WO1986006554A1

WO1986006554A1 - An electrical connector assembly and an electrical terminal

Info

Publication number: WO1986006554A1
Application number: PCT/US1986/000517
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reginald John Simmons
Original assignee: Amp Incorporated
Priority date: 1985-04-22
Filing date: 1986-03-14
Publication date: 1986-11-06
Also published as: ES296999U; ES296999Y; CN86102759A; CN1006263B; GB8510175D0

Abstract

The assembly comprises a housing (2) having cavities (4) for receiving electrical terminals (6). Each terminal (6) has a resilient retention portion (10) having an opening (14) and a slot (12) communicating therewith. When a terminal is inserted into a cavity (4) a wedge shaped projection (8) in the cavity (4) is passed resiliently through the slot (12) into the opening (14) to retain the terminal (6) in the cavity (4). By virtue of cam surfaces (18) bounding the opening (14), the terminal can be withdrawn from the cavity (4), for exchange, by pulling on the lead (42) of the terminal (4), thereby to cause an end (20) of the projection (8) to open up the slot (12) to allow the projection (8) to escape therefrom. The withdrawal force substantially exceeds the insertion force. A retention bar (22) is latchable to the housing (2) to prevent withdrawal of the inserted terminals (6).

Description

AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND AN ELECTRI CAL TERMI NAL This invention relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising a housing having terminal receiving cavities therein and means for releasably retaining an electrical terminal in each cavity , and also relates to an electrical terminal .

In the automotive industry , it is frequently a requirement, that, for reasons of security, each terminal be retained in its cavity by two independent means. Such means may comprise , firstly , a locking lance on the terminal , which is engageable with , a snap action , behind a shoulder in the cavity as the terminal is inserted thereinto , and a retention member which can be latched to the housing to engage the terminals , when they have been inserted into the cavities therein , to prevent their withdrawal from the cavities. Before their insertion into the housing , the terminals are usually crimped to leads for con¬ nection to electrical circuits in the vehicle in which the connec¬ tor is to be used , e. g. , for connection to lamp or instrument circuits. When assembling the terminals to the housing , it is therefore important that each terminal should be inserted into a predetermined cavity therein so that the circuits can correctly be completed , through a connector to be mated with said connec¬ tor assembly.

Where a locking lance is employed as the initial means for retaining the terminal in its cavity and if it is found that the terminal has been inserted into the wrong cavity , then a tool for this purpose must be employed to release the lance from its shoulder in the cavity prior to the retention member being latched to the housing , to enable removal of the wrongly insert- ed terminal therefrom.

There is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 36860/59 , an electrical connector assembly comprising an insulat¬ ing housing defining terminal receiving cavities each having a terminal receiving end , an electrical terminal for insertion into each cavity through its terminal receiving end , a projection in the cavity which projection tapers towards the terminal receiving end of the cavity , a retention portion on each terminal , having an opening for receiving said projection and a terminal retention means for cooperation with the housing to retain the terminals in their cavities.

However, tooling is required for removing the terminals from their cavities .

According to one aspect of the present invention, a slot communicates with said opening , there being provided means on the retention portion for guiding the projection through the slot and into the opening as the terminal is inserted into the cavity , and means on the retention portion and on the projection , for cooperation resiliently to open out the slot to release the projec¬ tion from the opening as a result of the application to the termi- nal , of a force to withdraw the terminal from the cavity through its terminal receiving end .

By virtue of the above construction each terminal can be withdrawn manually from its cavity , for exchange, prior to the retention member being latched to the housing. The force needed to extract the terminal is preferably arranged to be substantially greater than that needed to insert the terminal , so that the terminal is firmly held in its cavity during relative manipulation of the housing and the retention member.

