U.S. patent number RE31,142 [Application Number 06/208,714] was granted by the patent office on 1983-02-08 for electrical tab receptacle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMP Incorporated. Invention is credited to Reginald J. Simmons.
United States Patent |
RE31,142 |
Simmons |
February 8, 1983 |
Electrical tab receptacle
Abstract
An electrical tab receptacle for mating with a complementary tab
is provided with an integral tongue having a lance whereby the
receptacle can be releasably secured to the tab, the tongue being
resiliently depressible by means of a finger, a tool, or part of a
housing containing the receptacle, to release the receptacle from
the tongue.
Inventors: |
Simmons; Reginald J. (South
Harrow, GB2) |
Assignee: |
AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg,
PA)
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Family
ID: |
10131129 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/208,714 |
Filed: |
November 20, 1980 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
876584 |
Feb 10, 1978 |
RE030277 |
May 20, 1980 |
|
Reissue of: |
572500 |
Apr 28, 1975 |
03976348 |
Aug 24, 1976 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 3, 1974 [GB] |
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19542/74 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/586;
439/746 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
11/00 (20130101); H01R 13/02 (20130101); H01R
13/11 (20130101); H01R 13/20 (20130101); H01R
13/40 (20130101); H01R 13/432 (20130101); H01R
13/115 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
11/00 (20060101); H01R 13/02 (20060101); H01R
13/11 (20060101); H01R 13/20 (20060101); H01R
13/40 (20060101); H01R 13/428 (20060101); H01R
13/432 (20060101); H01R 13/115 (20060101); H01R
013/62 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/47-49,74,256SP,258S |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Osborne; Allan B.
Claims
I claim: .Badd..[.
1. An electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal and
comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having a
base and upstanding side walls with free edge portions of the side
walls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab
between the base and the turned-in edges of the side walls and an
integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry
end of the receptacle portion, the tongue extending rearwardly in
inclined manner towards the turned-in edges of the side walls, the
free end of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle
portion projecting rearwardly beyond the turned-in edges of the
side walls, said tongue being turned outwards away from said base
and projecting externally of said receptacle portion thereby
forming a readily accessible release member, and the tongue within
the receptacle portion being formed in a middle portion with a
lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in
edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to engage a
corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated
with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from
the receptacle..]..Baddend. 2. In combination, an electrical tab
receptacle formed from sheet metal and comprising a generally
channel-shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding side
walls with free edge portions of the side walls turned in over the
base for receiving a complementary tab between the base and the
turned-in edges of the side walls, the base of the receptacle being
formed with an outwardly and rearwardly directed lance, and an
integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry
end of the receptacle portion, the tongue extending rearwardly in
inclined manner towards the turned-in edges of the side walls, the
free end of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle
portion projecting rearwardly beyond the turned-in edges of the
side walls, said tongue being turned outwards away from said base
and projecting externally of said receptacle portion, and the
tongue within the receptacle portion being formed in a middle
portion with a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards
the turned-in edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to
engage a corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab
when mated with the receptacle for latching the tab against
withdrawal from the receptacle, and an insulating housing in which
the receptacle is secured, a base of the housing being formed with
a shoulder which is engaged by the lance on the base of the
receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in one axial direction
relative to the housing, and an upper wall of the housing being
formed with a depending wall which prevents insertion of a
complementary tab between the receptacle and the upper wall of the
housing, and which is engaged by the turned-in edge portions of the
side walls of the receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in
the other axial direction relative to the housing, the upper wall
of the housing being formed with a flexible portion which can be
depressed to contact the free end of the tongue of the receptacle
thereby to depress the tongue and release the lance on the tongue
from a complementary tab mated with the receptacle. 3. In
combination, an electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal
and comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having
a base and upstanding side walls with free edge portions of the
side walls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary
tab between the base and the turned-in edges of the side walls, the
base of the receptacle being formed with a hole, and an integral
tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry end of the
receptacle portion, the tongue extending rearwardly in inclined
manner towards the turned-in edges of the side walls, the free end
of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle portion
projecting rearwardly beyond the turned-in edges of the side walls,
said tongue being turned outwards away from said base and
projecting externally of said receptacle portion, and the tongue
within the receptacle portion being formed in a middle portion with
a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in
edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to engage a
corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated
with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from
the receptacle, and an insulating housing in which the receptacle
is secured, a base of the housing being formed with a boss which is
received in the hole in the base of the receptacle, the relative
sizes of the hole in the base of the receptacle and boss being such
that the receptacle is capable of limited axial movement relative
to the housing, and an upper wall of the housing being formed with
a sloping surface which engages the free end of the tongue of the
receptacle as the receptacle moves in one axial direction relative
to the housing, whereby the tongue can be depressed to release the
lance on the tongue from a complementary tab mated with the
receptacle. 4. A combination as claimed in claim 3, in which the
