Kit for an electrical connector and electrical connector

Abstract

Kit for an electrical connector (1), comprising an insert (30) and a retaining piece (50), together forming an insulating body made of insulating material (20). This insulating body (20) is configured, in the connection position, to accommodate electrical contacts (70) in parallel passages (22). Each passage (22) includes a channel (44) and a retaining finger (56) for holding a contact located in the passage at the bottom of the channel and preventing it from moving backward. For at least one channel (44), the lateral wings (44L) of the channel (44) extend in the transverse direction (Z) beyond a limit (LC) in the transverse direction of a contact (70) located in the connection position in the channel. Electrical connector made from the kit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of electrical connectors. It specifically concerns electrical connectors designed to accommodate a plurality of electrical contacts in parallel passages within the connector, with a very small center-to-center distance between adjacent contacts. Previous technique

[0002] So-called 'Micro-D' type connectors, in which the center-to-center distance between adjacent contacts is 1.27 mm, have already been produced. One such connector is disclosed in document EP2056411. Furthermore, document US 2028 / 0123289 describes a multi-pole electrical connector.

[0003] In connectors of this type, and particularly in the connector disclosed in the latter document, the proximity of adjacent contacts can cause signals transmitted by them to interfere with each other. Therefore, there is a need for an electrical connector that allows the simultaneous connection of multiple electrical contacts without interference between the signals transmitted, even when the distance between neighboring contacts is relatively small. Description of the invention

[0004] To achieve the objectives stated above, in accordance with this disclosure, an electrical connector kit according to claim 1 is proposed, comprising an insert and a retaining piece, configured to be placed in a connection configuration in which they are fixed to each other and constitute an insulating body. Within this kit, the insert and the retaining piece are formed of insulating material. The insulating body is configured to accommodate a plurality of electrical contacts in a plurality of parallel passages; each passage being arranged to allow a contact to be placed in the connection position by moving said contact forward along the passage in a connection direction. The insulating body is configured so that, in the connection position, axes of the contacts are arranged in the same connection plane.

[0005] For each of the said passages, the insert includes a U-shaped section channel, the U-shaped section being open along a transverse direction perpendicular to the connection plane.

[0006] The retaining piece comprises, for each of said passages, an elastically deformable retaining finger, capable of being deformed by one of said contacts when the contact is put into the connection position in the first passage, and of taking a connection position in the passage when said contact has reached its connection position, in which the contact is held in the channel and prevented from moving backwards by the retaining finger.

[0007] In addition, lateral wings of at least one chute extend in the transverse direction beyond a maximum position in the transverse direction of a contact arranged in a connection position in the chute.

[0008] When a contact is in the connected position, it is located in one of the passages of the insulating body. It is then held in position by the insulating body. In general, the surfaces of the passage restrict all translational and rotational degrees of freedom of the contact, except for rotation around its own axis and translation along this axis (translation parallel to the X-axis of the connector).

[0009] It is therefore particularly necessary to prevent the contact from coming out of the passage by moving towards the back of the connector.

[0010] In this regard, as previously stated, the connection direction in which the contacts are mounted in the insulating body is the forward connection direction. The opposite direction is the rearward direction. To prevent rearward movement of the contact, the retaining finger is generally arranged so that, if the contact tends to move backward, a contact stop surface will come into contact with the retaining finger. This stop then locks the contact and prevents it from moving further backward.

[0011] The connection kit (and consequently, when the insert and retaining piece are in the connection configuration, the insulating body) may feature all or some of the following improvements, individually or in any technically feasible combination:

[0012] In certain embodiments, the retaining piece includes at least one cover; and in the connection position, at least one of said channels is closed by said at least one cover over a certain distance (or extent) along the connection direction. In these embodiments, said distance (the distance or extent over which, in the connection position, at least one of said channels is closed by said at least one cover) may, in particular, extend rearward from a joining plane, perpendicular to the connection direction, and at which a front edge of said at least one cover is in contact with the insert.