The means for guiding the projection through the slot, may comprise flared mouth surfaces of the slot, the means for open¬ ing out the slot, comprising a shoulder on the projection , the shoulder facing away from said terminal receiving end , and surfaces bounding the opening , which surfaces diverge from one another towards said terminal receiving end . The retention portion of each terminal is preferably in the form of a barrel , the opening being elongate and the slot commu¬ nicating with one end thereof and opening into one end of the barrel , the flexibility of the retention portion being preferably enhanced by the provision of a further slot communicating with the other end of the opening and opening into the other end of the barrel .

When the terminal is positioned in the cavity one end of the retention portion preferably abuts a shoulder in the cavity , the other end being arranged for abutment by the retention member when it is latched to the housing .

The projection may be wedge shaped , with its minor end directed towards said terminal receiving end , the ends of the projection extending normally of the cavity and the projection being of constant height.

The terminal retention member, which is preferably in the form of a comb may conveniently be made captive to the housing , for example, by means of a flexible lanyard.

According to another aspect of the invention , an electrical terminal comprising means for connection to an electrical lead , a portion for mating with a complimentary electrical terminal , and a retention portion disposed between the connection means and the mating portion and having an opening therein; is characterized in that said retention portion is substantially barrel shaped and thus has a rounded wall surface , in which said opening is formed , said opening having a first end communicating with a slot opening into a first end of the retention portion , said slot having a flared mouth defined by surfaces diverging in the direction of the mating portion at a given angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal , a pair of surfaces bounding an end of the opening which is nearest to the slot, being angled with respect to said axis at a substantially greater angle than the first mentioned surfaces .

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings , in which :

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an electrical socket connector assembly showing an electrical terminal about to be assembled to an insulating housing thereof; FIGURE 2 is a similar view to that of Figure 1 , but showing an electrical plug connector assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembly of Figure 1 showing the terminal assembled to, and retained in , the housing by means of a terminal retention member;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the lines 4-4 of Figure 3 ; FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plug con¬ nector assembly showing the terminal assembled to the housing and retained therein by means of a terminal retention member; and

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the plug connector assembly and the socket connector assembly in mated relationship.

As shown in Figures 1 , 3 , 4 and 6 , the socket connector assembly comprises an insulating housing 2 defining terminal receiving cavities 4 each having a terminal receiving end 5 , an electrical socket terminal 6 (only one of which is shown) for insertion into each cavity 4 through its terminal receiving end 5 , a projection 8 in each cavity 5 , which projection tapers , (as shown in Figure 4) towards the terminal receiving end 5 , a resilient retention portion 10 on each terminal 6 , having a slot 12 communicating with an opening 14 for receiving the projection 8 , means , in the form of flared mouth surfaces 16 of the slot 12 , for guiding the projection 8 through the slot 12 and into the opening 14 as the terminal is inserted into the cavity through the end 5 thereof, means on the retention portion 10 , in the form of cam surfaces 18 bounding the opening 14 and means on the projection 8 , in the form of an end surface 20 for coopera¬ tion with the surfaces 18 , to open out the slot 12 to release the projection 8 from the opening 14, as a result of the application to the terminal 6 , of a force to withdraw the terminal from the cavity 4, through its terminal receiving end 5 , and a terminal retention member 22 in the form of comb-like retention bar , which is latchable to the housing 2 , by means of latch arms 24 on the member 22 which engage in recesses 26 in the housing 2 to retain the terminal 6 in its cavity 4.

The cavities 4 are arranged in two rows , the upper (as shown in Figure 1 ) row comprising four cavities and the lower row , five cavities . The housing 2 is provided with a latch arm 28 for latching the socket connector assembly into mating rela¬ tionship with the plug connector assembly as will be described below.

The terminal 6 has extending from one end of its retention portion 10, a plug socket 30 having a longitudinal open seam 32 which is intersected by a transverse slot 34 enabling the socket 30 to be resiliently constricted . The socket 30 has thereon internal contact ribs 36 extending parallel to the seam 32. From the other end of the portion 10 , extends a crimping ferrule 40 , which has been crimped to an electrical lead 42. The resilient retention portion 10 which is in the form of a hollow barrel , the ends 44 and 46 of which extend substantially normally , as seen in side view , from a base 48 , is , in order to augment its flexi¬ bility , provided with a further slot 50 , which communicates at one end with the opening 14 , and opens at its other end , into the end 46 of the portion 10. The forward part of each cavity 4 is defined by a circular cylindrical tower 52 , the towers of each row being connected by webs 54. In each cavity 4 is a shoulder 56 for engagement by the end 44 of the portion 10 of a terminal 6.

