Electrical connector with a contact securing flap

Details Electrical connector with a contact securing flap Electrical connector with a contact securing flap

2000-03-07

2001-10-23

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Coupling part including flexing insulation

Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...

C439S596000, C439S460000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305981

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical connector with a housing having a plurality of contact chambers arranged in at least one row with contacts in the contact chambers and with a hinged flap having projections which extend into the contact chambers in a locking position of the flap to secure the contacts therein which is also suited for flat foil conductors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
GB 1525046 discloses an electrical connector with three contact chambers arranged in a row in a housing with contacts therein and a hinged flap with projections. The projections extend into the contact chambers in a locking position of the flap to secure the contacts therein where the hinged flap is connected to the housing via a film hinge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,402 discloses a contact and an electrical connector for flat foil conductors. The electrical connector includes a housing with nine electric contacts arranged in a row, the contacts being suitable for connection to the conductors of a foil and for engaging a mating contact. The housing includes a flap which is hinged to the housing via a film hinge and which can be connected in a locked manner to the housing in a locking position. The flap serves to protect the connections between the contacts and the flat foil conductors. Additional securing of the contacts in the contact chambers is not effected by the hinged flap. Further strain relief on the connector is also not provided.
It is known from EP 866 520 to position flat foil conductors by pins on the housing and corresponding openings in the flat foil conductors and thus also to provide strain relief.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector, in particular for a flat foil conductor, that includes an additional securing feature for the contacts that can be produced particularly easily. A further object of the invention is to provide a connector for flat foil conductors that includes additional strain relief for the flat foil. The object is achieved by a connector having the features of the claims.
A particular advantage is that a connector according to the invention includes a strain relief for the flat cable. A further particular advantage is that this strain relief is formed integrally with the housing. This prevents loss of the small pins typically used to provide strain relief.
A further particular advantage is that, when producing the housing for the connector, the flap and the housing can be produced as two separate parts using very simple tools, these two parts being adapted for assembly upon opening of the tools and then being connected to one another by a hinge.
A further particular advantage is that the flap on the housing locks in a pre-locking position and therefore prevents unintentional removal of the flap from the housing.
A further particular advantage is that, with the connector according to the invention, the foil is initially terminated at the contacts and the contacts then introduced into the housing with the foil. The strain relief of the foil is initially effected by the corresponding arrangements and the flap can then be brought into its end position to check whether the contacts are located in the correct position. To prevent removal of the contact before the flap is brought into the locking position, the contacts also have a so-called first contact securing means, for example, the contacts have a spring tongue which locks behind a corresponding housing shoulder when the contacts are introduced fully into the housing chambers.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3423721 (1969-01-01), Rushton
patent: 4082402 (1978-04-01), Kinkaid et al.
patent: 4618202 (1986-10-01), Libregts et al.
patent: 5893775 (1999-04-01), Annokkee et al.
patent: 5980319 (1999-11-01), Yildiz et al.
patent: 6116954 (2000-09-01), Ries

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