Electrical connector kit and electrical connector

Abstract

Electrical connector kit and electrical connector. Electrical connector kit (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 configuration, to accommodate electrical contacts (70) in parallel passages (22). Each passage (22) has 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. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Electrical connector kit and electrical connector Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of electrical connectors. It relates in particular to electrical connectors designed to accommodate a plurality of electrical contacts in parallel passages provided in the connector, the center distance between neighboring contacts being very small. Prior art

[0002] So-called 'Micro-D' type connectors, in which the center distance between adjacent contacts is 1.27 mm, have already been produced. A connector of this type is disclosed in particular by document EP2056411.

[0003] In connectors of this type, and in particular in the connector disclosed by the latter document, due to the proximity between adjacent contacts, the signals which are transmitted by adjacent contacts can disturb each other. There is therefore a need for an electrical connector allowing the simultaneous connection of a plurality of electrical contacts, without the signals transmitted by these contacts disturbing each other, and this even though the center distance between neighboring contacts is of relatively small value. Statement of the invention

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned aims, in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided an electrical connector kit, comprising an insert and a retaining part, 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 part are formed from 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 in the passage forwardly 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 said passages, the insert comprises a U-shaped section chute, the U-shaped section being open in a transverse direction perpendicular to the connection plane.

[0006] The retaining part comprises, for each of said passages, an elastically deformable retaining finger, capable of being deformed by one of said contacts when said contact is placed in the connection position in the first passage, and of taking up a position connecting in the passage when said contact has reached its connecting position, wherein the contact is held in the chute and prevented from moving rearwardly by the retaining finger.

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

[0008] When a contact is in the connection 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 block all degrees of freedom in translation and rotation of the contact, except rotation around its own axis, and translation along this axis (translation parallel to the X axis of the connector).

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

[0010] In this regard, as previously indicated, the connection direction, in which the contacts are mounted in the insulating body, is the connection direction, directed in the forward direction. The opposite direction is the rearward direction. To prevent the contact from moving backward, in general, the retaining finger is arranged so that, if the contact tends to move backward, a stop surface of the contact then abuts against the retaining finger. This stop then blocks the contact and prevents it from moving further backward.

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

[0012] In certain embodiments, the retaining part comprises at least one cover; and in the connection position, at least one of said channels is closed by said at least one cover at least 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 rearwardly from a junction 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 that or those chutes.

[0014] In certain embodiments, at least one chute has a substantially constant section along the connection direction.

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

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

[0017] In some embodiments, the retaining piece is formed as a single unit.

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

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

[0020] In these embodiments, when the connector is made, the insert is then generally inserted (at least partially) into the housing. It is for this reason that the term 'insert' is used. However, in this document, this term 'insert' designates any mechanical part, only configured to perform the indicated functions.

[0021] In some embodiments, the insulating body has sufficient mechanical strength so that the use of a housing is unnecessary: ​​the connector is then configured to be used without a housing. In this case, the other functions performed by the housing, such as for example holding the insulating body in position relative to other parts (for example, holding it on a printed circuit, holding it in position relative to another complementary connector, etc.) can be performed by the insulating body itself.

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

[0023] Unlike various known connectors, a connector according to the present disclosure uses a retaining part made of insulating material, which attaches to the insert so as to constitute an insulating body within the connector. Due to its insulating body, comprising an insert and a retaining part, both made of insulating materials, the connector according to the present disclosure does not require the use of metal parts to ensure the maintenance of the contacts. It follows that it reduces the possibilities of signal disturbances between adjacent contacts, and ultimately ensures better insulation of the contacts compared to connectors of known type.

[0024] The insulating body is preferably constituted solely by the insert and the part of restraint. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments shown as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the appended drawings, in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is an exploded schematic perspective view of a connector electrical according to this disclosure;

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic exploded perspective view of the insulating body of the electrical connector shown in [Fig.l], in a first direction;

[0028] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an exploded schematic perspective view of the insulating body of the electrical connector shown in [Fig.l], in a second direction;

[0029] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the connector electrical shown in [Fig.l], in the connection position;

[0030] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connector electric shown in [Fig.l];

[0031] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a partial view showing a detail of [Fig.5];

[0032] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the connector electrical apparatus shown in [Fig.l], shown in a position in which the contacts and retaining member are slightly displaced rearward from the connection position; and

[0033] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a schematic perspective view of part of the connector electrical system shown in [Fig.l], in the position shown in [Fig.7].

[0034] Description of embodiments

[0035] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will now be presented in relation to Figures 1 to 8.