The terminal retention member 22 which is made captive to the housing 2 by means of a flexible lanyard 60, is formed as a comb having two rows of teeth 62 , one tooth being provided for each cavity 4. As will best be apparent from Figure 4, the member 22 is arranged to be inserted into the housing 2 from the rear , so that each tooth 62 enters one of the cavities 4 and so that the latch arms 24 enter the recesses 26 in the housing 2 and latch behind shoulders 64 provided therein .

The plug connector assembly will now be described with reference to Figures 2 , 5 and 6. Those parts of the plug connector assembly , which are the same as , or have the same function as corresponding parts of the socket connector assembly described above, bear the same reference numerals as those parts , with the addition of a prime symbol , and will not further be described here. The housing 2' of the plug connector assem¬ bly is provided with a latch bar 64 for receiving there beneath the latch arm 28 of the housing 2 and presenting a shoulder 66 behind which the latch arm 28 is engageable. Terminals 68 of the plug connector assembly , are the same as the terminals 6 of the socket connector assembly excepting that instead of being provided with sockets 30 they are provided with plugs 70 , extending from the ends 44' of the retention portions 10' of the terminals 68. When the terminals 68 are received in the open¬ ings 4¹ of the housing 2' , the plugs 70 extend through stub towers 72 in the housing 2' into a hood 74 thereof, which hood is dimensioned to receive the towers 52 of the housing 2.

In order to assemble the terminals 6 to the housing 2 , each terminal is inserted in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1 into a respective one of the cavities 4 until the end 44 of each portion 10 engages the corresponding shoulder 56 in that cavity . During the insertion of the terminal , the minor end of the pro¬ jection 8 engages the surfaces 16 and cams them progressively apart thereby opening up the slot 12 so that the projection 8 passes therethrough into the opening 14, the portion 10 then resiling so that the surfaces 18 thereof latch behind the shoulder 20 of the projection 8 (as shown in Figure 4) whereby the terminal 6 is releasably latched in its cavity 4, the opening of the slot 12 being facilitated by the presence of the slot 50. If it is found that a terminal 6 has been inserted into the wrong cavity 4 , having regard , for example, to the coloring of the lead 42 , in relation to the position of the cavity 4 , the terminal can be withdrawn by pulling on the lead 42 so that the surfaces 18 of the portion 10 of the terminal are cammed resiliently apart by engagement with the end 20 of the corresponding projection 8 , whereby the slot 12 thereof is again opened up, this time to allow the projection 8 to pass therethrough out of the opening 1 4 to permit the withdrawal of the terminal 6. The surfaces 16 and 18 are so relatively angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal 6 , that the force needed to withdraw the terminal from the cavity 4 is very substantially greater than the force needed to insert it thereinto , the surfaces 16 being acutely angled with respect to said axis and the surfaces 18 being obtusely angled with respect thereto. The terminals are accord¬ ingly firmly retained in the cavities 42 whilst the housing 2 and the member 22 are relatively manipulated by the operator , to insert the teeth 62 into the cavities 4 and the latch arms 24 into the recesses 26. When the teeth 62 have been so inserted , the free end of each tooth 62 engages the end 44 of the respective portion 10 , the latch arms 24 engaging behind the shoulders 64 so that ail the terminals are locked into their respective cavities 4.

