WO2004077625A1

WO2004077625A1 - Electric connecting unit

Info

Publication number: WO2004077625A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/050200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tommaso Ciriello
Original assignee: Fci
Priority date: 2003-02-25
Filing date: 2004-02-24
Publication date: 2004-09-10
Also published as: ITTO20030135A1

Abstract

There is described an electric connecting unit (1) having two connectors (2, 3) in turn having respective insulating casings (5, 16) which house respective numbers of electric terminals, are connectable mutually in a mating direction (A), and have, respectively, at least one seat (26), and locking means (25, 30) which engage the seat (26) to define a fully assembled position of the unit (1) . A first of the connectors (2) has a slide (27) which is fitted to the relative casing (5) to slide in the mating direction (A), is loaded by elastic means (28) into a first operating position preventing access to the seat (26), and is movable, in opposition to the elastic means (28) and when connecting the connectors (2, 3), into a second operating position permitting engagement and release of the seat (26) by the locking means (25, 30). The unit (1) also has a control lever (35) hinged to the casing (5) of the first connector (2) about an axis (B) crosswise to the mating direction (A), and having cam means (45) cooperating, as the control lever (35) is rotated, with catch means (29) on the other casing (16) to produce, with a minimum amount of effort, a relative mating movement of the connectors (2, 3) in the mating direction (A), so that the locking means (25, 30) engage the seat (26) in opposition to the elastic means (28).

Description

ELECTRIC CONNECTING UNIT

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electric connecting unit, in particular a multiway type, substantially comprising two connectors connectable mutually in a mating direction; and a repulse-action elastic locking device for locking the connectors in a fully assembled position or repelling them into a release condition in the event the connectors are not connected properly.

BACKGROUND ART

Connecting units of the above type are known, in which the connectors comprise respective insulating casings defining respective numbers of cavities for housing mutually connectable male and female electric terminals respectively.

The locking device normally comprises a retaining lance integral with the casing of one of the connectors and flexible elastically in a direction crosswise to the mating direction of the connectors; a retaining lance lock seat formed in a wall of the casing of the other connector; and a slide fitted to said wall so as to slide in said mating direction, and which is loaded by elastic means into a disabling position preventing access to the lock seat, and is movable, in opposition to the elastic means and by the thrust exerted by the retaining lance when connecting the connectors, into an enabling position permitting engagement and release of the lance and seat.

If the connectors are not fully connected, so that the retaining lance fails to reach the position engaging the lock seat, the elastic means expand to immediately release the connectors when the slide is released, thus enabling immediate detection of the fault by the user.

Though widely used, known units have the drawback of requiring fairly considerable force to connect and release the connectors, especially when the number and transverse dimensions of the terminals for connection are considerable; in which case, it is necessary to overcome not only the resistance of the elastic means acting on the slide, but also the penetration resistance of the electrically connected parts.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric connecting unit designed to provide a straightforward, low-cost solution to the above drawback typically associated with known connectors.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electric connecting unit having a first and a second connector respectively comprising a first and a second casing, which are made of insulating material, house respective numbers of electric terminals, are connectable mutually in a mating direction, and have, respectively, at least one seat, and locking means which engage said seat to define a fully assembled position of said unit; said first connector also comprising a slide, which is fitted to said first casing so as to slide in said mating direction, is loaded by elastic means into a first operating position preventing access to said seat, and is movable, in opposition to said elastic means and by the thrust exerted by said second connector being connected to said first connector, into a second operating position permitting engagement and release of said seat by said locking means; the unit being characterized by also comprising a control lever, which is fitted to said first casing to rotate about an axis crosswise to said mating direction, and has cam means cooperating, as the control lever is rotated in a predetermined direction from an open position to a closed position, with catch means on said second casing to produce, with a minimum amount of effort, a relative mating movement of said first and second connector in said mating direction, so that said locking means engage said seat in opposition to said elastic means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of two electric connectors connectable mutually to form a connecting unit in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a larger-scale longitudinal section, in two separate parallel planes, of the Figure 1 connectors at one step in a connecting sequence;

Figure 3 shows the same section as in Figure 2, of the connectors at a subsequent step in the connecting sequence; Figure 4 shows the same section as in Figures 2 and 3, of the connectors in a fully assembled position;

Figures 5 and 6 show the same sections as in Figures 2, 3 and 4, of the connectors at two successive steps in a release sequence . BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Number 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates as a whole a multiway electric connecting unit comprising two connectors 2, 3 connectable mutually in a longitudinal direction A; and a repulse-action elastic locking device 4 for locking connectors 2 and 3 in a fully assembled position or repelling then into a release condition in the event connectors 2, 3 are not connected properly.

