Electrical connector having secondary locking mechanism

Abstract: An electrical connector (2) includes passageways (16) for receiving electrical terminal contacts. The electrical terminals are primarily locked in their cavities by way of locking lances on electrical terminals engaging with locking shoulders (24) in respective passageways (16). The electrical terminals are secondarily locked in their passageways by way of a locking member (50) which has first (54) and second (56) latching elements positioned along straps (52), the latching elements (54) providing a first latching position on rails (70) and the second elements (56) providing a second fully locked position. The locking member (50) is axially slidable rearwardly to a position where locking members (58, 62, 64) are positioned above respective openings (25, 30, 40) and the secondary lock member (50) can be pushed downwardly such that the locking members (58, 62, 64) are positioned behind the electrical terminals for secondary locking.

Description: The present invention relates to an electrical connector according to the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1. An electrical connector shown in EP-A-0 424 887 has a secondary locking mechanism connected to the main housing body by way of a web of plastic material forming a hinge which allows the secondary locking mechanism to rotate into place. While the secondary locking mechanism of the referenced European Application works well once snapped into place, the secondary lock can be cumbersome when the secondary lock is in the open position, as it may become snagged on the wiring forming cable harnesses and could possibly be broken off. Furthermore, the housing must be molded from a relatively soft plastic, allowing the hinge to flex. It is desirable, however, to have housings molded from a harder, glass-filled material, to increase retentation forces. EP-A-0 379 653 discloses an electrical connector similar to the above described connector, wherein the hinged secondary locking member and the housing of the connector comprise mating gripping members for holding the secondary locking member in place. FR-A-2 358 034 discloses an electrical connector having a secondary locking member which is inserted into the housing of the connector perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of terminal receiving passages formed in the housing. The locking member is pressed into a receiving slot and latched in a position in which the locking member retains terminals of the connector in predetermined positions. In accordance with the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, WO-A-86/01041 discloses an electrical connector having a locking member which can be captured by the housing in a prelocked position. After contact terminals have been inserted into the housing, the locking member is fully pushed into the housing so as to retain the terminals within the housing. The movement of the locking member from outside into the prelocked position and from the prelocked position into the final position is perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the passage ways provided to receive the contact terminals within the housing. Therefore, there might arise the situation that the locking member is inadvertently pushed into the housing before all terminals are received in their respective passageways. The object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector which can not be snagged on wiring, or be broken off, yet which exhibits the high secondary locking capabilities. According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector having the features of claim 1. Particular embodiments thereof are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 6. The invention will now be described by way of reference to the drawing Figures where: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the subject electrical connector showing the secondary locking mechanism in its fully open position; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through lines 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front plan view of the connector shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a rear plan view of the connector shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar in nature to the cross-sectional view of Figure 11 without the retention member; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at the same position as Figure 2 less the retention member; Figure 8 is a rear plan view of the slidable locking member of the present invention; Figure 9 is a front plan view of the sliding secondary lock member shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a top plan view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the sliding lock member in the fully locked position; and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view through lines 11-11 showing the fully locked position of the locking member. With reference first to Figure 1, an electrical connector housing is shown generally at 2 including a front mating end 4, a rear terminal receiving end 6 and an intermediate sealing section, shown at 8. As shown best in Figure 4, the front mating portion 4 includes an internal cavity 10 profiled for polarized interconnection with a mating connector. The mating portion 4 further comprises openings at 12 for receiving a pin terminal of a mating connector. The rear terminal receiving portion 6 includes a rear cavity at 14 for receiving the terminals and 3 discrete passageways 16a-c for discrete terminals. As best shown in Figure 3, the passageways 16a-c are comprised of a cylindrical portion shown at 18 for the receipt of a discrete wire seal and three generally square passageways at 20a-c for receiving electrical terminals similar to those shown in the previously mentioned European Patent Application. As shown best in Figure 10, aperture 22a is directly above and intersects with passageway 20a, aperture 22b is directly above and intersects with passageway 20b and aperture 22c is above and intersects with passageway 20c. This is also shown in Figure 7. Each of these apertures forms a rear locking shoulder, for example at 24 in Figure 3, for a locking lance on the socket terminal as should be appreciated. In addition to the apertures 22a-c, the housing includes an elongate channel at 26 as best shown in Figures 7 and 10 which will be described in greater detail herein. Each passageway 16a-c also includes a corresponding polarizing slot for an upstanding wall of the electrical terminal, for example as shown in Figure 7 at 21a-21c. As shown best in Figures 1 and 6, passageways are positioned above and centered with the upstanding slots 21a-21c for secondary locking purposes. The passageway 25 (Figure 1) is defined by bottom surface 27, side wall 28 of the channel 26 and side wall 29 as best shown in Figure 6. Aperture 30 is defined by side walls 32 and 34 and bottom surface 36. As shown in Figures 1 and 6, opening 40 is defined by side walls 42, 44 and a lower surface 46. With reference now to Figure 2, the secondary lock member is shown generally at 50 and will be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 8 and 9. As shown in Figure 8, and 9 the secondary lock member includes two latching straps at 52, each of which contain first latches 54 and second latches 56. With reference still to Figure 8, a centrally located latching tongue 58 extends downwardly from a central section 60 of the latch member 50 and is asymmetrically located relative to the vertical axis, leftwardly justified as viewed in Figure 8. The latch member 50 further comprises secondary latch members 62 and 64 extending downwardly from the central base portion 60. As shown in Figure 1, the secondary latching element 50 is shown in its prelocked position with the first latch elements 54 snapped over the side rails 70 (Figures 6 and 7) and latched to the connector housing 2. As shown in Figure 7, below each of the latching rails 70 is an extension bar or stop at 72 which prevents the full insertion of the latch member 50 when in this position, as the latch straps 52 would abut the surfaces 72 upon further assembly. It should be appreciated however from Figures 2 and 3, that the center locking member 58 is positioned in the central channel 26, that when in a preassembled position, the latch member 50 is right justified as viewed in Figure 2 relative to its final position, as shown in Figure 11. This is to rigidify cavity 20b by use of a web of material at 75 as shown in Figure 7. In other words if the wall 42 (Figure 6) extended towards the front of the connector, the wall 42 would interfere with the inner part of cavity 20b. Rather, as the slot 26 extends towards the rear of the connector, as best shown in Figure 1, surface 42 jogs to the left relative to the channel 26. Also as shown in Figure 2, each of the latching members 62 and 64 are positioned above the top surface 80 (Figure 7) of the central section of the connector housing to prevent interference 64 therewith. It should also be appreciated from Figure 1, that the stop shoulders 72 do not extend completely past the openings 25, 30, and 40, but rather stop in front of these openings to form a receiving channel, for example at 82, as best shown in Figure 1 to receive the latching element 56 therethrough. When the latch element 50 is moved from its upper position as shown in Figure 2 to its fully locked position, as shown in Figure 11, the locking member 50 moves leftwardly to its final position between surfaces 42 and 44 (Figure 6). As best seen in Figure 1, ramp surfaces 73 extend from inner surfaces 75 (Figure 6) which helps to align the locking member 50 laterally, when the member 50 overlies the receiving channel 82, but prior to the fully assembled position. This positions the locking member 58 in an overlapping relation with the slot 21c (Figure 7), which also means that it overlaps with the upstanding sidewall on the electrical contact, providing good secondary locking engagement. The same is true of locking members 62 and 64, items 62 being positioned between sidewalls 32 and 34 and locking member 64 being positioned against side wall 29 (Figure 6). Advantageously then, the secondary lock member 50 can be preassembled to the electrical connector body 2 as shown in Figure 1 or 3 and is prevented from being pressed into its locking position by way of the lower stop surfaces 72 below the locking member. This prevents any snagging of wires forming the electrical harness with the locking member 50 prior to the fully assembled position.

