EP0480577A1 - Mécanisme de verrouillage pour des connecteurs d'informations blindés - Google Patents

Mécanisme de verrouillage pour des connecteurs d'informations blindés Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0480577A1
EP0480577A1 EP91308168A EP91308168A EP0480577A1 EP 0480577 A1 EP0480577 A1 EP 0480577A1 EP 91308168 A EP91308168 A EP 91308168A EP 91308168 A EP91308168 A EP 91308168A EP 0480577 A1 EP0480577 A1 EP 0480577A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
latching
locking ring
latching members
electrical connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91308168A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0480577B1 (fr
Inventor
Curtis Sephus Chandler
Terry Lee Pitts
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Whitaker LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMP Inc, Whitaker LLC filed Critical AMP Inc
Publication of EP0480577A1 publication Critical patent/EP0480577A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0480577B1 publication Critical patent/EP0480577B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6275—Latching arms not integral with the housing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical connectors for use in terminating shielded multiconductor cables and more specifically to a data connector having a slidable retention member for locking the data connector in a latched configuration.
  • U.S. Patent No. RE32,760 discloses a local area network connector specifically intended for use in the data communications industry. These connectors can be employed in a closed loop data communications link in which various equipment, such as computer terminals, can be interconnected in a system. These connectors are specifically adapted for use in interconnecting numerous micro- or mini-computers in a computer network in an office environment. Connectors of this type have standard interface dimensions and configurations.
  • U.S. Patent 4,884,981 addresses a need within the local area network market for a lower cost and more versatile electrical connector which is suitable for use in a local area network in combination with prior art connectors of the type described herein.
  • the electrical connector shown in U.S. Patent 4,884,981 includes a shielded subassembly positioned within a one piece molded housing, where the one piece housing has a common interface structure as the prior art connectors.
  • a discrete locking member is available which is movable laterally between the latching arms and the top of the housing, filling the void between the latching arms and the housing on both sides of the integral web forming the hinge, thereby preventing the pivotal movement of the latching arms while the locking member is in place.
  • each latching arm includes a locking bar between the pivotal arm and the housing and is longitudinally movable to perform a wedgelike function thereby preventing the pivotal movement of the latching arms when the locking bars are in the fully forward position.
  • an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a mating face and a wire connecting face.
  • Latching members are provided which are integrally connected to the opposite side surfaces of the housing, the latching members being integrally connected via molded webs of material medially positioned between ends of the latching members where one end of each latching member has a latching mechanism thereon for mating with a complementary electrical connector while opposite ends of the latching members are free to move upwardly and downwardly during the pivoting of the latching members.
  • a locking ring peripherally surrounds the insulative housing and is movable longitudinally relative thereto between a locked and unlocked position.
  • the locking ring has integral elongate channels adapted to encompass the free ends of the latching member when the locking ring is in the locked position thereby preventing the pivotal movement of the latching members, and the locking ring is movable to an unlocked position with the free ends of the latching members spaced from the channels and free to rotate about the webs.
  • the locking ring when in the locked position, prevents the pivotal movement of the latching mechanisms.
  • the data connector is generally shown at 2 comprising a shielded subassembly 3 and a premolded boot housing 4, the shielded subassembly 3 being slidably receivable into and out of the premolded boot housing 4 and being latchably attached therein.
  • the shielded subassembly 3 and the premolded boot housing 4 are of the type generally shown in U.S. Patent 4,884,981.
  • the shielded subassembly 3 generally includes a housing member 5, a stuffer cap 6, and shield members 7 and 8. With reference now to Figures 1-3, the data connector housing 5 will be described in greater detail.
  • the housing 5 generally comprises a terminal support floor 10 having a plurality of channels 12 therein for receiving terminals 13. Extending from the terminal support floor 10 are side walls 14 having internal grooves 15 and external ribs 16. A portion 17 extends across the two side walls and together with the front edges 18 define a front mating face for the housing member 5.
  • Terminals 13 include insulation displacement wire barrels 32, a blade portion 34, a resilient contact portion 36 and a commoning foot 38.
  • the resilient contact portion 36 is reversely bent upon itself and spaced above the terminal support floor 10.
  • the resilient contact portion 36 is disposed at the front mating face of the housing 5 for overlapping interconnection with like terminals, the two resilient contact portions of mating connectors contacting each other to deflect respective resilient contact portions towards the blade portion of the respective terminals.
  • Stuffer cap 6 includes alignment ribs 52 along the sides, wire receiving slots 54 and a lower surface 56 having stuffer cylinders 58 therein, where the stuffer cylinders have an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the barrels 32 of the terminals 13, as seen best in Figure 1.
  • the shield member 7 includes a plate member 72 with continuous shield members 90 extending from the plate member 72 through a stepped portion 92, the two shield members 90 defining a slot 94 therebetween.
  • the plate member 72 further includes two locking lances 77 for locking the shielded subassembly within the boot housing 4.
  • the shield member 7 is shown in Figure 3 as including a semicircular shielding tail 76 extending from a rear wall 78.
  • the shield member 7 includes integral side walls 80 having windows 84 stamped therefrom (only one window is visible in Figure 1). The forward edges of the side walls are defined by two 45 surfaces 82.
