A TERMINATION DEVICE E.G. FOR A MULTICONNECTOR

Abstract: A termination device e.g. for a multiconnector comprises a cover (2) which is rotatably hinged to a housing (1), and which has a hole for receiving a cable containing a plurality of wires (5a-e). When the individual wires are arranged in respective slits in the cover, the housing and the cover may be rorated mutually to a closed position, so that the wires are gradually inserted into respective terminals for providing an electrical connection. This reduces the required closing force, and the cover may therefore be closed by hand without the use of a special tool.

Description: A termination device e.g. for a multiconnector The invention relates to a termination device e.g. for a multiconnector and comprising a plurality of protruding terminals and a cover which, upon closing of the device, is adapted to guide and force a wire associated with each terminal down into the terminal to provide an electrical connection between the wire and the terminal. A multiconnector having a closure device of the above- mentioned type is known e.g. from European Patent Application No. 907 226. With this and other known techniques, the wires must first be arranged m a cover which is a loose part relative to the part containing the terminals, so that it is difficult to guide the cover and the terminals relative to each other during closing. The operation is additionally impeded m that it is normally necessary to use a special tool, because the known covers are adapted such that all terminals are affected simulta- neously for insertion of a wire. The ob ect of the invention is to provide a termination device which may be closed more easily and without the use of tools relative to the prior art. The invention is not restricted to multiconnectors , but will be explained below m relation to multiconnectors. This object is achieved m that the cover is hinged to the multiconnector such that the wires may be positioned correctly m an open position, and such that the wires are m place m the respective terminals m a closed position, and that the distance from the hinge axis to the terminals varies substantially evenly distributed between a smallest distance and a greatest distance. When the terminals are differently spaced from the hinge axis, the various terminals will gradually cooperate with the respective wires as the cover is closed around the hinge axis. Thus, it is not so that all terminals have to be expanded at the same time, and it is therefore easier to force the wires down into the terminals m turn. The hinge also means that the parts are better positioned relative to each other during the closing movement. An optimum distribution of the applied forces during the closing movement is achieved m that all terminals are differently spaced from the hinge axis. Since terminals and wires will describe a circular arc movement around the hinge axis when the cover is closed, it is expedient that the terminals are elastic transversely to the hinge axis. Another embodiment may be that the slit between the terminals for receiving a wire is arc-shaped and positioned concentrically around the hinge axis. Before the multiconnector is closed, the wires are arranged m position m the cover, which has grooves for receiving an associated wire. The grooves may have a width which corresponds to the thickness of the wire so that the wires are fixed m the groove, but compensation for the above-mentioned arc-shaped movement may also be achieved m that the grooves close to the hinge axis are wider than the grooves which are positioned further away from the hinge axis. Preferably, the grooves are open toward a pair of opposed sides of the cover so that the wire ends can protrude freely substantially m parallel with the hinge axis, which makes it very easy to cut off the wires so that they are flush with said sides before the cover is closed. In a preferred embodiment, a through hole is provided from the top of the cover to the bottom of the cover, and as the grooves are preferably positioned at the bottom of the cover, a cable may be inserted from the top, following which the wires of the cable may be arranged m the grooves at the bottom of the cover. Alternatively, an- other of the sides of the cover may be provided with a hole for receiving a cable. The invention will be explained more fully by the following description of some embodiments with reference to the drawing, m which figs. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the termination device according to the invention, figs. 3 and 4 show the termination device shown m figs. 1 and 2, but with an inserted cable containing a plurality of wires, while figs. 5-7 show a second embodiment of the termination de- vice according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a housing 1 and a cover 2 which is rotatably mounted on the housing 1 about an axis of rotation 3. The housing and the cover may form a multiconnector, so that the bottom of the housing might be adapted to receive a counterpart of a multiconnector, but the housing 1 might also have downwardly extending solder pins for mounting on a printed circuit board. It is also conceivable that the bottom of the housing 1 is provided with a cover cor- responding to the cover 2 with associated terminals. The embodiments will be described below under the designation multiconnector . Fig. 2 shows the parts shown in fig. 1 m a closed position, while figs. 3 and 4 show the same as figs. 1 and 2, but with an inserted cable 4. In the embodiment shown, the cable 4 may contain up to eight wires which are shown at 5a-h. The cable is inserted into an opening 6 m the cover, as will be seen pest ir fiα. 2, and the outer jacket is removed so that the individual wires protrude freely. Then, the wires may be arranged m respective slits 7a-h. The open end of the slits facing upwards m fig. 1 is bevelled so that it is easy to introduce the wires 5a-h into the terminals. The terminals are also positioned such that it is easy to shorten the wires with cutting pliers, as is indicated m fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows another housing 11, and the associated cover 12 can be seen m f gs. 6 and 7. In fig. 5, the terminals are designated 6a-e, and the distances a-e drawn m the figure show the distances of the respective terminals from the axis of rotation 3. According to the invention, the terminals are differently spaced from the axis of ro- tation 3, and m a preferred embodiment all distances are mutually different. This means that the closing force may be reduced relative tc the prior art nere all wires are forced down mtc trie respective slits at the same time. The invention also covers the embodiment that the termi- nals are just arranged at two mutually different distances from the axis of rotation 3. It will be appreciated that the terminals and/or the individual wires 5t-e will describe a circular arc movement around the axis of rotation 3 when the cover is closed, and one would therefore believe that it might cause problems to prevent m particular the innermost wires from getting squeezed during the closing movement. This is prevented in several ways. For one thing, it will be seen that the uppermost opening of the terminals is V-shaped so that the respective wire is moved down into the terminal during the closing movement, but according to the invention the terminals 8a-e may also be resilient trans- versely to the axis of rotation 3. Even though it is preferred that tne slits 7a-e are so narrow that they can fix the wires temporarily curing the closing movement, it is also conceivable tnat m particular the innermost slits 7a and 7e are wider than the outermost ones 7d and 7h. Another solution is that the slits of the terminals might be arc-shaped and positioned substantially concentrically relative to the axis of rotation 3. A further option is indicated m fig. 5. The protective rails, which are shown at 13 m fig. 1, are removed m fig. 5 to show that, at the top, the terminals have a wire-receiv- mg part and below this a wide slit, which means that the terminals are elastic m a direction transversely to the axis of rotation 3. However, it has been found m practice that there is no appreciable need for compensation for the circular arc movement of the wires. When the device according to the invention is intended for the mounting of copper wires m tinned terminals, the invention also utilizes the circumstance that a certain flow of said metals takes place to ensure a good electrical connection. The cover 12 shown in figs. 6 and 7 also has a through hole 6 for a cable, but, as will appear from fig. 7, a side of the cover may also comprise a hole 9 for receiv- mg a cable. In the embodiment shown m fig. 7, the lowermost part of the wall, m which the hole 9 is provided, serves as a locking boss 10 which locks the cover 2 to the housing 1 m the position shown m fig. 2. It will be appreciated that the cover may be hinged and formed m other ways so that the cable may be inserted and relieved m any direction.

