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(11) | EP 0 068 698 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Electrical tab receptacle Elektrische Flachsteckbuchse Cosse pour languette électrique |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[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. 30,277, we have disclosed an electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal with a box-like body of generally rectangular section and open at an end, and including a pair of spring arms opposed to a single spring arm to define between them a tab receiving space, a latch projection being formed centrally on one of the single spring arms and 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 to resist tab withdrawal.
[0003] The tongue extends within the body with a free end projecting externally of a rear end of the body, and the shoulder being within the body. In such arrangement the receptacle may be disengaged from the tab 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical tab receptacle as defined above in the second paragraph which is characterised in that the spring arms extend forwardly cantilever fashion from a-pair of opposite sides of the body 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 the tab-receiving space, the single spring arm being of width corresponding to the overall width of the pair of spring arms and being formed with an aperture extending rearwardly of the latch projection to the body.
[0007] The electrical tab receptacle according to the invention is capable of wide application and of providing low frictional forces on engagement and disengagement when compared with the prior electrical tab receptacle, the provision of the aperture in the single spring arm assisting in balancing the spring forces between the spring arms.
[0008] Suitably, the latch projection formed on the single spring arm has an outwardly bent end portion and, preferably, all of the arms have outwardly bent end portions to facilitate tab entry.
[0009] The bent out end portion of the spring 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.
[0010] The box-like body is suitably of open-seam form, the seam extending between ends at one side, and between individual arms of the pair of arms.
[0011] 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 the invention; and
Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of part of the connector of Figure 1.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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 14 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.
[0014] 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.
1. An electrical tab receptacle (2) formed from sheet metal with a box-like body (3)
of generally rectangular section, open at an end, and including a pair of spring arms
(7) opposed to a single spring arm (8) to define between them a tab receiving space,
a latch projection (13) being formed centrally on the single spring arm (8) and presenting
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 opposed spring arms (7, 8)
to resist tab withdrawal, characterised in that, the spring arms (7, 8) extend forwardly
cantilever fashion from a pair of opposite sides of the body (3) at that end, the
spring arms (7, 8) converging forwardly and an end of at least one spring arm (7 or
8) being bent outwardly to define a divergent entrance to the tab receiving space,
the single spring arm (8) being of width corresponding to the overall width of the
pair of spring arms (7) and being formed with an aperture (14) extending rearwardly
of the latch projection (13) to the body (3).
2. A tab receptacle (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that, the outward
bend is formed in the end (10) of the single spring arm (8).
3. A tab receptacle (2) as claimed in claim 1 or 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 between individual arms (7) of the pair of arms (7).
4. A tab receptacle (2) as claimed in any preceding claim mounted in a housing cavity
and retained between forward and rearward housing shoulders (11 and 6 respectively)
arranged to permit limited relative movement between the housing and the receptacle
(2) 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) of
the receptacle on relative rearward movement of the housing, to bias the arm (8) with
its latch projection (15) transversely outwardly.
1. Cosse (2) pour languette électrique, formée en métal en feuille et comportant un
corps (3) analogue à un caisson, de section-globalement rectangulaire, ouvert à une
extrémité, et comprenant une paire de lames flexibles (7) opposées à une lame flexible
unique (8) pour définir entre elles un espace de réception d'une languette, et une
saillie (13) de verrouillage étant formée centralement sur la lame flexible unique
(8) et présentant un épaulement (15) tourné vers l'arrière, dans l'espace de réception
d'une languette, agencé pour s'enclencher avec un évidement ou une ouverture (16)
d'une languette (17) lorsqu'elle est reçue entre les lames flexibles opposées (7,8)
afin de résister au retrait de la languette, caractérisée en ce que les lames flexibles
(7, 8) s'étendent vers l'avant en porte-à-faux à partir de deux côtés opposés du corps
(3), à cette extrémité, les lames flexibles (7, 8) convergeant vers l'avant et une
extrémité d'au moins une lame flexible (7 ou 8) étant courbée vers l'extérieur pour
définir une entrée divergente vers l'espace de réception d'une languette, la lame
flexible unique (8) étant d'une largeur correspondant à la largeur d'ensemble de la
paire de lames flexibles (7) et présentant une ouverture (14) s'étendant vers l'arrière
de la saillie (13) de verrouillage jusqu'au corps (3).
