WO1987007088A1

WO1987007088A1 - Electrical connector hoods

Info

Publication number: WO1987007088A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000311
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Dempster Mckie Mcclymont
Original assignee: Kinloch Electronics Limited
Priority date: 1986-05-15
Filing date: 1987-05-08
Publication date: 1987-11-19
Also published as: GB8611897D0

Abstract

A connector hood is formed by mating hood halves (10, 12) secured together by securing members (20) slidably engageable in a slideway (16) formed by cooperating formations on the hood halves (10, 12). A detent tooth (24) on the securing member (20) engages behind a lug (22) on the hood half to lock the assembly. An alternative detent arrangement is described.

Description

"ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOODS"

This invention relates to electrical connector hoods, such as are typically used to contain multi-way plug or socket blocks for terminating cables, for example cables used in interconnecting computer equipment.

In our published UK patent application 2 133 638 there is disclosed a connector hood which is formed of two halves secured together by means of securing members in sliding engagement with slideways formed on the hood halves. The construction specifically described in that application has forward lugs for receiving fixing screws for securing the connector. However, other types of fixing, such as spring clips, are in common use.

One object of the present invention is accordingly to provide a connector hood construction which is capable of use with a variety of fixing systems.

Cables of this type are commonly pulled backwards through restricted spaces such as underfloor ducts. Frequently, the connector hood has projections which become entangled in other wiring.

Another object of the invention is therefore to provide a connector hood construction in which projections liable to snag are minimised.

The invention accordingly provides an electrical connector hood comprising a pair of substantially symmetrical hood halves which can be mated together to locate and enclose a connector block, the hood halves having external formations which, when the halves are mated, define a pair of opposed slideways, and a pair of securing members slidably engageable with the slideways to secure the halves together, the havles also having resilient formations extending therefrom adjacent the slideways, a snap-fitting detent being defined between each securing member and an adjacent one of said formations to lock the securing member in place when pushed fully home on its slideway. Preferably, securing members of a variety of types may be used on the slideways:

(a) a plain member which acts merely to hold the halves together, (b) a member having a bore for a screw fastening, and (c) a member incorporating a resilient finger for spring-clip style securement. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:-

Fig 1 is a perspective view, partially disassembled, of a connector forming a first embodiment of the invention; Fig 2 is a similar view of part of the connector of Fig 1 in assembled condition;

Figs 3 and 4 are partial perspective views showing alternative securing means for use with the connector of Fig 1; and Pig 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Fig 1, a connector hood comprises two substantially identical halves 10 and 12 which abut together to locate and enclose a connector block (not shown) for a multi-conductor cable 14.

The hood halves 10, 12 are so shaped that, when mated together, they define at each side a T-shaped slideway 16 ending at a shoulder 18. The hood halves 10, 12 are locked together by a pair of securing members or slides 20 grooved to engage around the slide-ways 16 and slidable into position from the rear of the assembly. Each hood half has an integrally moulded pair of laterally projecting lugs 22 such that a pair of lugs is positioned adjacent the slideway 16 when the halves are mated. Each slide 20 is provided on its upper and lower surfaces with a wedge-shaped detent projection 24. When the slide 20 is slid into position, the detents 24 force the lugs 22 resiliently apart until the slide abuts the shoulder 18, at which point the lugs snap back behind the detents to lock the assembly. This condition is shown in Fig 2.

The slides 20 shown in Fig 1 are constructed for "spring clip" type engagement with a suitable mating connector of known type. For this purpose, each slide 20 includes a resilient finger 26 projecting forwardly of the hood 10, 12 and formed at its forward end with a latch 28. The finger 26 is spaced from the hood body by a post 30, and is provided at its rear end with a fingergrip portion 32. Thus, when the user squeezes both finger-grip portions 32 together, the forward ends of the fingers 26 are pivoted apart for disconnection. The slide 20 is formed with post-like projecting portions 34 spaced by a web 35 which portions 34 engage in grooves 36 in the mutually facing surfaces of the lugs 22; this engagement provides a compressive force tending to close the forward ends of the fingers 26 together.

As seen in Fig 1, a rounded projection 38 is formed on the floor of the groove 36. This contacts the projecting portion 34 to give a positive feel indicating that the fingers 26 are open. It will be noted from Figs 1 and 2 that the lugs 22 are shaped to minimise projections and free edges from the slides 20, giving as smooth a shape as possible for pulling the connector in the reverse direction.

Fig 3 illustrates the same hood halves 10, 12 secured together by a plain slide 40 for uses where no securement to a mating connector is required. It will be noted that the slide 40 is shaped to conform with the lugs 22 and thus again give a smooth profile.

Fig 4 shows a slide 42 having an axial bore holding a captive thumbscrew 44 for a screwed securement to a mating connector. In this instance, the presence of some projecting parts is unavoidable.

The embodiment of Fig 5 operates in a similar manner to the foregoing, and again hood halves 10 and 12 are shaped to define, when mated, T-shaped slideway 16 ending at shoulder 18. A securing member 50 has a front portion 52 grooved for sliding engagement with the slideway 16 as before. The hood halves 10, 12 are formed with aligned resilient hook-shaped projections 54 arranged for snapfitting engagement over a rounded projecting portion 56a on a bar portion 56 of the securing member 50, the bar portion 56 extending between side wall potions 58. As shown, the side wall portions 58 are also braced apart by a web portion 60, but the latter may be dispensed with. The connector may be used with parts 10,12 and 50 only, or optionally for "spring-clip" type operation a pair of clip members 62 may be added. The clip member 62 is an integral moulding providing a resilient finger 64 with latch 66, finger grip 68 and spring blade 70. The blade 70 in use bears against the flat exterior surface 72 of the front portion 52 of securing member 50. The clip member 62 is located in the securing member 50 by bores 78 through the forward part of the former engaged over bosses 80 on the hood halves 10 and 12 while they are being mated, and subsequently projections 74 on the clip member are snapped under flanges 76 on the securing member.

Claims

1. An electrical connector hood comprising a pair of substantially symmetrical hood halves which can be mated together to locate and enclose a connector block, the hood halves having external formations which, when the halves are mated, define a pair of opposed slideways, and a pair of securing members slidably engageable with the slideways to secure the halves together, the halves also having resilient formations extending therefrom adjacent the slideways, a snap-fitting detent being defined between each securing member and an adjacent one of said formations to lock the securing member in place when pushed fully home on its slideway.

2. The connector hood of claim 1, in which each securing member has a bore for a screw fastening.

3. The connector hood of claim 1, in which each securing member includes a resilient finger for springclip style securement of the connector to a mating part.

4. The connector hood of claim 1, in which said resilient formations comprise planer lugs extending from the hood halves in a plane transverse to the slideway direction.

5. The connector hood of claim 4, in which the securing means includes a detent tooth engageable behind one of said lugs.

6. The connector hood of claim 1, in which said resilient formations comprise aligned hook-shaped parts upstanding from the hood halves in line with the slideway.

7. The connector hood of claim 6, in which the securing member is formed with a rounded bar arranged to engage behind said hook-shaped parts.

8. The connector hood of claim 7, in which the securing means is adapted to mount a separate resilient finger assembly.