Electrical connectors – With guiding means for mating of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-08-14
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With guiding means for mating of coupling part
C439S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273744
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a self-aligning connector assembly for connecting electrical conductors together through a vehicle compartment structure.
BACKGROUND ART
In a vehicle, there is a need to improve the attachment of electrical connectors through a sheet metal structure of the vehicle. Typically, a vehicle door panel is attached to the sheet metal structure of the vehicle by attachment hooks and/or fasteners mounted to the door panel. In many situations, the vehicle includes electrical switches featured on the show surface of the door panel, requiring a wire harness for the switch to be manually fed or threaded through an aperture of the sheet metal structure prior to attaching the door panel to the sheet metal structure. The wire harness connects to a receiving harness mounted to the switch of the door panel. Generally, the hooks mounted on the door panel are disposed through receiving slots of the sheet metal structure. Then, the door panel is pivoted toward the sheet metal structure such that the fasteners are inserted into receiving sockets of the sheet metal.
Although such assemblies are adequate for attaching door panels to sheet metal structures and connecting wire harnesses together, the assembly can be improved in order to lessen the manufacturing time of the door panels. Manually feeding the wire harness through the sheet metal may involve a significant amount of time and may involve more than one assembly technician. In many cases, as the attachment of the door panel to the sheet metal structure is a blind attachment, the connection of the wire harness to the receiving harness is typically accomplished with less ease.
Thus, what is needed is an improved connector assembly which connects electrical wires to electrical switches of vehicle panels, such as door panels.
What is also needed is an improved connector assembly which is self-aligning in order to accommodate blind attachments of door panels to sheet metal structures.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved self-aligning connector assembly adapted for connecting first and second electrical conductors. The assembly comprises a male connector, a female connector receiving the male connector, and a conductive member disposed on the female connector. The male connector has a base portion and a head portion. The head portion tapers from the base portion to form an arcuate top. The base portion has a conductive area disposed thereon and adapted to connect to the first electrical conductor. The female connector has a body portion defining an opening and has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface of the female connector receives the male connector and is formed to complement the shape of the male connector and is cooperable with the arcuate top of the male connector to facilitate the self-alignment of the male and female connectors. The outer surface of the female connector has a slot formed thereon. The conductive member is accessible by way of the slot of the female connector wherein the conductive member has a contact area and a wire area. The wire area is adapted to connect the second electrical conductor. The contact area engages the conductive area of the male connector when the male and female connectors are self-aligned and the male connector is received in the female connector.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for an improved self-aligning door panel assembly adapted for connecting a First substrate to a second substrate to attach first and second electrical conductors therethrough. The assembly comprises a male connector mounted to the first substrate, a female connector mounted to the second substrate, and a conductive member disposed on the female connector. The male connector has a base portion and a head portion. The head portion tapers from the base portion to form an arcuate top. The base portion has a conductive area disposed thereon and adapted to connect the first electrical conductor. The female connector has a body portion defining an opening and has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface of the female connector receives the male connector and is formed for compliment the shape of the male connector. The inner surface is cooperable with the arcuate top of the male connector to facilitate the self-alignment of the male and female connectors. The outer surface of the female connector has a slot formed thereon. The conductive member is accessible by way of the slot of the female connector wherein the conductive member has a contact area and a wire area. The wire area is adapted to connect the second electrical conductor and the contact area engages the conductive area of the male connector when the male and female connector are self-aligned and the male connector is received in the female connector. The first and second substrates are in aligned relationship with each other such that when the first substrate connects to the second substrate the female connector receives the male connector, thereby attaching the first electrical conductor to the second electrical conductor.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for an improved self-aligning door panel assembly of a vehicle for connecting first and second electrical conductors. The assembly comprises first and second substrates of the vehicle wherein the first substrate is attached to the second substrate. The assembly further comprises a male connector mounted to the first substrate, a female connector mounted to the second substrate, and a conductive member disposed on the female connector. The male connector has a base portion and a head portion. The head portion tapers from the base portion to form an arcuate top. The base portion has a conductive area disposed thereon and adapted to connect to the first electrical conductor. The female connector has a body portion defining an opening and has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface of the female connector receives the male connector and is formed to compliment the shape of the male connector and is cooperable with the arcuate top of the male connector to facilitate the self-alignment of the male and female connectors. The outer surface of the female connector has a slot formed thereon. The conductive member is accessible by way of the slot of the female connector wherein the conductive member has a contact area and a wire area. The wire area is adapted to connect the second electrical conductor. The contact area engages the conductive area of the male connector when the male and female connectors are self-aligned and the male connector is received in the female connector. The first and second substrates are in aligned relationship with each other such that when the first substrate connects to the second substrate the female connector receives female connector, thereby attaching the first electrical conductor to the second electrical conductor.
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Murdock Jay Allan
Wojewnik Albert
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Gushi Ross
Lear Corporation
Paumen Gary
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