Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Comprising or for use with supporting panel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-12
2001-04-17
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Comprising or for use with supporting panel
C439S595000, C439S877000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a plug-in contact produced as a single piece from a metal strip, comprising a pin-shaped contact part and a connecting part for connecting an electric line.
2. Description of the Related Art
Plug-in contacts with a crimped terminal for the line to be connected are generally known. Pin-shaped plug-in contacts, i.e. plug-in contacts with a pin- or needle-shaped contact part are also known. The connecting line is increasingly also being connected by a crimp connection.
In particular, the pin-shaped plug-in contacts with small pin cross-sections of, for example, about 0.4 mm
2
were formerly usually produced from step-milled strip or in two parts from a solid pin and a connecting part for the electric line connected thereto, produced from sheet metal. This mode of production involves considerable expenditure in terms of time and/or material, but this is considered to be justified in view of the security of plugging and the flexural strength required. Owing to the possibility, normally required, for installation in plug housings, known plug-in contacts also have to be provided with additional catch marks and other fixing aids so that they maintain their position permanently once installed.
Starting form this state of the art it is an object of the present invention to provide a plug-in contact of the type mentioned at the outset which is easier to produce with equal reliability of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, this object is achieved by the characterising features of claim
1
.
The sub-claims relate to further advantageous configurations and developments of the invention.
It is accordingly proposed according to he invention that a guide part is arranged between the contact part and the connecting part, in that the guide part is configured in the shape of a box with a triangular cross-section and in that a flat side of the guide part is arranged at a distance parallel to the original lane of the strip.
A defined orientation of the plug-in contact in the case of the proposed installation in a plug housing can be achieved with the proposed triangular geometry of the guide part.
According to an expedient configuration of the plug-in contact produced form flat material, the guide part is formed by two lugs which are each angled at a first angle along the centre line of the original metal strip, which lugs are bent symmetrically to one another at a second angle so that their longitudinal edges abut and form a covering face.
The plane covering face opposes the original strip plane of the sheet metal strip used for this purpose and extends parallel thereto. This pronounced shaping of the guide part gives the plug-in contact high rigidity owing to work-hardening, so that the necessary material cross-section can be kept small for reasons of strength.
In a preferred configuration of the plug-in contact, the first angle is between 60° and 120°, preferably 120°, and the second angle is 30° to 60°, preferably 30°, in each case.
In a further improvement of the invention, the plug-in contact is characterised in that the guide part comprises, on the connection side, two lug-shaped projections which serve as a stop. These lug-shaped projections act as a stop for the plug-in contact as it is inserted into the above-mentioned plug-housing so that it is fixed in position therein.
To assist this effect, the lug-shaped projections can advantageously be offset form the box part of the guide part.
According to a configuration of the invention, the pin-shaped contact part is formed by two partial lugs which are roughly identical in cross-section, which are bent symmetrically round 180° along the longitudinal axis and, resting tightly against one another, form a closed cross-section. A tip is worked at the leading end of the contact part. The plug-in contact has a common bending line which extends from the tip to the connecting part, so that bending is considerably simplified in comparison with other plug-in contacts.
In a further configuration of the invention, the box part located between the contact part and the connecting part comprises a one-sided recess opposite the original plane of the strip.
This recess is arranged about half way along the guide part. The end faces of the recess can also preferably be limited at least on the connecting side by first tongues which are angled downwardly from the lugs, forming the covering face, of the box parts remaining.
In a development of the invention, the end face of the box part facing the pin-shaped contact part can likewise be limited by two second tongues of identical cross-section at the transition to the contact part, the first and second tongues being configured in the manner of rails or shovels and serving similarly to a shoe horn as an entry aid during insertion and interlocking of the plug-in contact into a plug housing.
To fix the plug-in contact according to the invention more securely in the plug housing, the front edge, facing the recess in the guide part, of the leading contact part adjacent to the contact part is provided as a stop edge for interlocking with a plug housing into which the plug-in contact is inserted. It is held non-positively and positively therein.
The plug housing provided for the plug-in contact according to the invention is characterised, in particular, that is receives at least one plug-in contact, but preferably a plurality of plug-in contacts and in that each proposed plug-in position comprises a catch projection which interacts with the associated plug-in contact. This plug housing is preferably configured as a so-called pin connector housing with plug-in positions arranged side by side for plug-in contacts.
This and further advantageous configurations and improvements of the invention will be illustrated and described in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the schematic drawings in which:
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D'Hulster Freddy
Deynse Frans Van
Heimuller Hans-Jost
Meulemeester Dimitri
Gilman Alexander
Grenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Paumen Gary F.
Stemer Werner H.
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