Attachment device for a connector

An attachment device (1) for a connector, includes at least two clamps (2a, 2b, 3) that can attach the attachment device (1) in a removable manner to a panel (30), and a base (4) that delimits a housing (6) that can accommodate a connector (31) or a connector support (31), the attachment device (1) includes a bolt (5), whereby one of the clamps (3) is arranged on the bolt (5) and another of the clamps (2a or 2b) on the base (4), whereby the bolt (5) is able to pivot relative to the base (4) so as to bolt, via the clamp (3) of the bolt (5), the attachment device (1) to the panel (30), whereby the bolt (5) in addition is adjacent to the housing (6) such that when the connector (31) or the connector support (31) is in the housing (6), it prevents the bolt (5) from pivoting.

This invention relates to an attachment device for a connector or a connector support and in particular an attachment device for a connector that no longer requires the use of specific tools or a system that is assembled with a spring.

This invention also has as its object a connector attachment support that comprises the above-mentioned attachment device.

In numerous fields, such as aeronautics and data-processing, the use of connectors is common, for example for connecting wire bundles or more generally two electronic devices. In a known way, an electrical connector comprises two parts: a first plug-in or base part and a second plug-in or jack part, able to be connected electrically.

For example, in the prior art, for attaching a base and a jack to a panel, it is necessary that the panel have a particular configuration. It should actually have an opening that has a generally approximately square shape or circular shape, capable of being able to work with one of the faces of the base that fits into said opening. For attaching the base of the connector, the panel comprises a ratchet or orifices that are intended to accommodate attachment means such as screws/washers/nuts. These orifices are arranged at the four corners of the opening.

Consequently, with such a system, the installation of connectors requires a preliminary panel cutting that also is complex. In addition, the connectors are often used en masse, i.e., a panel is intended in general to carry several connectors. Thus, with a device as described above, it becomes tedious to install connectors in narrow spaces.

In another embodiment that is known from the prior art, it may be that the panel has two or more orifices that are able to accommodate a connector that has three attachment points instead of one opening that is intended to accommodate one face of the base. At least one of said attachment points of the connector has a spring for attaching the connector more easily to the panel.

Consequently, in this embodiment, it is necessary to use special connectors.

This invention has as its object to propose a new attachment device for a connector, which prevents all or a portion of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

For this purpose, the invention has as its object an attachment device for a connector, comprising at least two clamps that can attach said attachment device in a removable manner to a panel, and a base that delimits a housing that can accommodate a connector, or a connector support, characterized in that said attachment device comprises a bolt, whereby one of the clamps is arranged on said bolt and another of the clamps on said base, whereby said bolt is able to pivot relative to the base so as to bolt, via the clamp of the bolt, said attachment device to said panel, whereby said bolt in addition is adjacent to the housing such that when the connector or the connector support is in the housing, it keeps the bolt from pivoting.

Thus, the attachment device according to this invention makes it possible to mount a connector or a connector support on a panel without specific tools and without an elastic system with a spring, while ensuring a mechanical locking of the latter. Such a system can therefore be easily installed in locations that are difficult to access or with limited spaces.

Preferably, the base comprises a first wall that comprises a cavity for housing the bolt, and a second wall that comprises an opening that makes it possible to insert the connector or the connector support into said housing.

Advantageously, the first wall is intended to be arranged parallel to the panel, whereby said second wall is perpendicular to the first wall, such that the connector or the connector support is inserted into the housing that is parallel to the panel.

According to a characteristic of the invention, said first wall comprises two clamps on its face that is intended to be in contact with said panel.

Preferably, the bolt comprises a foot that is able to work with a flange of the opening so as to form an attachment clip for the connector or the connector support.

Advantageously, said base and/or said bolt is/are molded in a single operation.

