GB2257572A

GB2257572A - Retaining mated electrical connectors in engagement

Info

Publication number: GB2257572A
Application number: GB9114650A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Bruff
Original assignee: Unisys Corp
Current assignee: Unisys Corp
Priority date: 1991-07-06
Filing date: 1991-07-06
Publication date: 1993-01-13
Also published as: GB9114650D0

Abstract

Means are provided to hold together and to regulate the orientation of joining between two connectors (12, 14). One form uses a retaining sleeve (36, 74) having retaining latches (46, 48) which engage apertures (24, 32) of each connector (12, 14). The sleeve may comprise lips (70, 76, fig 9C) for engaging the terminal ends of the connectors (12, 14) or a combination of both latches and lips. A barrier (66) may prevent the connectors from being incorrectly orientated. Another form (fig 11 B) uses retaining flanges (82, 84) held by various means (figs 12A to 12C, not shown) on the connectors (12, 14), and supporting retaining latches (46, 48). <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RETAINER The present invention relates to means for holding together portions of an electrical connector.

Electrical connectors are used selectably to join electrical wires to apparatus or to join one set of electrical wires to another set of electrical wires. The number of contacts in each set of wires can range from one to many hundreds.

It is a problem that electrical connectors can pull apart. Workers in the field have designed connectors with special pin forms,providing separation resistance by means of high pressure or damaging attritional contacts,.. and by using special and expensive moulded elements to hold portions of a connector together. There is also a problem that portions of a connector may be incorrectly orientated when plugged into one another causing mis-connections between wires bringing potential malfunction and possible equipment damage.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement over the prior art. The present invention consists in an apparatus for holding together portions of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising; a retaining member having a first part for engaging a first portion of the connector, and a second part for engaging a second portion of the connector; said first part comprising a first retainer for holding said first portion; and said second part comprising a second retainer for holding said second portion in engagement with said first portion.

As a further, and possibly separate measure, the present invention provides that the retaining member comprises a barrier which is interposed between the first and second portions of the connector to govern the attitude of attachment between the first and second portions of the connector.

The retainer may comprise a boss, for preference in the form of a retaining spur, for engaging a recess, preferablely a spring contact relief port, in its respective portion of the connector. The retainer can also comprise a lip for engaging the terminal end of its respective portion.

As a further measure, leaning towards simplicity of fabrication, it is provided in the present invention that the first part of the retaining member may engage the second portion of the connector and the second part of the retaining member can engage the first portion of the connector.

The present invention is further explained, by way of example, by the following description, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a connector of the general type, suitable for use with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view an assembly comprising of the connector of figure 1 together with the retaining member, ready for assembly.

Figure 3 is a cut away view of the retaining member of figure 2, showing the retaining spurs.

Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line X-X' in figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a first stage of assembly of the exploded assembly of figure 2.

Figure 4B shows a second, and further stage in assembly of those items shown in figure 4A.

Figure 4C shows a completed assembly, according to figures 4A and 4B.

Figure 5 shows. a connector, suitable for use with the present invention, where a specific orientation of the portions of the connector is clearly required.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention for use with the connector of figure 5.

Figure 7 shows an assembled connector, with the retaining member of figure 6 in place.

Figures 8A and 8B show, respectively, a modified retaining member including retaining lips.

Figure 9A shows a cross-sectional view of a completed connector with retaining lips on one portion thereof together with a wall.

Figure 9B shows the completed connector of figure 9A, but omitting the wall.

Figure 9C shows a cross-sectional view of a completed connector with retaining lips at either end, and including a wall.

Figure 9D shows the connector of figure 9C, but omitting the wall.

Figure 9E shows a cross-sectional view of a connector employing both retaining spurs and lips.

Figure 10 shows an exploded, dimetric view of a further connector assembly incorporating a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 11A and liB show the assembly sequence of the connector assembly of figure 10.

Figures 12A, 12B and 12C show different wats for attachment of the retaining flange to each portion of the connector in figures 10 and 11.

Figure 1 shows a connector of the type suitable for use with the present invention.

The connector 10 comprises a first portion 12 and a second portion 14. The first portion 12 comprises a first housing 16 having a spaced array of first apertures 18 running through its' length. First spring contacts 20, as is well known in the art, have first wires 22 afixed therein by crimping. The first spring contacts 20 are retained within their first aperture by movement of elastic portions (not shown) into first spring relief ports 24.

