Electrical connectors – Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
Patent
1999-08-05
2000-08-22
Patel, T. C.
Electrical connectors
Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
200 511, H01R 2900
Patent
active
061063150
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical connector having a shunt or switching contact.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Provision of shunt or switching contacts in electrical connectors is common for a wide range of applications. Examples of connectors with shunt terminals are disclosed in DE 29 03 896, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,888, U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,311 and EP 678 938. There are certain applications where a particularly high reliability of the shunting contacts is required. For example, in automotive airbag or other safety systems, shunting contacts are provided for short circuiting the electrical leads connected to the detonator in order to prevent accidental ignition when connectors in the system are uncoupled (for example during maintenance). In applications where a particularly high reliability is required, it is typical to gold plate the contact surfaces between the shunting contacts and terminals. The adverse effects of corrosion deteriorating the contact surfaces is thus avoided. The gold plating layer is usually very thin in order to reduce costs. Insertion or removal of terminals in cavities of a connector housing may lead to damaging of the gold plated contact surfaces as they rub against the shunt contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a shunt connector, with improved reliability, in particular that reduces the risk of damage to contact surfaces. It would be advantageous to provide a shunt connector that is particularly cost effective to manufacture and assemble.
Objects of this invention have been achieved by providing the connector according to claim 1. Disclosed herein is an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing, a terminal mounted in the housing, and a shunt or switching contact mounted to the housing and engaging the terminal when fully assembled in the housing, the contact and terminal having respective contact surfaces that abut each other during engagement, wherein the connector further comprises a projecting member extending into a cavity of the housing for receiving the terminal, the projecting member coupled to the shunt or switching contact during insertion of the terminal in the cavity such that the contact surface of the shunt or switching contact is biased away from the terminal. Rubbing of the shunt or switching contact with the terminal during insertion of the terminal in the housing is thus avoided. Removal and insertion of the terminal during repair is also not detrimental to the contact surfaces.
The projecting member may be provided as a portion of the housing that abuts and biases a portion of the shunt or switching contact during insertion of the terminal. The portion of the housing may be integrally formed as a single part with the housing. In an advantageous embodiment, the projecting member could also act as a locking protrusion engaging behind a locking shoulder of the terminal in the fully assembled position, the locking protrusion being provided on a resilient locking arm of the housing. For example the resilient locking lance of the housing could be in the shape of a cantilever beam extending alongside the terminal receiving cavity from an attached end to a free end, where the free end engages the shunt contact.
It would also be conceivable to provide the projecting member as a separate part moveable within the housing, or extending from the shunt or switching contact either integrally formed therewith, or overmoulded to the contact which may be a stamped and formed part from sheet metal.
In an advantageous embodiment, the contact may comprise a spring arm in the form of a cantilever beam extending from an attachment portion to a free end being engaged by the projecting member during insertion of the terminal, for biasing the contact surface of the shunt away from the terminal.
Further advantageous aspects of this invention are described in the claims, or will be apparent from the following description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 i
REFERENCES:
patent: 4850888 (1989-07-01), Denlinger et al.
patent: 4978311 (1990-12-01), Oda et al.
patent: 5145356 (1992-09-01), Minnis
patent: 5263872 (1993-11-01), Marpoe, Jr. et al.
patent: 5466168 (1995-11-01), Liebich et al.
patent: 5788520 (1998-08-01), Roche
patent: 6039589 (2000-03-01), LaLange et al.
see PCT International Search Report for any references that are not enclosed herewith.
Lalange Jacques
Pamart Olivier
Patel T. C.
The Whitaker Corporation
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