2. Cosse (2) pour languette selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la courbure
vers l'extérieur est formée dans l'extrémité (10) de la lame flexible unique (8).
3. Cosse (2) pour languette selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisée
en ce que le corps (3) analogue à un caisson est du type à joint ouvert, le joint
(4) s'étendant entre les extrémités, sur un premier côté, et entre les lames individuelles
(7) de la paire de lames (7).
4. Cosse (2) pour languette selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
montée dans une cavité de boîtier et retenue entre des épaulements de boîtier avant
et arrière (11 et 16, respectivement) agencés pour permettre un mouvement relatif
limité entre le boîtier et la cosse (2) par la direction de réception d'une languette,
caractérisée en ce que l'épaulement avant (11) comporte, sur sa face arrière (12),
une rampe agencée pour porter contre la ou une lame (8) de la cosse lors d'une mouvement
relatif vers l'arrière du boîtier, afin de repousser la lame (8), avec sa saillie
(15) de verrouillage, transversalement vers l'extérieur.
1. Elektrische Flachsteckerbuchse (2), die mit einem kastenförmigen Körper (3) allgemein
rechteckigen Querschnitts, der an einem Ende offen ist, aus Metallblech geformt ist
und ein Paar von Federarmen (7) aufweist, die einem einzelnen Federarm (8) gegenüberstehen,
um dazwischen einen Flachsteckeraufnahmeraum zu bilden, ferner mit einem Verriegelungsvorsprung
(13), der zentral auf dem einzelnen Federarm (8) geformt ist und eine nach hinten
ragende Schulter (15) in dem Flachsteckeraufnahmeraum aufweist, die derart angeordnet
ist, daß sie mit einer Ausnehmung oder Öffnung (16) in dem Flachstecker (17) in Eingriff
tritt, wenn dieser zwischen den gegenüberstehenden Federarmen (7, 8) aufgenommen ist,
um ein Herausziehen des Flachsteckers zu verhindern, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die
Federarme (7, 8) sich in freikragender Weise von einem Paar von gegenüberliegenden
Seiten des Körpers (3) aus an diesem Ende nach vorne erstrecken, daß die Federarme
(7, 8) nach vorne konvergieren und ein Ende wenigstens eines Federarms (7 oder 8)
nach außen gebogen ist, um einen divergenten Eingang zum Flachsteckeraufnahmeraum
zu bilden, daß der einzelne Federarm (8) eine Breite aufweist, welche der Gesamtbreite
des Paars von Federarmen (7) entspricht und daß er mit einer Öffnung (14) versehen
ist, welche sich von dem Verriegelungsvorsprung (13) zum Körper (3) nach hinten erstreckt.
2. Flachsteckerbuchse (2) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Biegung
nach außen in dem Ende (10) des einzelnen Federarms (8) geformt ist.
3. Flachsteckerbuchse (2) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der
kastenförmige Körper (3) eine Form mit offener Naht aufweist, und daß sich die Naht
(4) zwischen den Enden an einer Seite und zwischen einzelnen Armen (7) des Paars von
Armen (7) erstreckt.
4. Flachsteckerbuchse (2) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die in einem Gehäusehohlraum
montiert ist, und zwischen vorderen und hinteren Gehäuseschultern (11 bzw. 6) gehalten
ist, welche derart angeordnet sind, daß sie eine begrenzte Relativbewegung zwischen
dem Gehäuse und der Buchse (2) in der Flachsteckeraufnahmerichtung gestatten, dadurch
gekennzeichnet, daß die vordere Schulter (11) an ihrer hinteren Fläche (12) mit einer
Rampe versehen ist, die derart angeordnet ist, daß sie mit dem oder einem Arm (8)
der Buchse bei einer relativen Rückwärtsbewegung des Gehäuses in Eingriff tritt, um
den Arm (8) mit seinem Verriegelungsvorsprung (15) quer nach außen vorzuspannen.