Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-05-01
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S188000, C439S699200, C439S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224428
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, especially an electrical connector which accommodates electrical terminals that are connected to wires extending from a circuit device, and a method of assembling and connecting the electrical connector with the circuit device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, discharge lamps have begun to be used as head lamps in automobiles. Like conventional lamps, such discharge lamps are accommodated in a socket connector and electrically connected with electrical terminals inside the housing of the socket connector. One example of such a socket connector is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 5-68088. When the use of lamps of this type is considered, one important point to keep in mind is that a high voltage of approximately 20,000 V is required in order to initiate the discharge of the lamp when the lamp is switched on. Accordingly, the wires which are connected to the electrical terminals of the socket connector are connected to an electrical circuit device which includes a transformer and electrical wires that lead out from the circuit device.
It is necessary to consider the following two points in order to realize electrical wiring which connects such a socket connector and circuit device. First of all, the socket connector requires electrical terminals which include female contact sections that are connected to the discharge lamp. Secondly, the electrical circuit device, including the electrical wires, must be subjected to a potting treatment by means of a resin. The latter treatment is performed in order to insure the safety of the circuit, acts to prevent unintentional discharge and provides waterproofing.
However, it is difficult to increase the reliability of the connection with the discharge lamp while satisfying both of the requirements described above. The reason for this is that the electrical terminals that terminate the wires are heated to a temperature of approximately 200 degrees in the process of the potting treatment, so that there is a danger that the spring characteristics of the female contact sections will decrease.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a feature of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which satisfies the above requirements in terms of structure and process, and which at the same times makes it possible to realize a high electrical connection reliability. In particular, the present invention provides an electrical connector which is suitable for mounting at the electrical terminal positions of electrical wires extending from a circuit device which requires a heat treatment process as in the case of the lamp socket described above, and a method of assembling the electrical connector with circuit devices.
The present invention is directed to an electrical connector in which electrical terminals terminating a plurality of electrical wires extending from a circuit device are accommodated in a housing and arranged so that engagement with a mating electrical terminal is possible, the terminals include male first terminals which respectively terminate the plurality of wires, and second terminals which are equipped with female contact sections capable of mating with the first terminals, and which are accommodated beforehand in the housing.
The housing has a terminal-supporting structure which supports the first terminals that mate with the second terminals. In this case, the housing is equipped with a wire-supporting structure which supports the wires that are terminated to the first terminals.
The housing has a two housing member structure and is constructed so that the first terminals and the wires terminated thereto are clamped between the two housing members.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method of assembling and connecting an electrical connector with circuit devices wherein the method comprises a process in which male first terminals are respectively connected to one end of each of a plurality of wires, the opposite ends of the plurality of wires are connected to a circuit device, second terminals provided with female contact sections that mate with the male terminals are installed in a first housing member which includes an engaging section that engages with a component, and the first terminals are installed in prescribed positions in the first housing member which allow mating with the second terminals.
The step in which the opposite ends of the wires are connected to the circuit device includes a potting treatment performed in the vicinity of the lead-out portions of the wires following the connection of the wires.
A second housing member is engaged with the first housing member wherein the second terminals are installed in the first housing member. In this case, the second housing member provides strain relief means for the terminal-supporting structure and the wire-supporting structure.
An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having electrical terminals terminated to electrical wires secured in the housing and arranged for electrical connection to an electrical component, wherein the electrical terminals include first electrical terminals and second electrical terminals, the first electrical terminals are respectively terminated to ends of the electrical wires, the first electrical terminals have contact sections electrically engageable with contact members of the second electrical terminals.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4225205 (1980-09-01), Sinclair et al.
patent: 4804343 (1989-02-01), Reedy
patent: 5456620 (1995-10-01), Kaminski
patent: 5823806 (1998-10-01), Nagase et al.
patent: 5871377 (1999-02-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5-68088 (1993-09-01), None
Chen Ping
Miyake Kimihiro
Bradley Paula
Ta Tho D.
The Whitaker Corporation
LandOfFree
Electrical connector and method of assembling and connecting... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electrical connector and method of assembling and connecting..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrical connector and method of assembling and connecting... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2512451