[0013] In some embodiments, the retaining finger(s) provided for one or more chutes are formed integrally with the cover(s) provided for this or these chutes.

[0014] In some embodiments, at least one cable tray has a substantially constant cross-section along the direction of connection.

[0015] In some embodiments, the insulating body is arranged so that in the connection position, at least one channel, and preferably all of the channels, extend(s) to an opening provided at the rear of the retaining piece.

[0016] In some embodiments, a side wing of a chute is formed integrally with a side wing of an adjacent chute, or a portion of a bottom of a chute is formed integrally with a portion of a bottom of an adjacent chute.

[0017] In some embodiments, the retaining piece is formed from a single block.

[0018] This disclosure also includes an electrical connector made from the electrical connector kit defined previously.

[0019] In some embodiments, the electrical connector includes a housing, in which at least a part of the insulating body is mounted.

[0020] In these embodiments, once the connector is made, the insert is generally inserted (at least partially) into the housing. This is why the term 'insert' is used. However, in this document, the term 'insert' refers to any mechanical part configured only to perform the functions indicated.

[0021] In some embodiments, the insulating body has sufficient mechanical strength to eliminate the need for a housing: the connector is then configured for use without a housing. In this case, other functions performed by the housing, such as holding the insulating body in position relative to other components (e.g., securing it to a printed circuit board, holding it in position relative to another complementary connector, etc.), can be performed by the insulating body itself.

[0022] In this document, the term 'the insulating body' refers to the assembly comprising the insert and the retaining piece in the connection configuration. A feature of the form 'the insulating body is arranged such that...' can therefore be interchangeably replaced by a feature of the form 'The insert and the retaining piece are arranged such that, when fixed to each other in the connection configuration,...'.

[0023] Unlike various known connectors, a connector according to this disclosure uses a retainer made of insulating material, which attaches to the insert to form an insulating body within the connector. Because of its insulating body, comprising both an insert and a retainer made of insulating materials, the connector according to this disclosure does not require the use of metallic parts to maintain contact. Consequently, it reduces the potential for signal interference between adjacent contacts and ultimately provides better contact isolation compared to known connector types.

[0024] The insulating body consists solely of the insert and the retaining piece. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] The invention will be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, of embodiments shown by way of non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an electrical connector as disclosed herein; Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the insulating body of the electrical connector shown on the Fig.1 , following a first direction; [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the insulating body of the electrical connector shown on the Fig.1 , following a second direction; [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown on the Fig.1 , in connection position; [ Fig. 5 ] There figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown on the Fig.1 ; Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 is a partial view representing a detail of the Fig.5 ; Fig. 7 ] There figure 7 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown on the Fig.1 , shown in a position in which the contacts and retaining piece are slightly displaced backward relative to the connection position; and [ Fig. 8 ] There figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of part of the electrical connector shown on the Fig.1 , in the position represented by the Fig.7 . Description of implementation methods

[0026] An example of how this disclosure could be carried out will now be presented in relation to the figures 1 à 8 .

[0027] These figures show an electrical connector 1. This includes a housing 10, an insulating body 20, and a set of electrical contacts 70 (the reference 70 designates indifferently, depending on the context, an individual contact or the set of contacts).

[0028] In other embodiments, it may be provided that connector 1 does not include a housing.

[0029] The electrical connector has an X axis parallel to the axes of passages 22 provided in the insulating body 20 to accommodate the contacts 70. Along this axis, the direction in which the contacts 70 are inserted into the insulating body 20 defines a connection direction X+, arbitrarily called the 'forward direction', the opposite direction or disconnection direction being denoted X- and called the 'rear direction'. The Y and Z directions perpendicular to the connection direction are called 'transverse directions'.

[0030] To facilitate understanding, the configuration of connector 1 will be described assuming that the X direction is horizontal and the Z direction is vertical, allowing us to refer to top, bottom, etc. However, it is quite clear that the connector can have any orientation.

