Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly includes a casing ( 40, 50 ) formed by a base body ( 10 ) and a complementary body ( 20, 30 ), which are mutually coupled by releasable fixing devices. The base body ( 10 ) has channels ( 12 ) and at least one first channel part ( 12   a ), and openings ( 11 ) in communication with the channels ( 12 ) and the first channel part ( 12   a ). The complementary body ( 20, 30 ) has a second channel part ( 12   b ) complementing the first channel part ( 12   a ) to together form another channel when the base body ( 10 ) and complementary body ( 20, 30 ) are mutually coupled. Terminals ( 7   a ) connected to conductor wires ( 8   a ) are inserted in the channels ( 12; 12   a ,  12   b ). Contact tabs ( 9   a ) of an electrical device ( 60, 70 ) are connected with the terminals ( 7   a ) when said contact tabs ( 9   a ) are inserted in the openings ( 11 ) of the casing ( 40, 50 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly to be used with a plurality of conductor wires and an electrical device. 
     STATE OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Various electrical connector assemblies are already known which have a body with a configuration and elements suitable for connecting to them, on one hand, conductors coming from an electric circuit and coupling to them, on the other hand, an electrical device such as a lamp socket assembly or an electrical switch or microswitch. 
     A well known case is the typical push-button switch with a small built-in lamp such as the one described in document U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,594 which essentially comprises a connecting block having a miniature push-button type electrical switch with a small built-in lamp, which comprises a push-button with a translucent cover and a housing in which said push-button is seated. A tubular part of the housing is externally threaded for coupling a nut to the switch. A pushing member is fixed to the button for the purpose of acting on the microswitch. At the opposite part of the push-button there are pins or terminals for the connection thereof to suitable conductor wires. 
     The mentioned device therefore has an exclusive and very specific application to a small built-in lamp in a push-button type switch. 
     Document ES-A-2237335 is also known, which describes a connector for connecting a plurality of conductor wires to a miniature lamp socket and switch assembly, which is similar to the one described in the mentioned document U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,594, and which has contact tabs and a grounding pin. The connector includes a molded one-piece casing and a plurality of terminals for attaching the plurality of conductor wires to the contact tabs and the grounding pin. A plurality of openings are formed inside the casing, accepting the plurality of terminals as well as the contact tabs and the grounding pin of the assembly, and allowing the terminals to be connected to the contact tabs and the grounding pin. The plurality of openings are formed on the lower, front and rear faces of the casing. This document also describes a method for connecting a miniature lamp socket and switch assembly, which is similar to the one described in the mentioned document U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,594 and which comprises contact tabs and a grounding pin to a plurality of conductor wires. 
     The device which has just been described has a very specific field of application, namely, a small lamp socket associated with a miniature switch or microswitch. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly to be used with a plurality of conductor wires and an electrical component having a plurality of contact tabs. Said connector assembly comprises a casing which is formed by a base body and a complementary body which are mutually coupled. The base body comprises parallel first channels in which there are housed a plurality of terminals fixed to said plurality of conductor wires, and a plurality of openings formed in the base body in communication with said first channels and arranged to receive said contact tabs, such that the contact tabs are connected with said terminals when they are inserted into said openings. At least one of the mentioned first channels is configured from a first channel part formed in the base body and a second channel part formed in said complementary body, such that said first and second channel parts complement one another to form together the first channel when said base body and complementary body are mutually coupled. 
     The base body and the complementary body are preferably coupled to one another by releasable fixing means comprising guide members, positioning members and retaining members formed in the base body and in the complementary body, respectively. In one embodiment, said guide members comprise at least one guide groove formed in one of the base body and complementary body and at least one guide flange formed in the other one of the base body and complementary body. The mentioned guide groove and guide flange are mutually coupled and cooperate to allow a relative sliding of the base body and complementary body in a direction parallel to the first channels. 
     The mentioned positioning members comprise, for example, respective stop surfaces positioned to make mutual contact when the base body and complementary body are in a predetermined relative position, and the retaining members comprise, for example, a protrusion in the form of a hook projecting from an elastic arm formed in one of the base body and complementary body and configured to be locked by elastic deformation and recovery of said arm in a recessed step formed in the other one of the base body and complementary body when both are slid with respect to one another and reach said predetermined relative position. 
     An advantage of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention is that it can include a variety of different complementary bodies adapted for different functions, which can be individually coupled to the base body to form different connector casings adapted to different uses. 
     For example, in a first embodiment the complementary body can include, in addition to the corresponding releasable fixing means, only the second channel part for complementing the first channel part formed in the base body for the purpose of forming a complete channel in the casing. The resulting connector casing is useful, for example, for connecting an electrical device such as a miniature switch or microswitch to a plurality of conductor wires. 
