GB2127235A

GB2127235A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB2127235A
Application number: GB08320452A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tadashi Yagi
Original assignee: Hosiden Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hosiden Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-04
Filing date: 1983-07-29
Publication date: 1984-04-04
Also published as: KR840006441U; JPS5923173U; GB8320452D0; KR870001348Y1; JPH0214138Y2; GB2127235B

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises a plurality of terminals 2 each having a portion 2a protruding from the body. The protruding portions 2a are covered by a cover 3 which includes openings 31a through which respective portions 2a can protrude. The cover 3 is biased by a spring 4 to an outward position to cover the terminals. When a connection is to be made, the cover is rotated so that the portions 2a of the terminals protrude through the openings 31a in the cover. The connector is for use with a cooperating member which depresses the cover and has receptacles to receive the protruding terminal members. If the cover is depressed inwardly by means, such as a finger, which obturates the cover openings 31a, the terminals deform resiliently inwardly of the body and are consequently not damaged (chain lines, fig 2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connector This invention relates to an electrical connector and in particularto a connectorfor protecting protruding terminal members.

Itis known to provide modular electrical apparatus comprising a minor modular unit capable of operating on its own, which is detachably connected to a major modular unit, so that the two units can be operated together. An example of such a modular apparatus is a cassette tape recorder apparatus sold in Japan under thetradename"TOBlDASU KASETTO",meaninga jumping-out cassette. Electrical connection between the major and minor units is achieved by means of cooperating parts of an electrical connector mounted on each ofthe units, the connectors each being provided with a plurality of cooperating connecting terminals.

In orderto ensure a satisfactory electrical connection the connector terminals on the major unit protrude from the body of its connector so as to be received in the connector on the minor unit. As a result, if the minor unit is incorrectlyaligned with the major unit when the connectors are being connected to one another, the protruding terminal members on the major unit may be deformed or damaged.

An object of the invention is to provide a connector for use in the above circumstances, equipped with a coverfor protecting the outwardly protruding terminal members.

According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising a connector body, an electrical terminal member protruding from the body, and a cover covering the protruding terminal member, the cover having an opening therein and being arranged for movement inwardly ofthe body such that the terminal protrudes through the opening for making an electrical connection, said terminal member being so arranged thatwhen the cover is moved inwardly by meanswhich obturatessaidopening,the terminal member moves inwardly of the body with said cover and upon removal of said obturating means,theterminal member moves outwardly ofthe body.

In orderthatthe invention may be more fully understood an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of illustrative example with refer ence to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view ofthe connectorshown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view corresponding to Figure 2, showing the cover in its outer position covering the terminals; and Figure4isaviewcorresponding to that of Figure 3, but with the cover rotated inwardly so that the terminal members protrude through the cover.

The connector includes a generally box-like connector body 1 made of electrically insulating material such as plastics material. Terminal members 2 are mounted in the body 1 so as each to have generally triangular portion protruding from the body member, the protruding portion being referred to herein as the key part (which in use is keyed into a cooperating connector as will be explained hereinafter). The key parts are covered by a rotary cover 3 mounted on the body and biased outwardly by a spring 4.

Referring in more detail to the connector body 1, it is provided with two upstanding pillars 11 each includ ingau.shapedgroovella,thefrontwall llbofthe groove 11 a being somewhat higherthan the rearwall 11 c. Between the two pillars 11, upstanding clipping projections 1 2a and 1 2b are provided for clipping the spring 4which will be described in more detail later, within a gap 12c (Referto Fig. 2), the upstanding back projection 1 2b being somewhat higherthan the front one 1 2a. The front side ofthe connector body 1 (Fig. 2) includes a window 13; and on the upper edge of the window 13, five narrow grooves 13a are formed at equal intervals.On the lower side of the window 13, a lower frame member 1 4formed separatelyfrom the connector body 1 is suitablyfixed to said body 1 and, on the part of said member 14 opposite to said narrow grooves 13a, narrow grooves 14a are provided, similarto the grooves 13a. Five terminal members 2 each made of resilient metallicwire are secured to the connector body 1. These terminals 2 are bent in the required shape as shown in Fig. 2, and the key parts 2a thereof extend in the aforesaid triangular shape so as to have an apex outermostfrom the body 1. The key parts are sprung into the grooves 1 3a and 14a.The key parts 2a are thus sprung bytheir resilience to the position shown in Fig. 2 in solid outline, but when the cover3 is pressed by a user's finger, the key parts retreattothe inside oftheconnector body 1 as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 2, and, when released, return to the initial state as shown bythe solid line. Two fixing lugs 15 on the body 1 are received in slot-like fixing windows 32b in opposite sides ofthe cover member 3 to limit rotary movement of the cover 3 relative to the body.

The cover member3 is made of insulating material, provided with a front 31 and two opposite sides 32, so as to be approximately U-shape in cross section.

Between tips of projections 32a provided on top ends of both sides 32, a shaft 33 is provided for rotably mounting the cover3 in the grooves 11 a in the pillars 11 on the body. The outer diameter of the shaft 33 is so set asto be capable of being push-fitted into the aforesaid groove 1 1a.