upper wall of the housing is formed with a longitudinal rib which
extends between the turned-in edge portions of the side walls of
the receptacle to prevent insertion of a complementary tab between
the receptacle and the upper wall of the housing. .Iadd. 5. An
electrical connector, comprising:
a. a first terminal formed from sheet metal and having a conductor
receiving end and an opposite channel-shaped, mating end for making
electrical engagement with a complementary second terminal, a
tongue on the first terminal having means thereon for releasably
engaging the second terminal with the free end of the tongue being
located intermediate the conductor receiving end and the mating
end; and
b. a housing of insulating material having a passage therein in
which the first terminal is located, retaining means on the housing
for retaining the first terminal in the passage and for permitting
limited axial movement therebetween, and release means on the
housing positioned to engage the free end of the tongue
whereby movement of the housing relative to the first terminal
causes said release means to engage the tongue free end to thereby
release the first terminal from a complementary second terminal.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 6. The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the
complementary second terminal comprises a tab and the mating end of
the first terminal includes a channel-shaped, tab receiving
portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. The electrical connector of claim 6
wherein the channel-shaped, tab receiving portion of the first
terminal includes a base and upstanding sidewalls with the free
edge portions thereof turned in over the base for receiving the
tab. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein
the tongue is integral with the base and extends rearwardly in the
space between the base and turned-in edges of the sidewalls.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 9. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein the
tongue includes a lance protruding from its upper surface and
adapted to releasably engage a recess or aperture in the tab which
may be positioned between the tongue and turned-in edge portions of
the sidewalls. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The electrical connector of
claim 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein the first terminal has an elongated
hole and the retaining means on the housing includes boss means
which is received in the elongated hole. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. The
electrical connector of claim 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein the release
means includes a sloping surface in the passage of the housing.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 12. The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein
the release means includes a sloping surface in the passage of the
housing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. An electrical connector,
comprising:
a. a receptacle formed from sheet metal and having wire receiving
means at one end and a channel-shaped, tab receiving portion at
another end, said portion having a base and upstanding sidewalls
with the free edge portions thereof turned in over the base for
receiving a complementary tab therein between, further, a tongue
integral with the base and extending rearwardly in the space
between the base and the turned-in edges of the sidewalls with the
free end of the tongue being located beyond the ends of the
turned-in edges, said tongue having a rearwardly inclined lance
protruding from its upper surface adapted to engage a recess or
aperture in the complementary tab for releasably latching the tab
when mated in the receptacle; and
b. a housing for insulating material having a passage therethrough
in which the receptacle is secured, means in the passage adapted to
engage the receptacle to permit limited independent axial movement
of the housing relative to the receptacle, further camming means in
the passageway adapted to engage and depress said tongue toward the
base of the receptacle as the housing is moved axially whereby
the lance is withdrawn from its latching engagement with the
complementary tab which may be in the receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd.
14. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the base of the
receptacle has an axially elongated hole and the means in the
passage of the housing includes a boss on the floor of the passage
which is received in the elongated hole. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The
electrical connector of claim 14 wherein the camming means includes
a sloping surface in the passage in the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.
16. In combination an electrical tab receptacle as claimed in claim
9, an insulating housing in which the receptacle is secured, said
housing having means cooperable with the tongue of the receptacle
to effect resilient depression of the tongue away from the
turned-in edge portions of the sidewalls to thereby disengage the
lance on the tongue from a complementary tab mated with the
receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. In combination, an electrical tab
receptacle formed from sheet metal and comprising a generally
channel-shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding
sidewalls with free edge portions thereof turned-in over the base
for receiving a complementary tab between the turned-in edge
portions and an integral tongue extending from the base at the
forward, tab-entry end of the receptacle portion, the free end of
the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle portion projecting
beyond the rearward ends of the turned-in edge portions and thereat
being turned outwardly to project away from the base, and the
tongue within the receptacle portion being formed with a lance
inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in edge
portions and arranged and adapted to engage a corresponding recess
or aperture in a complementary tab when mated with the receptacle
for latching the tab against withdrawal from the receptacle,
further the base of the receptacle being formed with an outwardly
and rearwardly directed lance, and an insulating housing in which
the receptacle is secured, a base of the housing being formed with
a shoulder which is engaged by the lance on the base of the
receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in one axial direction
relative to the housing, and in upper wall of the housing being
formed with a depending wall which prevents insertion of a
complementary tab between the receptacle and the upper wall, and
which is engaged by the turned-in edge portions of the sidewalls of
the receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in the other axial
direction relative to the housing, the upper wall of the housing
being formed with a flexible portion which can be depressed to
contact the free end of the tongue and release the lance thereon
from a complementary tab mated with the receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd.
