Electrical connector with a plurality of unitary conductive...

Details Electrical connector with a plurality of unitary conductive... Electrical connector with a plurality of unitary conductive...

2000-01-19

2001-06-19

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Metallic connector or contact also having securing part...

Multipart assembly

C439S687000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247978

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting electrically a plurality of electrical cables to a peripheral equipment, more particularly to an electrical connector with a plurality of clamping elements, each of which has two ends that clamp respectively a conductor of an electrical cable and a terminal pin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional electrical connector is shown to include a metal shell
10
, an insulating member
11
that is secured within the shell
10
, and a plurality of terminal pins
12
, which have front end portions that are inserted respectively into accommodating holes
110
in the insulating member
11
. Each of the terminal pins
12
is provided with a plastic protective sleeve
13
, which covers a welded joint
14
(see
FIG. 2
) that is formed between the rear end of the terminal pin
12
and a conductor
20
of an electrical cable
2
. An insulating rod
15
is formed with a row accommodating holes
150
for extension of the terminal pins
12
therethrough. In assembly, the terminal pins
12
are welded to the conductors
20
of the cables
2
, thereby resulting in difficulties during the assembly of the connector. Referring to
FIG. 3
, the conventional electrical connector further includes a housing unit, which consists of an upper half
12
′ and a lower half
13
. The terminal pins
12
(see
FIG. 1
) are located between the upper and lower halves
12
′,
13
. Each of the halves
12
′,
13
has two curved flanges
121
,
131
, which are inserted into a retaining slot
111
in the insulating member
11
. The upper half
12
′ has two opposite side walls, each of which is pressed to form a projection
122
. The lower half
13
has two opposite side walls, each of which is formed with a hole
132
. The halves
12
′,
13
are interconnected by engaging the projections
122
within the holes
132
. Although the projections
122
engage the holes
132
, the rear end portions of the halves
12
′,
13
easily separate from each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector, in which the parts can be easily assembled.
Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector with a housing unit, which includes upper and lower halves that can be interconnected firmly.
According to this invention, an electrical connector is adapted for electrical connection with a plurality of electrical cables. The electrical connector includes a terminal seat, a positioning seat, and a plurality of clamping elements. The terminal seat includes an insulating body that is made of an insulating material, and a plurality of parallel terminal pins that are secured to the insulating body. Each of the terminal pins has front and rear ends that project respectively from front and rear side surfaces of the terminal seat. The positioning seat is located behind the terminal seat, and is made of an insulating material. A plurality of accommodating holes are formed through the positioning seat. The clamping elements are made of a conductive material, and are confined respectively within the accommodating holes in the positioning seat. Each of the clamping elements has a front end portion for clamping the rear end of a corresponding one of the terminal pins thereon to establish electrical connection between the terminal pins and the cables, and a rear end portion that is adapted to clamp the conductor of a corresponding one of the cables thereon.
Preferably, the electrical connector further includes a housing unit, which has an upper half and a lower half that is connected removably to the upper half. Each of the upper and lower halves is made of metal, and has two opposite sides, each of which is formed with an abutment plate unit. The abutment plate units are parallel to each other. The abutment plate units of the upper half abut respectively against the abutment plate units of the lower half, and are coupled with the same by a first tongue and-groove engagement unit. The abutment plate units of the housing unit are connected removably to the positioning seat by a second tongue-and-groove engagement unit. A third tongue-and-groove engagement unit connects the housing unit removably to the terminal seat.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4764130 (1988-08-01), DiClemente
patent: 4963098 (1990-10-01), Myer et al.
patent: 5295871 (1994-03-01), Lapraik et al.
patent: 5435757 (1995-07-01), Fedder et al.
patent: 5855493 (1999-01-01), Shelly

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