The terminals 68 of the plug connector assembly are similar¬ ly inserted into the cavities 4' , the projections 8' and the retain¬ ing portions 10' of the terminals 68 cooperating in the same manner as that described above in respect of the projections 8 and retaining portions 10. Thus , any terminal 68 which has been inserted into the wrong cavity 4' can be extracted there¬ from by pulling on its lead 42' and can then be replaced by the correct terminal 68 , before the member 22' is assembled to the housing 2' to lock all the terminals 68 in their cavities 4' .

If the leads are of very small gauge, it may be advisable to assist the extraction of a terminal by pushing on the free end of the plug or the socket as the case may be.

As shown in Figure 6 , the plug and the socket connector assemblies can be mated so that the plugs 70 are received in the sockets 30 electrically to connect the leads 42 and 42' and so that the latch arms 28 latch behind the shoulders 66 to lock the two assemblies in mated relationship.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . An electrical connector assembly comprising an insulat¬ ing housing (2) defining terminal receiving cavities (4) each having a terminal receiving end (5) , an electrical terminal (6) for insertion into each cavity (4) through its terminal receiving end (5 ) , a projection (8) in the cavity (4) , which projection (8) tapers towards the terminal receiving end (5) of the cavity (4) , a retention portion (10) on each terminal (6) , having an opening (14) for receiving said projection (8) , and terminal retention means (22) for cooperation with the housing (2) to retain the terminals (6) in their cavities (4) , characterized by a slot (12) communicating with said opening (14) , means (16 ) on the reten¬ tion portion (10) for guiding the projection (8) through the slot (12 ) and into the opening ( 14) as the terminal (6) is inserted into the cavity (4) , and means (18 and 20) on the retention portion (10) and on the projection (8) , for cooperation resiliently to open out the slot (12) to release the projection ( 8) from the opening (14) as a result of the application to the terminal (6) of a force to withdraw the terminal (6) from the cavity (4) through its terminal receiving end (5 ) .

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said means on the retention portion ( 10) which is substan¬ tially barrel shaped , comprise flared mouth surfaces (16) commu¬ nicating with said slot (12) and cam surfaces (18 ) bounding said opening (14) in the vicinity of said slot (12) , the flared mouth surfaces (16) and the cam surfaces (18) being so relatively angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal (6) , that the force needed to withdraw the terminal (6) from the cavity (4) substantially exceeds the force needed to insert the terminal (6) into the cavity (4) .

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that said flared surfaces (16) are acutely angled with respect to said axis, said cam ( 18) surfaces being obtusely angled with respect thereto.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that said flared mouth surfaces ( 16) define a flared mouth which opens into one end of the retention portion ( 10) which has a further slot (50) in substantial axial alignment with the first mentioned slot (1 2) and communicating at one end with said opening (14) and at its other end with the other end of the retention portion (10) .

5. An assembly as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims , characterized in that the retention portion (10) is shaped substantially as a right circular cylinder.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the projection (8) is wedge shaped , the minor end thereof being directed towards said terminal receiving end (5 ) and the major end (20) thereof providing said means on the projection (8) for cooperating with said means on the retention portion (10) , the projection (8) being of substan¬ tially constant height.

7. An electrical terminal (6) comprising means (40) for connection to an electrical lead (42) , a portion (30) for mating with a complimentary electrical terminal (68) , and a retention portion (10) disposed between the connection means (40) and the mating portion (30) and having an opening (14) therein ; charac¬ terized in that said retention portion (10) is substantially barrel shaped and thus has a rounded wall surface , in which said opening (14) is formed , said opening (14) having a first end communicating with a slot (12) opening into a first end of the retention portion (10) , said slot (12) having a flared mouth defined by surfaces (16) diverging in the direction of the mating portion (30) at a given angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal (6) , a pair of surfaces (18) bounding an end of the opening (14) which is nearest to the slot (12) , being angled with respect to said axis at a substantially greater angle than the first mentioned surfaces (6) .

8. A terminal as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that a further slot (50) in substantial axial alignment with the first mentioned slot (50) communicates with an end of the opening (14) , which end is remote from the first mentioned slot (12) , and with that end of the retention portion ( 10) which is nearest to said connection means (40) .