KR19990083637A - Electrical connector for connecting to an insulated wire - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical connector for connecting to the end of the insulated wire according to the present invention includes an insulating housing having a plurality of terminal receiving passages therein, and a terminal inserted into each terminal receiving passage of the housing and having a coupling hole and a coupling protrusion. The housing is adapted to engage a corresponding engagement hole in each terminal, the projection provided in each terminal receiving passage, and moving between an open position and a closed position to engage the engagement protrusion of the terminal to prevent withdrawal of the terminal from the housing. And a retainer mounted on the outer surface of the housing pivotally mounted by the hinge. The retainer is formed with a tool insertion hole formed therein for receiving a suitable tool for moving the retainer between the open and closed positions. Reinforcing beads are formed on the engagement protrusion to reinforce the engagement protrusion to increase the mutual bond strength between the engagement protrusion and the retainer. The engagement projections include engagement edges formed by inverted tapered edges to further improve the mutual engagement between the engagement projections and the retainer.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING TO AN INSULATED WIRE

The present invention relates to an electrical connector used for connecting to an end of an insulated wire, and more particularly to an improved housing design and terminal design for such an electrical connector.

Known electrical connectors that connect to the ends of the insulated wire to connect to other connector elements typically include a plurality of terminal receiving passages and terminals inserted into the terminal receiving passages. Each terminal receiving passage is provided with a locking protrusion adapted to engage with the engaging hole of each terminal. The insulating housing further includes a terminal retainer pivotally mounted on the sidewall of the insulating housing to pivot between the open and closed positions, in the retained position the retaining protrusion of the terminal and the engaging projection of the terminal to prevent the withdrawal of the terminal. In the open position, the terminals are inserted into the terminal receiving passages so that the engaging holes of each terminal are engaged with the corresponding protrusions. By moving the retainer to the closed position, the terminal is further secured in the terminal receiving passage by the retainer engaging with the engaging projection of the terminal.

According to the electrical connector configured as described above, when the electrical connector needs to remove one or more terminals from the insulating housing, the electrical connector first opens the retainer and then releases the engagement with the mating hole of each terminal. In order to do so, it is necessary to deflect each projection with an appropriate tool. This removal process can usually be performed when the connector fails on the end user's side and may not be performed by someone who understands the connector's design. The locking engagement between the terminal and the locking projection is generally well known so that the disengagement between the terminal and the locking projection is easily performed, but the various connection structures between the retainer and the insulated housing and this mutual locking structure make it easy to disengage. It is not. Thus, the "user affinity" of such connectors is degraded.

In addition, in order to ensure the coupling between the retainer and the engaging projections of the individual terminals, the engaging projections of each terminal must have sufficient strength to withstand all the forces acting on it. Known electrical terminals have a thickness sufficient to generate the strength necessary to provide such a coupling, but as the electrical connectors are miniaturized, the size of the terminals is also reduced and the metal plate forming the terminals becomes thinner, the terminal / retainer coupling Threatens its strength and function.

The present invention attempts to solve the above problem. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector for connecting to the end of an insulated wire, including a "user-friendly" terminal retainer and ensuring the coupling between the retainer and the coupling of the terminal.

To this end, the present invention contemplates an electrical connector comprising a housing having a terminal retainer, the retainer being provided with a tool insertion hole and further comprising a terminal having a joining protrusion reinforced by the bead. .

Electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

An insulating housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating passages formed therein;

A plurality of terminals inserted into respective terminal receiving passages of the housing, each having a coupling hole and a coupling protrusion;

A locking projection provided in each terminal receiving passage to engage with a corresponding engagement hole in each terminal,

A reinforcing bead formed on the engaging projection of the terminal to increase the strength of the terminal,

The housing is adapted to engage a mating protrusion of the terminal to prevent withdrawal of the terminal from the housing, and further includes a retainer mounted on the housing to pivotally move between the open and closed positions, the retainer opening the retainer. A tool insertion hole is formed to receive a suitable tool to move between the position and the closed position.

Electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

An insulating housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating passages formed therein;

A plurality of terminals inserted into respective terminal accommodating passages of the housing, each having a coupling protrusion and a coupling hole;

A locking projection provided in each terminal receiving passage to engage with a corresponding engagement hole in each terminal,

Reinforcing beads formed on the engaging protrusion of the terminal to increase the strength of the terminal,

A joining edge of the joining protrusion formed with an inverted tapered edge having a slope on the rear end with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the terminal,

The housing further comprises a retainer mounted on the housing for pivotal movement between the open and closed positions, and is adapted to engage with the engaging projection of the terminal to prevent the withdrawal of the terminal from the housing, the retainer being open A tool insertion hole is formed to receive a suitable tool to move between the position and the closed position.

