EP2571110B1 - Electrical connector with locking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector of the type comprising a first and a second elements, the two elements being fixed to each other by a relative rotational movement of nut-screw or bayonet type.

• le premier élément comprend une lame ressort dont une première extrémité est fixée dans le premier élément et une seconde extrémité est en forme de crochet et libre de déplacement entre une première position dite de repos et une seconde position dite de libération, l'effet ressort de la lame ramenant la seconde extrémité vers la position de repos en l'absence de toute force extérieure ; et
• le second élément comprend une première surface de glissement contigüe à une encoche de sorte que lors du mouvement de fixation des deux éléments, le crochet en extrémité de la lame glisse sur la première surface de glissement, éloignant la seconde extrémité de sa position de repos, jusqu'à venir s'enclencher dans l'encoche par retour vers la position de repos, verrouillant ainsi les deux éléments ensemble.

More particularly, it relates to such a connector in which:

• the first element comprises a spring blade whose first end is fixed in the first element and a second end is hook-shaped and free of displacement between a first so-called rest position and a second so-called release position, the spring effect of the blade bringing the second end towards the rest position in the absence of any external force; and
• the second element comprises a first sliding surface contiguous to a notch so that during the fixing movement of the two elements, the hook at the end of the blade slides on the first sliding surface, moving the second end of its rest position, until it snaps into the notch by returning to the rest position, thus locking the two elements together.

The connector further comprises an unlocking device adapted to push the second end of the blade in the release position so that the hook out of the notch.

Many connectors of the aforementioned type exist commercially and are described in the technical literature. For example, the patent application WO 2009/058035 describes a connector of this type.

To unlock this type of connector, the legislation requires the use of an external tool, such as a screwdriver. Thus, in the example above, the outer portion comprises a light allowing the insertion of a tool for pressing on the locking tab and thus disengage it from the stop.

However, this has the disadvantage that, when the user removes the tool, the locking tab is repositioned in the abutment except that the user, while pushing the tab with the tool, generates a relative movement of unscrewing the two parts so that, once released, the tongue does not reposition in the abutment. This is therefore inconvenient because the unscrewing movement very often requires the use of both hands. The user is therefore obliged to perform two simultaneous actions: push the tab and unscrew the two parts.

It would therefore be advantageous to obtain a more practical electrical connector to unlock, while complying with the legislation that requires the use of a tool for unlocking.

To solve one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, an electrical connector comprises a first and a second element, the two elements being fixed to each other by a relative rotational movement of nut-screw or bayonet type; the first element comprises a spring blade whose first end is fixed in the first element and a second end is hook-shaped and free of displacement between a first so-called rest position and a second so-called release position, the spring effect of the blade bringing the second end towards the rest position in the absence of any external force; and the second element comprises a first sliding surface contiguous to a notch so that during the fixing movement of the two elements, the hook at the end of the blade slides on the first sliding surface, moving the second end of its rest position. until it snaps into the notch by returning to the rest position, thereby locking the two elements together; and the connector further comprises an unlocking device adapted to push the second end of the blade into the release position so that the hook exits the notch; is such that the second member has a second sliding surface formed so that when the movement towards the release position, the second end bears on the second sliding surface, causing a relative rotation of the second element relative to the first element such that, when the second end returns to the rest position, the hook is supported on the first sliding surface.

Thus, the relative rotational movement being caused by the thrust of the unlocking device on the locking blade, the user does not have to make himself, by an independent movement, the relative rotation.

• le dispositif de déverrouillage comprend une lumière dans le second élément permettant de positionner un outil, notamment un tournevis, en appui sur la lame ;
• la seconde surface de glissement permet un déplacement relatif des deux éléments d'environ 1 mm ; et/ou
• la forme de la seconde surface de glissement est telle que la distance entre le point de contact avec la seconde extrémité lorsqu'elle est en position de libération et l'extrémité fixe de la lame est inférieure à la distance entre l'extrémité fixe de la lame et le point de jonction entre la première surface de glissement et l'encoche, quand les deux éléments sont verrouillés.

Particular characteristics or embodiments that can be used alone or in combination are:

• the unlocking device comprises a light in the second element for positioning a tool, in particular a screwdriver, resting on the blade;
• the second sliding surface allows a relative displacement of the two elements of about 1 mm; and or
• the shape of the second sliding surface is such that the distance between the point of contact with the second end when in the release position and the fixed end of the blade is less than the distance between the fixed end of the blade and the junction point between the first sliding surface and the notch, when the two elements are locked.

Thus, advantageously, the device complies with the regulations. In addition, it provides sufficient relative movement to allow the hook to rest on the first surface at a distance sufficient to prevent locking again regardless of manufacturing uncertainties or small movements related to handling.

• la figure 1 est une vue de face d'un connecteur électrique en position verrouillée selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• les figures 2A et 2B sont des vues en perspective selon deux points de vue différents d'une jupe du connecteur électrique de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du capot du connecteur électrique de la figure 1; et
• les figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D et 4E sont des vues de coupe décrivant la cinématique de verrouillage/déverrouillage du connecteur électrique de la figure 1.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a front view of an electrical connector in the locked position according to one embodiment of the invention;
• the Figures 2A and 2B are perspective views from two different points of view of a skirt of the electrical connector of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of the electrical connector cover of the figure 1 ; and
• the Figures 4A, 4B, 4C , 4D and 4E are sectional views describing the kinematics of locking / unlocking the electrical connector of the figure 1 .

With reference to the figure 1 , an electrical connector 1 comprises two protection elements: a skirt 3 and a cover 5.

In the following, we define as the connection end or proximal of the skirt, respectively of the cover, the end serving to connect with the cover, respectively the skirt, and as the distal end the opposite end of the skirt, respectively the hood .