[0031] Connector 1 is a first connector, designed to be attached to one end of a multi-conductor electrical wire (not shown), and to be attached to a second, corresponding connector (also not shown). When attached to the electrical wire and the second connector, Connector 1 connects each conductor of the electrical wire to corresponding contacts on the second connector.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, connector 1 has 9 contacts 70, arranged in two rows: an upper row of 5 contacts and a lower row of 4 contacts. Each of these two rows of contacts extends in a plane called the 'connection plane'. The connection plane of the upper row of contacts is denoted PC. The two connection planes are parallel.

[0033] This disclosure can naturally be implemented for any number of contacts.

[0034] Advantageously, the center distance between neighboring contacts can be small, for example less than 1.5 mm, or even less than 1 mm, or even less than 0.7 mm.

[0035] The contacts 70 are elongated in shape, and in this case are identical to each other. Each contact 70, in a manner known per se, comprises two parts: a strand 72 and a body 80. The body 80 is formed from a metal alloy by machining: thus, as can be seen on the figure 6 The body 80 is essentially symmetrical of revolution. The rear part 82 of the body 80 is designed to be crimped onto an electrical conductor, while the front part 84 of the body 80 is designed to be crimped onto the strand 72.

[0036] The body 80 also has a circumferential locking groove 86, the role of which will be explained later.

[0037] The insulating body 20 comprises an insert 30 and a retaining piece 50 configured to be fixed to each other by interlocking (they are clipped together). Each of them is formed by plastic injection from insulating material.

[0038] Part 50 consists essentially of a sleeve 54, inside which extend retaining fingers 56.

[0039] The insulating body 20 is traversed by parallel passages 22 (one passage per contact 70) which extend along the connection direction X. In the insulating body 20, the passages 22 form two rows of parallel passages 22.

[0040] Each passage 22 is open at both ends. The rear end allows the insertion of contact 70. The open front end allows the insertion of a female contact (not shown) of the second connector, which is then in electrical contact with contact 70 when connector 1 is connected to the second connector.

[0041] The insert 30 has three parts: a front part 32, a joining part 34 and a separator 40.

[0042] The front portion 32 has a generally constant cross-section along the connection direction, an external trapezoidal shape, pierced with nine circular holes, one for each of the passages 22. Each passage 22 traverses the insert 30 completely, passing through each of its three sections. The external surface of the front portion 32 is designed to allow the insulating body 20 to be locked into the housing 10 (the insulating body 20 is press-fitted into the housing 10).

[0043] The joining part 34 connects the front part 32 to the separator 40. It has a circumferential surface 36, designed to receive the front edge 52 of the sleeve 54, and thus to allow the fixing of the retaining piece 50 to the insert 30.

[0044] The separator 40, in the embodiment presented, is made up of the joining of nine chutes 44, namely five upper chutes 44A and four lower chutes 44B.

[0045] The layout of a cable tray will now be presented, particularly in relation to the Fig.6 . which represents, as a representative example, a 44 cable tray (an upper 44A cable tray).

[0046] The chute 44 has a constant cross-section along the connection direction. This cross-section is U-shaped. The chute therefore has two lateral wings 44L, a bottom 44F, and an opening 44O.

[0047] For each chute 44, a retaining finger 56 is disposed in the opening 44O of the 'U'. This preferably extends from one lateral wing 44L of the chute to the other (along the Y direction).

[0048] The chute extends a certain distance forward to the junction part 34 of the insert. It joins the junction part 34 at a junction plane PJ ( Fig.7 ). At the level (along the connection direction X) of this plane, and over a short distance in front of this plane along the direction X+, outside the chutes 44 (and therefore globally of the separator 40), the front edge 52 of the sleeve 54 is in contact with the insert 30 and ensures the junction with it.

[0049] The opening 44O of the chute is oriented along the transverse direction Z, namely upwards (direction Z+) for the upper chutes 44A, and conversely downwards (direction Z-) for the lower chutes 44B.