[0036] These figures show an electrical connector 1. This comprises 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).

[0037] In other embodiments, it may be provided that the connector 1 does not comprise a housing.

[0038] The electrical connector has an axis X parallel to the passage axes 22 provided in the insulating body 20 to accommodate the contacts 70. Along this axis, the direction in which the contacts 70 are introduced into the insulating body 20 defines a connection direction X+, arbitrarily called 'forward direction', the opposite direction or disconnection direction being noted X- and called 'rear direction'. The directions Y and Z perpendicular to the connection direction are called 'transverse directions'.

[0039] For ease of understanding, the configuration of connector 1 will be described assuming that the X direction is horizontal and the Z direction is vertical, which allows reference to top, bottom, etc. However, it is obvious that the connector can have any orientation.

[0040] The connector 1 is a first connector, intended on the one hand to be fixed to one end of a multi-conductor electrical wire (not shown), and on the other hand to be fixed with a corresponding second connector (not shown). When it is fixed to the electrical wire and to the second connector, the connector 1 ensures the connection of each of the conductors of the electrical wire with corresponding contacts of the second connector.

[0041] In the embodiment shown, the connector 1 comprises 9 contacts 70, distributed 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.

[0042] The present disclosure can naturally be implemented for any number of contacts.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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 turning. The rear part 82 of the body 80 is intended to be crimped onto an electrical conductor, while the front part 84 of the body 80 is intended to be crimped onto the strand 72.

[0045] The body 80 further has a circumferential locking groove 86, the role of which will be explained later.

[0046] 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 to each other). Each of them is formed by plastic injection in insulating material.

[0047] The part 50 is essentially constituted by a sleeve 54, inside which retaining fingers 56 extend.

[0048] The insulating body 20 is crossed by the parallel passages 22 (one passage per contact 70) which extend in the connection direction X. In the insulating body 20, the passages 22 form two rows of parallel passages 22.

[0049] Each passage 22 is open at both ends. The rear end allows the introduction of the contact 70. The front end, open, allows the introduction of a female contact (not shown) of the second connector, which is then in electrical contact with the contact 70 when the connector 1 is connected to the second connector.

[0050] The insert 30 has three parts: a front part 32, a joining part 34 and a separator 40.

[0051] The front part 32 generally has a constant section along the connection direction, in the external shape of a trapezium, pierced with 9 holes of circular section, namely one hole for each of the passages 22. Each passage 22 passes through the insert 30 from one side to the other, passing through each of its three parts. The external surface of the front part 32 is provided to allow the insulating body 20 to be locked in the housing 10 (the insulating body 20 is force-mounted in the housing 10).

[0052] The joining portion 34 connects the front portion 32 to the separator 40. It has a circumferential surface 36, provided to receive the front edge 52 of the sleeve 54, and thus to allow the retaining part 50 to be fixed to the insert 30.

[0053] The separator 40, in the embodiment presented, is constituted by the union of nine chutes 44, namely five upper chutes 44A and four lower chutes 44B.

[0054] The arrangement of a chute will now be presented in relation in particular to [Fig.6]. which represents, as a representative example, a chute 44 (an upper chute 44A).

[0055] The chute 44 has a constant section along the connection direction. This section is 'U' shaped. The chute therefore has two lateral wings 44L, a bottom 44F and an opening 440.

[0056] For each chute 44, a retaining finger 56 is arranged in the opening 440 of the 'U'. This preferably extends from one lateral wing 44L of the chute to the other (along the direction Y).

[0057] The chute extends a certain distance forward to the junction portion 34 of the insert. It joins the junction portion 34 at a junction plane PJ ( [Fig.7]). At (along the connection direction X) this plane, and over a short distance in front of this plane along the direction X+, outside the chutes 44 (and therefore generally outside the separator 40), the front edge 52 of the sleeve 54 is in contact with the insert 30 and ensures the junction with it.

[0058] The opening 440 of the chute is oriented in the transverse direction Z, namely upwards (direction Z+) for the upper chutes 44A, and conversely downwards (direction Z-) for the lower chutes 44B.

[0059] For each pair of adjacent chutes, the side wings 44L of 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 chute and a lower chute (even offset from each other in the Y direction, as in the embodiment shown), a portion of the bottom 44F of the upper chute is combined and integrally formed (one-piece) with a portion of the bottom of the adjacent lower chute.

[0060] The different chutes 44 are therefore combined so as to constitute a part of the insert 30, called separator 40, formed in a single piece. The entire insert 30, in this embodiment, is formed in a single piece.