It should be pointed out that the terms "top", "bottom", "front", "rear" and similar used in the following disclosure are in no way limiting, and are used purely for the sake of clarity with reference to the position of unit 1 shown in the accompanying drawings, and to the mating direction of connectors 2 and 3. Connector 2 substantially comprises a parallelepiped-shaped insulating casing 5 made of plastic material, and which defines a number of cavities 6 having axes parallel to direction A and for housing respective female electric terminals (known and not shown) retained inside cavities 6 in known manner and connected to relative electric cables (also known and not shown) .

More specifically, casing 5 is defined by two, respectively front and rear, walls 7, 8; by two, respectively top and bottom, walls 9, 10 perpendicular to walls 7, 8; and by two lateral walls 11 perpendicular to both walls 7, 8 and walls 9, 10.

Connector 3 in turn comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped insulating casing 16 for housing a number of male electric terminals (known and not shown) extending parallel to direction A and connected to relative electric cables (also known and not shown) . Casing 16 defines, at the front, a chamber 17 for receiving casing 5 of connector 2, and which communicates externally via a front opening 18, and in which respective contact portions of the male terminals project in known manner.

More specifically, casing 16 is defined by a rear wall perpendicular to direction A and opposite opening 18; by two, respectively top and bottom, walls 20, 21 perpendicular to the rear wall; and by two lateral walls 23 perpendicular to both the rear wall and walls 20, 21, and from which project externally, close to opening 18, respective pins 29 for the purpose explained later on.

Chamber 17 for receiving casing 5 is defined by an end wall 24 crosswise to direction A and facing the rear wall. Locking device 4 substantially comprises an elastic lance 25 integral with casing 16 of connector 3 and extending inside chamber 17; a lock seat 26, for lance

25, formed in top wall 9 of casing 5 of connector 2; and a slide 27, which is fitted to wall 9 of casing 5 to slide in direction A, is loaded by elastic means 28 into a forward disabling position preventing access to seat

26, and is movable, in opposition to elastic means 28 and by the thrust exerted by lance 25 when connecting connectors 2 and 3, into a withdrawn position permitting engagement and release of lance 25 and seat 26.

More specifically, seat 26 is open at the top, and is defined, towards front wall 7, by a flat, ramp-shaped edge 26a, and, on the opposite side, by a flat edge 26b perpendicular to direction A. Lance 25 projects from end wall 24 of chamber 17 of casing 16 in a direction parallel to direction A, is flexible elastically in a direction perpendicular to axis A and to walls 20, 21 of casing 16, and defines, at its free end, a tooth 30 for engaging seat 26. More specifically, tooth 30 is defined by a flat, ramp-shaped rear side 30a which contacts front edge 26a of seat 26, and by an opposite flat front side 30b perpendicular to direction A and which rests against rear edge 26b of seat 26.

Slide 27 is defined by a substantially C-shaped plate comprising two lateral walls 31, which are adjacent and parallel to respective lateral walls 11 of casing 5, slide along wall 9, and are connected to each other by a wall 32 facing and parallel to wall 9.

As shown particularly in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6, in the forward position, the front edge of slide 27 is flush with front wall 7 of casing 5. Slide 27 also comprises, internally, a flat projection 33 (Figure 2) perpendicular to direction A, projecting from wall 32, and defining a supporting surface for elastic means 28. In the example shown, elastic means 28 are defined by a garter spring having an axis parallel to direction A, and interposed between projection 33 of slide 27 and an end edge 14 of rear wall 8 of casing 5 projecting upwards with respect to wall 9.

As shown particularly in Figures 2, 4 and 5, slide

27 comprises a substantially sawtooth-shaped further projection 34 located closer to front wall 7 than projection 33, and defining a stop for the free end of lance 25 when connecting connectors 2 and 3.

More specifically, projection 34 is defined, towards projection 33, by a flat sloping rear side 34a, and, on the opposite side, by a straight front side 34b perpendicular to direction A.

