US3845452A - Rear release contact retention assembly - Google Patents

Rear release contact retention assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
US3845452A
US3845452A US00318343A US31834372A US3845452A US 3845452 A US3845452 A US 3845452A US 00318343 A US00318343 A US 00318343A US 31834372 A US31834372 A US 31834372A US 3845452 A US3845452 A US 3845452A
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United States
Prior art keywords
insert
contact
face
rearward
passages
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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.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US00318343A
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English (en)
Inventor
R Eifler
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Amphenol Corp
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Bendix Corp
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 Bendix Corp filed Critical Bendix Corp
Priority to US00318343A priority Critical patent/US3845452A/en
Priority to US00390625A priority patent/US3810071A/en
Priority to FR7346221A priority patent/FR2211769B1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3845452A publication Critical patent/US3845452A/en
Assigned to ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY reassignment ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE DATE APRIL 1, 1985 Assignors: BENDIX CORPORATION, THE,
Assigned to CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, NEW YORK AGENCY, AS AGENT reassignment CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, NEW YORK AGENCY, AS AGENT SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Assigned to AMPHENOL CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE reassignment AMPHENOL CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • H01R13/422—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means
    • H01R13/4223—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers
    • H01R13/4226—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers comprising two or more integral flexible retaining fingers acting on a single contact