  • Shield member 8 is shown as including a plate member 102 with integral shielding portions 110 extending from the front edge thereof, the two shield members 110 defining a slot 112 therebetween.
  • the shield member 8 further includes a rear wall portion 114 having a semicircular shield tail 116 extending from the rear wall 114.
  • Plate member 102 further comprises locking lances 106 and tabs 104 and 108 extending from the side edges thereof.
  • the premolded boot housing 4 includes a central body portion 122, a flexible wire receiving portion 124 and two latch members 126.
  • the two latch members 126 are integrally molded to the central body portion 122 and are pivotal relative to the central body portion about integral hinges shown at 128.
  • the latching members 126 are hermaphroditic, where the front edge of one of the latch members includes a T-bar 130, whereas the other latch member includes a C-slot 132.
  • two of the housing premolded boots are interconnectable when one of the connector boots is rotated about an axial centerline 180 relative to the other of the housing boots 4, such that a T-bar 130 mates with a C-slot 132 on a mating connector and the C-slot 132 mates with a T-bar 130 on the mating connector.
  • the latch members 126 on one of the connectors are moved so as to move the T-bar and C-slot towards each other while the latch members on the mating connector are moved away from each other. Movement of the two housings towards each other places the respective T-bars and C-slots in overlapping latching relation one to the other.
  • the premolded boot housing 4 further comprises a forward passageway 134 comprised of upper and lower surfaces 136 and side walls 138, where each of the side walls 138 includes an aperture 140 therethrough.
  • the upper and lower surfaces 136 and side walls 138 terminate in a rear edge 142, which then communicates with a cavity 144, and thereafter a cable receiving bore 146.
  • the premolded boot housing 4 comprises side walls 152 and end walls 154 (only one of which is shown in Figure 4).
  • the end walls 154 include a longitudinal slot 156 therein having an integral latch 158 having a forwardly facing latch surface 160.
  • the longitudinal slot 156 further comprises a detent 162 integrally molded within the slot 156, and spaced forwardly of the latch 158.
  • the connector assembly further comprises a slidable retention member or locking ring 170, having side walls 172 and end walls 174 where the side walls 172 are slidably engageable against the side walls 152 of the premolded boot housing 4 and the end walls 174 are slidably engageable against the end walls 154.
  • the end walls 174 include locking lugs 176 on inner surfaces thereof which are receivable in the slots 156 and guide the retention member along a longitudinal path.
  • the latch 158 is of the type having a ramped surface increasing in height from the rear towards the front, such that when the lugs 176 pass the latches 158, the lug 176 is in latched engagement against the forwardly facing latch surface 160.
  • the latching member 170 further comprises channels 178 defining a locking enclosure which encompasses the free ends of the latch members.
  • Each channel 178 has a ramped surface 180 converging inwardly from front to rear and terminating in a narrow slot 182.
  • the slots 182 define support steps 183 extending across the locking member 170, and are adapted for receipt beneath the free ends of the latching members.
  • the connector is assembled by sliding the terminals 13 into respective channels 12, and by inserting shorting bars 60 in respective grooves 23, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the shorting bars contact the commoning foot 38 on alternate terminals to common alternate terminals when the data connector is unmated.
  • the multiconductor cable 180 ( Figure 1) is then slid through the opening 146 of the boot, and the boot housing 4 is slid back upon the cable 180.
  • the shielded cable is then stripped to access the shielding braid 184 and the individual conductors 186 of the multiconductor cable.
  • the individual conductors are placed in slots 54 of the stuffer cap 6 and the stuffer cap 6 is inserted into the housing with the ribs 52 aligned with slots 15 within the housing.
  • the stuffer cap inserts the wires into individual terminals 13 with a conductor terminated within the barrel portion 32 of the terminal 13.
  • the shield members 7 and 8 are then assembled around the insulative housing 5 such that the slots 84 of the shield member 7 overlap the outside ribs 20, and the side tabs 104 of the shield member 8 are locked in place within the stamped windows 86 of the shield member 7. This places the shielding extensions 76 and 116 in an overlapping relation over the dressed braid 184.
  • a collapsible ferrule 190 ( Figure 1) can be crimped in place which electrically interconnects the shield members 7 and 8 to the shielding braid 184 and mechanically retains the shielded subassembly 3 to the multiconductor shielded cable 180.
  • the previously inserted premolded boot housing 4 may now be slid forward until the windows 140 in the housing 4 are latched in place with the tabs 77, as shown in Figure 7.
  • the slidable retention member 170 can be assembled to the boot housing, either prior to or subsequent to the assembly of the shielded subassembly 3. As shown in Figure 7, the slidable retention member 170 is slidable between positions where the detent member 176 abuts the forwardly facing latch 158, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, to a position beyond the detent member 162 as shown in Figure 7. The movement of the slidable retention member 170 between the positions shown in Figure 7 corresponds to the movement of the retention member 170 between the positions shown in Figures 8 and 9.
  • the upper and lower latch members 126 are free to pivot about their integral hinge member 128 for latching and unlatching of the mateable electrical connectors.
  • the ends of the latch members 126 are positioned in the transverse grooves 182 of the retention member 170.
  • the ramp surface 180 also assists the end 129 of the latch member 126 for alignment with the transverse groove 182.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP91308168A 1990-09-28 1991-09-06 Mécanisme de verrouillage pour des connecteurs d'informations blindés Expired - Lifetime EP0480577B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US59063690A 1990-09-28 1990-09-28
US590636 1990-09-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0480577A1 true EP0480577A1 (fr) 1992-04-15
EP0480577B1 EP0480577B1 (fr) 1995-12-06

