Positive lock shield terminal connector

Abstract

To provide a connector for providing an electrical connection between at least one terminating mating terminal to a substrate.SOLUTION: A connector includes a housing having at least one terminal receiving cavity. A receptacle terminal is positioned in the at least one terminal receiving cavity. The receptacle terminal has a latching projection which cooperates with the at least one mating terminal to retain the at least one mating terminal in electrical engagement with the receptacle terminal when the at least one mating terminal is fully inserted in the at least one terminal receiving cavity. A release mechanism is provided in the housing in line with the latching projection of the receptacle terminal, and the release mechanism is configured to cooperate with the receptacle terminal to depress the latching projection when the at least one mating terminal is to be removed from the at least one terminal receiving cavity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector that provides an electrical connection with a mating terminal without the need for additional tools. In particular, the present invention relates to a sealed connector having a receptacle terminal that mates with a ring tongue terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] Ring tongue terminal lugs are used in many applications to provide an electrical connection between a conductor or wire and the ground of a board or other device. However, properly terminating the terminal lug to a receptacle terminal often requires the use of one or more tools. In various applications where the connector is located in a confined or difficult-to-access space, the use of tools can be difficult. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It would therefore be advantageous to provide a connector that overcomes the problems associated with known terminations of ring tongue terminal lugs, and in particular, to provide a connector that allows a ring tongue terminal lug to be terminated to the connector without the need for additional tooling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] A solution is provided by a connector for providing an electrical connection between at least one termination mating terminal and a board. The connector includes a housing having at least one terminal-receiving cavity. A receptacle terminal is positioned in the at least one terminal-receiving cavity. The receptacle terminal has a latching protrusion that cooperates with the at least one mating terminal to electrically engage and hold the at least one mating terminal with the receptacle terminal when the at least one mating terminal is fully inserted into the at least one terminal-receiving cavity. A release mechanism is provided on the housing aligned with the position of the latching protrusion on the receptacle terminal, and the release mechanism is configured to cooperate with the receptacle terminal to depress the latching protrusion when the at least one mating terminal is removed from the at least one terminal-receiving cavity.

[0005] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary connector of the present invention having two crimped wire terminals with wire seals fully inserted into the terminal-receiving passages of the connectors and a third connector shown partially inserted into the corresponding terminal-receiving passages. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the exemplary connector of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the crimped wire terminal fully mated with the receptacle terminal of the connector, with the release button shown in a disengaged position. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing the release button in the engaged position. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary strip of receptacle terminals prior to insertion into a housing of a connector. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is an enlarged top perspective view of one of the receptacle terminals of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the receptacle terminal of FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] One embodiment relates to a connector for providing an electrical connection between at least one termination mating terminal and a board. The connector includes a housing having at least one terminal-receiving cavity. A receptacle terminal is positioned in the at least one terminal-receiving cavity. The receptacle terminal has a latching protrusion that cooperates with the at least one mating terminal to electrically engage and hold the at least one mating terminal with the receptacle terminal when the at least one mating terminal is fully inserted into the at least one terminal-receiving cavity. A release mechanism is provided on the housing aligned with the position of the latching protrusion on the receptacle terminal, and the release mechanism is configured to cooperate with the receptacle terminal to depress the latching protrusion when the at least one mating terminal is removed from the at least one terminal-receiving cavity.

[0008] One embodiment relates to a connector for providing an electrical connection between at least one terminating ring tongue terminal lug and a board. The connector includes a housing having at least one terminal-receiving cavity. A receptacle terminal is positioned in the at least one terminal-receiving cavity. The receptacle terminal has a spring arm including a latch protrusion. The latch protrusion has a locking shoulder. The latch protrusion and the locking shoulder cooperate with the at least one ring tongue terminal to hold the at least one ring tongue terminal in electrical engagement with the receptacle terminal when the at least one ring tongue terminal is fully inserted into the at least one terminal-receiving cavity. The spring arm has a release protrusion provided at a free end. A release mechanism is provided on the housing aligned with the release protrusion of the latch protrusion of the receptacle terminal. The release mechanism is configured to cooperate with the release protrusion of the latch protrusion of the receptacle terminal to depress the latch protrusion when the at least one ring tongue terminal is removed from the at least one terminal-receiving cavity.

[0009] An exemplary embodiment of a connector 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Connector 10 has a housing 12 including a first or top surface 14 and a second or bottom surface 16. Bottom surface 16 has a mounting portion 18 for mounting to a substrate (not shown), such as, but not limited to, a printed circuit board.

