GB2050077A

GB2050077A - Connector clip

Info

Publication number: GB2050077A
Application number: GB8010117A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Cableform Ltd
Current assignee: Cableform Ltd
Priority date: 1979-04-06
Filing date: 1980-03-26
Publication date: 1980-12-31
Also published as: IT8021196A0; DE3012157A1; IT1148813B; SE8002558L; FR2453514A1

Abstract

A clip for securing together first and second elements of a two element electrical connector, wherein one element supports two spaced apart parallel pins, comprises a base (7) adapted to be fixed to the other of the two connector elements and two limbs (8, 9) extending from the base to resiliently engage with the pins of the said one element to secure the two elements together. The limbs are provided with notches (13, 14) adjacent their ends such that when the connector elements are pushed together the pins deflect the limbs in opposite directions and engage in the notches when the limbs regain their original position to secure the two elements together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector clip The present invention relates to a clip for securing the elements of an electrical connector together.

Cables carrying high currents are sometimes joined using connector elements having pin and socket couplings enclosed in plastics housings. Such connectors are used for exam ple to connect the batteries of an electrically powered fork lift truck to the truck motor. The connector elements may loosen and eventually separate if they are subjected to vibration.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clip to secure such connector elements together.

According to the present invention there is provided a clip for securing together first and second elements of a two element electrical connector, wherein one element supports two spaced apart parallel pins, characterised in that the clip comprises two limbs adapted to be mounted on and to extend from the other of the two connector elements to resiliently engage with the pins of the said one element to secure the two elements together, the limbs being provided with notches adjacent their ends such that when the connector elements are pushed together the pins deflect the limbs in opposite directions and subsequently snap into the notches to secure the two elements together.

Preferably the limbs engage between the two pins so that the clip can be released simply by squeezing the limbs together. The limbs may overhang the connector to facilitate squeezing them together. The clip may comprise a base adapted to be fixed to the said other connector element, the two limbs extending from the base. The clip may be moulded in one piece of resilient material.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the two elements of a connector prior to assembly; Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the connector elements brought together, a securing clip according to the present invention being shown in position in dashed lines; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the clip of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, first and second connector elements 1 and 2 comprise a standard pin and socket coupling (not shown) enclosed in plastics housings 3 and 4. The first connector element supports two spaced apart parallel pins 5 and 6.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the clip comprises a generally U-shaped, substantially flat, piece of a resilient plastics material such as polypropylene, having a base 7 and two limbs 8 and 9 extending from the base symmetrical about an axis 10. The ends 11 and 1 2 of the limbs 8 and 9 are curved to allow the limbs to slide smoothly between the pins 5 and 6. On the outside of each limb adjacent their ends are two notches 1 3 and 14 for receiving the pins 5 and 6.

The limbs 8 and 9 are substantially parallel and slightly overhang the sides of the connector to provide purchase for manually squeezing them together. Near the base 7, however, the limbs have regions 1 5 and 1 6 that curve inwardly towards the axis 1 0. The limbs have a smaller cross-sectional area in those regions 1 5 and 1 6 to afford them greater flexibility.

The base 7 has two countersunk holes 1 7 and 1 8 symmetrically disposed about the axis 10 for fixing the clip to the housing 3 by means of bolts 19 and 20. The regions 21 and 22 surrounding these holes is built up to provide reinforcement.

In operation the connector elements 1 and 2 are pushed together. The limbs 8 and 9 deflect inwardly, i.e. in opposition directions to each other, towards the axis 10 and slide between the pins 5 and 6 until the pins snap into the notches 1 3 and 14, to secure the two elements together. The sides of the notches are shaped such that separation of the connector elements is firmly resisted. If it is desired to uncouple the connector, the limbs 8 and 9 are simply squeezed together until their tips 23, 24 abut. The pins 5 and 6 are then clear of the notches 13, 14 and the connector elements can be easily separated.

It will be appreciated that the clip could have limbs arranged to be deflected outwards by the pins in contrast to the illustrated embodiment.