Five equally spaced apart slits 31 a are provided through the front side 31 ofthe cover direction. The spring 4 is made of appropriate resilient metallic material and is fitted overthe shaft 33 as shown in Fig.

2, to urge the cover to rotate outwardly of the housing.

The cover member 3 is fitted onto the connector body 1 in the manner as described below. The shaft 33 is inserted into the grooves 11 a and one end ofthe spring 4 is inserted into the gap 12c. When the front 31 of the cover member 3 is pushed toward the connector body 1 so that both sides 32 of said member3 are positioned outside both sides of the connector body 1, The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

fixing lugs 15 fit into their respective slots 32b in the cover. Then,the cover member3 is urged by the spring 4to turn aboutthe axis ofthe shaft 33 outwardly of the body 1, so that the rear ends of the slots 32b abut the lugs 15, whereby the cover member 3 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The cover member3 turns about the axis of shaft 33 when pushed inwardlyto body 1, and the connector will assume the configuration shown in Fig.4 so long as the slits 31 a are not obturated. In this case, key parts 2a of the terminal mem bers 2 protrude throug h the slits 31 a. The protruding key parts can then be used to make an external electrical connection. As shown in Figure 4, a unit 6, for example a minor unit of the aforesaid modular apparatus, is provided with a connector5which includes terminals in receptacles for receiving the key parts 2a.When the unit 6 is abutted againstthe cover 3, the cover is turned inwardlysoasto exposethe keyparts2a and allow them to insert into the receptacles ofthe connector 5 to establish an electrical connection. Thus, when the connector body 1 is mounted on the major unit of the modular apparatus, reliable electrical connection between the majorand minor unit can be achieved, with the key parts 2a shielded against damage by the cover 3. If the cover 3 is pressed inwardly of the body 1 by means, such as a user's finger, which obtu rates the slits 31 a, the key parts will resiliently deform inwardly ofthe body, whilst still being protected and covered by the cover 3, so as to prevent damage thereto.

As is apparentfrom the foregoing description the connector according to the invention is provided with a cover capable of protecting the key parts of the terminal members that protrude from the connector body and, moreover, the cover is small in size.

Provision of the cover can prevent the terminal members from being deformed during transportation ofthe connector.

Although in the described embodiment, the pillars 11 and fixing lugs 15areformedontheconnector body 1 to cooperate with shaft 33 and slots 32b on the cover 3, the inventive connector is not limited to this arrangement, and instead the parts 33 and 32b could be formed on the body 1, with the parts 11 and 15 formed on the cover 3.

In the above embodiment, each of key parts 2a protrudes through a respective one of the slits 31 a; however, a plurality of (for example, 2) key parts 2a may protrude collectively th rough an opening 31 a suitably enlarged in width.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising a connector body, an electrical terminal member protruding from the body, and a cover covering the protruding terminal member, the cover having an opening therein and being arranged for movement inwardly of the body such that the terminal protrudes through the opening for making an electrical connection, said terminal member being so arranged that when the cover is moved inwardly by means which obturates said opening,the terminal member moves inwardly of the body with said cover and upon removal of said obturating means, the terminal member moves out wardlyofthe body.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 whereinsaidterminal member includes a portion thereof which is resiliently deformabie in response to said inward movement of the cover by said obturating means.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cover is rotata bly mounted on the body and is urged by spring means outwardly ofthe body to cover said protruding terminal member.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 2 including a lug received in a slot, the lug and slot each being formed on a respective one of said cover and body, the lug and slot being a rra nged to limit rotary movement of the cover outwardly of the body.

5. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim wherein the terminal member comprises an elongate metallic member having portions thereof arranged in a triangular configuration with an apex disposed outwardly ofthe housing, the apex being movable inwardly of the housing in response to said inward movement ofthe cover with said opening obturated.

6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said opening comprises a slit formed in the cover.

7. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein the terminal member is made of a metal wire bent into said triangular configuration and including a tail portion extending from the body on the side thereof opposite the cover.

8. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim including a plurality of said terminal members, and a plurality of said openings for said members.

9. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. An electrical connector comprising: aconnector body of electrically insulating material; resilient metallicterminal members mounted in the connector body and having key parts extending from the body; and a cover member formed with slits, mounted on the connector body for rotation relative thereto, for covering the key parts of the terminal members; wherein said key parts are adapted to be exposed outside the cover memberwhen said member is turned inwardly of the connector body.

11. An electrical connector comprising a connector body, an electrical terminal member protruding from the body, and a cover rotatably mounted on the body and covering the protruding terminal member, the terminal member being resiliently deformable, and the cover being arranged for rotary movement relative to body such that the terminal protrudes through the opening for making an electrical connection.

12. Modular electronic apparatus wherein a first module thereof includes a connector according to any preceding claim and a second module thereof includes means to move said cover to cause said protrusion oftheterminal member through the opening and make electrical connection therewith.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said modular apparatus includes a tape recorder.