface 66 to afford access to the contact element to move it to its second position (FlGS. 3 and 4).
  • a flexible hook-like edge wall 72 parallel to and opposite the hinge portion 12 is in engagement over a lip 74, and the surfaces 66 and 70 are in contact with the cover 50 over the openings 64 and the end of the engaged contact element 54.
  • the connector 46 includes latching means to retain the cover 50 in the closed position.
  • the precisely located lines of bending afforded by the strips 32 and contact of the walls 26 defining the grooves 24 provide accurate positioning of the edge wall 72 when the cover 50 has moved sufficiently close to the closed position that an arcuate surface 76 along the edge wall 72 will contact an arcuate surface 78 along the lip 74. Further pressure on the cover 50 to move it to its closed position will cause a camming action between arcuate surfaces 76 and 78 and deflection in the edge wall 72 and the hinge portion 48 so that the edge wall 72 will move over the lip 74 into latched engagement therewith to maintain the cover 50 in the closed position.
  • Hinge portions for connectors may include more than two hinge segments, however the maximum numher is limited as a practical matter by the ability to form the thin hinge segments. Within this limitation the number of strips 32 between which the strain should be divided in a hinge portion is determined primarily by the characteristics of the material in deformation and the angle of relative movement to be provided by the hinge portion.
  • a connector for making an electrical connection between wires including a resilient conductive contact element having spaced wire receiving fingers, and an insulating body member of a polymeric material having wire receiving cavities and a slot extending from a first surface transverse to said cavities to slidably receive the contact element for movement from a first position spaced from the cavities to afford positioning wires therein, to an engaged position with the fingers extending across the cavities to engage wires therein; a cover having a second surface; a hinge portion integrally formed with and connecting the body member and the cover for movement of the cover from an open position with said surfaces spaced to afford manual movement of said connector element to the engaged position, to a closed position over the contact element with said surfaces in contact; and latch means for latching the cover in the closed position, the improvement wherein: said hinge portion has converging walls defining at least two spaced parallel grooves and an intermediate stiff hinge segment having a generally triangular shape in transverse section and extending parallel to said grooves, said segment being connected to the body member and the cover by thin narrow parallel strips
  • a connector according to claim 1 wherein said body member and cover are relatively movable through an angle of about degrees between said open and closed positions, and the walls are planar and define generally V-shaped grooves.

Landscapes

  • Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
US00231230A 1972-03-02 1972-03-02 Connector with unitary hinge Expired - Lifetime US3793612A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US23123072A 1972-03-02 1972-03-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3793612A true US3793612A (en) 1974-02-19

Family

ID=22868308

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00231230A Expired - Lifetime US3793612A (en) 1972-03-02 1972-03-02 Connector with unitary hinge

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3793612A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5732578A (fr)