[0010] The housing 12 has a front surface 22, a rear surface 24, and side surfaces 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the front surface 22 is essentially perpendicular to the top surface 14 and the bottom surface 16. However, other shapes may be used.

[0011] In the exemplary embodiment shown, three terminal-receiving openings 30 extend through the front surface 22. The terminal-receiving openings 30 extend to terminal-receiving cavities 32. Although three terminal-receiving openings 30 are provided, other numbers and configurations of terminal-receiving openings 30 may be provided. Beveled or rounded surfaces 34 extend from the terminal-receiving openings 30 to the terminal-receiving cavities 32. The beveled or rounded surfaces 34 act as lead-in surfaces.

[0012] A mounting flange or protrusion 38 extends from side surface 26. Mounting flange 38 has a bottom surface 40 (FIG. 2) that is flush with mounting portion 18 on bottom surface 16 of housing 12. Mounting openings 42 extend through mounting flange 38. Mounting openings 42 are configured to receive mounting hardware (not shown) to secure housing 12 to a substrate (not shown).

[0013] In the exemplary embodiment, each of the terminal-receiving openings 30 has a circular or oval shape, although other shapes may be used. The terminal-receiving cavity 32 has a wire-receiving portion 44 and a receptacle-receiving portion 46. The receptacle-receiving portion 46 has a smaller diameter than the wire-receiving portion 44.

[0014] A contact strip receiving opening 48 extends through mounting portion 18 in bottom surface 16 of housing 12. Contact strip receiving opening 48 extends to each of terminal receiving cavities 32.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5, a gasket 50 extends around the mounting portion 18 on the bottom surface 16 of the housing 12. The gasket 50 is positioned in a gasket-receiving cavity 52. ​​The gasket 50 is formed from a deformable material, such as, but not limited to, rubber. The gasket 50 cooperates with the board to provide a seal between the board and the connector 10 when the connector 10 is mated to the board.

[0016] 4 and 5, a latch release mechanism or assembly 54 is adjacent to and extends into a latch release assembly opening 56 in the top surface 14 of the housing 12. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the latch release assembly opening 56 and the latch release assembly 54 are aligned with the terminal-receiving cavity 32. The latch release assembly 54 includes operator engagement members or membranes 60 and receptacle terminal engagement members 62. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the membrane 60 extends entirely across the terminal-receiving cavity 32. However, in other embodiments, individual membrane engagement members 60 may be provided.

[0017] The receptacle terminal engaging member 62 has a membrane engaging portion 64 at one end and a fixed portion 66 at the other end. A terminal engaging surface 68 is provided between the membrane engaging portion 64 and the fixed portion 66.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3-5, a receptacle, socket, or female terminal 110 is positioned in the terminal-receiving cavity 32. As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the receptacle terminal 110 includes a mating portion 112 and a carrier strip engaging portion 114 positioned behind the mating portion 112 in alignment with the mating portion 112. The carrier strip engaging portion 114 extends from and is electrically engaged with a carrier strip 116. The carrier strip 116 is mechanically and electrically engaged to the board by a mounting bracket 118 (FIGS. 4 and 5) or other known means. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the terminal 110 and the carrier strip 116 are stamped and formed from a metal plate having good electrical conductivity.

[0019] 6-8, each exemplary embodiment of the mating portion 112 includes a bottom wall 120 and resilient contact arms 122 extending from opposite sides of the bottom wall 120. The bottom wall 120 includes spring arms 124 that are stamped and formed from the bottom wall 120. Although exemplary embodiments of the mating portion 112 are described, the mating portion 112 may have other configurations. The spring arms 124 are aligned with the corresponding latch release assembly openings 56 and latch release assemblies 54.

[0020] The spring arm 124 extends from the bottom wall 120 to form a ridge or arm that extends from the inner surface of the bottom wall 120 toward the resilient arm 122. The spring arm 124 includes a latching protrusion or embossment, such as, but not limited to, a projection, detent, indentation, or lance 126, that is formed from the spring arm 124 to form a raised area on the inner surface of the spring arm 124. The latching protrusion 126 has a lead-in surface 142 and a locking shoulder 144.

