The invention is directed to a connector assembly, and more particularly, to a connector assembly in which receptacle carriers can be inserted from either side, thereby simplifying the installation of the carriers in the assembly.
Connector assemblies having a lever are known in the industry. Generally, an electrical connector assembly of this type comprises a plug connector that is matable with a pin header, which has a shroud surrounding an array of printed circuit board pins. A rack and pinion and a lever are used to supply a mechanical advantage when the two electrical connectors are mated or unmated. The rack is located on the plug connector, which typically would include terminals attached to wires. The teeth forming the pinion are located on the lever so that the rack and pinion teeth intermesh as the lever is rotated about a pivot pin. Rotation of the lever mates or unmates the two electrical connectors. Connectors of this type are shown in DE 8714016 U, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,322,448, 6,247,966 and 6,736,655.
However, the prior art connectors as configured are difficult to manipulate, particularly if a large number of circuits or terminals are involved. Connectors that receive carriers or compounds which house the terminals allow for insertion of the carriers in only one direction. Therefore, as the number of circuits or terminals terminated increase, the carriers can become very long, making insertion of the carrier and wires into the connector very difficult and also making the connectors and the carriers difficult to mold. Additionally, the prior art connectors have openings in covers which allow the wires to be routed or dressed in only one direction. Particularly in compartment with little space, the manipulation of the wires into the correct orientation can be difficult.
Another problem with prior art is that the connectors are generally manufactured with the lever mounted on the housing. As the housing has many shoulders, surfaces and cavities, the manufacture of the housing is made difficult due to the complexity of the mold required to form the housing. Therefore, including additional lever mounting members on the housing further increases the complexity of the mold and the housing.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a connector assembly which overcomes the disadvantages described, including providing a connector assembly which can easily be manufactured and assembled and which can be used in confined spaces.
An embodiment is directed to a connector assembly which has a housing and a cover. The housing has a connector mating face and a cover mating face. The cover is removably attached to the housing. The cover has a wire receiving cavity with an opening at the end of the cavity. One or more receptacle carrier receiving cavities extend through respective openings on either side of the housing, thereby allowing one or more receptacle carriers to be inserted into the respective receptacle receiving cavities through the respective openings on either side of the housing. The cover can be positioned on the housing in different orientations.
An embodiment is also directed to a connector assembly which has a housing, receptacle carriers and a cover. The housing has receptacle carrier receiving cavities extending through respective openings on either side of the housing. The housing also has a connector mating face and a cover mating face. The receptacle carriers have terminals inserted therein and are positioned in the receptacle carrier receiving cavities. Each terminal is terminated to a respective wire. The cover extends from and is removably attached to the housing. The cover may be mounted to the housing in different orientations, and is prevented from being removed from the housing in a direction which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing.
An embodiment is also directed to a cover for use with a connector assembly. The cover includes a lever mounting member provided thereon. The cover also includes a lever rotatably mounted to the lever mounting member to allow the lever to be rotated between an unmated position and a mated position.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
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In the exemplary embodiment, the receptacle carrier 10, as shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
A bottom wall or connector mating face 52 of the housing 4 has openings or is open to provide a mating face through which the terminals 12 are exposed in order to mate with mating terminals of the mating pin header 14. This aspect of the housing 4 is conventional in nature and will not be described in further detail.
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The cover 6, as best shown in
At least one slot 70 is provided on the end of a center wall 71 of the cover 6. The slot 70 is dimensioned to receive the rail 54 of the center wall 50 of the housing 4 therein and allow the cover 6 to be removably attached to the housing 4. In alternate embodiments, slots may also be provided on side walls 60. The slots can be dimensioned to receive rails 54 of the side walls 44 therein to further attach the cover 6 to the housing 4. The slots 70, which in the embodiment shown for a c-shaped tube like member, allow the cover 6 to be inserted onto the rails 54 of the housing 4 from either direction to allow for the left or right orientation. While slots 70 allow the cover 6 to be slid onto the rails 54, the c-shaped configuration of the slots 70 allows the walls of the slots 70 to surround and engaged the rails 54, thereby preventing the cover 6 from being removed from the housing 4 in a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 4. The cover 6 can be positioned on the housing 4 in different orientations allowing the connector assembly to be assembled and used without the need to twist or distort wires which are terminated in the respective receptacle carriers 10.
A lever mounting member 72 extends from either side wall 60 of the cover 6 in a direction which is generally away from and generally perpendicular to the top wall 62. Posts 74 protrude from the members 72 away from the side walls 60 so that the lever 8 (
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When assembly 2 is mated with the mating connector 14, a portion of the mating connector will engage the resilient arm 96 of the device 94, causing the resilient arm 96 to be moved toward the wall 44 of the housing 4. This allows the latch end of the resilient arm 96 to be removed from the opening 98 to allow the lever 8 to be freely moved to the mated position.
A connector assembly according to the teaching herein has various advantages. The connector assembly is easy to assemble, as the receptacle carriers can be inserted from both sides of the housing. This eliminates the need for lengthy carriers with numerous wires terminated therein which may be difficult to properly dress. Additionally, as the cover can be positioned on the housing in different orientations, the connector assembly can be assembled and used without the need to twist or distort the wires which are terminated in the carrier and which extend from the connector assembly.
The positioning of the lever on the cover rather than on the housing also simplifies the mold cavities needed to make the already complicated housing. As the housing has various surfaces and projections provided therein, the removal of the mounting posts from the housing simplifies the housing, thereby simplifying the mold and providing better material flow in the mold. As the cover does not have the same molding complications, the positioning of the mounting posts on the cover provides for a connector assembly which is more repeatable and easier to manufacture.
Other advantages include, but are not limited to, the terminals are maintained in position with the assistance of the independent secondary locking shoulder or projections provided on the housing and the lever is maintained in the unmated condition by the lever hold down device until the lever is moved to the mated condition.
The representative embodiments of this invention are intended for use in automotive applications in which multiple wire harnesses are attached to a single component or to a single enclosure containing multiple components. A single integrated housing, which does not have carrier receptacles, could also be molded in accordance with the principles of this invention. While the exemplary embodiment discloses a connector assembly for mounting to a header, the connector assembly may be mounted to another type of connector, such as, but not limited to, a wire harness connector. Connectors incorporating this invention could also be used in other applications and are not limited to use in automobiles or motor vehicles.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country |
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8714016 | Nov 1987 | DE |
Entry |
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