|
(11) | EP 0 068 698 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Electrical tab receptacle |
| (57) An electrical tab receptacle (2) formed from sheet metal has a box-like body (3)
with spring arms (7, 8) extending forwardly in convergent manner and having turned
out ends (9, 10) defining a divergent entry to a tab receiving space. A latch projection
(13) is formed on one arm (8) and presents a rear-facing shoulder in the tab receiving
space, arranged to engage a tab recess or aperture (16) of a complementary tab to
resist with. drawal of the tab (17) from the receptacle. Outward flexure of the arm
(8) serves to release the latch projection (13) and the receptacle (2) is suitably
mounted in a housing (1) with the capacity for limited movement in the tab receiving
direction between forward and rearward housing shoulders (11, 6). The forward shoulder
(11) is formed on its rearward face with a ramp (12) adapted to deflect the arm (8) transversely
outwards on rearward movement relative to the receptacle. |
[0001] This invention relates to an electrical tab receptacle having a latch adapted positively to lock in an aperture in the tab to resist inadvertent separation of the tab and receptacle.
[0002] In our US patents 3,976,348 and RE 30277, we have disclosed a tab receptacle comprising a generally channel- shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding side-walls with free edge portions of the side-walls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab between the turned in edges of the side-walls and an integral tongue extending from the base within the receptacle portion, the free end of the tongue projecting externally of the receptacle, and the tongue, within the receptacle portion being formed with a lance arranged and adapted to engage a corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab for positively locking the receptacle against withdrawal from the tab. In such arrangement the receptacle may be disengaged by depressing the exposed free end of the tongue, and in one embodiment the receptacle is contained within a housing capable of limited relative movement to the receptacle whereby a pull on the housing will actuate the housing to depress the free end of the tongue.
[0003] Tab receptacles of this kind have met with substantial commercial success, particularly in automotive applications, where the integrity of the electrical circuitry has been substantially improved. However, the use of such receptacles is limited, to connectors having relatively few receptacles, and in which the alignment between the tabs and receptacles is relatively precise.
[0004] It is an object of the invention to obtain the advantageous positive locking feature in receptacles having a wider application and capable of providing low frictional forces on engagement and disengagement such that they can conveniently be employed in multi-way connectors.
[0005] An electrical tab receptacle according to the present invention is formed front sheet metal with a box-like body of generally rectangular section and open at an end, the body having spring arms extending forwardly from a pair of opposite sides at that end, the spring arms converging forwardly, and an end of at least one arm being bent outwardly to define a divergent entrance to a tab receiving space between the arms, a latch projection being formed on one of the spring arms presenting a rear-facing shoulder in the tab receiving space arranged to engage a recess or aperture in a tab when received between the opposed spring arms.
[0006] Suitably the latch projection is formed on an arm having an outwardly bent end portion and preferably all of the arms have outwardly-bent end portions to facilitate tab entry.
[0007] The bent out portion of the arm having the latch projection suitably provides a release member for disengaging the latch. The receptacle may be mounted in a housing adapted for limited movement relative to the receptacle and formed with a projection arranged to engage the bent out end portion of the latch spring arm on relative rearward movement to effect release.
[0008] The box-like body is suitably of open-seam form, the seam extending between ends at one side, and a pair of spring arms extending forwardly from that side, one on each side of the seam. At the other side there may be a single spring arm of width corresponding to the overall width of the pair, formed centrally with the latch projection. Suitably the wide arm is formed rearwardly of the latch projection with an aperture extending rearwardly towards the body.
[0009] Alternatively a pair of spring arms may be formed at both sides and in such an arrangement latch projections may be formed on one arm of each pair at opposite sides relatively, so that the projections engage the tab aperture at opposite sides and do not interfere. The latch projections may suitably be formed by lateral projections from inner sides of the arms which are bent into the tab receiving space.
[0010] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a fragmentary exploded view of a multi-way connector according to one embodiment;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of part of the connector of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a modified connector;
Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 but with the connector housing omitted; and
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the housing of the connector of Figure 3 viewed from the right of that figure.
[0011] In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, a-multi-way connector housing 1 has a plurality of cavities for tab receptacles 2. Each receptacle 2 comprises a box-like body 3 having an open seam 4 and at a rear end being integrally formed with a crimping portion secured to a conductor wire. The body 3 is formed on the side opposite the seam 4 with a latch 5 for releasably securing the receptacle in the housing by engagement with a forward facing shoulder 6. At the forward end the body 3 is formed at the seam side with a pair of spring arms 7, and at the opposite side with a single-, wider spring arm 8, the spring arms 7, 8 converging forwardly to define a tab receiving space, and at their forward ends 9, 10 being turned out in divergent manner to define a tab entrance. The forward end 10 of the wider arm 8 is adapted to engage a projection 11 at the forward end of the housing cavity, the projection having an inclined surface 12 adapted, on rearward movement relative to the receptacle 2, to engage the forward end 10, and cam the spring arm 8 outwards.