[0050] For each pair of adjacent chutes, the lateral wings 44L of the adjacent chutes are combined and formed integrally, in a single piece. Similarly, since the bottoms of the upper chutes are adjacent to the bottoms of the lower chutes, for any pair comprising an adjacent upper and lower chute (even if offset from each other along the Y direction, as in the embodiment shown), a portion of the bottom 44F of the upper chute is combined and formed integrally (single piece) with a portion of the bottom of the adjacent lower chute.

[0051] The various channels 44 are therefore combined to form a part of the insert 30, called the separator 40, which is formed as a single unit. The entire insert 30, in this embodiment, is formed as a single unit.

[0052] The sleeve 54 has a generally constant cross-section along the connection direction. Each of the retaining fingers 56 is fixed inside the sleeve 54, and preferably is formed as an integral (or monobloc) part with the sleeve 54. The entire retaining piece 50 is therefore preferably formed as a single piece (monobloc), in particular by plastic injection molding.

[0053] The sleeve 54 has a hollow cross-section, generally rectangular in shape. This allows the separator 40 to be placed in the retaining piece 50, in a connection configuration.

[0054] At the ends of the sleeve 54, the opening piece 50 has a front opening 54av and a rear opening 54ar, designed to allow the separator 40 to pass through. In the connection position, all the chutes extend inside the sleeve 54, and in particular extend to the opening 54ar provided at the rear of the retaining piece 50.

[0055] The sleeve 54 has an upper wall 54A, a lower wall 54B, and two side walls 54C and 54D. The upper wall 54A acts as the upper cover, and the lower wall 54B acts as the lower cover, the function of which will be explained later. The edge 52 of the sleeve 54 has an upper portion that forms the edge of the upper cover 54A and a lower portion that forms the edge of the lower cover 54B.

[0056] The retaining fingers 56 extend from the upper and lower covers 54A and 54B. They extend from these covers in an oblique direction, both forward (X+) and toward the PC connection plane (direction Z or Z+ as appropriate). In the embodiment shown, a retaining finger is associated with each of the passages 22 and its function is to retain, i.e., to block, a contact located in that passage 22 so as to prevent this contact from exiting the connector to the rear.

[0057] Each retaining finger 56 is shaped like a small, elastically deformable tab, extending from one of the covers 54A or 54B in the vertical direction. Each finger 56 starts from one of these covers and gradually approaches the PC connection plane as one moves along the finger 56 in the X+ connection direction. As seen in longitudinal section ( Fig.4 ), the end of the finger forms a stop surface having a perpendicular direction directed along the connection direction X+.

[0058] The housing 10 provides mechanical protection for the insulating body 20. As is known, it includes means for attaching it to the second connector. It has an internal opening configured to accommodate and retain the insulating body 20.

[0059] The connector is assembled as follows.

[0060] The contacts 70 are pre-mounted and fixed to the end of an electrical wire (not shown).

[0061] The insulating body 20 is mounted by attaching the retaining piece 50 to the insert 30. For this, the insert 30 is inserted into the sleeve 54, its circumferential surface 36 locking into the front edge 52 of the retaining piece 50.

[0062] The insulating body 20 is inserted and fixed in the housing 10.

[0063] At this stage of the assembly, for each retaining finger 56 and each associated passage 22, there is no contact 70 in the passage 22; the passage 22 is empty. In this situation, the finger 56 adopts a 'unconstrained' position in which it partially extends into the passage 22.

[0064] The contacts 70 are then introduced into the opening 54ar formed at the rear of the sleeve 54. More precisely, each contact 70 is guided so as to be introduced into one of the passages 22, to which it is then associated.

[0065] The contacts are then moved in translation within the passages 22 until they reach the connection position shown on the Fig.4 .

