US 4,979,910 AGranted

Electrical connector housing assembly

AssigneeLabinal

InventorsJean-Jacques Revil, Jean Ittah

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Abstract

An electrical connector housing comprises a male housing member, a corresponding female housing member and a skirt on the female housing member adapted to receive an anterior end of the male housing member. Channels in the male and female housing members are adapted to receive respective electrical contact members. Means for locking the male and female housing members together when the anterior end of the male housing member is inserted into the skirt comprise a resilient bar having two feet joined to the male housing member near its anterior end, an operating member at its free end and first locking members. The skirt comprises second locking members adapted to cooperate with the first locking members and a protuberance on its inside surface. The resilient bar further comprises a projection adapted to cooperate with this protuberance and having a first ramp inclined so that insertion of the male housing member into the skirt requires an additional force to allow the first ramp to pass by virtue of resilient deformation of the bar, a second ramp and an edge between the first and second ramps. When the protuberance has passed over the edge during insertion of the male housing member into the skirt, the second ramp tends to facilitate further insertion.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An electrical connector housing comprising a male housing member and a corresponding female housing member;

a skirt on said female housing member adapted to receive an anterior end of said male housing member;
channels in said male housing member and channels in said female housing member adapted to receive respective electrical contact members;
and means for locking said male and female housing members together when said anterior end of said male housing member is inserted into said skirt, said means for locking comprising a resilient bar having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end having two feet joined to said male housing member near said anterior end, an operating member at said free end of said resilient bar and first locking members, said skirt comprising second locking members adapted to cooperate with said first locking members and a protuberance on its inside surface, said resilient bar further comprising a projection adapted to cooperate with said protuberance and having a first ramp inclined so that insertion of said male housing member into said skirt requires an additional force to allow said first ramp to pass by virtue of resilient deformation of said resilient bar, a second ramp and edge between said first and second ramps so that when said protuberance has passed over said edge during insertion of said male housing member into said skirt said second ramp tends to facilitate further insertion of said male housing member into said skirt, and wherein said protuberance comprises two lugs on the inside wall of said skirt and profiled flanges on said lugs;
said resilient bar comprises two projections on respective opposite sides each adapted to cooperate with a corresponding flange;
a respective resilient tang forward of each projection extending said first ramp;
notches to the rear of said projections adapted to accommodate said profiled flanges, and said resilient tangs have a height such that on inserting said male housing member into said skirt said flanges abut against said resilient tangs.

3 more elements

An electrical connector housing comprising a male housing member and a corresponding female housing member;

a skirt on said female housing member adapted to receive an anterior end of said male housing member;
channels in said male housing member and channels in said female housing member adapted to receive respective electrical contact members;
and means for locking said male and female housing members together when said anterior end of said male housing member is inserted into said skirt, said means for locking comprising a resilient bar having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end having two feet joined to said male housing member near said anterior end, an operating member at said free end of said resilient bar and first locking members, said skirt comprising second locking members adapted to cooperate with said first locking members and a protuberance on its inside surface, said resilient bar further comprising a projection adapted to cooperate with said protuberance and having a first ramp inclined so that insertion of said male housing member into said skirt requires an additional force to allow said first ramp to pass by virtue of resilient deformation of said resilient bar, a second ramp and an edge between said first and second ramps so that when said protuberance has passed over said edge during insertion of said male housing member into said skirt said second ramp tends to facilitate further insertion of said male housing member into said skirt, and wherein said resilient bar includes a tab to limit its downward movement when inserting said male housing member into said skirt.

An electrical connector housing comprising a male housing member and a corresponding female housing member;

a skirt on said female housing member adapted to receive an anterior end of said male housing member;
channels in said male housing member and channels in said female housing member adapted to receive respective electrical contact members;
and means for locking said male and female housing members together when said anterior end of said male housing member is inserted into said skirt, said means for locking comprising a resilient bar having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end having two feet joined to said male housing member near said anterior end, an operating member at said free end of said resilient bar and first locking members, said skirt comprising second locking members adapted to cooperate with said first locking members and a protuberance on its inside surface, said resilient bar further comprising a projection adapted to cooperate with said protuberance and having a first ramp inclined so that insertion of said male housing member into said skirt requires an additional force to allow said first ramp to pass by virtue of resilient deformation of said resilient bar, a second ramp and an edge between said first and second ramps so that when said protuberance has passed over said edge during insertion of said male housing member into said skirt said second ramp tends to facilitate further insertion of said male housing ember into said skirt, and wherein said resilient bar is divided into two branches and further comprises between said two branches tow resilient tangs of which one end is joined to the operating member while the free end is provided with said projection, said projection on one of said resilient tangs facing towards said projection on the other tang, each projection comprising a first ramp, an edge and a second ramp, said ramps facing each other and the first ramps of said two resilient tangs forming a convergent entry while said protuberance is formed by a lug extended towards the rear by a wedge-shaped part ending in a flat front.

