EP1054476A1 - Elektrischer Verbinder mit Kontaktrückhaltemitteln - Google Patents

Elektrischer Verbinder mit Kontaktrückhaltemitteln Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1054476A1
EP1054476A1 EP00110038A EP00110038A EP1054476A1 EP 1054476 A1 EP1054476 A1 EP 1054476A1 EP 00110038 A EP00110038 A EP 00110038A EP 00110038 A EP00110038 A EP 00110038A EP 1054476 A1 EP1054476 A1 EP 1054476A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
terminal
passageway
retention member
terminal block
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
EP00110038A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1054476B1 (de
Inventor
Rolf Jetter
Antonio Lehner
Christian Boemmel
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
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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Priority to EP20000110038 priority Critical patent/EP1054476B1/de
Publication of EP1054476A1 publication Critical patent/EP1054476A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1054476B1 publication Critical patent/EP1054476B1/de
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
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
    • H01R13/426—Securing by a separate resilient retaining piece supported by base or case, e.g. collar or metal contact-retention clip

Definitions

  • This invention relates to terminal retention in connectors and particularly primary terminal retention.
  • a primary terminal retention feature that retains the individual terminals in their respective terminal passageways.
  • Connectors typically hold a plurality of terminals, this primary retention feature enables each terminal to be held in place once loaded into the connector while the other terminals are being loaded in their respective passageways.
  • a secondary locking member as part of the connector assembly.
  • a common form of a secondary locking member involves a structure having a shoulder that is moveable into the passageway in order to provide an obstruction therealong would interfere with a complementary shoulder on the contact and thereby prevent withdraw.
  • EP 0 510 583 An example of an electrical connector of this type is illustrated in EP 0 510 583 where a generally rectangular terminal block has a number of electrical terminal receiving cavities with primary connection means disposed along the longer sides of the terminal block and corresponding to each of the respective cavities in order to retain the electrical terminals therein.
  • the primary connecting means are integrally moulded resilient arms having a latching tab thereupon to engage the contact when it is inserted.
  • a secondary locking structure is provided by a flexible hinged flap having a plurality of comb-like teeth thereupon which extend through holes in the terminal block and into the passageway to obstruct the passageways, thereby preventing the terminal from being removed from the terminal block.
  • a connector for receiving terminals therein comprising a terminal block having outer walls and opposing ends walls, a terminal receiving passageway extending between the opposing end walls for receiving a terminal therein, and a primary retention member disposed along the passageway having a resilient retention arm extending into the passageway to retain their terminal therein, the connector being characterised in that the primary retention member is formed from a generally flat plate and includes a body set in the terminal block and the retention arm extends from the body into the passageway.
  • a connector for receiving terminal therein comprising a terminal block having outer side walls that intersect to define corners and opposing end walls, a terminal receiving passageway extending between the opposing end walls for receding a terminal therein, and a primary retention member disposed along at least one of the terminal receiving passageways and having resilient retention arm extending into the passageway to retain the terminal therein, where the at least one passageway is located in the vicinity of one of the corners, the connector is characterised in that primary retention member is disposed between the one of the corners and the one passageway in the vicinity of the corner.
  • a connector for receiving terminals therein comprising a terminal block having outer side walls and opposing end walls with terminal receiving passageways extending therethrough, primary retention members are disposed along respective passageways and include an moulded resilient latch arm formed integrally with terminal block that extends into the passageway to prevent withdraw of the inserted terminal, the connector characterised in that the terminal block includes a post located behind the resilient latch arm to prevent overstress.
  • an effective primary retention of terminals in a terminal block may be achieved even when the walls adjacent the terminal receiving passageways are relatively close thereto.
  • the primary retention member may be stamped and formed from a thin sheet of metal. It is another advantage of the invention that by providing a primary retention member in the vicinity of the corner, additional material of the terminal block is available in order to establish the primary retention. It is another advantage of the invention that by providing a post behind a resilient latch arm of the primary retention member to prevent overstress, smaller latch arms may be used.
  • the connector 2 includes a terminal 4 having outer walls 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and opposing end walls 12, 14.
  • a pair of terminal receiving passageways 16 extend through the terminal block 4 between he opposing end walls 12, 14.
  • terminals 18 are meant to be generic in nature and could represent either fibre optic or electrical terminals.
  • Respective primary retention members 20, 22 are disposed along the passageways for retaining the terminals 18 therein.