Likewise, the second portion 14 of the connector 10 comprises a second housing 26 having second apertures 28 containing second spring contacts 30, each held in place by an elastic portion expanding into second spring relief ports 32, and crimped to provide contacts to second wires 34. The second spring contacts are shown, in this example, as being all male it being understood that the first spring contacts 20 are all female. In reality, not all of the apertures 18, 28 require to have contacts of any kind therein and a mixture of male and female contacts can be accommodated. When the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are brought together so that there contacts 20, 30 join, the first housing 16 abuts the second housing 28.

Such a connector does not, per se, constitute the present invention, being known in the art and of a style, manufactured and supplied by the AMP Corporation of the USA under part No. 5/87456/0. Rather, the present invention seeks to provide a solution to problems, encountered with this generic type of connector. The connector, of figure 1, is not restrictive by its example. The connector 10 has been shown comprising, in each portion 12, 14, two rows and two columns of contacts 30, 20. In practice, as many rows and columns of contacts as are required or any other non grid arrangement of contacts, can be provided.

Not all of the contacts 20, 30 need be of the same size or current rating. The exact nature of the connector as illustrated in figure 1 is not part of the present invention. Figure 1 merely illustrates one particular example of the general style of connector with which the present invention may be used.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the connector of figure 1. The retaining member, which constitutes the present invention, is ready to be assembled thereover.

The retaining member is provided, in this example, in the form of a retaining sleeve 36. The retaining sleeve 36 comprises a first part 38 for receiving and engaging the first portion 12 of the connector 10. A second part 40 of the retaining sleeve 36 is designed to receive and engage the second portion 14 of the connector 10. The sleeve 36 is generally constructed of an elastic material which can range, in type, from highly flexible plasticized thermoplastic polymers to semi-rigid compounds such as thermo-setting resins. For those situations where radio frequency shielding is required elastic metal or metalized forms may be used.In the example shown, the first part 38 of the retaining sleeve 36 comprises a first relief slot 42 and the second part 40 of the retaining sleeve 36 comprises a second relief slot 44, each for permitting elastic displacement between the constituent members of the retaining sleeve 36 without undue force and/or without risk of fracture. It to be understood that any other form of strain relief may be used and that, where the retaining sleeve 36 is made of a sufficiently elastic material, no means of strain relief need be provided at all.

Figure 3 is a cut away view of the retaining sleeve 36 of figure 2. Clearly shown, in figure 3, is a first retaining spur 46 in the first part 38 of the retaining sleeve 36, and a second retaining spur 48, shown in cross-section in figure 3, in the second part 40 of the retaining sleeve 36.

Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line X-X' in figure 2, showing a first stage of assembly of the retaining sleeve 36 over the portions 12, 14 of the connector 10.

The retaining sleeve 36 is urged, as indicated by a first arrow 50, over the second portion 14 of the connector 10. It is to be appreciated that the sleeve of figure 3 is showed upside down with relation to the sleeve of figures 4A to 4C. The leading edge 52 of the second part 40 of the retaining sleeve 36 is displaced so that the second retaining spur 48 may pass over the leading edge 54 of the second portion 14 of the connector 10. The male spring contacts 30 pass within the retaining sleeve 36.

Figure 48 shows a second stage in the assembly operation whose illustration is commenced on figure 4A.

The first part 40 of the retaining sleeve 36 is in complete engagement with the second portion 14 of the connector 10 having the second retaining spur 48 in a respective second spring relief port 32. The first portion 12 of the connector 10 is then urged, as indicated by a second arrow 56 into the retaining sleeve 36, onto the second portion 40 of the connector 10. The leading edge 58 of the first part 38 of the retaining sleeve 36 is displaced so that the first retaining spur 46 may pass over the leading edge 60 of the first portion 14 of the conpector 10.

Figure 4C shows the completed assembly process whose stages are illustrated in figures 4A and 48. The first retaining spur 46 lies in a respective one of the first spring relief ports 24 of the first portion 12 of the connector 10. The first portion 12 and the second portion 14 of the connector 10 are in abutment with one another, forming a complete electrical connection. The first 46 and second 48 retaining spurs, together with the retaining sleeve 36, co-operate to hold the first 12 and second 14 portions of the connector 10 together against all manner of separating forces. This is of great benefit in hazardous environments where a chemical seal is required, or electrical sparks to be avoided, or in environments where essential connectors are liable to be pulled or vibrated apart.While only one retaining spur 46, 48 has been shown in each part 38, 40 of the sleeve 36, it is to be understood that as many retaining spurs 46, 48 may be provided as there are apertures 24, 32 to receive them. It is not necessary that the apertures 24, 32 be spring relief ports. Other apertures in the connector housing 18, 28 can be used. Other shapes and forms of retaining spur 46, 48 may be used.

