Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6537099
-
Patent Number
6,537,099
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, August 22, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 25, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Bradley; P. Austin
- Figueroa; Felix D.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 352
- 439 372
- 439 464
- 439 471
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A tamper proof electrical connector has a plug which inserts into a receptacle housing. A leading portion of the plug resides within the receptacle housing and a unitary trailing portion of the plug projects outward from the housing. A tab projects laterally outward from the receptacle housing and snap locks to a cantilevered member engaged unitarily to the trailing portion of the plug. A barrier wall projects laterally outward from the receptacle housing and substantially surrounds the cantilevered member and tab. A hood has a perimeter wall and a resilient hinge engaged to a base of the cantilevered member. When assembled, the perimeter wall of the hood surrounds the barrier wall of the receptacle housing. Two prongs project downward from a top portion of the hood snap locking to opposing first and second walls of the barrier wall disposed on either side of the tab. The first and second walls are disposed between the perimeter wall and the respective first and second prongs of the hood.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a tamper proof electrical connector and more particularly to an electrical connector having a mating connector body that is locked together by a flexible latch arm.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors simplify the manufacturing wiring process when combining multiple electrical components to form a working system. A connector, once mated can be locked together similar to that shown in Yurtin et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,306, incorporated herein by reference. The connector must be unlocked prior to un-mating of the connector.
Repair or maintenance of any one component within the assembled system may require removal of the component and un-mating of the connectors. For a component to operate reliably, it may require calibration. Likewise, for the system to operate reliably, the system as a whole must be calibrated. When re-inserting a repaired component, the initial calibration of the system may subsequently change without operator knowledge. Therefore, the ability to disconnect and re-connect an electrical connector may unwantedly assist in the ability to alter or degrade calibration of a system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A tamper proof electrical connector has a plug which inserts through a hole defined by a leading surface of a receptacle housing. A leading portion of the plug resides within the receptacle housing and a trailing portion of the plug projects outward through the hole. A tab projects laterally outward from the receptacle housing snap locking to a cantilevered member engaged unitarily to the trailing portion of the plug. A barrier wall projects laterally outward from the receptacle housing and substantially surrounds the cantilevered member. Preferably, a hood has a perimeter wall and a resilient hinge engaged to a base of the cantilevered member. When assembled, the perimeter wall of the hood surrounds the barrier wall of the receptacle housing. Two prongs project downward from a top portion of the hood snap locking to opposing first and second walls of the barrier wall disposed on either side of the tab. The first and second wall are disposed between the perimeter wall and the respective first and second prongs of the hood.
A feature of the present invention is the inability to unplug the electrical connector without visually and physically destroying the locking aspect features of the connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a tamper proof electrical connector of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector;
FIG. 3
is a cross-section view of the electrical connector taken along line
3
—
3
viewing in the direction of the arrows of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a cross-section view of the electrical connector taken along line
4
—
4
viewing in the direction of the arrows of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a cross-section view of the electrical connector taken along line
5
—
5
viewing in the direction of the arrows of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical connector of the present invention; and
FIG. 7
is a perspective lateral cross section view of the second embodiment of the electrical connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIGS. 1-2
, a tamper proof electrical connector
10
is shown having a plug
12
which mates into a receptacle housing
14
. A leading portion
16
of the plug
12
resides within the housing
14
and a trailing portion
18
of the plug projects outward from the receptacle housing
14
through a hole
20
defined by a leading face
22
of the housing.
Projecting laterally outward from the receptacle housing
14
is a U-shaped barrier wall
24
which defines an alcove
25
. A tab
26
disposed within the alcove
25
also projects laterally outward from the receptacle housing
14
. The barrier wall
24
includes an intermediate wall
32
extending between trailing ends of first and second side walls
34
,
36
. Tab
26
of the receptacle housing
14
is orientated longitudinally and located between the leading face
22
of the housing
14
and the intermediate wall
32
of the barrier wall
24
. Tab
26
is spaced laterally between the first side wall
34
and the second side wall
36
of the barrier wall
24
.