As tooth 30 slides along top wall 9 of casing 5 when assembling unit 1, lance 25 assumes a deformed configuration (Figure 2) , in which it flexes towards top wall 20 of casing 16, with its free end resting against front side 34b of projection 34, so as to exert thrust on slide 27 in opposition to elastic means 28. As tooth 30 clicks inside seat 26 in wall 9 of casing 5, lance 25 springs back to the undeformed configuration, in which it is located between projection 34 and wall 9, thus releasing slide 27 which is pushed by elastic means 28 back into the forward position. According to an important characteristic of the present invention, locking device 4 also comprises a control lever 35 hinged to lateral walls 11 of casing 5 about an axis B perpendicular to direction A and to walls 11, and which rotates about axis B in opposite, respectively anticlockwise and clockwise, directions in Figures 2 to 6, to permit connection and release of connectors 2 and 3 with a minimum amount of effort.

Control lover 35 substantially comprises two lateral lobes 40 hinged to the outside of respective lateral walls 11 of casing 5 about axis B; and a cross member 41 perpendicular to direction A and connecting lobes 40.

More specifically, lobes 40 are substantially flat, extend outwards of and facing respective walls 11, and are hinged to walls 11 by respective pins 42 of axis B. Cross member 41 extends over slide 27, has outer projections 43 for easy manual grip, and connects respective top edge portions of lobes 40.

Lobes 40 advantageously comprise respective cams 45 which, as control lever 35 is rotated in a given direction, anticlockwise in Figures 2 to 6, cooperate in sliding manner with respective pins 29 on casing 16 to produce, with a minimum amount of effort, a relative mating movement of connectors 2 and 3 in direction A, so that tooth 30 of lance 25 engages seat 26 in opposition to elastic means 28.

More specifically, each cam 45 is defined by a peripheral edge of a cavity 47 formed on relative lobe 40 and open both towards relative lateral wall 11 of casing

5 and at a portion Cl of the contour C of lobe 40 opposite the point of attachment of cross member 41, so as to permit engagement of relative pin 29 on casing 16.

More specifically, the peripheral edge of cavity 47 of each lobe 40 is defined, inwards of cavity 47, by a substantially semicircular bottom surface 48 which encloses relative pin 29 on casing 16 in the fully assembled position of connectors 2 and 3; and by opposite curved lateral surfaces 49, 50 diverging from bottom surface 48, and one of which (49) performs an active function, i.e. cooperates in sliding manner with relative pin 29 as control lever 35 is rotated anticlockwise to connect connectors 2 and 3, while the other (50) to shaped to prevent any interaction with pin 29. More specifically, lateral surface 49 is concave- arc-shaped, and the distance between it and axis B, measured in direction A, increases gradually from bottom surface 48. Lateral surface 50 is substantially L-shaped with one leg forming an extension of end surface 48, and the other leg substantially crosswise to and extending away from lateral surface 49.

Control lever 35 rotates about axis B between an open position (Figure 5) in which cross member 41 is adjacent to rear wall 8 of casing 5, and the open portions Cl of contours C of lobes 40 face connector 3 to permit insertion of pins 29 inside respective cavities 47 of lobes 40; and a closed position (Figure 4) corresponding to the fully assembled position of connectors 2 and 3, and in which control lever 35 is positioned with cross member 41 adjacent to front wall 7 of casing 5, and with lateral surface 49 of the peripheral edge of each cavity 47 positioned crosswise to direction A to engage relative pin 29 on the side facing the rear wall of casing 16.

Control lever 35 can be rotated from the open to the closed position to connect connectors 2 and 3, and from the closed to the open position to release connectors 2 and 3.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, by virtue of the interaction between each pin 29 on casing 16 and lateral surface 49 of the peripheral edge of relative cavity 47, which converges towards relative pin 42 as of the pin 29 inlet portion, rotation of control lever 35 into the closed position (anticlockwise with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4) produces a relative approach movement, in direction A, between pin 29 and pin 42, and between tooth 30 of lance 25 and seat 26, so that casing 5 is gradually inserted inside chamber 17 of casing 16.

In other words, each lateral surface 49 is so shaped that the distance, measured in direction A, between axis B and the portion of lateral surface 49 contacting relative pin 29 decreases as control lever 35 is rotated from the open to the closed position.