This invention also has as its object a connector attachment support that comprises an attachment device as described above and a panel that is pierced by at least two holes, whereby said attachment device is attached to the panel by its attachment means that are inserted into the holes of the panel.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages of the latter will emerge more clearly during the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the attachment device1comprises a base4that consists of two approximately square-shaped walls4aand4b, whereby the wall4ais perpendicular to the wall4bsuch that the two walls4aand4btogether form a right-angle dihedron. These two walls are connected at the level of their two adjacent sides by two panels4c. The space between the walls4a,4band the panels4cof the base4delimits a housing6that is intended to accommodate a connector or a connector support31(FIG. 6).

The wall4ais more particularly illustrated inFIG. 2. As is shown in this figure, the wall4ahas an opening15. This opening15has an approximately square-shaped configuration that is able to work with the shape of a connector or a connector support31, such as a mono-module base; i.e., the connector or the connector support31is able to fit perfectly into the opening15. Consequently, the opening15will have a standard configuration that is adapted to a type of connector.

At the level of the opening15and more particularly at the level of the upper end of the opening15, the wall4aalso comprises an attachment clip14. This attachment clip14is intended to be used as a stop for a ratchet35that is present on the connector support31, as shown inFIG. 6. Between the lower end of the wall4aand the lower end of the opening15, there is a flange9that can work with a portion of the bolt5so as to form a second attachment clip that is also able to work with the ratchet35of the connector support31.

In addition, the wall4acan have four orifices4dthat are arranged at the corners of the opening15that is approximately square-shaped. These orifices4dare used optionally to accommodate attachment means such as nails/screws/nuts/washers. However, these orifices are not essential to this invention.

The wall4bis illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3. As mentioned above, one of the ends of this wall4bis connected to one end of the wall4aso as to form a right-angle dihedron. Two clamps, such as two hooks2aand2b, are arranged on this end of the wall4b. By referring toFIG. 2, these two hooks2aand2bare positioned under the inside face of the wall4b, i.e., the one that is not directed toward the housing6. These two hooks2aand2bare arranged more particularly at the two corners of said end. These two hooks2aand2bare intended to be inserted into orifices32a,32bof a connector support panel30so as to form a first means of attachment of the attachment device1to the panel30(FIG. 1).

The wall4balso comprises orifices8at the level of its other end, i.e., the one that is not connected to the wall4a. These orifices8are arranged more particularly on the sides and in the thickness of the wall4b. These orifices8are able to accommodate a shaft X, which is parallel to the shaft that runs through the hooks2aand2b.

In its center, the wall4balso comprises a cavity7, perpendicular to the shaft X (FIG. 1). This cavity7passes through the wall4bso as to separate it into two parts. This receiving cavity7is able to accommodate a bolt5.

In referring toFIG. 1, this bolt5has an approximately rectangular shape that is able to come, as mentioned above, into the cavity7of the wall4b.

First of all, at one of its ends, this bolt5comprises two pivots that are inserted into the orifices8of the wall4bso as to make the bolt5pivot around the shaft X. Thus, the bolt5is able to have various positions: an open position in which the bolt is outside of the cavity7and a closed or locked position in which the bolt5pivots around the shaft X and is inserted into the cavity7so as to block it.

In referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the bolt5comprises an additional clamp of said device1at the level of the end where the shaft X runs. This clamp is also, as has been shown, a hook3. This hook3comprises a hooked end fitting11that comprises a shoulder12. This hook3is intended to be inserted into a third hole that is provided for this purpose in the panel30so as to form a second means for attaching the attachment device1to the panel30.

At its other end, the bolt5also comprises a foot10. This foot10is vertical relative to the essentially rectangular body of the bolt5and projects toward the housing6. As indicated above, the foot10is able to work with and to fit with the flange9when it is inserted into the latter. This makes it possible to attach the bolt5to the base4. In addition and as is shown inFIG. 6, this foot10and flange9unit forms an attachment clip for the ratchet35of the connector support31. Consequently, the flange9/foot10unit also constitutes a means of attaching the attachment device1to the connector support31. In one variant embodiment, not shown, it is also possible to provide a lower attachment clip, identical to the upper attachment clip14, which would be fitted into the ratchet35of the connector support31. In this variant embodiment, the flange9and the foot10would juxtapose this lower attachment clip. Thus, the foot10would only be fitted into the flange9so as to attach only the bolt5into the base4, while the lower attachment clip that is equivalent to clip14would be used to attach the attachment device1to the connector support31. This variant embodiment makes it possible to disengage from the functions of various elements, namely the flange9, the foot10, the lower attachment clip . . .

