ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

CONNECTEUR ELECTRIQUE

English Abstract

9425
ABSTRACT
An electrical connector assembly comprising
an insulating housing (10) formed with terminal-receiving
passageways (16) having mouths (21) of keyhole section,
a transverse bore (24) intersecting each passageway
(16) adjacent the mouth (21) to define a retention
cavity with terminal retaining shoulders (25) on each
side of the mouth (21). Terminals (26) are each
formed with a retaining portion comprising a pair of
outwardly extending flanges (52, 54) having adjacent
substantially parallel first portions (53 and 55) and
resilient second portions (56 and 58) which extend
rearwardly from the first portions in a plane parallel
to the terminal axis and in mutually divergent relation.
The second flange portions (56 and 58) are received
in the retention cavities engaging the shoulders (25)
in a snap action releasably to retain the terminals
(26) in the passageways (16).

Claims

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are as follows:-
1. An electrical connector assembly comprising
an insulating housing formed with a terminal-receiving
passageway extending between a rear face and a mating
face, a wall of the passageway being formed with an
axially extending groove at the rear face to define
a terminal-admitting mouth of keyhole section, a
transverse bore intersecting the passageway adjacent
the mouth to define a retention cavity with forwardly
facing terminal retaining shoulders on each side of
the groove, a terminal formed with a retaining portion
between a mating end and a conductor connecting portion,
the retaining portion comprising a pair of outwardly
extending flanges having adjacent substantially
parallel first portions respectively and resilient
second portions which extend rearwardly from the
first portions in a plane parallel to the terminal
axis and in mutually divergent relation, the terminal
being received mating end first in the passageway
with the second flange portions having been resiliently
flexed together in the groove and received in the
retention cavity engaging the shoulders in a snap
action releasably to retain the terminal in the
passageway.
2. An electrical connector assembly according
to Claim 1, in which the cavity has a tapered portion
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towards the mating face.
3. An electrical terminal for a connector
assembly according to Claim 1, comprising a retaining
portion between a mating end and a conductor connecting
portion the retaining portion comprising a pair of
outwardly extending flanges having substantially
parallel first portions and resilient second portions
which extend rearwardly from the first portions in
a plane parallel to the terminal axis and in mutually
divergent relation.
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Description