[0061] The sleeve 54 has a generally constant section along the connection direction. Each of the retaining fingers 56 is fixed inside the sleeve 54, and is preferably formed integrally (or in one piece) with the sleeve 54. The entire retaining part 50 is therefore preferably formed in one piece (in one piece), in particular by plastic injection.

[0062] The sleeve 54 has a hollow cross-section, of generally rectangular shape. This makes it possible to place the separator 40 in the retaining part 50, in the connection configuration.

[0063] At the ends of the sleeve 54, the opening part 50 has a front opening 54av and a rear opening 54ar, provided to allow the separator 40 to pass through. In the connection position, all of the chutes extend inside the sleeve 54, and in particular extend as far as the opening 54ar provided at the rear of the retaining part 50.

[0064] 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 an upper cover and the lower wall 54B acts as a lower cover, the role of which will be explained later. The edge 52 of the sleeve 54 has an upper portion which constitutes the edge of the upper cover 54A and a lower portion which constitutes the edge of the lower cover 54B.

[0065] 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 towards the connection plane PC (Z- or Z+ direction as the case may be). In the embodiment shown, a retaining finger is associated with each of the passages 22 and has the function of retaining, that is to say blocking, a contact placed in this passage 22 so as to prevent this contact from coming out of the connector towards the rear.

[0066] Each retaining finger 56 has the shape of a small elastically deformable tab, which extends 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 connection plane PC as one moves in the connection direction X+ along the finger 56.

[0067] The housing 10 provides mechanical protection for the insulating body 20. In a manner known per se, it comprises means for fixing to the second connector. It has a internal passage configured to accommodate and maintain the insulating body 20.

[0068] The connector is mounted as follows.

[0069] The contacts 70 are previously mounted and fixed to the end of an electric wire (not shown).

[0070] The insulating body 20 is mounted by fixing the retaining part 50 to the insert 30. For this, the insert 30 is inserted into the sleeve 54, its circumferential surface 36 being locked inside the front edge 52 of the retaining part 50.

[0071] The insulating body 20 is introduced and fixed in the housing 10.

[0072] At this stage of 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 an 'unconstrained' position in which it extends partly into the passage 22.

[0073] 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, with which it is then associated.

[0074] The contacts are then moved in translation in the passages 22 until they reach the connection position shown in [Fig.4].

[0075] During this movement, each contact 70 comes into contact with a retaining finger 56. The finger 56 being deformable, it is pushed back by the front end of the contact 70 (by a strand 72); it therefore moves away from the contact 70 by moving away from the connection plane PC and approaching the upper or lower internal surface (as the case may be) of the sleeve 54 to which it is fixed. This movement of the finger 56 therefore allows the contact 70 to pass into the passage 22 axially at the level of the retaining finger 56, by moving in the connection direction X+.

[0076] The groove 86 is formed by a stop surface 87 and a bottom surface 88. As seen in longitudinal section ([Fig.4]), the stop surface has a perpendicular direction directed along a direction X- 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.

[0077] 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 support on the contact 70. As soon as the stop surface 87 exceeds the axial position of the end of the finger 56, the finger 56 tends to resume its position without constraint: It is therefore placed at the bottom of the groove 86, against the bottom surface 88. The movement of the contact 70 is then stopped (It can possibly be continued over a short distance).

[0078] Advantageously, the elastic finger 56 then prevents the contact 70 from exiting towards the rear.

[0079] The connector 1 is then in the connection configuration, and can be fixed to the second connector.

[0080] If necessary, the contact 70 can be disassembled. For this, a so-called 'pen' tool is introduced from the rear into the passage 22, which is inserted, in the passage 22, between the outer surface of the contact 70 and the finger 56. This tool is moved in the connection direction until it forces the finger 56 to lift and thus to disengage from the stop surface 87. The contact 70 can then be removed from the insulating body 20 towards the rear. Then (or even simultaneously), the tool is removed.

[0081] Figs. 5 and 6 represent a transverse section of the connector 1, in the position of connection.

[0082] As can be seen in [Fig.6], for each chute 44, the lateral wings 44L of the chute extend in the transverse direction Z+ to a position LL. Furthermore, the contact 70, in this same transverse direction Z+, extends to a maximum, or limit, position LC. In the transverse direction Z+, the limit of the lateral wings 44L, located at the position LL, is beyond the limit of the contact 70 located at the position LC. Consequently, in the connection position, the contacts 70 are separated from each other by the lateral wings 44L of the chutes, and are therefore not directly opposite each other: this arrangement therefore reduces the risk of sparks or short circuits.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper and lower walls 54A and 54B act as covers for the channels 44. For this purpose, these walls are arranged in such a way that in the connection position the channels 44 are closed by the walls 54A and 54B. This closing of the channels occurs at least on a certain part of the connector 1, which extends over a certain distance along the connection direction X.