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical connectors of the type having a plurality of contacts in one connector member which are mateable with a plurality of contacts in another connector member when the members are interengaged.
  • This invention is more particularly related to a retention mechanism in the connector members which permit the contacts to be snapped into their operative position in respective bores in the insulators of the connector members and also permits the contacts to be released for withdrawal from the respective bores by use of'a suitable release tool.
  • the individual contact retention mechanisms may be assembled into a single assembly which demountably retains a plurality of electrical contacts. each of which is independently released.
  • One example of a single assembly of demountably retained electrical contacts may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,l65,369 entitled "Retention System for Electrical Contacts" issued Jan. l2, I965 to .l. W. Maston.
  • the inventor of this invention set out to invent a contact retention mechanism that accomplished the results of the Maston and Bowen patents but by entirely different structures and arrangements.
  • This invention provides an alternate approach to retaining the electrical contacts within a connector assembly heretobefore undisclosed.
  • the invention which is a novel contact retention assembly, provides a means for demountably assembling an electrical contact within a connector assembly which does not require the disassembly of the connector to remove the contacts. Further. it does not require removal of all contacts to replace or remove any one of the contacts.
  • the invention is an electrical connector assembly characterized by a contact retaining member that includes a plurality of latches (25) integral with said retention member (20).
  • Each of the latches (25) extends rearwardly from the retention member (20) and have on the inside thereof a forward facing shoulder (27) for preventing the rearward movement of a contact (40) mounted in the retaining member (25).
  • Each of the latches (25) is further characterized by the fact that they are resiliently expandable in a radial'direction to allow the enlarged section (41) of a contact (40) to pass therethrough upon forward insertion of the contact into the axial passage in the member (20).
  • the electrical connector unit comprises: a body (20) having a plurality of passages (18) therethrough from a front face to a rear face (23). each of the passages adapted to receive respective electrical contacts (40) therein which are insertable from the rear and which have an enlarged section (41) defining a rearwardly facing shoulder (43) and a forwardly facing shoulder (46) that engages a portion of said body (20) to limit forward movement of said contact; a plurality of mushroom shaped contact retention members (11, I2) disposed between adjacent passages of said body (20), said mushroom shaped members (11, 12) integral with said body and extending generally perpendicular from the rear face (23) of said body (20), each mushroom shaped retention member including a stem portion (11) that terminates in a free end that is cap shaped (12), said cap portion defining a forwardly facing shoulder I7), each of said mushroom shaped retention members (11, I2) being resiliently and radially deflectable to permit the enlarged section (M) of
  • each of said caps (12) between adjacent passages are disposed to engage a portion of the rearwardly facing shoulders (43) of at least two adjacent electrical contacts (40), inserted into said passages at points on said cap (I2) that are opposite each other so that said cap (I2) is engaged at two diametrically opposed points by the rearward facing shoulders (43) of said two adjacent'contacts whereby said cap is not deflectable in the direction of said diametrically opposed points when a rearward force is applied to either of said two adjacent contacts.
  • the electrical connector comprises: a tubular housing a first dielectric insert (10) mounted in said housing (60). said insert having a front face (I6), a rear face, and a plurality of bores (18) therethrough extending from said front face to said rear face, said insert including means (13) for stopping the forward movement of an electrical contact (40) at a predetermined point when an electrical contact is inserted into one of said bores from the rear face; a second dielectric insert (20) having a forward face (26) and a rearward face mounted with its forward face (26) against the rearward face of said first insert (l), said second insert (20) having a plurality of passages therethrough extending from the front face to the rear face of said second insert and which are axially aligned within said bores (18) of said first insert said bores l8) and said passages each adapted to receive an electrical contact member (40) which is insertable from the rear of said second insert, said second insert including latching means which are resiliently deflectable in
  • each of said contacts having a forward facing shoulder (46) and a rearward facing shoulder (43), said forward facing shoulder (46) engaging said first insert stop means (l3) thereby limiting forward movement of said electrical contacts and said rearward facing shoulder (41) engaging said second insert latching means (25) thereby limiting rearward movement, whereby said contact is retained within said connector housing until said latching means (25) are radially deflected to permit the removal of said contact.
  • FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of an electrical connector assembly that includes an electical contact retaining mechanism that embodies the principles of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines ll-Il of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly shown in FIG. I, with an elec trical contact located in a partially inserted position before the contact retaining latches have contracted behind the contact shoulder.
  • FIG, 4 is an alternate embodiment of the electrical connector assembly shown in FIG. 1 wherein the rear insert is a removably mounted rigid material that prevents the radial deflection of the retention towers.
  • FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein double acting mushroom shaped retention members replace latches as the retention mechanism.
  • FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines VIVI of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. I illustrates a novel contact retention insert (20) sandwiched between a forward insert (10) and a rear insert (30).
  • Forward insert (10) preferably comprised of a rigid and electrically nonconducting material, includes a forward face (l6), a rearward facing shoulder (13) and a passage (18) extending from the rear face to the front face.
  • Passage (18) in the forward insert (10) is sized to receive the forward portion of an electrical contact (40) and to provide a positive stop (13) against further forward movement of the contact (40) once it is inserted into the passage (18).
  • the rear insert (30) which, in this embodiment is comprised of a resiliently deformable and electrically nonconducting material, such as rubber, has a rear face (33) and a bore aligned with passage (18) in the forward insert (10).
  • the bore in the rear insert (30) is sized to receive rearwardly extending latches (25) which are an integral part of the retention insert (20).
  • the retention insert (20) has a forward face (26), a rear face (23) and a plurality of latches (25) extending generally perpendicularly from the rear face (23) of the retention insert (20).
  • Each of the latches (25) includes an internal forward facing shoulder (27) that engages the rearward facing shoulder (43) of the contact (40) to prevent the rearward movement of the contact (40) once it is seated in passage (18) It is the function of the rear insert (30) to provide a fluid-tight seal around the contacts (40) and between adjacent contacts (40). Attached to electrical contact (40) is an incoming lead (50). It is the function of the forward insert (10), which is generally comprised of plastic, to provide the forward stop means (13) and prevent radial movement of the contact (40) once the contact (40) is seated in the passage (l8).
  • FIG 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG 1 taken along lines II-lI.
  • This view illustrates the electrical contact (40) seated in the passage (18).
  • This view also illustrates how the latches (25) which are radially deflectable, prevent the contact (40) from moving rearwardly.
  • the rear insert (30) is made of a resilient material such as rubber
  • release and removal of the contact terminal (40) may be simply accomplished by merely inserting a suitable tool from the rear so as to deflect the contact retaining shoulders (27) of the latches (25) beyond the shoulder (43) of the contact (40), thus clearing a path for rearward withdrawal of the contact (40) out of the bore.
  • One type of tool which is useful for this purpose is a tubular plastic tool which may be slideably engaged over the wire (50) and then over the rear portion of the contact (40).
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the connector assembly portion shown in FIG. I wherein the contact (40) is located in a partially inserted position before the contact retention shoulders (27) have contracted into place behind the rearward facing shoulder (43) of the contact (40) to prevent rearward movement of the contact (40).