     In a second alternative embodiment, the complementary body can include, in addition to the corresponding releasable fixing means and the second channel part, one or more second channels in communication with one or more corresponding second openings, where said second channels are configured to receive corresponding terminals connected to conductor wires and said second openings are arranged to receive corresponding contact tabs of said electrical device such that the contact tabs are connected to said terminals when they are inserted into the second openings. The second channels of the second body are preferably parallel to the first channels of the base body and are located at a different level, and said second openings of the second body are separated from said first openings of the base body and located at a different level when the base body and complementary body are mutually coupled in said predetermined relative position. 
     The connector casing of this second embodiment is useful, for example, for connecting an electrical device such as an assembly formed by a miniature switch or microswitch and a lamp socket equipped with a small lamp similar to the one described in the mentioned document U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,594. 
     Therefore, the electrical connector assembly of the present invention is more versatile than those known in the prior art, because while the latter, and particularly the connector described in the mentioned document ES-A-2237335, which has a molded one-piece casing, are configured to invariably receive a small lamp with a push-button switch or a socket for a small lamp and switch, respectively, the electrical connector assembly of the present invention allows forming several different casings by coupling a base body and a complementary body selected from a plurality of different complementary bodies to receive different electrical devices, for example a switch, a lamp socket, or a lamp socket and switch assembly, among others. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The previous and other features and advantages will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of several embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first body which, together with a second body, forms a casing of an electrical connector assembly according to first and second embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second body which, together with the first body of  FIG. 1 , forms the casing of the electrical connector assembly according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first and second bodies of  FIGS. 1 and 2  mutually coupled to form the casing of the electrical connector assembly of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 3 , conductor wires and a microswitch to be connected to the conductor wires; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 3  and the microswitch coupled thereto, shown from a reverse point of view; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another second body which, together with the first body of  FIG. 1 , forms the casing of the electrical connector assembly according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the first and second bodies of  FIGS. 1 and 6  mutually coupled to form the casing of the electrical connector assembly of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 3 , conductor wires and a microswitch, socket and lamp assembly to be connected to the conductor wires; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 3  and the microswitch, socket and lamp assembly coupled thereto, shown from a reverse point of view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show an electrical connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention, being used with a plurality of conductor wires  8   a  and an electrical device such as a miniature switch or microswitch  60 . This electrical connector assembly of the first embodiment comprises a casing  40  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), which is formed by a base body  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a first complementary body  20  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) which are coupled to one another. The base body  10  and first complementary body  20  are obtained by molding an electrically insulating plastic material. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show an electrical connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention, being used with a plurality of conductor wires  8   a  and an electrical device such as an assembly formed by a miniature switch or microswitch  60  and a lamp socket  70  equipped with a small lamp  71 . This electrical connector assembly of the second embodiment comprises a casing  50  (shown in  FIG. 7 ), which is formed by the same base body  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and another second complementary body  30  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) which are coupled to one another. Said second complementary body  30  is also obtained by molding an electrically insulating plastic material. 
     The base body  10  has a substantially parallelepiped configuration, with an upper face  10   m , two side faces  10   c , a front face  10   f  and a rear face  10   t  (according to the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 ). On said upper face  10   m  there is a central recess  2  having an inlet through the front face  10   f  of the base body  10 , but it does not reach the rear face  10   t  thereof. On both sides of the mentioned central recess  2  there are respective channels  12  with an inlet through said front face  10   f . Close to the rear face  10   t  of the base body  10  there are openings  11  with an inlet through the upper face  10   m , and which are communicated with the channels  12 . On the front face  10   f  of the base body  10 , in a central region of the mentioned recess  2 , there is a first channel part  12   a  similar to the lower half of the channels  12 , and on both sides of said first channel part  12   a  there are respective guide grooves  4  with an inlet on the front face  10   f  and which reach up to a first stop surface  13 . The central recess  2  has prolongations on both sides of the central opening  11  reaching up to the rear face  10   t  of the base body  10 , where it forms respective recessed steps  14 . 
     The first complementary body  20  of the first embodiment ( FIG. 2 ) and the second complementary body  30  of the second embodiment ( FIG. 6 ) have in common an approximately parallelepiped configuration, of a size smaller than the base body  10 , on the lower face of which (according to the orientation shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 ) they have formed a second channel part  12   b  similar to the upper half of the first channels  12  of the base body  10 . Along side faces  20   c ,  30   c  of the first and second complementary bodies  20 ,  30  there are guide flanges  6  cooperating with the guide grooves  4  of the base body  10  to allow a relative sliding in a direction parallel to the channels  12  whereas they do not allow movements in other directions due to a special configuration thereof. The first and second complementary bodies  20 ,  30  comprise a second stop surface  23  on their rear faces  20   t ,  30   t  which makes contact with the corresponding first stop surface  13  of the base body  10  when the base body  10  and any one of the first and second complementary bodies  20 ,  30  are in a predetermined relative position. 
