Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-19
2004-01-06
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06672910
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to contacts for plug housings. More specifically, the invention relates to a contact having a locking element with a cover that prevents damage to a seal in a plug housing during insertion and removal of the contact.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Plug housings are commonly provided with seals that protect contacts that are received in the plug housings from unwanted moisture. The conventional plug housing is already equipped with the seal before insertion of the contact. The seal is provided with openings that allow the contact to pass through the seal and into a receiving region of the plug housing. The contact is guided through the opening of the seal during production of the plug housing. Known contacts have an inclined guide face with which the seal is raised or enlarged during insertion of the contact to prevent tearing or widening of the seal. One such plug housing having a seal is taught by DE 195 33 723 A1. A conventional contact is taught by Utility Model DE 200 13 570 U1.
If, however, the contact needs to be removed from the plug housing, the contact has to be withdrawn through the opening of the seal. The contact can not always be withdrawn from the plug housing without damaging the seal, because the contact is provided with a locking element which secures the contact in the receiving region of the housing that is constructed counter to the direction of withdraw. To prevent damage to the seal during withdraw, it is known to provide a guide element constructed in the form of a guide plate on the contact, as shown in the Utility Model DE 200 13 570 U1. The guide plate is arranged laterally with respect to the locking element and causes a one-sided raising of the seal. The locking element, however, has a relatively sharp edge region in the direction of withdraw owing to its thinly constructed material. Thus, despite the arrangement of the guide plate, withdrawal of the contact from the plug housing without a risk of damage to the seal is not always possible.
It is therefore desirable to develop a contact that that can be withdrawn from a plug housing without risk of damage to a seal provided in the plug housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a contact having a termination section for connection to an electrical conductor. A contact section for contacting a complementary contact. A locking element having a guide face with a locking side for maintaining the contact in a housing and a cover that covers the locking side to form a closed surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5613885 (1997-03-01), Plate et al.
patent: 5787754 (1998-08-01), Carrion et al.
patent: 5951338 (1999-09-01), Seko et al.
patent: 6132264 (2000-10-01), Egenolf
patent: 6186840 (2001-02-01), Geltsch et al.
patent: 19533723 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 20013570 (2001-02-01), None
Paumen Gary
Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
LandOfFree
Contact with an improved locking element does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Contact with an improved locking element, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Contact with an improved locking element will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3193580