18. In combination, an electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet
metal and comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion
having a base and upstanding sidewalls with free edge portions of
the sidewalls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary
tab between the turned-in edge portions and an integral tongue
extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry end of the
receptacle portion rearwardly so that the free end of the tongue
extends beyond the rearward ends of the turned-in edge portions,
the free end of the tongue being turned outwards to project away
from the base, and the tongue within the receptacle portion being
formed with a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the
turned-in edge portions and arranged and adapted to engage a
corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated
with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from
the receptacle, the base of the receptacle being formed with a
hole, and an insulating housing in which the receptacle is secured,
a base of the housing being formed with a boss which is received in
the hole in the base of the receptacle, the relative sizes of the
hole and boss being such that the receptacle is capable of limited
axial movement relative to the housing, and an upper wall of the
housing being formed with sloping surface which engages the free
end of the tongue of the receptacle as the receptacle moves in one
axial direction relative to the housing, whereby the tongue can be
depressed to release the lance of the tongue from a complementary
tab mated with the receptacle. .Iaddend.
9. .Badd.An electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal and
comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having a
base and upstanding side walls with free edge portions of the side
walls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab
between the base and the turned-in edges of the side walls and an
integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry
end of the receptacle portion, the tongue extending rearwardly in
inclined manner towards the turned-in edges of the side walls, the
free end of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle
portion projecting rearwardly beyond the turned-in edges of the
side walls, said tongue being turned outwardly away from said base
and projecting externally of said receptacle portion thereby
forming a readily accessible release member, and the tongue within
the receptacle portion being formed in a middle portion with a
lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in
edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to engage a
corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated
with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from
the receptacle. .Baddend.
Description
The invention relates to an electrical tab receptacle.
Receptacles of this general description are well-known in various
forms, for example as described in U.K. Patent Specification Nos.
777,677 and 793,654.
Such receptacles may be releasably engaged with a complementary tab
in an exposed arrangement, or may be mounted in an insulating
housing either singly, or as a group for simultaneous connection to
a plurality of complementary tabs.
Such tab and receptacle connectors have in the past fifteen years
formed the principal means of connecting harness wiring in consumer
goods and the automotive industry.
In more recent years there has been an increasing demand for
increased reliability of electrical connectors due to high
maintenance and warranty liabilities of consumer goods and
automotive manufacturers. There is thus a demand for a tab
receptacle which can be used in the conventional manner but which
is less susceptible to inadvertent disconnection from a
complementary tab due, for example, to vibration or mishandling,
but which can nevertheless be easily disconnected when
required.
An electrical tab receptacle according to the invention is formed
from sheet metal and comprises a generally channel-shaped
receptacle portion having a base and upstanding side walls with
free edge portions of the side walls turned in over the base for
receiving a complementary tab between the base and the turned in
edges of the side walls and an integral tongue extending from the
base at the forward, tab entry end of the receptacle portion, the
tongue extending rearwardly in inclined manner towards the
turned-in edges of the side walls, the free end of the tongue at
the rearward end of the receptacle portion projecting externally
beyond the turned-in edges of the side walls, and the tongue within
the receptacle portion being formed in a middle portion with a
lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned in
edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to engage a
corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated
with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from
the receptacle.
In a preferred embodiment the base of the receptacle portion is
formed with a pair of longitudinal slots, one on each side of the
tongue, from which slots the metal is turned up to present edges
opposed to respective turned-in free edge portions of the side
walls, a complementary tab mated with the receptacle being received
between these opposed edges and the edges of the turned-in free
edge portions of the side walls.
With the receptacle of the invention, the tongue constitutes a
readily accessible release member for actuation by a finger or
tool, depression of the tongue towards the base effecting release
of the tongue lance from the tab aperture to allow withdrawal of
the tab from the receptacle.
The invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle portion of an
electrical tab receptacle according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front end view from the left of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the receptacle of FIGS. 1 and
2 mated with a complementary tab;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the receptacle of FIGS. 1
and 2 in a first form of insulating housing; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a modified form of
the receptacle of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a second form of insulating
housing.
The receptacle of FIG. 1 may be formed at its right-hand end with a
wire connecting portion such as a crimping ferrule of known form,
not shown.
The receptacle portion of the receptacle is formed of sheet metal
and is generally channel-shaped having a base 1, and upstanding
side walls 2. Free edge portions 3 of the side walls 2 are turned
in over the base 1 and are formed with elongate slots 3a, extending
into the side walls 2 to increase the flexibility of the turned-in
edge portions 3.
A tongue 4, integral with the forward end of the base 1 is turned
back between the side walls 2 to extend rearwardly in inclined
manner towards the turned-in edge portions 3 of the side walls 2.