A cantilevered member
28
engaged unitarily to the trailing portion
18
of the plug
12
extends longitudinally forward and over the leading portion
16
. During mating, cantilever member
28
snap-locks about the tab
26
of the receptacle housing
14
of the electrical connector
10
. A hood
30
is provided to prevent connector tampering, that is, prying the cantilevered member
28
off of the tab
26
and unplugging the electrical plug
12
. Hood
30
is preferably hinged to the trailing portion
18
of the plug
12
by a flexible unitary member
31
enabling the hood
30
to close, that is, pivot over and snap-lock about the barrier wall
24
, and an arm
40
of the cantilevered member
28
as best shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
.
Referring to
FIGS. 2-4
, the cantilevered member
28
has a base
38
which projects laterally outward from the trailing portion
18
of the plug
12
. The arm
40
is engaged unitarily to the distal end of the base
38
and projects longitudinally over the leading portion
16
of the plug
12
beneath the hood
30
when closed. The arm
40
is separated laterally from the leading portion
16
so that during mating a wall of the receptacle housing
14
slides into the space between the leading portion
16
of the plug
12
and the arm
40
of the cantilevered member
28
. When mated, tab
26
projects laterally outward through a slot
42
which projects longitudinally along the arm
40
. Defining the leading end of slot
42
is a trailing contact edge
44
at a distal end
46
of the arm
40
which is also disposed beneath the closed hood
30
.
When mated, a trailing contact surface
48
of the tab
26
engages the trailing contact edge
44
of the cantilevered member
28
along an imaginary plane which traverses the electrical connector
10
. During mating, an opposite leading ramped surface
50
of the tab
26
contacts a rounded leading edge
52
of the distal end portion
46
causing the cantilevered member
28
to flex upward or laterally outward until the tab
26
passes the distal end portion
46
and snaps into the slot
42
. With tab
26
disposed in slot
42
, the first and second walls
34
,
36
of barrier wall
24
are positioned to prevent tampering or lifting of arm
40
from either side, thereby preventing unlocking of the electrical connector
10
either-side.
Preferably, the barrier wall
24
has a divot
54
centered along the intermediate wall
32
and defined by the laterally outward edge. When hood
30
is open as shown in
FIG. 2
, the divot
54
permits insertion of a tool, such as a screwdriver, into the alcove
25
to engage the underside of the distal end portion
46
of the cantilevered member
28
and pry the cantilever member
28
laterally outward releasing it from the tab
26
and unlocking the electrical connector
10
. This capability, however, is eliminated when the hood
30
is pivoted over and snap-locked onto the receptacle housing
14
thereby surrounding the exterior sides of barrier wall
24
.
Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a trailing end or side of the hood
30
is engaged unitarily to the integral resilient hinge or member
31
which is engaged unitarily to the distal end of the base
38
of the cantilevered member
28
. When plug
12
and housing
14
are plugged together and locked, and hood
30
is closed, first and second prongs
56
,
58
project downward or laterally inward from an inner surface of a top portion
62
of the hood
30
to snap-lock onto the respective first and second side walls
34
,
36
of the barrier wall
24
. The first and second prongs
56
,
58
are substantially planar and longitudinally aligned to the connector
10
. Preferably, the first and second prongs
56
,
58
and the first and second walls
34
,
36
each have ramped surfaces extending longitudinally along their distal edges effectively forming an enlarged distal head with inward facing shelves. When hood
30
is closed the respective ramped surfaces engage, flexing the respective wall and prong until the surfaces pass one-another causing the inward shelves to make contact with one-another.