According to the electrical connector according to the invention, the retainer is provided with a tool insertion hole into which a suitable tool can be inserted for moving the retainer between the open and closed positions of the retainer, so that the opening and closing structure of the retainer is It is easy to handle the connector because it can be seen clearly once. In addition, since the engaging projection of each terminal is reinforced by the reinforcing beads, even if the sheet metal forming the terminal becomes thin due to the miniaturization of the connector, the strength of the engaging projection is reinforced to firmly retain the retainer and pulled out on the terminal. Withstand strength. In addition, since the engaging edge of the engaging projection of each terminal is formed into an inverted tapered edge, when the in-output is applied to the terminal, the inverted tapered edge serves to pull the retainer toward the terminal. Thus, the retainer is prevented from opening accidentally, and the coupling between the terminal and the retainer is maintained.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an insulated housing having a terminal mounted therein according to the present invention.

2 is a plan view of an insulated housing according to the present invention;

3 is a front view of an insulated housing according to the present invention;

4 is a side view of an insulated housing according to the present invention;

5 is a rear view of the insulating housing according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view generally along the line A-A in FIG. 2; FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view generally along the line B-B in FIG. 3; FIG.

8 is a plan view of a terminal according to the present invention;

9 is a side view of a terminal according to the present invention;

10 is a bottom view of a terminal according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: insulated housing

1a: front end

1b: rear end

1c, 1d: outer surface

2: Terminal

3: terminal receiving passage

4: Retainer

5: hinge

7: tool insertion hole

8: tip end

8a: locking protrusion

9: socket

10: barrel

11: strain relief unit

12: coupling hole

13: engagement protrusion

14: Reinforcement Bead

15: inverted tapered edge

16: insulated wire

The invention will be more fully understood from the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the invention described with reference to the following description and drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of an electrical connector for connecting to an end of an insulated wire. The electrical connector comprises an insulating housing 1 and a plurality of terminals 2 which are intended to be crimped or connected to the insulating wire 16. The insulating housing 1 is formed of an insulating plastic in the configuration as shown in Figs. 2 to 5 and has a plurality of terminal receiving passages 3 arranged in two rows in parallel between the front end 1a and the rear end 1b. It includes. On the outside of each row of terminal accommodating passages 3, the terminal retainers 4 are pivotally moved between the open and closed positions by hinges 5 integrally formed as indicated by arrow 6. Is formed on the outer surfaces 1c and 1d. Each terminal retainer 4 is adapted to correspond to one row of the terminal accommodating passages 3 such that each retainer is engaged with a plurality of the terminals inserted in each column of the terminal receiving passages. The rectangular tool insertion hole 7 is formed in the center of the retainer 4 as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and is adapted to receive a suitable tool such as a screwdriver to move the retainer between the open and closed positions. have.

Within each terminal receiving passage 3, a cantilevered locking projection 8 is provided towards the front end 1a of the insulating housing. The tip end 8a of the projection 8 protrudes into each terminal receiving passage.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, the terminal 2 is stamped molded of sheet metal. In the figure, the right side is the tip end and the left side is the rear end. A generally rectangular socket 9 is provided at the tip end of the terminal 2. At the rear end, the generally U-shaped barrel 10 is provided to be crimped to the exposed wire portion of the insulated wire, and the generally U-shaped strain relief 11 is fitted over the insulation of the insulated wire. Is provided. The bottom wall 9a of the socket 9 is partially open to form an engaging hole 12 for receiving each tip end 8a of the projection 8 provided in each terminal receiving passage 3. (See Figure 1). The middle part of the terminal 2 between the socket 9 and the barrel 10 is generally U-shaped in cross section. The engagement protrusion 13 protrudes from a part of the side wall of the intermediate portion. The engaging projection 13 is provided with reinforcing beads 14 extending in the transverse direction of the terminal 2 (ie, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the terminal 2) to reinforce the strength. The side edges on the rear end of the engaging projection 13 serve as the engaging edge of the retainer 4 and at the rear end are inverted tapered edges as shown in FIG. 9 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the terminal 2. 15).

Referring again to FIG. 1, after the end of the insulated wire 16 is connected to the terminal 2, the terminal is inserted into the corresponding terminal receiving passage of the insulated housing 1 from the rear end of the housing. When inserting the terminal 2 into the housing, the retainer 4 is positioned in the open state as shown in Figs. During insertion of the terminal 2 into each terminal insertion passage 3, the bottom wall 9a of the socket 9 of the tip end of each terminal 2 is connected with the tip end 8a of the projection 8. In contact, the protrusion 8 is deflected in a direction away from each terminal receiving passage. As the terminal moves further into the terminal accommodating passageway, the tip end 8a of the protrusion 8 faces the engagement hole 12 formed in the bottom wall of each socket 9, and the protrusion 8 is the tip end ( 8a) is restored to an undeflected state that protrudes into the engagement hole 12 for primary engagement with each terminal 2.

After the terminal 2 has been inserted into the appropriate terminal receiving passage and primarily coupled by the projection 8, the retainer 4 moves to the closed position as shown in FIG. The appropriate part is engaged with the inverted tapered edge 15 of the engaging projection 13 of each terminal in order to secondary lock the terminal into the terminal receiving passage. Thus, the projection 8 is primarily engaged with the engaging hole 12 formed in the socket 9 of each terminal 2, and the retainer 4 is the engaging projection 13 of each terminal 2. In conjunction with, prevent the withdrawal of the terminal from the housing. In addition, the engaging projection 13 is provided with a reinforcing bead 14 to increase the strength, whereby the terminal is prevented from being deformed by large in-output. This structure ensures engagement between the retainer 4 and the engagement projection 13, ensures proper positioning of the terminal in the terminal receiving passage and minimizes excessive force to the terminal in the terminal receiving passage.

