Electrical connector housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9917400-B2
Application number	US-201414322721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2013
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a front housing of an electrical connector, particularly for sealed applications, said front housing being designed to be connected to a base and being configured to be at least partially received in a main housing of said electrical connector, said front housing comprising: at least one locking means configured to engage a corresponding locking zone of said main housing so as to lock said front housing to said main housing, and said front housing further comprising a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor to connect to said base. The invention further relates to a main electrical connector housing, to an electrical connector, to a base and to an electrical connector assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A front housing of an electrical connector, said front housing being designed to be connected to a base and being configured to be at least partially received in a main housing of said electrical connector, said front housing comprising:
at least one locking member configured to engage a corresponding locking zone of the main housing so as to lock said front housing to the main housing;
said front housing further comprising a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor to be connected to said base, and said contact sockets of said plurality of contact sockets are arranged in rows of contact sockets, the rows of contact sockets comprising at least a first row extending adjacent a peripheral outer edge of the front housing and a second row extending parallel to and inward of the first row; and
said at least one locking member is arranged between the first and second rows of contact sockets of said plurality of contact sockets and in at least one trough separating said rows of contact sockets.

2. The front housing of an electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said locking member project relative to a zone of said front housing comprising said plurality of contact sockets.

3. The front housing of an electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein at least one locking member is a hook comprising a head provided with a locking catch, and further comprising a stem extending from said head.

4. The front housing of an electrical connector according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one locking member is arranged in at least one trough separating rows of contact sockets and wherein said stems extend inside of said at least one trough.

5. The front housing of an electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein at least one locking member is a harpoon comprising a head provided with two locking catches, and further comprising two stems extending from said head substantially in an inverted U-shape.

6. An electrical connector, comprising:
a main housing and a front housing;
the main housing being configured to at least partially receive the front housing and comprising at least one locking zone;
the front housing having at least one locking member configured to engage the corresponding locking zone of the main housing so as to lock said front housing to the main housing;
the front housing and main housing cooperatively defining a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor coupled to the electrical connector and positioned within the front housing and the main housing, and the front housing being profiled to be connected to a base;
a plurality of conductor guide sockets each corresponding to a respective contact socket of said front housing, said at least one locking zone is arranged between guide sockets of said plurality of guide sockets, the sockets of said plurality of guide sockets are arranged in rows of guide sockets corresponding to the rows of contact sockets of the front housing, said contact sockets of said plurality of contact sockets are arranged in rows of contact sockets, said at least one locking member is arranged between rows of contact sockets, and said at least one locking zone is arranged between rows of guide sockets; and
the at least one locking member is arranged between rows of contact sockets of said plurality of contact sockets and substantially forms a trough partially separating rows of guide sockets.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6 , wherein said at least one locking zone comprises at least one stop for effecting a lock with a corresponding locking catch of the at least one locking member of a front housing, where the at least one locking member is a harpoon comprising a head provided with two locking catches, and further comprising two stems extending from said head substantially in an inverted U-shape.

8. An electrical connector assembly, designed to connect a plurality of electrical conductors to a base, said electrical connector comprising:
a front housing and a main housing;
the front housing having at least one locking member configured to engage a corresponding locking zone of the main housing so as to lock said front housing to the main housing, said front housing further comprising a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor to be connected to said base, and said at least one locking member is arranged between contact sockets of said plurality of contact sockets, wherein said at least one locking member is arranged in the front housing in at least one trough separating rows of contact sockets;
the main housing having at least one locking zone configured to receive a corresponding locking member of the front housing, and being configured to partially receive a rear housing from a first side and said front housing from a second side, opposite the first side; and
a base designed to be connected to the electrical connector comprising a plurality of electric contacts, arranged in rows of electric contacts, and
at least one protection wall arranged between rows of electric contacts, and configured to be received in the at least one trough of said front housing.

9. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a cover, configured to guide a plurality of electrical conductors in said electrical connector and to lock said electrical connector to a base, and/or
a rear housing, configured to guide said plurality of electrical conductors from said cover toward said main housing, and/or
at least one rear seal arranged on a periphery of said main housing.

10. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one protection wall is discontinuous over its length, particularly over a length of said rows of electric contacts, such that at least one slot is adapted to partially receive the corresponding locking member of said front housing of said electrical connector.

11. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
an electrical connector comprising a front housing and a main housing;
the front housing having at least one locking member configured to engage a corresponding locking zone of the main housing so as to lock said front housing to the main housing, said front housing further comprising a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor to be connected to said base, and said at least one locking member is arranged in at least one trough separating rows of contact sockets of said plurality of contact sockets; and
the main housing having at least one locking zone configured to receive a corresponding locking member of the front housing, and being configured to partially receive a rear housing from a first side and said front housing from a second side, opposite the first side;
a base comprising a plurality of electric contacts, particularly arranged in rows of electric contacts, and at least one protection wall arranged between said electric contacts, particularly arranged between rows of electric contacts, configured to be received in a corresponding trough of said front housing, and, wherein said at least one protection wall is discontinuous over its length, particularly over a length of said rows of electric contacts, such that at least one slot is adapted to partially receive a corresponding locking member of said front housing of said electrical connector; and
a plurality of electrical conductors designed to be connected to the electric contacts of the base.

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics France Sas

Inventors

• Chatelus Eric

Classifications

• H01R13/52

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases · CPC title

• H01R13/514 Primary

  composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them · CPC title

• H01R13/6272 Primary

  comprising a single latching arm · CPC title

• H01R13/5202

  Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings · CPC title

• H01R13/506 Primary

  assembled by snap action of the parts · CPC title