Engaged along the perimeter of the top portion
62
of hood
30
and disposed perpendicular thereto is a perimeter wall
60
. The top portion
62
is disposed laterally above the barrier wall
24
. The perimeter wall
60
encompasses the barrier wall
24
wherein the first side wall
34
is disposed between a side portion or wall
61
of the perimeter wall
60
and the first prong
56
. Likewise, the second side wall
36
is disposed between the second prong
58
and the opposite side wall
63
of the perimeter wall
60
. The first prong
56
snap-locks to the first side wall
34
and the second prong
58
snap-locks to the second side wall
36
. The location of the side walls
34
,
36
between the perimeter wall
60
and the prongs
56
,
58
when hood
30
is closed, eliminates any possibility of flexing side walls
34
,
36
or prongs
56
,
58
to unlock the hood
30
from the barrier wall
24
. This assures that access to the cantilevered member
28
which is locked to the tab
26
cannot be achieved without excessive tampering and visual damage to the electrical connector
10
in general and to the hood
30
in particular.
Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 5
, projecting downward or laterally inward from the inner surface of the top portion
62
is a filler member
64
. In assembly, the filler member
64
projects through the slot
42
of the cantilevered member
28
from above so that the member
64
is orientated rearward or behind the tab
26
. This enhances rigidity of the electrical connector
10
and the locking connection of the hood
30
to the cantilevered member
28
, and prevents disengagement or tampering of the cantilevered member
28
from the rear, between the arms
40
of the member
28
.
To enhance the longitudinal rigidity of the electrical connector
10
, the first and second side walls
34
,
36
have respective leading end surfaces
66
,
68
which engage a leading shelf
70
defined by the inner surface of the hood
30
. The shelf
70
is substantially planar to, or flush with, the leading end surface of the filler member
64
. Similarly, the leading end surfaces
66
,
68
of the first and second side walls
34
,
36
lie substantially along the same imaginary plane as the leading shelf
70
wherein the plane traverses the electrical connector
10
.
Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, a second embodiment of the electrical connector
10
′ is shown. Unlike the first embodiment, the housing
14
′ does not have a barrier wall engaged directly and unitarily. Instead, a barrier wall
24
′ is directly engaged to a strap
72
which circumferentially surrounds the receptacle housing
14
′. The divot
54
′ of the barrier wall
24
′ extends downward or communicates inwardly toward the receptacle housing
14
′ so that the tab
26
′, not shown, can move therethrough during assembly. The barrier wall and strap of the connector
10
′ are useful when design modifications to pre-existing connector houses are not an option.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed various changes and modifications may be made thereto by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Furthermore it is understood that the terms used herein are merely descriptive rather than limiting and various changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
- 1. An electrical connector comprising:a receptacle housing having a leading face defining a hole; a plug having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion disposed within the receptacle housing, the trailing portion being engaged to the leading portion and projecting longitudinally outward from the hole of the receptacle housing; a tab projecting laterally outward directly from the receptacle housing; a barrier wall projecting laterally outward from the receptacle housing and defining an alcove opened rearward, the tab being disposed within the alcove; a cantilevered member engaged to the trailing portion and extended longitudinally over the leading portion, the cantilevered member disposed within the alcove of the barrier wall and snap locked to the tab of the receptacle housing; and a hold disposed over the tab and the cantilever member and engage operatively to the barrier wall in a closed position, wherein the hood is engage unitarily to the plug via a resilient hinge.
- 2. The electrical connector set forth in claim 1 wherein the barrier wall has a first side wall projecting upward from the receptacle housing, a second side wall projecting upward from the receptacle housing, and an intermediate wall projecting upward from the receptacle housing and engaged between the first and second side walls.
- 3. The electrical connector set forth in claim 2 wherein the hood has a top portion and a perimeter wall projecting from the top portion toward the receptacle housing, the barrier wall disposed inward from the perimeter wall.
- 4. The electrical connector set forth in claim 3 wherein the hood has a prong engaged to the top portion and projected into the alcove, the prong snap locked to the barrier wall.
- 5. The electrical connector set forth in claim 4 wherein the cantilevered member has a base, an arm, a distal end portion, and a slot, the base engaged to and extended laterally outward from the trailing portion of the plug, the arm extended between the base and the distal end portion, the slot extended longitudinally along the arm, the arm being spaced from and extended over the leading portion of the plug, the tab projecting into the slot, and the distal end portion disposed longitudinally between the intermediate wall of the barrier wall and the tab within the alcove.