In this example, a ratchet-tooth form was selected to provide for easy assembly and difficult dis-assembly. It is envisaged, within the scope of the present invention, that other shapes may be used, solely or in combination, including parallelepapedal, cuboidal, prismatic and cylindrical shapes.

Dis-assembly can be achieved by retraction of the leading edges 58, 52 to remove their respective retaining spur 46, 48 from the respective spring relief port 245, 32. The first and second portions 12, 14 of the connector 10 may then be pulled apart.

Figure 5 shows a slightly modified connector to that shown in figure 1. Like elements have like numbers between figures 5 and 1. Different from figure 1 is the fact that not all of the first apertures 18 and second apertures 28 contain a respective spring contact 20, 30.

The spring contacts 20, 30 are arrayed in a specific pattern designed to plug together in just one way. As can be seen from figure 5, there are at least three wrong ways for joining the first 12 and second 14 portions of the connector together. Other formats have just one wrong way. Those skilled in the art will be aware of other arrangements of contacts 20, 30 with other numbers of ways of being joined together. Of all of these ways, only one is correct. Connection by any other way will result in absence of function, damage to electrical equipment, or malfunction of the equipment connected. It is important always to have the two portions 12, 14 of the connector 62 in correct attitude of attachment there between. What has been said concerning figure 5 equally applies to figure 1.

Figure 6 shows a first modified retaining sleeve 64, wherein a central wall 66 is provided. The shape and disposition of the central wall 66 is chosen to accept the pattern of male spring contacts 30. Here, the wall 66 is a simple wall passing beneath the row of male spring contacts 30. Had other patterns been chosen, the wall 66 could have been provided as a chequerboard pattern of blocks and apertures capable only of accepting the correct pattern.Male spring connectors 30 can also be provided in the first portion 12 of the connector 62 in order to ensure that there is no possibility of confusion when the first 12 and second 14 portions of the connector 62 are brought together by selecting male pins 30 in cooperation with the central wall 66, it is possible to ensure that there is only one way that the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 of the connector 62 may come together.

Figure 7 is akin to figure 4C, this time showing the first modified retaining sleeve 64 of figure 6 holding the two portions 12, 14 of the modified connector 62 together with the central wall 66 there-between.

Figure 8A shows an isometric view and figure 88 shows a cut away isometric view of a second modified retaining sleeve 68 where the first part 38 has been provided with retaining lips 70 at its distal end. The first retaining spur 46 has been entirely omitted whereas the second retaining spur 48 has been retained.

Figure 9A is a cross-sectional view of an assembled connector showing the second modified retaining sleeve of figure 8A in place. It is to be appreciated that figures 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E are upside down in comparision to figures 4 and 7.

The retaining lips 70 are slipped over the terminal end 72 of the first portion 12 of the connector 10 the wall 66 is interposed between the first 12 and second portion 14 of the connector 10.

Figure 98 shows how the modified retaining sleeve 68 of figures 8A and 88 can further be modified to remove the central wall 66 permitting direct abutment between the first 12 and second 14 portions of the connector 10.

Figure 9C shows how the second part 40 of a further modified retaining sleeve 74 can also be held in place by second lips 76 at the distal end of the second part of the further modified retaining sleeve 74 with the central wall 66 in place and the second retaining spur 48 omitted, the second lips simply sliding over a terminal end 78 of the second portion of the further modified retaining sleeve 74.

Figure 9D shows how the further modified retaining sleeve 74 of figure 9D can be yet further modified (74) to omit the central wall 66 and to permit the second 1 and first 12 portions of the connector 10 directly to abut on to one another.

Lastly, Figure 9E shows how a super retaining sleeve 80 can, at the same time, comprise retaining lips 76, 70 together with retaining spurs 46, 48 and with (or without) a central wall 66.

In each of the embodiments, hereinbefore described, it is an advantage that the retaining sleeve 36, 68, 80 that it can be reversed, with the first portion 38 engaging the second part 14 of the connector 10 and the second portion 40 engaging the first part 12 of the connector 10, thereby ensuring a simplicity of assembly with no need to attend to details of handedness when assembling a connector 10.

Figure 10 shows an exploded, dimetric view of a further style of connector 10 incorporating a yet further embodiment of the present invention, and is akin to figure 5.