Lobes 40 advantageously also define respective push surfaces 51 which, over an end portion of the rotation of control lever 35 from the closed to the open position (clockwise in Figures 2 to 6) , cooperate with slide 27 to move it from the forward to the withdrawn position, so as to permit release of tooth 30 of lance 25 from seat 26 and, therefore, release of connectors 2 and 3. In the example shown, push surfaces 51 of lobes 40 cooperate with respective opposite end portions 52 of a cylindrical bar 53 fixed rigidly to wall 32 of slide 27, located adjacent to rear wall 8 of casing 5, and having an axis D parallel to axis B. As shown particularly in Figure 1, end portions 52 of bar 53 project outwards with respect to relative lateral walls 11 of casing 5.

The embodiment of the invention described is in no way binding. The same function may be performed by any alternative embodiment featuring a structure with two peripheral edges integral with slide 27, or designed to transmit motion from control lever 35 to slide 27.

Each push surface 51 is defined by a bottom surface of the peripheral edge 55 of a further cavity 56 formed on relative lobe 40 and open both towards relative lateral wall 11 of casing 5, to permit engagement of relative end portion 52 of bar 53, and at a portion C2 of contour C of lobe 40 adjacent to the point of attachment of cross member 41.

More specifically, cavities 47 and 56 of each lobe 40 surround relative pin 42 on diametrically opposite sides, so that relative surfaces 48 and 51 are located adjacent to each other on the same side of pin 42. Cavity 56 of each lobe 40 is large enough to avoid interfering with relative end portion 52 of bar 53 as control lever 35 is rotated into the closed position to connect connectors 2 and 3.

Push surfaces 51 are convexly curved, and, in the forward position of slide 27, and when contacting relative end portions 52 of bar 53, define a rest position of control lever 35 (Figures 1 and 2) angularly interposed between the open and closed positions.

Assembly of unit 1 will be described as of the Figure 2 condition, in which the front portion of casing 5 and, with it, the front portion of slide 27 are inserted inside chamber 17 of casing 16 of connector 3; control lever 35 has begun rotating anticlockwise from the open position (Figure 5) and is in the rest position; and pins 29 of connector 3 are located at the inlet portions of cavities 47 of respective lobes 40.

In this condition, lance 25 of connector 3 is engaged inside slide 27 and, by virtue of tooth 30 resting on top wall 9 of casing 5, is flexed towards wall 32 of slide 27 and can contact side 34b of projection 34. As control lever 35 is rotated further towards the closed position, i.e. anticlockwise with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, lateral surface 49 of each cavity 47 slides along the outer surface of relative pin 29; and, since each lateral surface 49 converges towards relative pin 42 as of open portion Cl of contour C of relative lobe 40, the interaction between lateral surface 49 and relative pin 29 produces a relative approach movement, in direction A, between pin 29 and pin 42, and between tooth 30 of lance 25 and seat 26, so that casing 5 is gradually inserted inside chamber 17 of casing 16.

At the same time, as casing 5 is increasingly inserted inside casing 16 by the thrust exerted by lobes 40 on pins 29, front side 34b of projection 34 of slide 27 braces against the free end of lance 25 in the deformed configuration, which accordingly moves slide 27 along wall 9 of casing 5 in direction A into the withdrawn position, thus compressing elastic means 28.

As tooth 30 clicks inside seat 26 in wall 9 of casing 5, lance 25 springs back into the undeformed configuration to release projection 34, so that slide 27 is pushed back into the forward position by elastic means 28.

The travel of control lever 35 terminates when pins 29 contact bottom surfaces 48 of cavities 47 of respective lobes 40. At this point, connectors 2 and 3 have reached the fully assembled position, and wall 32 of slide 27 prevents lance 25 from flexing, and so prevents release of tooth 30 from seat 26. In the event control lever 35 is not rotated fully into the closed position, so that tooth 30 of lance 25 fails to engage seat 26, elastic means 28 expand to expel casing 5 from chamber 17 of casing 16 when control lever 35 is released, thus enabling immediate detection of the fault by the user.

Connectors 2 and 3 can be released by rotating control lever 35 from the closed to the open position and then acting on connectors 2 and 3 to separate them.

Over a first portion of the rotation of control lever 35 back into the open position (clockwise in Figure 5) , lateral surfaces 49 of cavities 47 of lobes 40 release relative pins 29, and push surfaces 51 contact respective end portions 52 of bar 53.