  • This figure illustrates how the rearward facing shoulder (13) of the forward insert (I0) prevents the contact from moving forward once the forward facing shoulder (46) of the contact (40) engages such rearward facing shoulder (13).
  • the drawing further illustrates how the enlarged portion (41) of the contact (40) radially defleets the latches (25) before moving into its locked position by the contracting of the forwardly facing retention shoulder (27) behind the rearwardly facing shoulder (43) of the contact (40).
  • the forward insert is made of a fairly rigid material, e.g. plastic, and the passage (18) is fairly long with respect to the contact (40) body, movement of the contact (40) in a radial direction is prevented by the action of the walls of the passage (18) against the contact (40).
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an electrical connector assembly that embodies alternate features of this invention.
  • the electrical connector assembly includes a generally tubular metal shell (16) which has mounted therein a forward insert 10), a contact retaining insert a removable locking insert (30), and a removable rubber insert (70) for sealing out moisture.
  • the locking insert (30) is comprised of a rigid material such as plastic which. when mounted into position against the retaining insert (20) and around the latches prevents the latches (25) from being radially expanded and the contact (40) from being removed.
  • the inserts (30, 70) are removably mounted within the tubular shell (60) and it is necessary to first remove these inserts before removing one or more of the contacts (40) retained by the contact retaining insert (20) and the forward insert (10).
  • the rearward facing shoulder (13) of the forward insert (10) that prevents further movement of the contact (40). when seated, is located within the forward insert instead of extending from the rear as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the retention mechanisms are a plurality of mushroom shaped retention members rather than latches.
  • the retention member (20) includes a plurality of mushroom shaped retention members which are formed by a stem (II) and a cap (l2) portion which has a forward facing shoulder l7) thereon.
  • each of the mushroom shaped retention members extends generally perpendicularly from the rear face (23) of the retention insert (20), and each mushroom shaped retention member is arranged between adjacent passages in the retention insert (20) so that the forward facing shoulder (17) of each cap (12) contacts at least two adjacent electrical contacts (40) disposed in adjacent passages of the retention insert (20).
  • FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines VIVI of FIG. 5 to illustrate how the cap portion (12) of the mushroom shaped retention members retains and/or prevents a contact (40) from rearward movement once it is seated in the passage within the retention insert (20).
  • the particular and unique arrangement of the mushroom caps (12) is such that any movement by one contact (40) in LII a rearward direction will not deflect the mushroom cap because it is maintained in place by another contact (40) that is adjacent the first contact. Therefore, it can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 that movement in the rearward direction of a contact (40) will not deflect a mushroom cap (l2) because of the unique way in which it is supported at diametrically opposed points.
  • the resiliently deflectable retention members may be comprised of any nonmetal such as a hard rubber-like material or a synthetic resin, with the shape of the retention member further contributing to its axial strength. Accordingly, it is intended that the illustrative and descriptive materials herein be used to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.
  • An electrical connector unit comprising:
  • an insulator member having a plurality of bores therethrough extending from a forward face to a rearward face;
  • a body having a forward face and a rearward face mounted with its forward face against the rearward face of the insulator member, said body having a plurality of passages therethrough axially aligned with said bores of said insulator member, said bores and said passages each adapted to receive an electrical contact member which is insertable from the rear of said body and each contact having an enlarged section defining a rearwardly facing shoulder and a forwardly facing shoulder thereon;
  • each of said retention members being integral with said body and having a forwardly facing shoulder that partially blocks the path of a passage in said body and terminates in a rear free end, each of said retention members being resiliently and radially deflectable to permit said enlarged contact sections to pass into said passages upon forward insertion of the contact member into the passage and bore, said hook shaped contact retention members contracting behind the rearwardly facing shoulder on the contact member to limit rearward movement thereof in the passage and bore of said body and member respectively, said retention members being substantially rigid in the axial direction when in their contracted position so as to provide a positive stop against rearward movement of the respective contact member.
  • An electrical connector unit as recited in claim 1 including an insert comprised of rigid material having a plurality of holes therein that are sized to receive each group of retention members disposed around the periphery of one of said passages, said insert being removably mounted adjacent the rearward face of said body to prevent radial movement of said retention members when said insert is mounted and to permit radial movement of said retention members when said insert is removed.
  • An electrical connector comprising:
  • a first dielectric insert mounted in said housing, said insert having a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of bores therethrough extending from said front face to said rear face, said insert including means for stopping the forward movement of an electrical contact at a predetermined point when an electrical contact is inserted into one of said bores from the rear face;
  • a second dielectric insert having a forward face and a rearward face mounted with its forward face against the rearward face of said first insert, said second insert having a plurality of passages therethrough extending from the front face to the rear face of said second insert and which are axially aligned within said bores of said first insert, said bores and said passages each adapted to receive an electrical contact member which is insertable from the rear of said second insert, said second insert including a plurality of rearwardly extending hook shaped latching means which are resiliently deflectable in a radial direction and arranged in spaced relationship around each passage in said second dielectric insert for latching onto a rearward facing shoulder of an electrical contact inserted into one of said passages to prevent rearward movement of said contact;
  • each of said contacts having a forward facing shoulder and a rearward facing shoulder, said forward facing shoulder engaging said first insert stop means thereby limiting forward movement of said electrical contacts and said rearward facing shoulder engaging said second insert latching means thereby limiting rearward movement, whereby said contact is retained within said connector housing until said latching means are radially deflected to permit the removal of said contact and means for preventing said second insert latching means from being resiliently deflected in a radial direction, said preventing means being removably mounted in said connector housing adjacent the rear face of said second insert and wherein said latching means extends rearwardly from said second insert into a passage in said preventing means.
  • said means for preventing said latching means from being deflected in a radial direction comprises a third insert having a forward face and a rearward face, said third insert removably mounted in said housing with its forward face against the rearward face of said second insert, said third insert comprised of a rigid material having a plurality of holes therethrough axially aligned with the passages of said second insert, said holes in said insert sized to receive said rearwardly extending latching means in a manner that permits the walls defining said holes to contact said rearwardly extending latching means and thereby prevent radial deflection of said latching means.
  • a third insert having a forward face and a rearward face mounted with its forward face against the rearward face of said second insert, said third insert comprised of a resiliently deformable material having a plurality of holes therethrough, from said front face to said rear face, axially aligned with the passages of said second insert, said holes in said third insert sized to receive said rearwardly extending latching means in a manner that permits the walls defining said holes to contact said rearwardly extending latching means and the rear portion of said contact, said third insert forming a fluidtight seal with said contacts and increasing the restoring force of said latching means, when deflected, and the force required to radially deflect said latching means.