Cited By (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3853366A (en) * 1973-10-29 1974-12-10 Gen Motors Corp Integral hinge push button for appliance control panel
US3869190A (en) * 1974-03-29 1975-03-04 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Solderless wire connector
US3878603A (en) * 1972-08-21 1975-04-22 Leo Anker Jensen Method and apparatus for the solderless splicing of multi-lead cables
US3890029A (en) * 1974-02-19 1975-06-17 Thomas & Betts Corp Partitioned electrical connector
US3920305A (en) * 1974-01-21 1975-11-18 Ideal Ind No-strip tap connector
US3977748A (en) * 1974-04-23 1976-08-31 Molex Incorporated Zero insertion force connector assembly
US4017140A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-04-12 Amp Incorporated Wire-in-slot electrical connections
US4056326A (en) * 1975-08-06 1977-11-01 Crawford Industries, Inc. Loose leaf binder
DE2940522A1 (de) * 1978-10-05 1980-04-17 Flexible Steel Lacing Co Riemenverbinderanordnung
US4274198A (en) * 1978-02-20 1981-06-23 Bunker Ramo Corporation Self-stripping electrical terminal
US4402110A (en) * 1979-07-16 1983-09-06 Savage John Jun Lens cap holder for attachment to circuit boards having a plastic inverted U-shaped hinge
US4469327A (en) * 1982-03-15 1984-09-04 Hasbro Industries, Inc. Amusement game device
US4615050A (en) * 1984-07-04 1986-10-07 Loennstedt B G Headband structure for ear coverings
US4701138A (en) * 1986-12-18 1987-10-20 Phoenix Terminal Blocks Inc. Solderless electrical connector
US4954098A (en) * 1989-11-01 1990-09-04 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sealed insulation displacement connector
US5073428A (en) * 1989-10-10 1991-12-17 Rubbermaid Incorporated Foldable plastic product
US5080606A (en) * 1990-11-05 1992-01-14 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Stacked in-line insulation displacement connector
US5113037A (en) * 1989-12-13 1992-05-12 King Technology Of Missouri, Inc. Waterproof wire connector
US5125245A (en) * 1989-11-28 1992-06-30 Clover Mfg. Co., Ltd. Knitting yarn guide
US5128829A (en) * 1991-01-11 1992-07-07 Health Innovations, Inc. Hinge and stand for hand-held computer unit
US5291768A (en) * 1991-04-12 1994-03-08 Robert Rieffel Ag Plastic key tag with a key bar
US5520549A (en) * 1993-10-20 1996-05-28 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Connector apparatus, housing, and connecting element
US5606150A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-02-25 The Whitaker Corporation Enclosure for spliced cable
US5626489A (en) * 1995-04-13 1997-05-06 Molex Incorporated Sealed electrical connector assembly
WO1997016868A1 (fr) * 1995-10-31 1997-05-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Appareil de raccordement
US5691508A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-11-25 The Whitaker Corporation Enclosure for spliced multiconductor cable
US5794308A (en) * 1994-02-23 1998-08-18 Creanova Ag Hinge
US5855490A (en) * 1995-05-30 1999-01-05 The Whitaker Corporation Wire cutting electrical connector having test probe access
US6093353A (en) * 1998-08-03 2000-07-25 Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc. Method of forming electrical components
USRE37340E1 (en) 1989-12-13 2001-08-28 King Technology Of Missouri, Inc. Wire junction encapsulating wire connector and method of making same
US20060246767A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2006-11-02 Shigeru Suzuki Wire-terminal element
US20070181336A1 (en) * 2006-01-20 2007-08-09 Lipp Douglas C Injection molded protective passageway for automotive wiring and the like and method of making same
US20080305675A1 (en) * 2007-06-07 2008-12-11 Radle Patrick J Insulation displacement connector
US20100122666A1 (en) * 2008-11-20 2010-05-20 Mark Anderson Lick deterrent with battery pack

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3478870D1 (en) * 1984-12-14 1989-08-10 Himmler Kunststoff Tech Device for carrying out improvement work on a damaged pipeline which is no longer accessible
JPH0641048B2 (ja) * 1987-04-14 1994-06-01 芦森工業株式会社 内張りされた管路の分岐部穿孔方法

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH400820A (fr) * 1962-03-24 1965-10-15 Florjancic Peter Gelenkloses Scharnier
US3388370A (en) * 1966-04-14 1968-06-11 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Solderless connector for insulated wires
US3500292A (en) * 1968-07-12 1970-03-10 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Wire-connector

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH400820A (fr) * 1962-03-24 1965-10-15 Florjancic Peter Gelenkloses Scharnier
US3388370A (en) * 1966-04-14 1968-06-11 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Solderless connector for insulated wires
US3500292A (en) * 1968-07-12 1970-03-10 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Wire-connector