As control lever 35 continues rotating in the same direction, push surfaces 51 act on bar 53 to move slide 27 along wall 9 of casing 5 in opposition to elastic means 28. As soon as the front edge of slide 27 moves past the free end of lance 25, thus pulling connectors 2 and 3 apart in direction A, lance 25 flexes towards top wall 20 of casing 16, thus releasing tooth 30 from seat 26. More specifically, lance 25 is flexed by sloping side 30a of tooth 30 sliding along ramp-shaped edge 26a of seat 26. The advantages of unit 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.

In particular, using control lever 35 complete with cams 45 and push surfaces 51, connectors 2 and 3 can be connected and released with a minimum amount of effort, even when the number and transverse dimensions of the terminals for connection are considerable.

Clearly, changes may be made to unit 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) An electric connecting unit (1) having a first and a second connector (2, 3) respectively comprising a first and a second casing (5, 16) , which are made of insulating material, house respective numbers of electric terminals, are connectable mutually in a mating direction (A) , and have, respectively, at least one seat (26) , and locking means (25, 30) which engage said seat (26) to define a fully assembled position of said unit (1) ; said first connector (2) also comprising a slide (27) , which is fitted to said first casing (5) so as to slide in said mating direction (A) , is loaded by elastic means (28) into a first operating position preventing access to said seat (26) , and is movable, in opposition to said elastic means (28) and by the thrust exerted by said second connector (3) being connected to said first connector (2) , into a second operating position permitting engagement and release of said seat (26) by said locking means (25, 30) ; the unit being characterized by also comprising a control lever (35) , which is fitted to said first casing (5) to rotate about an axis (B) crosswise to said mating direction (A) , and has cam means (45) cooperating, as the control lever (35) is rotated in a predetermined direction from an open position to a closed position, with catch means (29) on said second casing (16) to produce, with a minimum amount of effort, a relative mating movement of said first and second connector (2, 3) in said mating direction (A) , so that said locking means (25, 30) engage said seat (26) in opposition to said elastic means (28) .

2) A unit as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said control lever (35) also comprises push means

(51) which, over an end portion of rotation of the control lever (35) from said closed position to said open position, cooperate with stop means (52) on said slide

(27) to move the slide from said first operating position to said second operating position permitting release of said seat (26) by said locking means (25, 30) .

3) A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said catch means comprise at least one pin (29) carried integrally by said second casing (16) ; and in that said cam means (45) comprise at least one interacting surface (49) cooperating in sliding manner with said pin (29) and so shaped that the distance, measured in said mating direction (A) , between said axis (B) and the portion of said interacting surface (49) contacting said pin (29) decreases as said control lever (35) rotates from said open position to said closed position .

4) A unit as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said control lever (35) comprises at least one plate member (40) which extends parallel to a lateral wall (11) of said first casing (5) , is hinged to the lateral wall (11) about said axis (B) , and defines said interacting surface (49) of said cam means (45) . 5) A unit as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said pin (29) projects outwards from a lateral wall

(23) of said second casing (16) parallel to said lateral wall (11) of said first casing (5) ; and in that said interacting surface (49) is defined by a peripheral edge of a cavity (47) for engaging said pin (29) and which is formed on said plate member (40) of said control lever

(35) .

6) A unit as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said push means comprise at least one push surface (51) carried by said plate member (40) of said control lever (35) , and which interacts with said stop means (52) on said slide (27).

7) A unit as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said stop means comprise at least one stop member

(52) projecting outwards of said slide (27) on the same side as and beyond said lateral all (11) of said first casing (5) ; and in that said push surface (51) is defined by the peripheral edge (55) of a further cavity (56) which is formed on said plate member (40) of said control lever (35), receives said stop member (52) on said slide (27), and is so sized as not to interfere with the stop member (52) as said control lever (35) rotates from said open position to said closed position. 8) A unit as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that said catch means comprise two said pins (29) projecting perpendicularly from two opposite said lateral walls (23) of said second casing (16) ; in that said stop means comprise two said stop members (52) projecting from opposite sides of said slide (27) and beyond respective opposite said lateral walls (11) of said first casing

(5); and in that said control lever (35) comprises two said plate members (40) which are hinged, about said axis

(B) , to the outside of respective opposite said lateral walls (11) of said first casing (5) , are connected to each other by a cross member (41) , and have respective said interacting surfaces (49) interacting with said pins (29) , and respective said push surfaces (51) .