Claims: An electrical connector comprising an insulating housing body (2) and at least one passageway (16) for receiving an electrical terminal, and a locking member (50) for positively retaining said terminal in said one passageway (16), said locking member being captively supported by said housing body (2) and moveable relative of said housing body (2) from a first, prelocked position where said terminals can be inserted, to a second, locked position where said locking member (50) is in communication with said passageway (16) for locking said terminal, characterized in that said housing body (2) has longitudinally extending rails (70) along the sides thereof, and said locking member (50) has latches (54) which grip said rails (70) for captive movement of said locking member (50) longitudinally along said housing body (2) and that said housing body (2) includes a locking bar (72) beneath said horizontal rails (70), preventing transverse movement of said locking member (50), and said locking bar (72) having an opening (82) allowing transverse movement of said locking member (50). The electrical connector of claim 1, characterized in that said housing body (2) includes a transverse passageway (25) in communication with said one passageway (16) into which said locking member (50) is moveable, wherein said opening is disposed adjacent said transverse passageway (25). The electrical connector of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said locking bar (72) has two pairs of latching shoulders, a first pair allowing said first position, and said second pair allowing said second position. The electrical connector of any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said housing body(2) has at least three passageways (16a-16c), two passageways (16a, b) in an upper row, and a third lower passageway (16c) intermediate said two upper passageways (16a, b) said locking member (50) comprising an elongate latching member (58) extending between said two upper passageways (16a, b), and two latching members (62, 64) positioned above said two upper passageways (16a, b). The electrical connector of claim 4, characterized in that said housing body (2) includes an elongate channel (26) intermediate said two upper passageways (16a, b), for receiving said elongate latching member (58) and allowing longitudinal movement of said locking member (50) when in the prelocked position. The electrical connector of claim 5, characterized in that said transverse passageway (25) is laterally staggered from said elongate channel (26), said locking member (50) being laterally shifted upon moving into said finally locked position.

Inventors: JETTER ROLF, KUEMPEL DIETRICH WILHELM, JETTER, ROLF, KUEMPEL, DIETRICH WILHELM, Kümpel, Dietrich Wilhelm
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13