[0021] The spring arm 124 includes a release protrusion 132 disposed at a free end thereof. The release protrusion 132 extends from the spring arm 124 in a direction essentially perpendicular to the spring arm 124. The release protrusion 132 has a latch release assembly engagement surface 138 disposed at its free end. An embossment 140 (FIG. 7) may be disposed between the spring arm 124 and the release protrusion 132 to provide additional strength to the release protrusion 132.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6 , the resilient arms 122 have an arcuate or curled portion 128 that extends from the bottom wall 120 to the mating terminal engaging member 130. In an exemplary embodiment, the resilient arms 122 may have a tapered shape such that the width of each arm 122 adjacent to the bottom wall 120 is greater than the width of each arm 122 adjacent to the mating terminal engaging member 130. However, other shapes may be used. The shape of the resilient contact arms 122 can control the stiffness and spring constant of the resilient contact arms 122. The wider the width of each arm 122 adjacent to the bottom wall 120, the higher the spring constant and the more uniform the force distribution from the resilient arms 122 to the bottom wall 120. Conversely, the narrower the width of each arm 122 adjacent to the bottom wall 120, the lower the spring constant of the resilient contact arms 122.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the mating terminal engaging member 130 extends from the resilient contact arm 122 above the terminal mating slot 134. The shape of the resilient contact arm 122 provides the necessary resilience to allow the mating terminal engaging member 130 to move relative to the bottom wall 120 when the mating terminal is inserted into the slot 134. The mating terminal engaging member 130 may have an arcuate or rounded shape. However, other shapes of the mating terminal engaging member 130 may also be used.

[0024] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the spring arms 124 are stamped and formed from the bottom wall 120. The spring arms 124 are formed such that their free ends 136 can move or resiliently deform relative to the bottom wall 120, allowing the spring arms 124 to move toward and away from the mating terminal engaging member 130.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1-5, connector 10 is configured to mate with a conductor or wire 200 having a ring tongue terminal lug 202 crimped onto the end thereof. A wire seal 204 is provided on wire 200. Terminal 202 has a generally circular shape with a circular opening 206 therethrough. While terminal 202 is shown circular in shape and with a circular opening 206, other shaped terminals and openings may be used.

[0026] In use, the carrier strip 116 and housing 12 are suitably secured to a substrate by fasteners or other known attachment means. In this position, the gasket 50 cooperates with the substrate to provide a seal against the mounting portion 18 on the bottom surface 16 of the housing 12. With the carrier strip 116 and housing 12 suitably secured, the wire 200 can be inserted into the terminal-receiving cavity 32.

[0027] As each wire 200 is inserted, the ring tongue terminal 202 is inserted and engages with the receptacle terminal 110. Continuing insertion causes the ring tongue terminal 202 to be inserted into the terminal mating slot 134 of the receptacle terminal 110, and the ring tongue terminal 202 engages the mating terminal engaging member 130 and spring arm 124.

[0028] As the ring tongue terminal 202 moves toward its fully inserted position, it engages the lead-in surface 142 of the latching projection 126 of the spring arm 124, causing the spring arm 124 to resiliently deform downwardly away from the mating terminal engaging member 130. Insertion continues until the opening 206 of the ring tongue terminal 202 is aligned with the latching projection 126 of the spring arm 124, allowing the spring arm 124 to return to its unstressed position. In this position, the latching projection 126 is positioned in and extends through the opening 206.

[0029] With the latching projection 126 positioned in the opening 206, the locking shoulder 144 of the latching projection 126 prevents undesired removal of the ring tongue terminal 202 and wire 200. In this position, the ring tongue terminal 202 is electrically engaged with the receptacle terminal 110 by the mating terminal engaging member 130 and the spring arm 124. When the receptacle contact 110 electrically engages the contact strip 116 through the carrier strip engaging portion 114, the ring tongue terminal 202 and wire 200 are grounded or placed in electrical connection with the board.

[0030] With wire 200 properly positioned in terminal-receiving cavity 32, wire seal 204 enters terminal-receiving opening 30 and terminal-receiving cavity 32, as shown in Figures 1-5. Wire seal 204 is formed from a resiliently deformable or flexible material such that wire seal 204 engages the walls of terminal-receiving cavity 32 to seal terminal-receiving cavity 32, as is known in the art.

[0031] When it is desired to remove wire 200 from connector 10, an operator depresses membrane 60 from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5. As membrane 60 is depressed, it engages membrane engagement portion 64 of latch release assembly 54, causing latch release assembly 54 to move or pivot about fixed portion 66 of latch release assembly 54. This causes latch release assembly 54 to move from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5.

[0032] When the latch release assembly 54 moves to the position shown in FIG. 5, the terminal engagement surface 68 engages the latch release assembly engagement surface 138 of the release protrusion 132 on the spring arm 124, causing the latch release assembly engagement surface 138, the release protrusion 132, and the spring arm 124 to move downward to the position shown in FIG. 5.

