Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Patent
1999-05-13
2000-07-04
Gellner, Michael L.
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
439595, H01R 13514
Patent
active
060830581
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to double-lock connectors which are equipped with a double-lock member mounted on a housing in a movable manner which can slide from a temporary-latched position in which electrical contacts can be inserted in contact cavities of the housing to the completely-latched position securing the inserted contacts in place therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An example of a known double-lock connector is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 89-54678. The double-lock member of the double-lock connector has a flat-insertion pin formed at a predetermined location along the length of the connecting strip along which latching lugs are formed whose purpose is to lock the contacts in position. The contacts are inserted inside the contact cavities when the double-lock member is in the temporary-latched position, and after the contacts are inserted in the contact cavities, they are locked therein by sliding the double-lock member into the fully-latched position. Since the contacts are locked in position by the double-lock member, they are reliably retained in the contact cavities.
However, the double-lock member of the known double-lock connector described above is suitable only for the cases when the cavities accommodating the contacts are arranged in lengthwise rows, and cannot be used in other configurations, for example, in connectors with a staggered arrangement of contacts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a double-lock connector having a double-lock member which can be used in connectors having contact cavities arranged in a straight or staggered pattern. It is also desirable that the sliding of the double-lock member from the temporary-latched position to the fully-latched position is conducted smoothly and reliably, and that the design of the connector is relatively simple.
The present invention is directed to a double-lock connector having a double-lock member mounted on a housing in such a manner that it can slide in a direction perpendicular to contact cavities in the housing from a temporary-latched position in which electrical contacts can be inserted in the contact cavities of the housing to a fully-latched position in which the contacts become locked therein. The double-lock member has elongated arms sliding along outer surfaces of side walls of the housing which extend in a direction of the double-lock member movement on which locking members of L-shaped cross section are arranged at predetermined intervals from each other locking the contacts in position when the arms are in their fully-latched position, and by the fact that L-shaped grooves are formed on the outer surfaces of the side walls of the housing of such a cross section that the grooves can accommodate the locking members, securing the arms on the outer surfaces of the side walls of the housing by virtue of engagement between the locking members and the grooves when the fully-lock member is moved to the fully-latched position.
A double-lock connector comprises a housing having contact cavities for receiving electrical contacts therein, a double-lock member mounted on the housing for locking the electrical contacts in the contact cavities, wherein the double-lock member has an elongated arm slidable along an outer surface of the housing from a temporary-latched position to a fully-latched position, locking members on an inside surface of the double-lock member at spaced intervals therealong and having first portions permitting insertion of the electrical contacts in the contact cavities when the double-lock member is in the temporary-latched position and second portions locking the electrical contacts in the contact cavities when the double-lock member is in the fully-latched position, and securing members on the housing and the locking member securing the double-lock member on the housing when the double-lock member is moved to the fully-latched position.
It is desirable that the arms of the double-lock member are joined at one
REFERENCES:
patent: 5326287 (1994-07-01), Hamakita et al.
patent: 5489224 (1996-02-01), Schwarz
patent: 5538445 (1996-07-01), Grzybowski et al.
patent: 5775957 (1998-07-01), Fink et al.
patent: 5967859 (1999-10-01), Cecil, Jr. et al.
Gellner Michael L.
Ngandjui Antoine
The Whitaker Corporation
LandOfFree
Double-lock connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Double-lock connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Double-lock connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1480960