     The first and second complementary bodies  20 ,  30  of the first and second embodiments further have in common elastic arms  24   a  projecting backwardly from their rear faces  20   t ,  30   t . These elastic arms  24   a  are finished in corresponding protrusions  24  directed outwardly in the form of hooks. Thus, when any one of the first and second complementary bodies  20 ,  30  is slid with respect to the base body  10  until reaching the mentioned predetermined relative position, the elastic arms experience an elastic deformation and recovery and the protrusions  24  are locked in the mentioned recessed steps  14  of the base body  10 , thus retaining the first or second complementary body  20 ,  30  coupled to the base body  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , when the base body  10  and the corresponding first or second complementary body  20 ,  30  are in the coupled position, the first channel part  12   a  of the base body  10  and the second channel part  12   b  of the first or second complementary body  20 ,  30  complement one another to form a central channel  12  which is communicated with that of said openings  11  formed on the larger face  10   m  of the first body located in the central position. 
     The first complementary body  20  of the first embodiment ( FIG. 2 ) does not have more elements than the common elements described above. Thus, the mentioned casing  40  of the first embodiment (shown in  FIG. 3 ), which is formed by the base body  10  ( FIG. 1 ) and the first complementary body  20  ( FIG. 2 ) coupled to one another, comprises three channels  12  with an inlet on the front face and which are communicated with three openings  11  with an inlet on the upper face, where the central channel is formed by the first and second channel parts  12   a ,  12   b  of the base body  10  and first complementary body  20  which are mutually coupled. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the casing  40  of the first embodiment ( FIG. 3 ), being used to connect an electrical device such as a miniature switch or microswitch  60  and a plurality of conductor wires  8   a . Each conductor wire is connected to a terminal  7   a , and when the conductor wires  8   a  and their terminals  7   a  are inserted into the corresponding channels  12 ;  12   a ,  12   b , the terminals  7   a  face the corresponding opening  11 . The mentioned microswitch  60  has contact tabs  9   a  which, when the microswitch  60  is coupled to the casing  40  of the first embodiment, are inserted into the openings  11  of the base body  10  and are connected with the corresponding terminals  7   a , with the result shown from a reverse point of view in  FIG. 5 . 
     The second complementary body  30  of the second embodiment ( FIG. 6 ) has, in addition to the common elements described above, a protruding upper part in which there are formed second channels  22  with an inlet on the front face  30   f  and which are communicated with second openings  21  with an inlet on the upper face  30   m.    
     Thus, the casing  50  of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , which is formed by the base body  10  ( FIG. 1 ) and the second complementary body  30  ( FIG. 6 ), comprises three first channels  12  at a lower level and two second channels  22  parallel to the first channels  12  of the base body  10  and located at an upper level (according to the orientation shown in  FIG. 7 ). The three first channels  12  of the lower level have an inlet on the front face  10   f  of the base body  10  and are communicated with the three first openings  11  with an inlet on the upper face  10   m  of the base body  10 , where the central channel of the first channels is formed by the first and second channel parts  12   a ,  12   b  of the base body  10  and complementary body  30 . The two second channels  22  of the upper level have an inlet on the front face  30   f  of the second complementary body  30  and are communicated with the two second openings  21  with an inlet on the upper face of the second complementary body  30 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the mentioned casing  50  of the second embodiment ( FIG. 7 ), being used to connect an electrical device, such as an assembly formed by a microswitch  60  and a lamp socket  70  having a small lamp  71  to first and second conductor wires  8   a ,  8   b . The mentioned microswitch  60  has first contact tabs  9   a  located at a lower level (according to the orientation shown in  FIG. 8 ) which must be connected to said first conductor wires  8   a  and the lamp socket  70  has second contact tabs  9   b  located at an upper level which must be connected to said second conductor wires  8   b . Each first conductor wire  8   a  is connected to a first terminal  7   a  and each second conductor wire  8   b  is connected to a second terminal  7   b.    
     When the three first conductor wires  8   a  and their respective first terminals  7   a  are inserted into the corresponding first channels  12 ;  12   a ,  12   b  of the lower level, the first terminals  7   a  face the corresponding first openings  11  of the base body  10 , and when the two second conductor wires  8   b  and their respective second terminals  7   b  are inserted into the channels  22  of the upper level, the second terminals  7   b  face the corresponding openings  21  of the second complementary body  30 . 
     Thus, when the electrical device formed by the microswitch  60  and lamp socket  70  assembly is coupled to the casing  50  of the second embodiment, the first contact tabs  9   a  of the microswitch  60  are inserted into the first openings  11  of the base body  10  and are connected with the corresponding first terminals  7   a  whereas the second contact tabs  9   b  of the lamp socket  70  are inserted into the second openings  21  of the second complementary body  30  and are connected with the corresponding second terminals  7   b , with the result shown from a reverse point of view in  FIG. 9 . 
     An advantage of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention lies in the fact that it can combine one and the same base body  10  with any one of the second bodies  20  or  30  according to the electrical device which is to be connected. 
     A person skilled in the art will be able to introduce changes, modifications and combinations in the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the present invention as it is defined in the attached claims.