EP0535975A1 - Battery connector - Google Patents
Battery connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0535975A1 EP0535975A1 EP92309004A EP92309004A EP0535975A1 EP 0535975 A1 EP0535975 A1 EP 0535975A1 EP 92309004 A EP92309004 A EP 92309004A EP 92309004 A EP92309004 A EP 92309004A EP 0535975 A1 EP0535975 A1 EP 0535975A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- engaging
- housing
- fixing
- contact member
- 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
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
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
- H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
- H01R13/2442—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted with a single cantilevered beam
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an electrical connector for detachable connection to a battery pack or cassette type electronic package.
- Figure 5 shows an example of a known connector for achieving an electrical connection to a battery pack.
- the known structure includes a contact member 10' including contact portion 11' for making an electrical contact with an electrode 41' of a battery pack 40'.
- a connecting portion 12' retains a wire 30' soldered thereto, and a fixing portion 13' (anchoring portion) for fixing, for example, by caulking the contact member to the body of a housing or terminal base 20'.
- Fixing of the contact member to the main part by caulking is not only troublesome but is also extremely complicated since the caulking force has to be controlled considering its state after caulking, e.g., a state in which the contact member may rotate to the left or right but is fixed without any play against vertical movement.
- the present invention is aimed at making it possible to secure the contact member without requiring caulking, by employing a specific form and construction of the contact member, as well as the structure of a terminal base or a housing which receives the contact member.
- a connector for connecting to a battery comprising: a plurality of contact members and a housing mounting the contact members, each contact member including a contact portion for electrically connecting to a battery electrode.
- a connecting portion is provided for connecting a wire member.
- a fixing portion interconnects the contact portion and the connecting portion, and fixes the contact member to the housing.
- the fixing portion has an inverse U-shaped cross-section with an opposing pair of side walls and an engaging arm extending therefrom towards the contact portion.
- Each side wall has an aperture
- the housing including a recess for receiving and holding the fixing portions of the contact members and an engaging portion for engaging with the engaging arms of the contact members.
- the inner wall surfaces of the recess have projections which engage with the openings in the fixing portions of the contact members.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector showing a contact member exploded therefrom in accordance with the present invention for electrical connection to a battery pack.
- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the connecting structure in accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 2.
- Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the state of connection between the contact member of the electrical connector and the battery pack as shown in Figure 2.
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example of a known electrical connector and a battery pack.
- Figure 1 shows an electrical connector having a contact member 10 provided on a terminal plate and a battery pack 40 (or other electronic package of cassette type) which contacts the contact member 10 for electrical contact therewith.
- Terminal plate of Figure 1 is secured to a predetermined portion of the apparatus body on which the battery pack is to be mounted.
- There are a plurality of contact members 10 which are arrayed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 as shown in Figure 1.
- Each contact member 10 has a contact portion 11 which also serves as a leaf spring, a connecting portion 12 for connection to a wire 30, and a fixing portion 13 which interconnects the contact portion and the connecting portion and fixes the contact portion to the housing.
- the contact portion 11 is disposed so as to be exposed externally.
- the contact portion 11 projects into a cavity for receiving the battery pack and connects an electrode exposed on the bottom of the battery case in the cavity for electrical contact therewith.
- the fixing portion 13 has a main part composed of a pair of opposing side walls 13A which define an inverse U-shaped cross-section and an engaging arm 13B which extends downward from the main part towards the contact portion.
- Each side wall 13A of the fixing portion 13A has an opening 13C.
- the housing 20 includes a recess 21 for receiving and holding the fixing portion of each contact and an engaging portion 22 for engaging with the engaging arm 13B of the contact member.
- the engaging portion 22 of the housing has a tapered wall surface 22A. Projections 21A, for engaging with the openings in the fixing portion of the contact members, are formed in the inner wall surfaces of the recess 21.
- Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which the contact portion 11 contacts an electrode 41 of the battery pack.
- the arrangement is such that, when the battery pack is mounted on a device, the electrode 41 presses the contact portion 11 of the contact so as to be held in contact therewith as illustrated.
- the pair of opposing side walls 13A of the fixing portion 13 of the contact member is fitted in the recess 21 of the housing.
- the projections 21A on the inner wall surface engage with the openings 13A in the side walls. Since the side walls tend to expand outward, the fixing portion of the contact member are fixed and held in the recess of the housing.
- the engaging arms 13B engage with a step which is presented by the tapered wall surface 22A of the engaging portion of the housing.
- the connecting structure in accordance with the present invention makes it possible to securely mount the fixing portion of the contact member in a recess of a housing simply by pressing the contact member into the housing, without requiring caulking, by virtue of the specific structure of the contact member and the housing, thus Significantly improving the mounting efficiency of the contact member.
