Spacer for IDC termination

Details Spacer for IDC termination Spacer for IDC termination

1999-08-13

2001-04-03

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Contact comprising cutter

Insulation cutter

Reexamination Certificate

active

06210205

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTOR
The present invention relates to a spacer, and more particularly to a spacer for use with an IDC connector for ensuring termination between conductors of cables and insulation displacement section of terminals.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Conventionally, terminals are assembled to passageways defined in a housing through interferential fit therebetween. In order to securely assemble the terminal to the corresponding passageway, a body portion of the terminal is formed with barbs which anchor to walls of the passageway. In the very beginning, the pitch between two adjacent terminals provides enough room which effectively prevent a short circuit therebetween. For example, the width of the terminal is about 0.4 mm and the height of the barbs formed thereon is 0.1 mm. If the pitch is 1.27 mm, then the spacing between sides of the terminals equals to 1.27−0.2−0.2=0.87 (mm) [0.2 is a half of the width of the terminal], while the spacing measured from two adjacent barbs equal to 0.87−0.1−0.1=0.67 (mm). The terminals can be assembled to the corresponding passageways through interferential fit and the arrangement can pass the Direct Withstanding Voltage Test. However, the barbs or the likes formed on the body portion of the terminal will increase the insertion force. In addition, when the pitch reduces to 0.8 mm (very high density [VHD] connectors), then the spacing between two adjacent terminals equals to 0.8−0.2−0.2=0.4 (mm). In this case, it is impossible to assemble the terminals to the corresponding passageways through interferential fit because the spacing between two adjacent barbs equals to 0.4−0.1−0.1=0.2 (mm). The arrangement can not pass the Direct Withstanding Voltage Test because short circuit between two adjacent terminals will occur.
One of the solutions for such VHD connector is by insert molding which features high precision, reliability, and low labor cost. Furthermore, the body portion of the terminal can be formed with dimples to increase the retention within the enclosed housing. However, alignment of each terminal within a mold cavity is a problem which complicates the molding process as well as the mold configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,805 discloses a plurality of channels (
138
) formed adjacent to the insulation displacement sections (
32
,
34
). The conductive wires (
24
) are seated in the channels (
138
) after termination. However, during termination the insulation displacement sections (
32
,
34
) are not well supported and vulnerable to fall down when excessive forces are experienced.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,896 issued May 16, 2002 assigned to the same assignee, entitled to “Method For Terminating Connector” describes a spacer used to terminate conductors to IDC sections of terminals. The specification is enclosed for reference. The disclosed spacer includes a base having a plurality of retaining slots for retaining conductive wires therein for facilitating reliable termination. Even each insulation displacement section is well supported, the retaining force provided by the open slot is still not enough during termination. If the conductive wires are not securely retained, termination thereof will displace the conductive wire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of this invention is to provide a spacer for terminations wherein conductors of wires are securely arranged in the spacer and during the terminations, insulation displacement section of terminals are well supportably guided thereby preventing the insulation displacement section from falling down.
In order to achieve the objective set forth, a carrier for terminating conductors of conductive wires to insulation displacement sections of terminals molded in a housing of a connector by assembling said carrier carrying conductive wires therein to a terminating face of said housing, comprises an elongate base defining upper, lower, front and rear faces. An array of channels extends between the front and rear faces. An array of slits is defined in the lower face in a direction traverse to the channels and each communicates a corresponding channel. An array of retaining slots defined in the lower face and each retaining slot is in alignment with a corresponding one of the channels. During termination between the conductors and the insulation displacement sections, each insulation displacement section is securely supported within the corresponding slit before the insulation displacement sections engage with the cables thereby facilitating reliable termination therebetween.
These and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended drawing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5761805 (1998-06-01), Guyer
patent: 5951321 (1999-09-01), Jaag
patent: 6062896 (1998-06-01), Huang

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