When in-output is applied to the terminal 2 (eg, by pulling the wire 16 by hand), this force is transmitted from the engaging protrusion 13 to the retainer 4. That is, the inverted tapered edge 15 formed on the engagement protrusion 13 transfers force by being pulled in the retainer 4 as indicated by arrow 17 in FIG. This configuration thus prevents the retainer 4 from accidentally opening and between the retainer 4 and the engaging projection 13 in relation to the reinforced strength of the engaging projection 13 due to the reinforcing beads 14. Maintain a bond.

In order to remove the terminal 2 from each terminal receiving passage 3, the retainer 4 is moved to an open position to release the engagement between the retainer and the engaging projection 13. In order to move the retainer to the open position, a suitable tool such as a screwdriver is inserted into the terminal receiving passage 3 from the front end 1a of the insulating housing 1 through the insertion hole 7 to engage with the protrusion 8. Release the coupling between the holes 12. At the same time, one or more terminals can be drawn through the insulated wire 16. Since the tool insertion hole 7 is formed in the retainer 4, the user can quickly understand the opening and closing structure of the retainer 4, so that the maintenance of the connector is easy, and the retainer is between the open and closed positions. It can be moved easily.

It will be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in specific forms without departing from the spirit or central features of the invention. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the present invention should not be limited to the details described herein.

According to the electrical connector according to the invention, the retainer is provided with a tool insertion hole into which a suitable tool can be inserted for moving the retainer between the open and closed positions of the retainer, so that the opening and closing structure of the retainer is A clear view of it makes it easy to handle connectors. In addition, since the engaging projection of each terminal is reinforced by the reinforcing beads, even if the sheet metal forming the terminal becomes thin due to the miniaturization of the connector, the strength of the engaging projection is reinforced to firmly retain the retainer and pulled out on the terminal. Withstand strength. In addition, since the engaging edge of the engaging projection of each terminal is formed into an inverted tapered edge, when the in-output is applied to the terminal, the inverted tapered edge serves to pull the retainer toward the terminal. Thus, the retainer is prevented from opening accidentally, and the coupling between the terminal and the retainer is maintained.

Claims (9)

An electrical connector for connecting to an end of an insulated wire, An insulating housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating passages formed therein; A stamped shaped terminal inserted into each terminal receiving passage of the housing, Each terminal has a coupling hole and a coupling protrusion, The housing further includes a locking protrusion provided in each terminal receiving passage to engage with a corresponding engagement hole of each terminal, and a retainer mounted on an outer surface to pivotally move between an open position and a closed position, The retainer is adapted to engage the engagement protrusion of the terminal to prevent the withdrawal of the terminal from the housing, The retainer is formed with a tool insertion hole for receiving a suitable tool for moving the retainer between the open and closed positions, And the terminal further comprises a reinforcing bead formed on the engagement protrusion to increase the mutual bond strength between the engagement protrusion and the retainer. The coupling protrusion of the terminal further comprises a coupling edge consisting of a tapered edge inverted on the rear end of the coupling protrusion to transfer the force applied to the terminal to the coupling protrusion and the mutual coupling of the retainer. Electrical connector made. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer is mounted to pivotally move between an open position and a closed position on each of the two outer surfaces of the insulated housing by an integrally formed hinge. 4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the terminal receiving passages are formed in two rows, and each retainer is coupled with a plurality of terminals inserted into each row of the terminal receiving passages. An electrical connector for connecting to an end of an insulated wire, An insulating housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating passages formed therein; A stamped shaped terminal inserted into each terminal receiving passage of the housing, Each terminal has a coupling hole and a coupling protrusion, The housing further includes a locking protrusion provided in each terminal receiving passage to engage with a corresponding engagement hole of each terminal, and a retainer mounted on an outer surface to pivotally move between an open position and a closed position, The retainer is adapted to engage the engagement protrusion of the terminal to prevent the withdrawal of the terminal from the housing, And the retainer is provided with a tool insertion hole for receiving a suitable tool for moving the retainer between the open and closed positions. 6. The electrical connector of claim 5 further comprising a reinforcing bead formed on the engagement protrusion to increase the mutual bond strength between the engagement protrusion and the retainer. 6. The engaging projection of the terminal according to claim 5, further comprising a engaging edge consisting of a tapered edge turned over on the rear end of the engaging projection to transfer the force applied to the terminal to the engaging projection and the mutual coupling of the retainer. Electrical connector made. 6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the retainer is mounted to pivotally move between an open position and a closed position on each of the two outer surfaces of the insulating housing by an integrally formed hinge. 6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the terminal receiving passages are formed in two rows, and each retainer is coupled with a plurality of terminals inserted into each row of the terminal receiving passages.