Family

ID=24363022

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91308168A Expired - Lifetime EP0480577B1 (fr) 1990-09-28 1991-09-06 Mécanisme de verrouillage pour des connecteurs d'informations blindés

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0480577B1 (fr)
KR (1) KR970004149B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69115216T2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1970999A1 (fr) 2007-03-14 2008-09-17 Yamaichi Electronics Deutschland GmbH Décharge de traction

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2153161A (en) * 1984-01-20 1985-08-14 Emi Ltd Locking latch retainer of two- part electrical connector
EP0276129A2 (fr) * 1987-01-23 1988-07-27 THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION Dispositif d'encliquetage pour un connecteur électrique

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2153161A (en) * 1984-01-20 1985-08-14 Emi Ltd Locking latch retainer of two- part electrical connector
EP0276129A2 (fr) * 1987-01-23 1988-07-27 THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION Dispositif d'encliquetage pour un connecteur électrique

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1970999A1 (fr) 2007-03-14 2008-09-17 Yamaichi Electronics Deutschland GmbH Décharge de traction

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69115216D1 (de) 1996-01-18
DE69115216T2 (de) 1996-07-04
EP0480577B1 (fr) 1995-12-06
KR970004149B1 (ko) 1997-03-25
KR920007271A (ko) 1992-04-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5074803A (en) Latching mechanism for shielded data connector
US5586911A (en) Shielding data connector
US4891022A (en) Shielded data connector
US4859201A (en) Data communications outlet
US6287149B1 (en) Electrical connector having an improved connector shield and a multi-purpose strain relief
KR930003562B1 (ko) 시일드 데이타 코넥터
EP0220018B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique blindé
EP0351083B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique
US5052940A (en) Hermaphroditic self-shorting electrical connector
US4653825A (en) Shielded electrical connector assembly
EP0233397B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique et dispositif d'encliquetage pour celui-ci
US5435744A (en) Sliding boot assembly for electrical connector
EP0219304B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique et pièce terminale de câble pour celui-ci
US4491381A (en) Electrical panelboard connector
EP0573126B1 (fr) Connecteur blindé pour transmissions de données
EP0558250B1 (fr) Connecteur blindé pour données
US4883433A (en) Electrical connector for data distribution panel
EP0956619B1 (fr) Connecteur electrique possedant un blindage ameliore et un serre-cable polyvalent
EP0865113B1 (fr) Connecteur blindé pour transmissions de données
US5057032A (en) Board edge connector
EP0480577B1 (fr) Mécanisme de verrouillage pour des connecteurs d'informations blindés
JP3118903B2 (ja) データコネクタ
JPH0415588B2 (fr)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19920731

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19940816

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69115216

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19960118

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19990630

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010401

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20010401

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20010807

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20010831

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20010927

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020906

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030401

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20020906

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030603

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050906