- 6. The electrical connector set forth in claim 5 wherein the resilient hinge is engaged to the base.
- 7. The electrical connector set forth in claim 6 wherein the hinge has a hinge axis extended laterally to the plug, the hinge axis being perpendicular to the slot of the cantilevered member, and wherein the first and second side walls of the barrier wall extend longitudinally to the receptacle housing.
- 8. The electrical connector set forth in claim 7 wherein the hinge is unitary to the hood and the plug.
- 9. The electrical connector set forth in claim 8 further comprising:the tab having a trailing contact surface and an opposite leading ramped surface; and the distal end portion of the cantilevered member having a leading edge and an opposite trailing contact edge engaged to the contact surface of the tab, the leading ramped surface being formed to slideably engage the leading edge of the distal end portion for flexing the cantilevered member outward when mating the receptacle housing to the plug.
- 10. An electrical connector comprising:a receptacle housing having a leading face defining a hole; a plug having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion disposed within the receptacle housing, the trailing portion being engaged to the leading portion and projecting longitudinally outward from the hole of the receptacle housing; a tab projecting laterally outward from the receptacle housing; a barrier wall projecting laterally outward from the receptacle housing, the barrier wall having a first side wall, a second side wall and an intermediate wall engaged between the first and second side walls, the first and second wall extended longitudinally with respect to the receptacle housing, wherein the barrier wall defines an alcove opened rearward and the tab is disposed within the alcove; a cantilevered member having a base, a distal end portion, an arm and a slot, the base engaged to and extended laterally outward from the trailing portion of the plug, the arm extended between the base and the distal end portion and longitudinally over the leading portion of the plug, and the slot extended longitudinally along the arm, wherein the distal end portion and the arm are disposed within the alcove of the barrier wall, the distal end portion is disposed longitudinally forward of the tab and the tab is snap locked into the slot when the electrical connector is mated; a hood having a resilient hinge, a prong, a top portion and a perimeter wall, the resilient hinge being unitary to the hood and the plug and engaged operatively to the base of the cantilevered member, the top portion disposed over the tab and the cantilevered member, the prong projecting downward from the top portion and into the alcove of the barrier wall, the perimeter wall projecting from the top portion toward the receptacle housing, wherein the barrier wall is disposed inward from the perimeter wall and the prong is snap locked to the barrier wall; the resilient hinge having a hinge axis extended laterally to the plug, the hinge axis being perpendicular to the longitude of the slot of the cantilevered member; the tab having a trailing contact surface and an opposite leading ramped surface; the distal end portion of the cantilevered member having a leading edge and an opposite trailing contact edge engaged to the contact surface of the tab, the leading ramped surface being formed to slideably engage the leading edge of the distal end portion for flexing the cantilevered member outward when mating the receptacle housing to the plug; and wherein the prong is a first prong engaged to the first side wall and wherein the hood has a second prong engaged to the second sidewall, the second side wall being disposed between the second prong and the perimeter wall of the hood.
- 11. The electrical connector set forth in claim 10 wherein the hood has a filler member projecting from the top portion of the hood and into the slot longitudinally between the base of the cantilevered member of the plug and the tab of the receptacle housing.
- 12. An electrical connector comprising:a receptacle housing; a plug having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion disposed within the receptacle housing, the trailing portion being engaged to the leading portion and projecting longitudinally outward from the receptacle housing; a tab engaged unitarily to and projecting laterally outward from the receptacle housing, the tab having a contact surface; a barrier wall disposed laterally outward from the receptacle housing, the barrier wall having a first wall and a second wall extending longitudinally with respect to the plug, and wherein the tab is spaced between the first and second walls; a cantilevered member engaged to the trailing portion and extended longitudinally over the leading portion, the member snap locked over the tab of the receptacle housing; and a hood having a top portion and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall projecting toward the leading portion of the plug from the top portion, the perimeter wall surrounding the barrier wall, wherein the barrier wall is unitarily engaged to a strap disposed circumferentially about the receptacle housing.
US Referenced Citations (13)