1~474~
The invention relat~s to an electrical
connector assembly in which an electrical termin~l
is releasably retained in an insulating housing and
to an electrical terminal for such assembly.
There is frequently a requirement for electrical
connector assem~lies in which electrical terminals are
releasably retained in insulating housings and
it is often important that such assemblies not only
provide a stable mounting for such terminals but also
10 permit limi~ed float of the terminal to permi~
mating of misaligned terminals without overstress.
In addition, release of the terminals from th~ housings
should be effected conveniently.
According to the invention an electrical
connector assembly comprises an insulating housing
formed with a terminal-receiving passageway extendiny
between a rear face and a mating face, a wall of
the passageway being formed with an axially extending
groove at the rear face to define a terminal-admitting
mouth of keyhole section, a transverse bore
intersecting the passageway adjacent the mouth to
dsfille a ret~rl1;ion cavity with forwardly facing
terminal retaininy shoulders on each side of the
groove, a terminal formed with a retaininy portion
between a mating end and a conductor conrlectjng
portion, the retaining portion comprising a pair of
outwardly extending flanges havlng adjacent substantial]y
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parallcl first portions respectively and resilient
second po,rtions ~hich extend rearwardly from the first
portions in a plane parallel to the terminal axis and
in mutually divergent relation, the terminal being
5 received mating end first in the passageway with
the second f]ange portions having been resiliently
flexed together in the groove and ï eceived in the
retent:ion cavity engaging the shoulders in a snap
action releasa}~ly to retain the terminal in the
10 passageway.
Interengagement of the flanges and the cavity
wall provides stable mounting whilst permitting
limited flo~t of the mating end. In addition, the
tranC;verse bore provides ready access for a terminal
releasillg t~ol, to the ret,aining portion without a need
for acccs.s to the mating face of the connector as.sembly.
rrhe invent,ion also includes ar) electriccll
terminal ~o~ the connector asse,mbly described above
comprising a r,etaining portion between a mating end
and a conductor connecti.ng portion the retaining
portion comprising a pair of outwardly extending
flanges having substantially parallel first portions
and resilient second portions which extend rearwardly
from khe first: portions in a plane parallel to the
term:i.nal axis and in mutually divergent relation.
~ specific example of the invention will now
be described with reference to the accompanyi.ng
.
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drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in
cross-section of an electrical connec~tor assembly
according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a rear end portion of
a connector housing of the assem~ly with an electrical
terminal according to the invention partly inserted
therein;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Fiyure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2 showing
the terminal fully inserted i.nto the ~ousing; .
Figure 5 is a similar view to ~igure 4 showinq
a portion o a texminal releasing tool operati~ely
ali.gned to re1.ease the terminal; and,
Fi.gure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative
~ocket terminal according to the invention.
The connector assembly includes a housing
10 mouldet1 in one piece of plastics material with a
front mating face 12 enclosed by a shroud portion 14.
A series of terminal-receiving passageways 16 extend
from the mating Eace 12 to the rear of the housing
and are arranged in two rows on respective opposite
sides of a rearwarclly extending wall 15. Rearwardly
extending portions 18 of the pas.sageways are of open
channel secti.on for rnass termination and, if dcsired,
may be closed by a cover, not shown. In an
......
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alternative embodiment t where mass termination is
not required, the portions 18 of the passageways may
be closed by an integral top wall.
An upper wall of each passageway 16 at a
rear face 22 is formed with an axially extendi.ng
groo~e 20 to define a terminal admitting mouth 21 of
keyhole sec-~ion~ A bore 24 extends from a surface of
the housing ad~acent the face 22 to intersect the
passayeway 16 to define a retention cavi.ty with
terminal retaining shoulders 25 on each side of the
groove 20 at a rear end and a tapering portion 27
towards a front end.
A terminal 26 received in each passageway
comprises a mating end which can be a pin 28 as shown
in Figu.res 1, 2, 4 and 5 or a socket 30 as shown in
Figure 6. Each terminal includes a rear conductor
CQnnectiny portlon 32 including a pair of spaced
parallel, side walls 34 and 36 each having inwardly
turned ends 38, 40 and ~2, 44, respectively, defining
between them a pair of axial].y spaced slots adapted
to penetrate the insulation and to effect electrical
connection to the conducti.ve core of an insulated wire
46. Each tcrmirlal also includes a pair of cri.mping
ears 48 and 50 for strain relief. The operation and
construction of the conductor connect:ing port;.on 32
is described in ~.S. 4,243,288 (9269).
As shown particularly in Figure 6, the terminal
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11474~5
is formed, prefeîably integrally/ with a retaining
portion comprising a pair of adjacent outwardly
extending flanges 52 and 54 having substantially
parallel first portions 53 and 55, respectively,
and second portions 56 and 58, respectively, which
extend rearwardly from the first porti.ons i.n a
plane parallel to the terminal axis and in mutual]y
divergent relation. .
The terminals are assembled with -the housin~
by insertion, mating end first, through the mouths of
the passageways 16 where the flange portions 56, 58
are resiliently flexed together by the walls of the
grooves 2~ and subsequently engage the shoulders 25
of the r~tention cavity in a snap action as shown i.n
Figure 4.
The terminals can be released from the cavities
by inserting a bifurcated tool 60 with the bore ~4
to compress the second portions 56 and 5~ to the
width of groove 20 to permit passage therethrough.
It should be noted that the interactiorl o~ the
retaining portion and the retention cavity walls
provides yood terminal orientati.on and stable mount:ing
whilst permitting limited float of the terminal to
permit mating of misaligned terminals withou~ overstress -
~S which i5 particularly important :in matable connec-tor
assemblies having a large number o~ terminals. In
addition; access is possible to the conductor connecting
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portlons without affecting the accessibility or release
of the retai.ning porti.on. The retaining portion also
permits close spacing of the terminals. The connector
assembly is reasonably economical to manufacture.