Claims: P a t e n t C 1 l m s 1. A termination device, e.g. for a multiconnector and comprising a plurality of protruding terminals and a cover which, upon closing of the device, is adapted to guide and force a wire associated with each terminal down into the terminal to provide an electrical connection between the wire and the terminal, c h a r a c t e r - l z e d m that the cover is hinged to the device such that tne wires may be positioned correctly m an open position, and such that the wires are m place m the respective terminals m a closed position, and that the distance from the hinge axis to the terminals varies substantially evenly distributed between a smallest distance and a greatest distance. 2. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that all terminals are mutually differently spaced from the hinge axis. 3. A device according to claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the terminals are elastically movable transversely to the nmge axis. 4. A device according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the slit between the terminals for receiving a wire is arc-shapeα and substantially concentric with the hinge axis. 5. A device according to claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the cover has grooves for receiving an associated wire and for guiding the wire when the cover is closed. 6. A device according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the grooves have a width corresponding to the thickness of the wires. 7. A device according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the grooves close to the hinge axis are wider than the grooves further away from the hinge axis, measured transversely to the hinge axis. 8. A device according to claims 5-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the grooves are open out toward a pair of opposed sides of the cover. 9. A device according to claims 5-o, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the grooves are positioned at the bottom of the cover, and that the cover has a through hole from top to bottom for receiving a cable which contains said wires . 10. A device according to claims 5-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that at least one of the sides of the cover has a hole for receiving a cable which contains said wires .

Inventors: BOLOURI-SARANSAR MASUD, BOLOURI-SARANSAR, MASUD
Applicants: BOLOURI SARANSAR MASUD, LK AS, BOLOURI-SARANSAR, MASUD, LK A/S
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R9