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  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
US00318343A 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Rear release contact retention assembly Expired - Lifetime US3845452A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00318343A US3845452A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Rear release contact retention assembly
US00390625A US3810071A (en) 1972-12-26 1973-08-22 Rear release contact retention assembly
FR7346221A FR2211769B1 (xx) 1972-12-26 1973-12-26

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00318343A US3845452A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Rear release contact retention assembly
US00390625A US3810071A (en) 1972-12-26 1973-08-22 Rear release contact retention assembly

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US3845452A true US3845452A (en) 1974-10-29

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US00318343A Expired - Lifetime US3845452A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Rear release contact retention assembly
US00390625A Expired - Lifetime US3810071A (en) 1972-12-26 1973-08-22 Rear release contact retention assembly

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US00390625A Expired - Lifetime US3810071A (en) 1972-12-26 1973-08-22 Rear release contact retention assembly

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FR (1) FR2211769B1 (xx)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4023880A (en) * 1974-08-09 1977-05-17 International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation Contact retention assembly
US4361376A (en) * 1980-11-14 1982-11-30 The Bendix Corporation Electrical connector
US4386816A (en) * 1981-06-30 1983-06-07 The Bendix Corporation Electrical connector insert assembly
WO1986000472A1 (en) * 1984-06-29 1986-01-16 Amp Incorporated Retention article for electrical contacts
US4711509A (en) * 1985-12-05 1987-12-08 General Motors Corporation Electrical connector
US6848942B1 (en) * 2000-01-12 2005-02-01 Molex Incorporated Connectors having supportive barrier components
US20090124117A1 (en) * 2006-05-08 2009-05-14 Ralf Schleith Plug connector

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4019799A (en) * 1976-02-11 1977-04-26 The Bendix Corporation Electrical connector

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3165369A (en) * 1962-08-13 1965-01-12 Itt Retention system for electrical contacts
US3638165A (en) * 1970-06-29 1972-01-25 Itt Electrical connector contact retention assembly

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3101229A (en) * 1960-10-07 1963-08-20 Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp Electrical connectors

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3165369A (en) * 1962-08-13 1965-01-12 Itt Retention system for electrical contacts
US3638165A (en) * 1970-06-29 1972-01-25 Itt Electrical connector contact retention assembly

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4023880A (en) * 1974-08-09 1977-05-17 International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation Contact retention assembly
US4361376A (en) * 1980-11-14 1982-11-30 The Bendix Corporation Electrical connector
US4386816A (en) * 1981-06-30 1983-06-07 The Bendix Corporation Electrical connector insert assembly
WO1986000472A1 (en) * 1984-06-29 1986-01-16 Amp Incorporated Retention article for electrical contacts
US4711509A (en) * 1985-12-05 1987-12-08 General Motors Corporation Electrical connector
US6848942B1 (en) * 2000-01-12 2005-02-01 Molex Incorporated Connectors having supportive barrier components
US20090124117A1 (en) * 2006-05-08 2009-05-14 Ralf Schleith Plug connector
US7722397B2 (en) * 2006-05-08 2010-05-25 Multi-Holding Ag Plug connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2211769A1 (xx) 1974-07-19
US3810071A (en) 1974-05-07
FR2211769B1 (xx) 1976-06-25

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AS Assignment

Owner name: ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:BENDIX CORPORATION, THE,;REEL/FRAME:004765/0709

Effective date: 19850401

Owner name: CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, NEW YORK AGENC

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMPHENOL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004879/0030

Effective date: 19870515

AS Assignment

Owner name: AMPHENOL CORPORATION, LISLE, ILLINOIS A CORP. OF D

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY;REEL/FRAME:004844/0850

Effective date: 19870602

Owner name: AMPHENOL CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE, ILLINOIS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY;REEL/FRAME:004844/0850

Effective date: 19870602