  • a secondary locking member 24 is received within a slot 26 that extends transversely across the terminal block 4 relative to the passageways 16.
  • side walls 6 and 10 define a corner 28 and side walls 8 and 9 define a corner 30.
  • the primary retention member 20 is a stamped and formed piece of flat metal having a body portion 32.
  • a locking lance 34 is sheared out of the body 32 in order to retain the retention member 20 within terminal block 4.
  • a resilient retention arm 36 is also sheared from the body 32 and folded so that a free end 38 extends into passageway 16.
  • the resilient retention arm 36 is constructed such that as the terminal 18 is inserted into the housing, the retention arm 36 will deflect a shoulder 40 of the terminal 18 passes by and then resile therebehind to prevent removal of the terminal 18.
  • the primary retention member 20 is disposed within a channel 42 that is moulded into the terminal block 4.
  • the primary retention member 20 is disposed between the passageway 16 and the corner 30 defined by side walls 9 and 8.
  • the primary retention member 20 is relatively thin and takes up a minimum amount of space, thereby making a particularly useful in connectors having relatively thin side portions between the terminal passageways 16 and an adjacent side 9.
  • the body 32 and the associated retention arm 36 could be curved to more closely comply with the shape of the passageway 16 when cylindrical terminal 18 are used.
  • non-cylindrical passageways may be formed and the primary retention member may be disposed along the sidewall.
  • the primary retention member 22 is a conventionally configured and integrally moulded member with the terminal block 4.
  • Primary retention member 22 includes a resilient arm 42 suspended in cantilevered fashion and extending generally from opposing end wall 12 towards a free end 44.
  • a latch 46 is formed at the free end 44 and extends into the passageway 16.
  • the latch 46 is configured to allow a shoulder 40 of the terminal 18 to pass during insertion and then when the latch arm 42 resiles back to prevent withdraw of the terminal. This is best seen in figure 4.
  • a notch 48 opposite the latch 46.
  • a post 50 that prevents overstress of the primary retention member 22.
  • the retention member 22 is formed between the terminal receiving passageway 16 and the corner 28 defined by outer side walls 6 and 10. As can bee seen, in the vicinity of the resilient arm 42, a portion of the terminal block 4 at the corner 28 has been removed. This enables the post 50 to be easily formed behind the resilient arm 42. However, a primary retention member 22 such as described above and the overstressed post 50 may be incorporated anywhere along housing where this desired prevent damage to the primary retention member 22 by way of overstressing. This is especially applicable where the side walls are relatively close to the terminal receiving passageway 16.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 sectional views are shown that illustrate how the primary retention members 20, 22 interact with the terminals 18 when they are received within passageways 16.
  • retention arm 36 of the body 32 extends into the passageway 16 to fit behind the shoulder 40.
  • Locking lance 34 is further received within a cavity 52 to prevent removal of the retention member 20.
  • resilient arm 44 is shown cantilevered downward from the end wall 12 to a free end 44 which fits behind the shoulder of the terminal 18.
  • Overstress post 50 is shown behind the free end 44 such that excessive outward deflection of the resilient arm 42 will be prevented by way of the post 50 which is located behind the free end 44.
  • the secondary locking member 24 that is inserted into the slot 26 includes a pair of arms 54 defining a U-shaped structure such that the arms 54 fit on either side of the terminal behind a second shoulder 56 thereof.
  • the second embodiment 200 also includes a terminal block 204 and primary terminal retaining members 220, 222.
  • the second embodiment is generally identical to the first embodiment with the exception of a different secondary locking member 224.
  • the secondary locking member 224 is a key-like member integrally moulded to the terminal block 204 by way of a frangible portion 260.
  • the secondary locking member 224 is to be received within a cavity 226 that is located between terminal receiving passageways 16 such that shoulders 262 will co-operate with the shoulders 56 (not shown in figure 5).
  • the secondary locking member 224 As a result of rotating the secondary locking member 224 in the direction of arrow A, the secondary locking member 224 is inserted into the cavity 226 free end 268 first. The act of rotation in the direction of arrow A brakes the frangible portion 260 and enables the secondary locking member 224 to be properly seated within the terminal block 204.
  • primary retention has been provided for a connector having relatively thin sections between terminal receiving passageways and outer side walls of a terminal block. This is accomplished by either locating the primary terminal retention members and the corners defined by the side walls that are in the vicinity of the terminal receiving passageways, or by providing a primary retention member that is stamped and formed form thin sheets of material and received within the terminal block or by enhancing the structural integrity of a primary locking member by providing overstress protection thereto.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
EP20000110038 1999-05-12 2000-05-12 Elektrischer Verbinder mit Kontaktrückhaltemitteln Expired - Lifetime EP1054476B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20000110038 EP1054476B1 (de) 1999-05-12 2000-05-12 Elektrischer Verbinder mit Kontaktrückhaltemitteln