[0084] The fact that a channel 44 is closed by a cover means that, on the part of the connector concerned, in a transverse section, the passage 22 passing through the channel is delimited entirely by the channel 44 and the cover considered (54A or 54B depending on the case). The periphery of the passage 22 considered is therefore in this case constituted solely by insulating material. Thanks to this, on this part of the connector, in the connection position, the risk of short circuit between contacts is in principle non-existent.

[0085] The part of the connector at which, in the connection position, the channels 44 are closed by the cover (54A, 54B), preferably extends over the entire length of the channels in the connection direction. This part preferably extends in particular from the junction plane PJ, perpendicular to the connection direction, at which the front edge 52 of the covers is in contact with the insert 30.

[0086] The advantage of this arrangement is illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8.

[0087] These figures represent connector 1, but in a configuration in which, relative to the connection position, the contacts 70 and the retaining part 50 have moved slightly rearward. This configuration could hypothetically occur if the connector 1 were subjected to extreme stresses, resulting in such a displacement. In this configuration, the front edge 52 of the retaining part is spaced from the circumferential surface 36 of the insert 30. Access to the channels 44 is therefore made possible at a free gap I.

[0088] 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 ensure the separation of the passages 22 from each other.

[0089] As seen in Figures 7 and 8, even in the case where the contacts 70 and the retaining part 50 have moved slightly rearward, the passages 22 remain entirely separated from each other over a major part of their length, thanks to the fact that the covers 54A and 54B continue to largely fulfill their role of separating the adjacent passages 22. They continue in fact to fulfill this role over the entire length of the chutes 44, with the exception of the interval I.

[0090] More advantageously, over the entire length of the channels 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 channels 44.

[0091] Although the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is evident that various modifications and changes may be made with respect 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 applied to all of the contacts 70 or channels 44, the present disclosure also includes the possibility of applying these features to only one or more contacts, one or more channels. Furthermore, the various individual features contemplated may be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

Claims

Claims

1. Electrical connector kit (1), comprising an insert (30) and a retaining part (50), configured to be placed in a connection configuration in which they are fixed to each other and constitute an insulating body (20); the insert (30) and the retaining part (50) being formed 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 to allow a contact to be brought into the connection position by moving said contact in the passage forwards 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 the same connection plane (PC); for each of said passages (22), the insert (30) comprising a chute (44) of U-shaped section, the U-shaped section being open in a transverse direction (Z) perpendicular to the connection plane (PC); the retaining part (50) comprising, for each of said passages (22), an elastically deformable retaining finger (56), capable of being deformed by one of said contacts when said contact is placed in the connection position in the passage, and of taking a connection position in the passage when said contact has reached its connection position, in which the contact (70) is held in the chute (44) and prevented from moving backwards by the retaining finger (56), a stop surface (87) of the contact (70) coming into abutment against the retaining finger (56); wherein the contact (70) comprises 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 formed by the stop surface (87) and a bottom surface (86), and wherein, for at least one chute (44), lateral wings (44L) of the chute (44) extend in the transverse direction (Z) beyond a limit (LC) in the transverse direction of a contact (70) arranged in the connection position in the chute.

2. An electrical connector kit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the retaining part (50) comprises at least one cover (54A, 54B); and in the connection position, at least one of said chutes (44) is closed by said at least one cover (54A, 54B) at least over a certain distance along the connection direction.

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

4. Electrical connector kit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, at least one channel (44) of which has a substantially constant section along the connection direction (X+).

5. An electrical connector kit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insulating body is arranged such that in the connection position, at least one channel (44) and preferably all of the channels extends or extends to an opening (54ar) provided at the rear of the retaining part (50).

6. An electrical connector kit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a side wing (44L) of a channel (44) is integrally formed with a side wing of an adjacent channel (44), or a portion of a bottom (44F) of a channel (44) is integrally formed with a portion of a bottom (44F) of an adjacent channel (44).

7. Electrical connector kit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the retaining part (50) of which is formed from a single block.

8. Electrical connector (1) made from the electrical connector kit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and optionally comprising a housing (10), in which at least a portion of the insulating body (20) is mounted.

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