The bolt5also comprises a hole13. This hole13, which is contiguous to the foot10, passes all the way through the thickness of the bolt5. For removing the attachment device1, it is able to accommodate the shaft of a screwdriver, for example, so as to disengage, by levering, the bolt5from the base4.

So as to produce the attachment device1as described above, the bolt5and the base4are molded in two different parts and therefore in two different operations. The bolt5and the base4are actually then connected by inserting the pivots (not shown) of the bolt5into the orifices8of the base4.

In a variant embodiment, it is also possible to mold the base4and the bolt5into a single piece and therefore into a single operation. In this case, the bolt5pivots in the cavity7of the base4, not via two pivots, but via a thin tab that acts as a hinge, which connects the end of the bolt5to the end of the base4, where the shaft X is located.

This invention also relates to a connector attachment support20(FIG. 6) that comprises the attachment device1for a connector as described above, whose clamps2a,2band3are able to be inserted into holes32a,32band33that are provided for this purpose on the panel30of said attachment support20.

Relative to the support of the prior art, the connector attachment support20has the advantage of not requiring complex cutting or precutting of the panel. As is shown inFIG. 1, it is enough to pierce three holes so as to install—in a removable manner—a connector or a connector support31via the attachment device1. Consequently, each attachment device1and panel30are also reusable.

The operation of the attachment device1for a connector on a panel of a connector attachment support20will now be described in reference toFIGS. 3 to 6.

The attachment device1is first of all attached to the panel30by the two hooks2aand2b. For this purpose, the base4is slightly inclined relative to the panel30so that the hooks2aand2bengage in the holes32aand32bthat are provided for this purpose. Then, the base4is tipped out on the panel30so that its wall4bis entirely in contact with the panel30.

During this time, the bolt5is in open position, as is shown inFIG. 4. This position makes it possible to insert the hook3into the orifice33that is provided for this purpose from panel30. Then, the bolt5is tipped out and inserted into the cavity7. The hooked end of the hook3comes to rest against the lower face of the panel30, while the foot10of the bolt5comes against the flange9that is contiguous to the lower ratchet14that is present in the opening15of the wall4a. The bolt5is now found in closed position (locked) as is shown inFIG. 5. Consequently, the attachment device1is attached to the panel30by the clamps2a,2band3.

Finally, the device1is locked by adding a connector or a connector support31on said device1. In the standard manner, this connector support31has a collar34that can lock the bolt5in rotation, a ratchet35that can be fitted into the attachment clip14that is positioned at the upper end of the opening15and into the attachment clip that is formed by the flange9and the foot10. Consequently, the connector prevents any rotation of the bolt5around its shaft X, and the bolt5remains in locked position.

To remove the attachment device1, it will then be necessary to release the bolt5. For this purpose, it is necessary to remove the connector or the connector support31so as to release the bolt5. A simple screwdriver, for example, is sufficient to disconnect the attachment device1from the panel by inserting it into the hole13of the bolt5and by using it as a lever. Then, the bolt5is tipped out upward by pivoting around the shaft X, and its hook3is disengaged from the panel30. Then, the hooks2aand2bare disengaged next. The attachment device1is consequently removed, without a specific tool, from the panel30. The device1thus has the advantage of being easily removable.

The attachment device according to this invention has the advantages of no longer requiring a spring so as to attach a connector or a connector support to a panel. Consequently, it is possible with such a device to insert thereinto a shielded connector or a shielded connection. In addition, it can be made of a single piece and has the advantage of being modular. So as to attach various types of connectors to a panel, it is enough to adapt only the attachment device according to this invention that can also be easily attached or else removed from said panel.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is quite obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it comprises all of the technical equivalents of the means that are described as well as their combinations if the latter are within the scope of the invention.