Landscapes
- Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an electrical connector for detachable connection to a battery pack or cassette type electronic package.
- Figure 5 shows an example of a known connector for achieving an electrical connection to a battery pack. Referring to Figure 5, the known structure includes a contact member 10' including contact portion 11' for making an electrical contact with an electrode 41' of a battery pack 40'. A connecting portion 12' retains a wire 30' soldered thereto, and a fixing portion 13' (anchoring portion) for fixing, for example, by caulking the contact member to the body of a housing or terminal base 20'.
- Fixing of the contact member to the main part by caulking is not only troublesome but is also extremely complicated since the caulking force has to be controlled considering its state after caulking, e.g., a state in which the contact member may rotate to the left or right but is fixed without any play against vertical movement.
- In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is aimed at making it possible to secure the contact member without requiring caulking, by employing a specific form and construction of the contact member, as well as the structure of a terminal base or a housing which receives the contact member.
- To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided a connector for connecting to a battery, comprising: a plurality of contact members and a housing mounting the contact members, each contact member including a contact portion for electrically connecting to a battery electrode. A connecting portion is provided for connecting a wire member. A fixing portion interconnects the contact portion and the connecting portion, and fixes the contact member to the housing. The fixing portion has an inverse U-shaped cross-section with an opposing pair of side walls and an engaging arm extending therefrom towards the contact portion. Each side wall has an aperture, the housing including a recess for receiving and holding the fixing portions of the contact members and an engaging portion for engaging with the engaging arms of the contact members. The inner wall surfaces of the recess have projections which engage with the openings in the fixing portions of the contact members.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector showing a contact member exploded therefrom in accordance with the present invention for electrical connection to a battery pack.
- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the connecting structure in accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 2.
- Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the state of connection between the contact member of the electrical connector and the battery pack as shown in Figure 2.
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example of a known electrical connector and a battery pack.
- An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter.
- Figure 1 shows an electrical connector having a
contact member 10 provided on a terminal plate and a battery pack 40 (or other electronic package of cassette type) which contacts thecontact member 10 for electrical contact therewith. Terminal plate of Figure 1 is secured to a predetermined portion of the apparatus body on which the battery pack is to be mounted. There are a plurality ofcontact members 10 which are arrayed to extend in the longitudinal direction of thehousing 20 as shown in Figure 1. - Each
contact member 10 has acontact portion 11 which also serves as a leaf spring, a connectingportion 12 for connection to awire 30, and afixing portion 13 which interconnects the contact portion and the connecting portion and fixes the contact portion to the housing. In the illustrated embodiment, thecontact portion 11 is disposed so as to be exposed externally. - The
contact portion 11 projects into a cavity for receiving the battery pack and connects an electrode exposed on the bottom of the battery case in the cavity for electrical contact therewith. - Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the
fixing portion 13 has a main part composed of a pair ofopposing side walls 13A which define an inverse U-shaped cross-section and an engaging arm 13B which extends downward from the main part towards the contact portion. Eachside wall 13A of thefixing portion 13A has an opening 13C. - The
housing 20 includes arecess 21 for receiving and holding the fixing portion of each contact and anengaging portion 22 for engaging with the engaging arm 13B of the contact member. In the illustration, theengaging portion 22 of the housing has atapered wall surface 22A.Projections 21A, for engaging with the openings in the fixing portion of the contact members, are formed in the inner wall surfaces of therecess 21. - Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which the
contact portion 11 contacts anelectrode 41 of the battery pack. The arrangement is such that, when the battery pack is mounted on a device, theelectrode 41 presses thecontact portion 11 of the contact so as to be held in contact therewith as illustrated. - For mounting the
contact member 10 in accordance with the present invention, the pair ofopposing side walls 13A of thefixing portion 13 of the contact member is fitted in therecess 21 of the housing. In this state, theprojections 21A on the inner wall surface engage with theopenings 13A in the side walls. Since the side walls tend to expand outward, the fixing portion of the contact member are fixed and held in the recess of the housing. At the same time, the engaging arms 13B engage with a step which is presented by thetapered wall surface 22A of the engaging portion of the housing. - As has been described, the connecting structure in accordance with the present invention, makes it possible to securely mount the fixing portion of the contact member in a recess of a housing simply by pressing the contact member into the housing, without requiring caulking, by virtue of the specific structure of the contact member and the housing, thus Significantly improving the mounting efficiency of the contact member.
- Having described the preferred embodiment herein, it should be appreciated that variations may be made thereto without departing from the contemplated scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment described herein is illustrative and not limiting, the true scope of the invention being set forth in the claims appended hereto.
