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
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
  • H01R13/514—Bases; Cases composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
  • H01R13/6271—Latching means integral with the housing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
  • H01R13/6271—Latching means integral with the housing
  • H01R13/6272—Latching means integral with the housing comprising a single latching arm

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to a module carrier designed to receive two modules including a male terminal and a female terminal.
• the technical segment for the present invention is that of the small auxiliary elements for the electrical and electronic wiring and connections in the automotive industry. In modern vehicles it is difficult to set and order the many electric wires and to join and connect them as needed at certain points of an automobile. Additionally, mass production requires the speediest and most efficient way of making such connections with secured connections to avoid failures.
• the object of the module carriers is, as is well known, that of giving access to the corresponding modules which, because of their geometric characteristics, must be included in the module carrier in a determined direction and orientation. It is of paramount importance that the interior design of the carrier must allow the introduction of the modules in a quick, reliable way and with no error whatsoever. Further, a carrier must include in its interior a series of male and female terminals, by which the task of inserting the modules into the module carrier must be as direct, quick and with the lightest use of strength possible, since connection and installation operations are fully manual.
• the module carrier of this invention has a generally rectangular body and a mouth for the introduction of the corresponding modules of the lateral insertion type.
• the introduction of the modules is easier because of an inclined plane provided in the mouth, which allows the reduction of the module insertion force inside the module carrier, all of which being assisted because of an interior arrangement of small walls allowing the separation between the two modules that can be included inside the module carrier.
• corresponding windows including an inverted inclined plane, the function of which is that of improving the clicking into place and increasing the retention of the modules included in the interior of the module carrier.
• the modules preferably include protuberances or jutting points for fitting into the windows.
• a single external attachment catch ensuring the total clicking into place of the carrier.
• the external catch is fully protected by a pair of wings and a protecting base, which avoid what otherwise can be wire entanglements and a later break of the catch if and when wires become entangled with the catch provided in the lateral wall.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example module carrier of this invention.
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the module carrier of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a partial section of the portion bordering the mouth of the module carrier of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 is a plan view of the top of the module carrier of Figure 1.
• the module carrier 10 has a body with a generally rectangular configuration with chamfered corners and a upper mouth 23 including a skirt or upper lip 14 directed toward the outside and generally perpendicular to the walls 11 and 12 of the carrier body 10.
• the module carrier 10 is formed by major or larger lateral walls 11 and minor or relatively smaller lateral walls 12 emerging perpendicularly from a lower base 13.
• minor lateral walls 12 there preferably are provided generally rectangular windows 15 adjacent the upper lip 14. The function of the windows 15 is to act as retention means to retain modules that are introduced in the carrier 10.
• wings 20 preferably are provided and extend generally perpendicularly to the wall 11.
• the wings 20 preferably merge in an upper portion into a generally U-shaped protection base 22 protecting a catch 18, which in the upper part is provided with a pressure plane 21 that makes it easier to click into place the corresponding modules (not illustrated) into the carrier 10 through the mouth 23.
• FIG 4 arranged in the interior part of the minor lateral walls 12 are certain small walls or ridges 17 extending generally perpendicular and inward from the lateral walls 12, which guide and limit the access of the modules to the interior of the module carrier 10.
• minor lateral walls 12 preferably include windows 15 in the portion of the walls 12 adjacent the opening 23.
• the windows 15 preferably include an inverse inclined plane for facilitating clicking modules into place and increasing the retention of the modules into the module carrier 10.
• one of the major lateral walls 11 preferably includes a single exterior fixation catch 18 emerging from the lower base 13.
• the catch 18 preferably includes a projection or spur 19 in its median portion and a pressure plane 21 at a portion that is distal from the base 13.
• the catch 18 preferably is protected by wings 20 that extend generally perpendicularly to the lateral wall 11.
• the wings 20 preferably merge into a U-shaped protection base 22 at the portion of the wings 20 most distal from the base 13. A user need only press with their thumb over the pressure plane 21 for clicking or unclicking the carrier 10 into place in order to make easier the access of the modules through the mouth 23 to the interior of the module carrier 10.

Landscapes

• Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
• Supply And Installment Of Electrical Components (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Buffer Packaging (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8303066

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1998
  • 1998-02-24 ES ES9800517U patent/ES1039613Y/es not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-12-29 EP EP98500283A patent/EP0938161A3/de not_active Withdrawn
• 1999
  • 1999-01-12 WO PCT/US1999/000657 patent/WO1999044259A2/en active Search and Examination

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events