Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Patent
1997-04-16
1999-04-27
Bradley, Paula
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
H01R 1300
Patent
active
058973974
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a connector plug for use with a cigarette socket provided in automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector plug which can be universally used in the different diameter sockets that are found in automotive vehicles marketed in Japan, the United States, Europe, etc., and which additionally enables the smooth insertion and removal therefrom.
RELATED ART
In recent years, the demand of cellular telephones has been rapidly increased. When using these devices in an automobile, it is often necessary to utilize the electrical power available from the cigarette lighter connector socket. As a result there has been an increased demand for an automotive connector plug which can be inserted/removed into/from a cigarette lighter connector socket and which includes a built-in DC-DC converter.
However, there are a variety of different connector sockets which vary between automotive makers and countries, and as yet no standardized specification has been established. By way of example, connector sockets in Japanese cars and American cars are from 20.9 to 21.1 mm in diameter, while those in European cars are from 22.1 to 22.3 mm in diameter.
Even though there is a variety of different diameter connector sockets, it is desired to provide a single connector which can be use in all of same.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conventional connector plug 10 for use in automobiles. This connector plug 10 includes bent plane plate springs of narrow width which form contacts 13. These contacts 13, for example, are arranged to protrude from windows 12 of a housing 11, and are mounted in a manner which enables free movement of the same. Accordingly, in the case of a large diameter connector socket 24 such as shown in FIG. 3(a), or in the case of a small diameter connector socket 24 such as shown in FIG. 3(b), since there is only a small differences in diameter between the two sockets, the connector plug 10 is such that the contacts 13 can maintain contact with the internal surface of the connector socket 24.
In this respect, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3(a) and (b), a fuse pipe holder portion 14, receives a fuse tube 15, a cap 17, and a head terminal 18. An electrically conductive coil spring 16 is arranged to bias the head terminal 18 into the fuse tube 15, while lead wires 19, 19 connect a power cord 20, with the spring 16 and one of two contacts 13 which is arranged so that both of its edges make line contact with the socket 24. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 the ends of the contacts 13 are received in an insertion hole 22.
As mentioned above, since the conventional contacts 13 are formed by bending plane plate springs, they possess an acute-angled portion along both side edges 23, and a drawback is encountered in that, when the connector plug is inserted into or removed from a connector socket 24, the side edges 23 of the contacts 13 encroach upon the internal surface of the connector socket 24 in the manner shown in FIGS. 3(a) and (b) whereby the frictional resistance to movement becomes high, and the insertion/removal sensation is accordingly deteriorated.
In particular, as shown in the characteristic diagram shown in FIG. 4, which is plotted in terms of load changes verses the amount of insertion of the contacts 13, when the connector plug is inserted into the small diameter connector socket 24 shown in FIG. 3(b), the characteristics depicted in dotted lines are produced. More specifically, while the amount of insertion is still shallow, the load is comparative small and the characteristics a shown in the left-hand part in FIG. 4, are produced and the inserting feeling is smooth. However, as the insertion deepens, the load changes rapidly and increases in the manner depicted by the characteristic b shown in the right-hand part in FIG. 4. Accordingly, in the case of an overly strenuous insertion or removal, there is a fear that one of the contacts 13 may be over-stressed and broken.
To overcome this problem, the present applicant has previously proposed a syste
REFERENCES:
patent: 4322122 (1982-03-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 5261838 (1993-11-01), Fujie
patent: 5482468 (1996-01-01), Bolin
Bradley Paula
SMK Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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