Claims (4)
- A connector for connecting to a battery, comprising: a plurality of contact members (10) and a housing (20) mounting said contact members (10), each said contact member including a contact portion (11) for electrically connecting to a battery electrode, a connecting portion (12) for connecting a wire member thereto, and a fixing portion (13) interconnecting said contact portion and said connecting portion and fixing said contact member to said housing, said fixing portion (13) having an inverse U-shaped cross-section with opposing pair of side walls (13A) and an engaging arm (13B) extending therefrom towards said contact portion, each said side wall having an aperture (13C) , said housing including a recess (21) for receiving and holding said fixing portions of said contact members and an engaging portion (22) for engaging with said engaging arms of said contact members, inner wall surfaces of said recess having projections (21A) which engage with said openings in said fixing portions of said contact members.
- A connector according to claim 1, wherein said engaging portion of said housing comprises an inclined wall surface (22A).
- A connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said contact portions of said contact members are arranged to project outwardly therefrom.
- A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said contact portion (11) of said contact members are arranged in a general configuration of a leaf spring.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP80609/91 | 1991-10-04 | ||
JP1991080609U JP2572580Y2 (en) | 1991-10-04 | 1991-10-04 | Connection structure for batteries, etc. |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0535975A1 true EP0535975A1 (en) | 1993-04-07 |
EP0535975B1 EP0535975B1 (en) | 1997-06-04 |
Family
ID=13723075
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19920309004 Expired - Lifetime EP0535975B1 (en) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-10-02 | Battery connector |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0535975B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2572580Y2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2079704A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69220172T2 (en) |
SG (1) | SG50696A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0617486A1 (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1994-09-28 | The Whitaker Corporation | Connector for a battery |
US5470255A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1995-11-28 | The Whitaker Corporation | Extended height connector for a battery |
US5795181A (en) * | 1995-01-24 | 1998-08-18 | The Whitaker Corporation | Connector on a battery |
EP0939457A2 (en) * | 1998-02-27 | 1999-09-01 | The Whitaker Corporation | Device-to-board electrical connector |
GB2445380A (en) * | 2007-01-04 | 2008-07-09 | Motorola Inc | Electrical contact having deflectable portion |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1765922A1 (en) * | 1968-08-07 | 1971-10-28 | Grundig Emv | Device for electrical devices or their parts for rivetless and screwless fastening of a leaf spring-like contact spring to an insulating material part |
US4586777A (en) * | 1984-07-16 | 1986-05-06 | Lucerne Products, Inc. | Battery-switch module adapter |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0743946Y2 (en) * | 1988-03-31 | 1995-10-09 | 日本電気株式会社 | Case terminal |
-
1991
- 1991-10-04 JP JP1991080609U patent/JP2572580Y2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-10-02 DE DE1992620172 patent/DE69220172T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-10-02 SG SG1996009037A patent/SG50696A1/en unknown
- 1992-10-02 CA CA 2079704 patent/CA2079704A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-10-02 EP EP19920309004 patent/EP0535975B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1765922A1 (en) * | 1968-08-07 | 1971-10-28 | Grundig Emv | Device for electrical devices or their parts for rivetless and screwless fastening of a leaf spring-like contact spring to an insulating material part |
US4586777A (en) * | 1984-07-16 | 1986-05-06 | Lucerne Products, Inc. | Battery-switch module adapter |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0617486A1 (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1994-09-28 | The Whitaker Corporation | Connector for a battery |
US5470255A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1995-11-28 | The Whitaker Corporation | Extended height connector for a battery |
US5518424A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1996-05-21 | The Whitaker Corporation | Connector for a battery |
US5795181A (en) * | 1995-01-24 | 1998-08-18 | The Whitaker Corporation | Connector on a battery |
EP0939457A2 (en) * | 1998-02-27 | 1999-09-01 | The Whitaker Corporation | Device-to-board electrical connector |
EP0939457A3 (en) * | 1998-02-27 | 2000-11-29 | The Whitaker Corporation | Device-to-board electrical connector |
GB2445380A (en) * | 2007-01-04 | 2008-07-09 | Motorola Inc | Electrical contact having deflectable portion |
GB2445380B (en) * | 2007-01-04 | 2009-12-02 | Motorola Inc | Electrical connector and connector module |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2079704A1 (en) | 1993-04-05 |
DE69220172T2 (en) | 1997-09-18 |
JPH0533456U (en) | 1993-04-30 |
SG50696A1 (en) | 1998-07-20 |
JP2572580Y2 (en) | 1998-05-25 |
DE69220172D1 (en) | 1997-07-10 |
EP0535975B1 (en) | 1997-06-04 |
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