[0012] The wider spring arm 8 is formed with a latch 13, forwardly of an aperture 14, and presenting a rear facing shoulder 15 adapted to engage an aperture 16 formed in the complementary tab 17. The aperture 16 extends rearwardly towards the body 3, opposite the seam 4, and serves substantially to balance the spring characteristics of spring arm 8 in relation to the arms 7.
[0013] The receptacle 2 is assembled into the housing with a rib 18 of the housing 1 engaging the body seam 4, the latch 5 engaging shoulder 6 and positioned, in a forwardly extending housing slot 19. Shoulders 20 at opposite sides of the forward end of the receptacle body 3 are spaced rearwardly of housing shoulders 21, whereby relative movement of the housing 1 rearwardly of the receptacle 2 is possible in order to engage the housing projections 12 with the spring ends 10 for release of the latch projections 13 from the tab apertures 16 by cam action as has been described.
[0014] In the embodiment of Figures 2 to 4 the receptacle is of generally similar form having a box-like body formed with a latch 24 but it is formed with a pair of spring arms 25, 26 at both of a pair of opposite sides of the box. One arm 26 of each pair is formed at a side adjacent the other arm 25 with a tongue 27, of generally triangular form and bent inwardly to define a rear facing shoulder for locking engagement in a tab aperture 28. The arms 26 are diagonally opposed as seen in Figure 3, so that the locking tongues 27 are disposed at opposite sides of the tab aperture 28, and do not interfere.
[0015] Forward ends 29 of the spring arms are turned out, and the housing for the receptacle is suitably provided with projections 30, similar to those 13 of the first embodiment, at opposite sides of the receptacle cavity to engage both spring arms 26 on relative rearward movement, to effect outward flexure and release of the locking tongues from the tab aperture 28.
1. An electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal with a box-like body of generally
rectangular section and open at an end, the body having spring arms extending forwardly
from a pair of opposite sides at that end, the spring arms converging forwardly, and
an end of at least one arm being bent outwardly to define a divergent entrance to
a tab receiving space between the arms, 'characterised in that a latch projection
(13) is formed on one of the spring arms (8) and presents a rear-facing shoulder (15)
in the tab receiving space arranged to engage a recess or aperture (16) in a tab (17)
when received between the opposing spring arms (7, 8) to resist withdrawal.
2. A tab receptacle as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the latch projection
(13) is formed on an arm (8) having an outwardly-bent end portion (10).
3. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1 or in Claim 2, characterised in that the
box-like body (3) is of open-seam form, the seam (4) extending between ends at one
side, and a pair of spring arms (7) extending forwardly from that side, one on each
side of the seam (4) and at the other side a single spring arm (8) of width corresponding
to the overall width of the pair (7), formed centrally with the latch projection (13).
4. A tab receptacle as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the single spring
arm (8) rearwardly of the latch projection (13) is formed with an aperture (14) extending
rearwardly to the body (3).
5. A tab receptacle as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2, characterised in that pairs
of spring arms (25, 26) are formed at opposite sides of the body, latch projections
(27) being formed on one arm (26) of each pair, at opposite sides relatively, so that
the projections (27) engage a tab aperture (28) at opposite sides and do not interfere.
6. A tab receptacle as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the latch projections
(27) are formed by lateral projections extending from inner sides of the arms (26)
and which are bent into the tab receiving space.
7. A tab receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim mounted in a housing cavity
and retained between forward and rearward housing shoulders arranged to permit limited
relative movement between the housing and the receptacle in the tab receiving direction,
characterised in that the forward shoulder (11) is formed on its rear face (12) with
a ramp arranged to engage the or an arm (8, 26) of the receptacle on relative rearward
movement of the housing, to bias the arm (8, 26) with its latch projection (15, 27)
transversely outwardly.
8. A tab receptacle and housing as claimed in Claim 7, when appendant to Claim 5 or
Claim 6, characterised in that the housing is formed with forward shoulders (30) at
opposite sides of the cavity, arranged to engage arms (26) at opposite sides of the
receptacle, the shoulders (30) being recessed adjacent the arms (25) so that only
the arms (26) formed with latch projections (27) are flexed transversely outwards
on relative rearward movement of the housing.