The cover 5 comprises at its distal end an opening 7 for the output of an electric cable and a screw thread 9 for screwing a cap (not shown). The latter, via the flexible tabs 11 surrounding the opening 7, encloses and holds the electric cable in position in order to prevent traction on it from pulling it out of the connector 1.

The cover 5 has near its proximal end a projection 13 in which a light 15 is pierced.

In skirt 3, Figures 2A and 2B an electrical support 21 is positioned. This electrical support is shown in the figure, for example, in the form of a three-pin male electrical outlet. The electrical support 21 comprises 3 clamping elements 23 for fixing the son of the electric cable.

Around the edges of the support, in boundary with the inner edge of the skirt 3, a flat gasket 25 is positioned. In its connection end, the skirt 3 has a cylindrical portion with screw thread 27 forming a male bolting element.

Bordering this cylindrical portion 27, a projection 29 roughly forming an L comprises a spring blade 31, a first end is fixed to the projection 29 and the second end is free. The leaf spring is fixed on the short side of the L and is substantially parallel to the long side of the L. It is therefore perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bolting element and parallel to the edge of the skirt 3.

The cover 5 comprises an outer cylindrical portion 33, figure 3 , forming the female element of the bolting. The thread is adapted to allow assembly / disassembly of the cover and the skirt by a rotation of about 120 °.

The leaf spring 31 comprises FIGS. 4A to 4E at its free end a hook 41 facing outwards.

The projection 13 of the cover 5 comprises a housing consisting of a first surface 43 substantially parallel to the bolting surface. This first surface 43 ends in a notch 45. The bottom of the housing consists of a second surface 47 joining the bottom of the notch to a surface substantially in the extension of the outer cylindrical surface of the cylindrical portion 33.

The operation is as follows.

To close the electrical connector, the user screws together the skirt 3 and the cover 5 by a rotational movement of about 120 °.

When the rotation movement is near the end, Figure 4A , the projection 29 is close to the projection 13. The spring blade 31 then begins to slide on the first surface 43, the hook end 41 bearing on this first surface 43. The first surface 43 is shaped to flex the spring blade 31 and away from its rest position.

At the end of the race, Figure 4B , the two projections 13 and 29 are in contact and the hook 41 is housed in the notch 45 by spring effect of the leaf spring 31 which returns to its rest position. The skirt 3 and the cover 5 are then locked together because a unscrewing movement is prevented by the spring blade 31 with its hook 41 in the housing 45.

To disassemble the electrical connector, figure 4C , the user must then use a tool 51 such as a screwdriver that he inserts into the slot 15 so as to press on the spring blade 31 and thus pull the hook 41 out of the notch 45.

During this movement, the spring blade 31 bears on the second surface 47. This second surface 47 is shaped so that the bearing force of the leaf spring 31 triggers a slight relative rotational movement of the cover 5 relative to the skirt 3.

The movement ends, figure 4D when the spring blade 31 is substantially supported on the outer surface of the hood, in the so-called release position.

The user then releases figure 4E , the support force by removing the tool 51. As a result, the spring blade 31 returns to its rest position. However, the second surface 47 has been shaped so that the slight rotational movement sufficiently shifts the notch 45 relative to the hook 41 so that the latter is resting on the first surface 43. Typically, the hook 41 is positioned at approximately 1 mm from the notch 45 thus avoiding a small parasitic movement does not fall the hook 41 in the notch 45.

The connector is then unlocked and the user can manually terminate the unscrewing rotational movement without being cluttered by holding a tool.

To calculate the shape of the second surface that can be roughly defined as a circular arc joining the bottom of the notch with the point of release, one can make the approximation that the free end of the leaf spring describes an arc a circle between its rest position and its release position whose center is the fixed end of the leaf spring 31.

It can be seen that the shape of the second sliding surface is such that the distance between the point of contact with the second end when it is in the release position and the fixed end of the blade is less than the distance between the fixed end of the blade and the point of junction between the first sliding surface and the notch, when the two elements are locked.

The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description. This must be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Many alternative embodiments are possible.

In particular, the role and shape of each protrusion can be reversed between the skirt and the hood.

In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements and the indefinite article "one" does not exclude a plurality.

Claims (4)

1. An electrical connector comprising a first and a second member, the two members being fixed to each other by a relative rotational movement of nut-screw or bayonet type;

   • the first member (3) comprising a spring blade (31) a first end of which is fixed into the first member and a second end (41) of which is in the shape of a hook and is free to move between a first position, called rest position, and a second position, called release position, the spring effect of the blade bringing the second end (41) back to the rest position in the absence of any external force; and

   • the second member (5) comprising a first sliding surface (43) adjacent to a notch (45) such that during the fixing movement of the two members, the hook being at the end of the blade slides on the first sliding surface (43) moving the second end (41) away from its rest position, until it snaps into the notch (45) by returning back to the rest position, locking therefore the two members together; and

   • the connector further comprising an unlocking device adapted to push the second end of the blade in the release position such that the hook gets out of the notch;
   characterized in that the second member (5) comprises a second sliding surface (47) designed in such a way that during the movement towards the release position, the second end is supported on the second sliding surface (47), causing a relative rotation of the second member (5) with respect to the first member (3) such that, when the second end (41) gets back to the rest position, the hook is supported on the first sliding surface (43).
2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the unlocking device comprises a hole (15) in the second member (5) allowing the positioning of a tool, in particular a screwdriver, supported on the blade.
3. The connector according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second sliding surface (47) allows a relative movement of the two members of about 1 mm.
4. The connector according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shape of the second sliding surface (47) is such that the distance between the contact point with the second end when it is in the release position and the stationary end of the blade is lower than the distance between the stationary end of the blade and the junction point between the first sliding surface (43) and the notch (45), when the two members are locked.

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