[0033] By moving or depressing membrane 60, spring arm 124 resiliently deforms downward away from mating terminal engaging member 130, causing locking shoulder 144 and latching projection 126 to move out of opening 206 of ring tongue terminal 202. With locking shoulder 144 and latching projection 126 removed from opening 206, ring tongue terminal 202 can be disengaged from receptacle terminal 110, and wire 200 and ring tongue terminal 202 can be removed from terminal-receiving cavity 32 and connector 10.

[0034] Connector 10 provides a strip of receptacle terminals 110 that are electrically and mechanically secured to the board or other component that must be grounded together with whatever is plugged into the connector. This allows standard ring tongue terminals 202 to be plugged into connector 10 and electrically connected to the board or component to which connector 10 is mounted. Because receptacle terminals 110 and latch spring arms 124 are located within connector 10, the ring tongue terminals 202 can be released, if desired, using latch release assembly 54.

Claims

1. A connector (10) for providing an electrical connection between at least one termination mating terminal (202) and a substrate, comprising: - a housing (12) having at least one terminal receiving cavity (32); - a receptacle terminal (110) positioned in said at least one terminal receiving cavity (32), said receptacle terminal (110) having a latching projection (126) that cooperates with said at least one mating terminal (202) to hold said at least one mating terminal (202) in electrical engagement with said receptacle terminal (110) when said at least one mating terminal (202) is fully inserted into said at least one terminal receiving cavity (32); a release mechanism (54) provided on the housing (12) in alignment with the latch projection (126) of the receptacle terminal (110), the release mechanism (54) being configured to cooperate with the receptacle terminal (110) to depress the latch projection (126) when the at least one mating terminal (202) is removed from the at least one terminal receiving cavity (32); Equipped with Connector (10).

2. The housing (12) has a first surface (14) and a second surface (16), the second surface (16) having a mounting portion (18) for mounting to a substrate. The connector (10) of claim 1.

3. a gasket (50) extending around the mounting portion (18) of the housing (12), the gasket (50) positioned in a gasket receiving cavity (52), the gasket (50) configured to cooperate with the substrate to provide a seal between the substrate and the connector (10); The connector (10) of claim 2.

4. The housing (12) has a front surface (22) having at least one terminal-receiving opening (30) extending to the at least one terminal-receiving cavity (32), the at least one terminal-receiving opening (30) having a lead-in surface. The connector (10) of claim 1.

5. The housing (12) has a mounting flange (38) extending from a side of the housing (12), the mounting flange (38) having a bottom surface (40) that is flush with the mounting portion (18) of the second surface (16) of the housing (12). The connector (10) of claim 2.

6. The at least one terminal receiving cavity (32) has a wire receiving portion (44) and a receptacle receiving portion (46), the receptacle receiving portion (46) having a smaller diameter than the wire receiving portion (44). The connector (10) of claim 1.

7. The receptacle terminal (110) has a mating portion (112) and a carrier strip engagement portion (114) positioned to correspond to the position of the mating portion (112), the carrier strip engagement portion (114) extending from a carrier strip (116) and electrically engaging the carrier strip (116). The connector (10) of claim 1.

8. The housing (12) has a first surface (14) and a second surface (16), the second surface (16) having a mounting portion (18) for mounting to a substrate, the carrier strip (116) extends into contact strip receiving openings (48) in the mounting portion (18) of the second side (16) of the housing (12), the contact strip receiving openings (48) extending to each of the at least one terminal receiving cavities (32); The connector (10) of claim 7.

9. The housing (12) has a first surface (14) and a second surface (16), the second surface (16) having a mounting portion (18) for mounting to a substrate, the release mechanism (54) is disposed adjacent to and extends into a latch release assembly opening (56) in the first surface (14) of the housing (12); The connector (10) of claim 1.

10. The release mechanism (54) includes an operator actuation member (60) and a receptacle terminal engagement member (62). The connector (10) of claim 9.

11. The operator-side actuation member (60) is a membrane. The connector (10) of claim 10.

12. The receptacle terminal engaging member (62) has an engaging portion (64) at one end and a fixing portion (66) at the other end, and a terminal engaging surface (68) is provided between the engaging portion (64) and the fixing portion (66). The connector (10) of claim 10.

13. The latch projection (126) is provided on a spring arm (124) of the receptacle terminal (110). The connector (10) of claim 12.

14. The latch projection (126) has a lead-in surface (142) and a locking shoulder (144). The connector (10) of claim 13.

15. the spring arm (124) includes a release protrusion (132) provided at a free end of the spring arm (124), the release protrusion (132) being aligned with the position of the release mechanism (54), and when the release mechanism (54) is depressed, the release mechanism (54) engages the release protrusion (132) to move the spring arm (124) to a forced position; The connector (10) of claim 14.

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