An electrical connector housing assembly comprising a male housing member and a corresponding female housing member,

said male housing member including a series of passages that are capable of receiving electrical contact members;
said female housing member including a skirt portion adapted to receive an anterior end of said male housing member, and having a series of passages corresponding to those in said male housing member that are capable of receiving corresponding electrical contact members;
means for locking said male housing member and female housing member together when said anterior end of said male housing member is inserted into said skirt portion of said female housing member;
said means for locking including means for pushing apart said male housing member and said female housing member until a sufficient force is exerted, means for facilitating further insertion of said male housing member into said female housing member upon exertion of said sufficient force, and means forming a threshold element which forms a transition zone between said means for pushing apart and said means for facilitating further insertion;
said means for pushing apart, said means for facilitating further insertion, and said means forming a threshold element are positioned on a resilient bar;
and said resilient bar includes a fixed end that is joined to said male housing member near said anterior end, and a free end;
said means for locking includes protuberance means positioned on said female housing member;
said means for pushing apart comprises a first ramp means that is inclined so that insertion of said male housing member into said skirt portion requires an additional force to allow said first ramp means to pass said protuberance means by virtue of resilient deformation of said resilient bar;
said means for facilitating further insertion comprises a second ramp means inclined so that passage of said second ramp means past said protuberance means is facilitated;
and said means forming a threshold element comprises an edge between said first ramp means and second ramp means;
said protuberance means comprise two lugs on the inside wall of said skirt portion, and a flange on each of said two lugs;
and said resilient bar comprises two sets of said first ramp means, said second ramp means and said edge positioned on respective opposite sides, with each of said two sets being adapted to cooperate with a flange;
and
further comprising a resilient tang forward of and extending from each said first ramp means, and notches to the rear of each of said second ramp means, with each notch being adapted to accommodate a corresponding flange;
and the height of each said resilient tang being such that upon inserting said male housing member into said skirt portion each flange abuts against a corresponding resilient tang.

12 more elements

An electrical connector housing assembly comprising a male housing member and a corresponding female housing member,

said male housing member including a series of passages that are capable of receiving electrical contact members;
said female housing member including a skirt portion adapted to receive an anterior end of said male housing member, and having a series of passages corresponding to those in said male housing member that are capable of receiving corresponding electrical contact members;
means for locking said male housing member and female housing member together when said anterior end of said male housing member is inserted into said skirt portion of said female housing member;
said means for locking including means for pushing apart said male housing member and said female housing member until a sufficient force is exerted, means for facilitating further insertion of said male housing member into said female housing member upon exertion of said sufficient force, and means forming a threshold element which forms a transition zone between said means for pushing apart and said means for facilitating further insertion;
said means for pushing apart, said means for facilitating further insertion, and said means forming a threshold element are positioned on a resilient bar;
and said resilient bar includes a fixed end that is joined to said male housing member near said anterior end, and a free end;
and
wherein said means for locking includes protuberance means and means forming apertures located on said female housing member;
and projections mounted on said resilient bar that fit into said means forming apertures when said male housing member and said female housing member are assembled.

6 more elements

A male housing member comprising

a housing member including a series of passages that are capable of receiving electrical contact members;
a resilient bar having a fixed end that is joined to said housing member, and a free end;
said resilient bar being divided into two branches and comprising between said two branches two resilient tangs, with each of said two resilient tangs having a rearward end that is attached to said resilient bar, and a forward, free end;
each of said two resilient tangs including, substantially adjacent to said forward, free end, a first ramp means, a second ramp means, and an edge connecting said first ramp means and said second ramp means;
and said resilient bar including projections on an upper surface;
and
said first ramp means is located closer to the free end of said resilient tang than said second ramp means;
said first ramp means and said second ramp means are positioned on said two resilient tangs to face each other;
and said connecting edges are positioned adjacent each other.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.