Instead of a retaining sleeve 36, 68, 80, the retaining member is divided into first 82 and second 84 retaining flanges, the first retaining flange 82 being affixed to engage the first portion 12 of the connector 10, and supporting the first retaining spur 46, and the second retaining flange 84 being affixed to engage the second portion 14 of the connector 10 and supporting the second retaining spur 48.

Figure 11A is a cross sectional view of figure 10, taken along the line Y-Y', looking in the direction of the arrows and shows a first stage in assembly of the items in figure 10. As the first portion 12 is urged towards the second portion 14 of the connector 10, the first retaining flange 82 and the second retaining flange 84 are each urged aside so that the first retaining spur 46 may clear the leading edge 54 of the second portion 14 of the connector 10 so that the second retaining spur 48 may clear the leading edge 60 of the first portion 12 of the connector 10.

Figure 11 B shows the assembly of figure 11A completed. The second retaining spur 48 is held within the first spring relief port 24 of the first portion 12 of the connector 10 and the second retaining spur 46 is held within the spring relief port 32 of the second portion 14 of the connector 10.

Figure 12A shows a manner in which the second retaining flange 84 may be attached to the second housing 26. It is to be understood that, in each of figures 12A to 12C, whatever is stated concerning the second retaining flange 84 with respect to the second housing 26 equally applies to the first retaining flange 84 with regard to the first housing 16. The second retaining flange 84 may be fixed, by means of adhesive, to the second housing 26. Equally, the second retaining flange 84 may be applied as an additional moulding. The second housing 26 is placed, preformed, into a mould and the second retaining flange 84 moulded thereon as an additional part.

Figure 128 shows a further way to attach the second retaining flange 84 to the second block 26. The second retaining flange 84 comprises a yoke 86 which passes around the second housing 26 to attach the second retaining flange 84 thereto. More than one yoke 86 may be used in tandem along the length of the second housing 26. A gap 88 is left in the yoke 86 to permit passage of the first retaining flange 82 there-through. As an additional feature, the yoke 86 may be click-fitted on to the second housing 26 by meaning of bosses on the yoke 86 or on the second housing 26 engaging with depressions on the housing 26 or on the yoke 86.

Figure 12C shows yet another way that the second retaining flange 84 may be afixed to the second housing 26. Here, a keyway 90 has been provided across the width of the second housing 26 to match with a key 92 on the second retaining flange 84. While the key 90 and the key 92 have here been shown in classic form, it is to be understood that any self-retaining conformal shapes will suffice, such as polygonal or circular or ellipsodal shapes.

It is a preferred feature of the present invention, in the embodiment shown in figures 10, 11 and 12, that the first retaining flange 82 is identical with the second retaining flange 84 so that there is no problem in selecting which flange 82, 84 shall be used with which portion J2, 14 of the connector 10, and no risk of a wrong flange 82, 84 being afixed to the wrong portion 12, 14 of the connector 10.

It is to be understood that the present invention also comprises each feature of novelty, hereinbefore described, taken singly or in combination.

Whereas the present invention has been described in relation to electrical connectors of generally rectangular or square outline, it is to be understood that connectors of any shape or form may be accommodated, within the terms of the present invention, within a conformal sleeve or retaining flanges functioning as hereinbefore described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for holding together portions of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising; a retaining member having a first part for engaging a first portion of the connector, and a second part for engaging a second portion of the connector; said first part comprising a first retainer for holding said said first portion; and said second part comprising a second retainer for holding said second portion in engagement with said first portion.

2. An apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims wherein said retaining member comprises a barrier, to be interposed between said first and second portions to govern the attitude of attachment there between.

3. An apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims wherein said first part is also adapted to engage said second portion and said second part is also adapted to engage said first portion.

4. An apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims wherein said retaining member comprises a continuous elastic sleeve.

5. An apparatus, according to any of the preceeding claims, wherein said first retainer comprises a first boss for engaging a first recess, in said first portion.

6. An apparatus, according to any of the preceeding claims, wherein said second retainer comprises a second boss for engaging a second recess, in said second portion.

7. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, or according to claim 6, wherein said first retainer comprises a first lip for engaging a terminal end of said first portion.

8. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, or according to claim 7, wherein said second retainer comprises a second lip for engaging a terminal end of said second portion.

9. An apparatus, according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said first part comprises a first retaining flange, affixed to engage said first portion, and wherein said second part comprises a second retaining flange, affixed to engage said second portion.

10. An apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said first retaining flange is interchangeable with said second retaining flange.

11. An apparatus, substantially as described, with reference to the appended drawings.