[0066] During this movement, each contact 70 comes into contact with a retaining finger 56. Since the finger 56 is deformable, it is pushed away by the front end of the contact 70 (by a strand 72); it therefore moves away from the contact 70, away from the connection plane PC and towards the upper or lower (as the case may be) inner surface of the sleeve 54 to which it is attached. This movement of the finger 56 thus allows the contact 70 to pass axially through the passage 22 at the level of the retaining finger 56, moving in the connection direction X+.

[0067] The groove 86 is formed by a stop surface 87 and a bottom surface 88. As can be seen in longitudinal section ( Fig.4 The abutment surface has a perpendicular direction directed along an X- direction opposite to the connection direction X+. The bottom surface 88 connects the bottom of the groove 86 to the outer surface of the rear part of the body 80.

[0068] During the movement of a contact 70 in a passage 22, as soon as the contact 70 comes into contact with the finger 56, the finger 56 remains in elastic contact with the contact 70. As soon as the stop surface 87 passes the axial position of the end of the finger 56, the finger 56 tends to return to its position without constraint: It therefore places itself at the bottom of the groove 86, against the bottom surface 88. The movement of the contact 70 is then stopped (It may possibly be continued over a short distance).

[0069] Advantageously, the elastic finger 56 then prevents the contact 70 from moving backwards.

[0070] Connector 1 is then in connection configuration, and can be attached to the second connector.

[0071] If necessary, the contact 70 can be disassembled. To do this, a tool called a 'pen' is inserted from the rear into the passage 22. This tool is inserted into the passage 22 between the outer surface of the contact 70 and the finger 56. The tool is moved in the direction of contact until it forces the finger 56 to lift and thus disengage from the stop surface 87. The contact 70 can then be removed from the insulating body 20 towards the rear. The tool is then (or even simultaneously) removed.

[0072] THE Figs.5 et 6 represent a cross-section of connector 1, in the connection position.

[0073] As can be seen on the Fig.6 For each cable tray 44, the lateral wings 44L of the tray extend along the transverse direction Z+ to a position LL. Furthermore, the contact 70, along this same transverse direction Z+, extends to a maximum, or limit, position LC. Along the transverse direction Z+, the limit of the lateral wings 44L, located at the LL position, lies beyond the limit of the contact 70 located at the LC position. Consequently, in the connected position, the contacts 70 are separated from each other by the lateral wings 44L of the cable trays, and are therefore not directly facing each other: this arrangement thus reduces the risk of sparking or short circuits.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper and lower walls 54A and 54B act as covers for the cable trays 44. To this end, these walls are arranged so that, in the connection position, the cable trays 44 are closed by the walls 54A and 54B. This closure of the cable trays occurs at least over a certain portion of the connector 1, extending over a certain distance along the connection direction X.

[0075] The fact that a cable tray 44 is closed by a cover means that, on the relevant connector section, in a cross-section, the passage 22 through the cable tray is entirely delimited by the cable tray 44 and the cover in question (54A or 54B as applicable). The periphery of the passage 22 is therefore, in this case, made entirely of insulating material. Thanks to this, on this connector section, in the connection position, the risk of a short circuit between contacts is, in principle, nonexistent.

[0076] The portion of the connector where, in the connection position, the cable channels 44 are closed by the cover (54A, 54B) preferably extends along the entire length of the cable channels in the connection direction. This portion preferably extends from the junction plane PJ, perpendicular to the connection direction, where the front edge 52 of the covers is in contact with the insert 30.

[0077] The advantage of this arrangement is illustrated by the Figs.7 et 8 .

[0078] These figures depict connector 1 in a configuration where, relative to the connection position, the contacts 70 and the retaining piece 50 have moved slightly rearward. This configuration could hypothetically occur if connector 1 were subjected to extreme stresses, resulting in such a displacement. In this configuration, the leading edge 52 of the retaining piece is offset from the circumferential surface 36 of the insert 30. Access to the channels 44 is thus made possible at a free gap I.