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99109544 1999-05-12
EP99109544 1999-05-12
EP20000110038 EP1054476B1 (de) 1999-05-12 2000-05-12 Elektrischer Verbinder mit Kontaktrückhaltemitteln

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1054476A1 true EP1054476A1 (de) 2000-11-22
EP1054476B1 EP1054476B1 (de) 2004-01-28

Family

ID=26070924

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20000110038 Expired - Lifetime EP1054476B1 (de) 1999-05-12 2000-05-12 Elektrischer Verbinder mit Kontaktrückhaltemitteln

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1054476B1 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5538445A (en) * 1993-12-07 1996-07-23 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector having an improved terminal retention means
WO1998031076A2 (en) * 1997-01-08 1998-07-16 The Whitaker Corporation Contact latch member and electrical connector using the same
EP0961357A2 (de) * 1998-05-29 1999-12-01 The Whitaker Corporation Elektrischer Verbinder mit einem Kontaktverriegelungselement

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5538445A (en) * 1993-12-07 1996-07-23 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector having an improved terminal retention means
WO1998031076A2 (en) * 1997-01-08 1998-07-16 The Whitaker Corporation Contact latch member and electrical connector using the same
EP0961357A2 (de) * 1998-05-29 1999-12-01 The Whitaker Corporation Elektrischer Verbinder mit einem Kontaktverriegelungselement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1054476B1 (de) 2004-01-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5595509A (en) Electrical connector with terminal position assurance system
EP0470471B1 (de) Paneel-Befestigungsbügel
EP1623487B1 (de) Modulare buchsenanordnung für buchsenstecker mit variierender anzahl von leitungen
US5470258A (en) Electrical connector
EP0599165A1 (de) Elektrischer Steckverbinder mit Kontaktpositionier- und Lagesicherungssystem
EP0774801A2 (de) Elektrische Anschlussbuchse mit geschützter Einrastzunge und Verbinder dafür
EP0935827B1 (de) Kontakt mit verriegelung zur kontakthalterung und dafür geeignetes gehaüse
EP0978905B1 (de) Verbinder
EP1091450B1 (de) Verbinder
EP0551085A1 (de) Elektrischer Steckverbinder mit Mitteln gegen Überbeanspruchung
EP0963009A1 (de) Eine Vorrichtung zur Verhinderung einer fehlerhaften Zusammensetzung eines Verbindergehäuses mit einem Deckel und einen Verbinder mit einer solchen Vorrichtung
US6247974B1 (en) 110-style wire connecting block
CN1076524C (zh) 带有端子支撑壁的电连接器
JP3060302B2 (ja) 端子位置保証機構を備えた電気コネクタ
US5651704A (en) Electrical connector with terminal retainer
EP0657965B1 (de) Elektrischer Verbinder mit verbesserten Kontaktrückhaltemitteln
EP0748001A1 (de) Anschlusselement für Verbinder mit Kurzschlussbrücke und Verbindergehäuse
US6589080B2 (en) Terminal fitting and a connector
KR20000017090A (ko) 커넥터의 하우징 및 그것에 의해 제조된 커넥터
US6554645B1 (en) Primary terminal retention feature for connectors
KR100255471B1 (ko) 보유수단을갖춘단자를갖는전기커넥터
EP0065357B1 (de) Steckverbinder mit einer schwachen Einführkraft
EP1261070B1 (de) Anschlussteil und Steckverbinder mit einem solchen Anschlussteil
EP1054476B1 (de) Elektrischer Verbinder mit Kontaktrückhaltemitteln
US4992063A (en) Electrical connector

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

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20010412

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20020628

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

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

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60007916

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20040304

Kind code of ref document: P

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

Effective date: 20041029

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 17

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 19

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20180411

Year of fee payment: 19

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20180509

Year of fee payment: 19

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20190430

Year of fee payment: 20

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

Effective date: 20190512

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: 20190512

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 60007916

Country of ref document: DE

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: 20190531