Cited By (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3878603A (en) * 1972-08-21 1975-04-22 Leo Anker Jensen Method and apparatus for the solderless splicing of multi-lead cables
US3853366A (en) * 1973-10-29 1974-12-10 Gen Motors Corp Integral hinge push button for appliance control panel
US3920305A (en) * 1974-01-21 1975-11-18 Ideal Ind No-strip tap connector
US3890029A (en) * 1974-02-19 1975-06-17 Thomas & Betts Corp Partitioned electrical connector
US3869190A (en) * 1974-03-29 1975-03-04 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Solderless wire connector
US3977748A (en) * 1974-04-23 1976-08-31 Molex Incorporated Zero insertion force connector assembly
US4056326A (en) * 1975-08-06 1977-11-01 Crawford Industries, Inc. Loose leaf binder
US4017140A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-04-12 Amp Incorporated Wire-in-slot electrical connections
US4274198A (en) * 1978-02-20 1981-06-23 Bunker Ramo Corporation Self-stripping electrical terminal
US4212094A (en) * 1978-10-05 1980-07-15 Flexible Steel Lacing Company Belt fasteners
DE2940522A1 (de) * 1978-10-05 1980-04-17 Flexible Steel Lacing Co Riemenverbinderanordnung
US4402110A (en) * 1979-07-16 1983-09-06 Savage John Jun Lens cap holder for attachment to circuit boards having a plastic inverted U-shaped hinge
US4469327A (en) * 1982-03-15 1984-09-04 Hasbro Industries, Inc. Amusement game device
US4615050A (en) * 1984-07-04 1986-10-07 Loennstedt B G Headband structure for ear coverings
US4701138A (en) * 1986-12-18 1987-10-20 Phoenix Terminal Blocks Inc. Solderless electrical connector
US5073428A (en) * 1989-10-10 1991-12-17 Rubbermaid Incorporated Foldable plastic product
US4954098A (en) * 1989-11-01 1990-09-04 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sealed insulation displacement connector
US5125245A (en) * 1989-11-28 1992-06-30 Clover Mfg. Co., Ltd. Knitting yarn guide
USRE37340E1 (en) 1989-12-13 2001-08-28 King Technology Of Missouri, Inc. Wire junction encapsulating wire connector and method of making same
US5113037A (en) * 1989-12-13 1992-05-12 King Technology Of Missouri, Inc. Waterproof wire connector
US5080606A (en) * 1990-11-05 1992-01-14 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Stacked in-line insulation displacement connector
US5128829A (en) * 1991-01-11 1992-07-07 Health Innovations, Inc. Hinge and stand for hand-held computer unit
US5291768A (en) * 1991-04-12 1994-03-08 Robert Rieffel Ag Plastic key tag with a key bar
US5520549A (en) * 1993-10-20 1996-05-28 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Connector apparatus, housing, and connecting element
US5794308A (en) * 1994-02-23 1998-08-18 Creanova Ag Hinge
US5626489A (en) * 1995-04-13 1997-05-06 Molex Incorporated Sealed electrical connector assembly
US5855490A (en) * 1995-05-30 1999-01-05 The Whitaker Corporation Wire cutting electrical connector having test probe access
US5606150A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-02-25 The Whitaker Corporation Enclosure for spliced cable
US5691508A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-11-25 The Whitaker Corporation Enclosure for spliced multiconductor cable
US5746610A (en) * 1995-07-25 1998-05-05 The Whitaker Corporation Ground contact for a splice enclosure
CN1096121C (zh) * 1995-10-31 2002-12-11 美国3M公司 分支连接器装置
WO1997016868A1 (fr) * 1995-10-31 1997-05-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Appareil de raccordement
GB2320141A (en) * 1995-10-31 1998-06-10 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Branch connector apparatus
GB2320141B (en) * 1995-10-31 1999-12-22 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Branch connector apparatus
US6093353A (en) * 1998-08-03 2000-07-25 Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc. Method of forming electrical components
US20060246767A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2006-11-02 Shigeru Suzuki Wire-terminal element
US20070181336A1 (en) * 2006-01-20 2007-08-09 Lipp Douglas C Injection molded protective passageway for automotive wiring and the like and method of making same
US7612286B2 (en) 2006-01-20 2009-11-03 Yazaki North America, Inc. Injection molded protective passageway for automotive wiring and the like and method of making same
US20080305675A1 (en) * 2007-06-07 2008-12-11 Radle Patrick J Insulation displacement connector
US7789695B2 (en) * 2007-06-07 2010-09-07 Actuant Corporation Insulation displacement connector
US20100122666A1 (en) * 2008-11-20 2010-05-20 Mark Anderson Lick deterrent with battery pack
US8011328B2 (en) * 2008-11-20 2011-09-06 Mark Anderson Lick deterrent with battery pack

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5732578A (en) 1982-02-22
JPS5746189B2 (fr) 1982-10-01

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