Electrical connectors – Coupling part including flexing insulation – Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...
Patent
1997-05-29
1998-10-13
Paumen, Gary F.
Electrical connectors
Coupling part including flexing insulation
Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...
H01R 13422
Patent
active
058204105
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electric connector, particularly of the type comprising an outer insulating casing defining at least one axial cavity, and an electric terminal housed and retained inside the cavity by primary retaining means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric connectors of the aforementioned type are known, which comprise a secondary retaining device for ensuring retention of the terminals inside the respective cavities.
The secondary retaining device normally comprises a movable element which snaps onto the outer casing, and which may either be hinged integrally with or formed separately from the casing. In either case, for the movable element to snap onto the casing, the terminal must first be inserted correctly inside the cavity and retained by the primary retaining means, which normally consist of an elastically deformable lance forming part of the casing. Any incorrect or incomplete insertion of the terminal, is detected by the primary retaining means being so deformed as to interfere with and prevent engagement of the movable element.
Known connectors, as disclosed in GB-A-2 170 962, DE-A-3 920 517 and DE-A-4 225 generally require testing apparatus, in order to detect assembly faults; however, even the use of such apparatus does not always prevent connection faults from arising.
A drawback of known connectors of the type briefly described above is that, in the event the terminal is not inserted fully inside the cavity, the movable element may be forced into engagement despite interference with the primary retaining means, as a result, for example of breakage or deformation of the contacting parts. Thus, incorrect assembly of the terminal may go unnoticed during testing because the terminal is so positioned as to establish at least a precarious electrical contact, which contact, however, is invariably interrupted, with obvious consequences, in applications in which the connector is subject to vibration, as on a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric connector designed to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks typically associated with known connectors.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electric connector comprising an insulating casing with at least one axial cavity, at least one electric terminal housed inside the cavity and at least primary retaining means for retaining the terminal inside the cavity, and movable expulsion means cooperating with the terminal for at least partly expelling the terminal from the cavity in the event the primary retaining means fail to correctly engage the terminal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an in-service longitudinal section of an electric connector in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section, as in FIG. 1, of the connector at the pre-assembly stage;
FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show longitudinal sections, and as in FIG. 1, of various operating positions assumed by the connector during assembly, in the event of incomplete terminal insertion.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electric connector, which comprises an insulating casing 2 defining a number of longitudinal through cavities 3 (only one is shown), and a number of electric terminals 4 housed inside respective cavities 3 and retained therein by primary retaining means 5.
Each terminal 4 comprises a substantially box-shaped contact portion 6 located, in use, facing a front opening 7 in the cavity, through which to insert the male terminal 8 (shown partially) of a complementary connector, and a portion 9 for connection to an electric cable 10. Terminal 4 is inserted inside respective cavity 3 through a rear opening 11 in the cavity (FIG. 2) from which cable 10 extends in use.
Cavities 3 are defined by respective outer lateral walls 12, 13 of casing 2, and are separated by lon
REFERENCES:
patent: 4253718 (1981-03-01), Bungo
patent: 5088938 (1992-02-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 5108318 (1992-04-01), Sakurai et al.
patent: 5445541 (1995-08-01), May et al.
patent: 5575683 (1996-11-01), Saito et al.
Bigotto Pier Carlo
Genta Alessandro
Framatome Connectors International S.A.
Paumen Gary F.
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