1. A clip for securing together first and second elements of a two element electrical connector, wherein one element supports two spaced apart parallel pins, characterised in that the clip comprises two limbs adapted to be mounted on and to extend from the other of the two connector elements to resiliently engage with the pins of the said one element to secure the two elements together, the limbs being provided with notches adjacent their ends such that when the connector elements are pushed together the pins deflect the limbs in opposite directions and subsequently snap into the notches to secure the two elements together.

2. A clip according to claim 1, characterised in that the limbs engage between the two pins so that the clip can be released by squeezing the limbs together.

3. A clip according to claim 2, characterised in that the limbs overhang the sides of the said one connector element in order to facilitate releasing the clip by squeezing the limbs together.

4. A clip according to claim 1, 2 or 3,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Connector clip The present invention relates to a clip for securing the elements of an electrical connector together. Cables carrying high currents are sometimes joined using connector elements having pin and socket couplings enclosed in plastics housings. Such connectors are used for exam ple to connect the batteries of an electrically powered fork lift truck to the truck motor. The connector elements may loosen and eventually separate if they are subjected to vibration. An object of the present invention is to provide a clip to secure such connector elements together. According to the present invention there is provided a clip for securing together first and second elements of a two element electrical connector, wherein one element supports two spaced apart parallel pins, characterised in that the clip comprises two limbs adapted to be mounted on and to extend from the other of the two connector elements to resiliently engage with the pins of the said one element to secure the two elements together, the limbs being provided with notches adjacent their ends such that when the connector elements are pushed together the pins deflect the limbs in opposite directions and subsequently snap into the notches to secure the two elements together. Preferably the limbs engage between the two pins so that the clip can be released simply by squeezing the limbs together. The limbs may overhang the connector to facilitate squeezing them together. The clip may comprise a base adapted to be fixed to the said other connector element, the two limbs extending from the base. The clip may be moulded in one piece of resilient material. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the two elements of a connector prior to assembly; Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the connector elements brought together, a securing clip according to the present invention being shown in position in dashed lines; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the clip of Fig. 2. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, first and second connector elements 1 and 2 comprise a standard pin and socket coupling (not shown) enclosed in plastics housings 3 and 4. The first connector element supports two spaced apart parallel pins 5 and 6. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the clip comprises a generally U-shaped, substantially flat, piece of a resilient plastics material such as polypropylene, having a base 7 and two limbs 8 and 9 extending from the base symmetrical about an axis 10. The ends 11 and 1 2 of the limbs 8 and 9 are curved to allow the limbs to slide smoothly between the pins 5 and 6. On the outside of each limb adjacent their ends are two notches 1 3 and 14 for receiving the pins 5 and 6. The limbs 8 and 9 are substantially parallel and slightly overhang the sides of the connector to provide purchase for manually squeezing them together. Near the base 7, however, the limbs have regions 1 5 and 1 6 that curve inwardly towards the axis 1 0. The limbs have a smaller cross-sectional area in those regions 1 5 and 1 6 to afford them greater flexibility. The base 7 has two countersunk holes 1 7 and 1 8 symmetrically disposed about the axis 10 for fixing the clip to the housing 3 by means of bolts 19 and 20. The regions 21 and 22 surrounding these holes is built up to provide reinforcement. In operation the connector elements 1 and 2 are pushed together. The limbs 8 and 9 deflect inwardly, i.e. in opposition directions to each other, towards the axis 10 and slide between the pins 5 and 6 until the pins snap into the notches 1 3 and 14, to secure the two elements together. The sides of the notches are shaped such that separation of the connector elements is firmly resisted. If it is desired to uncouple the connector, the limbs 8 and 9 are simply squeezed together until their tips 23, 24 abut. The pins 5 and 6 are then clear of the notches 13, 14 and the connector elements can be easily separated. It will be appreciated that the clip could have limbs arranged to be deflected outwards by the pins in contrast to the illustrated embodiment. CLAIMS

4. A clip according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the clip comprises a base adapted to be fixed to the said other connector element, the two limbs extending from the base.

5. A clip according to claim 4, characterised in that the clip is moulded in one piece of resilient material.

6. A clip according to claim 5, characterised in that those regions of the limbs nearest the base have a relatively small cross-sectional area in order to afford greater flexibility.

7. A clip according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the ends of the limbs are curved in order to allow the ends of the limbs to slide past the pins.

8. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.