[0079] Conversely, in the connection position, the edge 52 is in contact with the circumferential surface 36, at the level of the junction plane PJ. In this position, the cover (54A or 54B) in combination with the wings 44L of the chutes 44 ensures the separation of the passages 22 from each other.

[0080] As can be seen on the figures 7 et 8Even if the contacts 70 and the retaining piece 50 have moved slightly rearward, the passages 22 remain completely separated from each other over most of their length, thanks to the fact that the covers 54A and 54B continue to largely perform their function of separating the adjacent passages 22. Indeed, they continue to perform this function along the entire length of the chutes 44, with the exception of the gap I.

[0081] Moreover, advantageously, along the entire length of the chutes 44 and including at the level of the interval I, the contacts 70 remain separated from each other by the lateral wings 44L of the chutes 44.

[0082] Although the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is evident that various modifications and changes can be made to this example without departing from the general scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims. In particular, although the various features have generally been presented as applied to all the contacts 70 or channels 44, this disclosure also includes the possibility of applying these features to only one or more contacts, one or more channels. Furthermore, the various individual features envisaged can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

1. A kit for an electrical connector (1), which includes an insert (30) and a retainer (50), configured to be put into a connection configuration wherein they are attached to each other and they form an insulating body (20); the insert (30) and the retainer (50) being made up of insulating material; the insulating body (20) being configured to accommodate a plurality of electrical contacts (70) in a plurality of parallel passages (22); each passage (22) being arranged in such a way that a contact can be put in a connection position by moving said contact forwards in the passage in a connection direction (X+); the insulating body (20) being configured so that, in the connection position, axes of the contacts (70) are arranged in a same connection plane (CP); for each of said passages (22), the insert (30) including a channel (44) having a U-shaped cross-section, the U-shaped cross-section being open along a transverse direction (Z) perpendicular to the connection plane (CP); the retainer (50) including, for each of said passages (22), an elastically deformable retaining finger (56), which can be deformed by one of said contacts when said contact is positioned in the passage, and adopt a connection position in the passage when said contact is in its connection position, wherein the contact (70) is held in the channel (44); and wherein, for at least one channel (44), side wings (44L) of the channel (44) extend in the transverse direction (Z) beyond a limit (LC) in the transverse direction of a contact (70) positioned in the connection position in the channel; characterized in that when said contact is in its connection position, the retaining finger (56) stops it moving backwards; an abutment surface (87) of the contact (70) abutting against the retaining finger (56); wherein the contact (70) includes a strand (72) and a body (80), wherein the body (80) of the contact (70) has a circumferential locking groove (86), the locking groove (86) being made up of the abutment surface (87) and a bottom surface (86).

2. The kit for an electrical connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the retainer (50) comprises at least one cover (54A,54B); and in the connection position, at least one of the said channels (44) is closed off by said at least one cover (54A,54B) for at least a certain distance in the connection direction.

3. The kit for an electrical connector (1) according to claim 2, wherein said distance extends backwards from a junction plane (PJ) that is perpendicular to the connection direction and at which one front edge (52) of said at least one cover is in contact with the insert (30).

4. The kit for an electrical connector (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the retaining finger (56) extends from the cover (54A, 54B) in an oblique direction, both forwards (X+) and towards the connection plane (PC).

5. The kit for an electrical connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, of which at least one channel (44) has a continuous cross-section along the connection direction (X+).

6. The kit for an electrical connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insulating body is arranged so that in the connection position, at least one channel (44) and preferably all the channels extend to an opening (54ar) located at the back of the retainer (50).

7. The kit for an electrical connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one side wing (44L) of a channel (44) is integrally formed with a side wing of an adjacent channel (44), or a part of a bottom (44F) of a channel (44) is integrally formed with a part of a bottom (44F) of an adjacent channel (44).

8. The kit for an electrical connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, of which the retainer (50) is made in a single piece.

9. An electrical connector (1) made from the kit for an electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and optionally comprising a housing (10), in which at least part of the insulating body (20) is assembled.

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