Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3~5
This invention relates to an electrical connector
and more particularly to an electrical contact mounted
within the connector, This invsntion is related to
applicant's Canadian Application Serial No. ~16,156,
filed November 23, 19~2.
Electrical, connectors generally include a plug ana
receptacle, each of which has an insert of dielec-tric
material provided with multiple openinys within which
electrical contac-ts are retained. The insert is introducea
into the rear end of a metal shell or housing of the
connector where it is held in place by some means, such as a
nut. Some connec-tors provide for rearward insertion and
front or rear release of electrical contacts, while other
connectors provide for front insertion and front or rear
release o~ electrical contac-ts. These features are desirable
and facilitate the assembly and servicing of the connector.
Examples of a prior art electrical connector having insertable
and removabl~ contacts may be found in U.S. Patents 3,165,369
entitled "Retention System For Electrical Contacts" issued
July 12, 1~66; and 3,221,292 entitled "Electrical Connector"
issued November 30, 196~. In the foregoing patents, the
contacts are retained within the connector housing by a
retention mechanism and the contacts are sealed from moisture
by a separate rubber grommet which fits tightly around -the
incoming wires to prevent moisture from enterin~ into the
area be-tween the contacts. Generally, where removable contacts
and a moisture seal is required -three or more parts were
sandwiched together to accomplish these functions.
This invention is used in combination with an
electrical connector of the type including: a housing having
a forward portion and a rearward portion; a plurality of
elongated cylindrical contacts with each having a forward
mating portion, an intermedia-te mounting portion and a
, ~ rearward wire receiving portion; and means Eor releasably
~1~
mounting the contacts in the housing including an insert
having a plurality of cylindrical bores therein, each bore
having a cen-tral portion for receivin~ the mounting portion
of a respective contact, the impro~tement wherein: the
intermediate mounting portion of each of the contacts has
two lonyitudinally spaced annular grooves and the central
portion oE each bore has two longitudinally spaced and
radially inwardly projecting wall portions with each wall
portion being adap-ted to seat within one respective ~nnular
groove, each groove having a ~irst surface facing rearwardly
and a second surface facing forwardly with each of the
surfaces being acutely angled from the central axis of the
contact with the angle of the first surface being greater
than the angle of the second surface; each wall portion
having a first mating surEace and a second mating surface with
the first and second mating surfaces being acutely angled -to
engage, respectively, wi-th the first and second surface of
onè annular groove; and each bore in the insert has a
diameter less than that of the contact.
Accordingly, it is an advantage of this invention -to
provide an insert for an` electrical connector that combines
the contact retaining functions and moisture sealin~ functi~ns
into a single integral part.
It is also an advantage of this invention to
eliminate the need to sandwich two or more par-ts together
to accomplish the retention and moisture sealing oE a
contact with an elec-trical connector.
It is another advanta~e of this invention to
decrease the cost of assembling an electrical connector.
It is another advan-tage of this invention to
eliminate the need for adhesives to seal the multiple
parts that made up a prior art connector insert.
2 -
:~Zf~239~
Detailed Description oE the Invention
FIGURE 1 illustrates an electrical contact.
FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view oE an electrical
connector incorporating the principles of- the invention.
Referring now to the drawing, FIGURE 1 illustrates
a pin-type electrical contact 20 having a central axis A, a
forward mating portion 21, an intermediate portion 22 and a
rear wire receiving portion 23. The intermeaiate portion 22
includes two grooves 24 and 25. Each groove 24, 25 includes
acutely angled flat surfaces 26, 27. The forward an~led
urface 26 is at an angle of abou-t 30 degrees from the
central a~is of the contact. The surface 27 rearward of the
forward surface 26 is at an angle of about 15 degrees from
the central axis of the contact 20. A rearwardly facing
shoulder 28 is located between the in-termediate portion 22 and
end portion 23. The angle of the surfaces 26, 27 are designed
in this embodiment to require a lower removal force from the
insert 30 than insertion force. The angles could be reversed
if a reverse result is d`esired, i.e., higher removal force.
FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical
connector incorporating the principles of the invention.
The electrical connector includes a metal housing 10, a
dielectric insert 30 having mounted therein a male pin-type
contact 20 ox a female socket-type contact 20, a rearward
plate ~0 and a forward plate 50. Each insert 30 includes a
bore 31 having mounted therein a respective contact 20. Each
of the bores 31 in the insert 30 includes two radially in-
wardly projecting wall portions 32 and 33 (or restrictions)
that mate, respectively, with the annular grooves 24, 25 in
the contac-t 20. Each wall portion includes acutely an~led
flat surfaces 36, 37 which ma-te against the respective
surfaces 26, 27 of each of the corresponding grooves 2~, 25.
3~S
Each bore 31 has an inner diameter that is sligh-tly less
than the outside ~iame-ter of the contact 20 so as to
provide a pressure tight seal around the contact. The
angle of the surfaces 26, 27 of each of -the grooves 24,
25 determine ~he retention stren~th of the contact when
it is inser-ted into the insert 30. By changing the angle
of the surfaces 26, 27 and their corresponding surfaces
36, 37, the Eorce required to insert and remove the contact
20 frorn the inser-t 30 can be changed. To prevent further
rearward movement of a contact 20 mounted in a connector
insert 30 a pla-te 40, comprised of a hard dielec-tric material,
is fixedly mounted within the housing 10. The plate ~0 has
a bore ~1 therethrough which receives the rear portion of
the contact and includes a tower ~2 which seats in the
dielectric 30. The rear shoulder 28 of the contact 20
abuts against a forwardly facing shoulder ~3 from the tower
42 on the plate 40 to prevent further rearward movement of
the contact 20 in the insert 30. The plate ~0 acts as a
positive stop when a contact 20 is inserted into the bore 31
of the insert 30 from the front of -the connec-tor housing 10.
The insert 30 is comprised of an elastomer such as rubber
and preferably has a durometer of about 65.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has
been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skille~ in the
art that changes may be made to the inven-tion as set forth
in the appended claims and, in some instances, certain
eatures of the invention may be used to advantage without
corresponding use of other eatures. For instance~ there
could be one groove instead of two grooves in each contact 20
and the angle of the surfaces 26, 27 could be the same
~ccordingly, it is intended that the illustrative and
descriptive materials herein be used to limit ~he principles
of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.