The tongue 4 extends beyond the rearward ends of the turned in edge
portions 3, and is then turned outwards generally perpendicular to
the base 1 to project externally of the receptacle portion to form
a release member 5. The tongue 4 is formed in a middle portion with
a pushed-up lance 6 inclined rearwardly towards the turned in edge
portions 3 to present a latch for releasably engaging a
complementary tab aperture as shown in and to be described with
reference to FIG. 3.
Forward ends 7 of the turned in edge portions 3 are chamfered in
rearwardly inclined manner towards the base 1 to facilitate tab
entry. The base 1 is formed with a pair of longitudinal slots 8,
one on each side of the tongue 4, and extending into the side walls
2. The metal from the slots 8 is pushed up from the base 1 to
present upstanding flanges 9 with edges 10 opposed to the turned in
edge portions 3.
In use, as shown in FIG. 3, a flat tab 11 having an aperture 12 is
inserted into the forward end of the receptacle, between the turned
in edge portions 3 and the flange edges 10. The tab 11 depresses
the tongue 4 towards the base 1, and flexes the turned in edge
portions 3 to clamp the tab 11 between the edge portions 3 and the
edges 10. The latch lance 6 is received in the tab aperture 12 to
resist withdrawal of the tab 11 from the FIG. 3 condition.
Depression of the release member 5 towards the base 1 disengages
the lance 6 from the aperture 12 to permit withdrawal of the tab 11
from the receptacle.
The receptacle is suitably mounted in an insulating housing 17
formed of resilient insulating material such as Nylon, as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5.
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 a lance 13 is pushed out from
the base 1 of the receptacle below the tongue 4 to extend in
rearwardly and outwardly inclined manner, which lance 13 engages a
shoulder 14 in the base 18 of the housing 17 in known manner.
The housing 17 is formed in its upper wall 20 with a recess 15 into
which the release member 5 of the receptacle freely projects. A
flexible cover portion 16 extends over the recess 15, and manual
pressure on the cover portion 16 serves to flex the cover portion
16 inwardly to engage and depress the release member 5 to release a
tab mated with the receptacle, as described with reference to FIG.
3.
The forward end (left-hand end in FIG. 4) of the upper wall 20 of
the housing 17 is formed with a depending wall 19 which serves to
prevent insertion of a tab between the upper wall 20 of the housing
17 and the receptacle, and also serves to limit axial movement of
the receptacle forwardly of the housing 17. Axial movement of the
receptacle rearwardly of the housing 17 is limited by the
engagement between the lance 13 and the housing shoulder 14. The
receptacle is thus secured within the housing.
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the base 1 of the receptacle is
formed with a hole 21 in which there is received a boss 22 on the
base 18 of the housing 17, the relative sizes of the hole 21 and
boss 22 being such that the receptacle is capable of limited
movement axially relative to the housing 17.
To allow for this movement of the receptacle the depending wall 19
of the housing of FIG. 4 is omitted, and insertion of a tab between
the upper wall 20 of the housing 17 and the receptacle is prevented
by a longitudinal rib 23 formed centrally on the upper wall 20 of
the housing 17 and extending downwardly between the turned in edge
portion 3 of the receptacle, in known manner.
The upper wall 20 of the housing 17 is formed with a sloping
surface 24 directed towards the release member 5, and positioned
relative thereto such that forward axial movement of the receptacle
relative to the housing 17 causes the release member 5 to engage
the sloping surface 24 and be depressed thereby to release a tab
mated with the receptacle, as described with reference to FIG.
3.
The arrangement of FIG. 5 is particularly advantageous since with a
wire connected to the receptacle and a tab mated therewith, a
tensile force applied to the wire in the direction away from the
tab will not disconnect the receptacle from the tab since the force
will not cause relative axial movement between the receptacle and
its housing, but the receptacle can simply and easily be
disconnected from the tab by pulling the receptacle housing in the
direction away from the tab. When this is done the housing moves
axially relative to the receptacle because movement of the
receptacle is prevented by its engagement with the tab by way of
the lance 6, and thus the sloping surface 24 of the housing 17 will
engage the release member 5 and releases the receptacle from the
tab. The receptacle remains secured in its housing by the
engagement of the boss 22 of the housing in the hole 21 in the base
1 of the receptacle.
Although the arrangements described above comprise only a single
receptacle and associated housing, it will be appreciated that a
single housing can, in known manner, being formed to receive a
plurality of individual receptacles. Clearly the latching feature
provided by the tongue of the receptacle of the invention need be
provided for only one of the receptacles in the housing, and thus
the other receptacles can be conventional ones, and the housing
need be provided only with means, such as the flexible cover
portion of FIG. 4 or the sloping surface of FIG. 5, to release the
tongue of the one receptacle. Otherwise all the receptacles can be
in accordance with the invention and the housing be provided with
corresponding multiple tongue release means.
* * * * *