GB2279507A

GB2279507A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB2279507A
Application number: GB9312837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Shen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-06-16
Filing date: 1993-06-22
Publication date: 1995-01-04
Also published as: GB9312837D0; FR2707807A3; CA2098561A1

Abstract

An electrical connector consists of a connector body 3 having a passageway 31 receiving a terminal 2, which has a spring 21 for locking the terminal 2 into the body 3. An opening 32 in the body 3 allows a tool 5 to be inserted to release spring 21 for removal of the terminal. The terminal receives a pin 41 from a bulb holder 4, and the terminal and the pin can be interlocked with each other by urging the pin 41 against the terminal socket 22 by a leaf spring 23. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Background of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector, for example a connector which is suitable for a plug-in lamp holder.

Referring to Fig. 1, therein illustrated is a prior art structure of a connector with a light bulb socket having a lampshade 11 around a bulb socket 12 and a connector body, which is large-sized, high-cost, and difficult for assembling and replacing the electric bulb.

The present invention aims to mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

Summarv of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising a connector body having at least one passageway for housing a terminal, said terminal having a female socket portion for cooperation with a counterpart male plug, a cable connection portion and a spring portion engageable with said connector body for releasably mounting said terminal in said passageway, the connector body having at least one opening whereby a tool may be inserted through said opening to disengage said spring portion with said connector body for releasing said terminal from said passageway.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical connector including a pipe connection, a terminal, a lighting connection and a socket, said pipe connection having the terminal connected in one end, said terminal having the slanted leaf spring on the top, the locating chute in the front, said locating chute having the inside-bending arc leaf spring on the top, said lighting connection having the penetrating plug in the center, the fastening opening at the top and the bottom, said fastening opening is interlinked with said penetrating plug, said light bulb socket having a receptacle installed in one end.

After plugging in, the slanting leaf springs of the terminal will hook the lighting connection at the fastening openings. The other end of the terminal and the penetrating plug will be locked into each other by the arc leaf spring of the terminal. The present invention provides an electrical connector which is easy to assemble and dismantle, small-sized and cost effective.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art connector used with a light bulb socket; Fig. 2 is an external assembly view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a terminal for use in the present invention; Fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view of a connector body for use in the present invention; Fig. 5 is a cut-away view showing the insertion of the terminal into the connector body; Fig. 6 is a cut-away view of a lamp holder assembly and the connector body, and showing disassembly of the terminal from the body.

In the Figures, like reference numerals indicate like parts.

Fig. 2 shows an assembled connector having a light bulb holder 4 in engagement with a connector body 3.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the connector further has cable 1 and a connector terminal 2. The cable 1 has one end connected with terminal 2. A slanting sprung member 21 protrudes obliquely upwards from the top of the terminal 2. The terminal 2, which is more clearly shown in Fig. 3, forms a socket 22 for a counterpart male plug 41.

An arc leaf spring 23, extends obliquely inwardly of the socket 22 from the top front edge thereof. A passageway 31 in the connector body 3 is adapted to receive the terminal 2. Openings 32 are provided in the top and bottom faces of the connector body 3. The openings 32 intersect the passageway 31.

The connector terminal 2 can be locked into the connector body 3 by interlocking the sprung member 21 into the opening 32 of the connector body 3 within the passageway 31. The light bulb holder 4 and the terminal 2 can be interlocked together by urging pins 41 into the socket, the inside-bending arc leaf spring of the socket gripping the plug 41 and thus the light bulb holder 4.

The height of both sides of the sockets is different so as to adapt to the shape of the terminal and connect with the light bulb holder.

To dismantle the parts of light bulb socket, a pulling force is applied to the light bulb holder 4 and simultaneously the leaf spring 21 of the terminal 2 is pressed by a tool such as a stick 5 inserted through the fastening opening 32 of the connector body 3. The whole process is very easy to perform. Since insertion of the tool is only effective to release spring 21 from one face of the connector body, the openings 32 are made rectangular 32a on the effective side, and circular 32b on the ineffective side, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 also shows mounting means 6 for the connector body 3, which allow the body to be held in the end of a wiring conduit or the like.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrical connector comprising a connector body having at least one passageway for housing a terminal, said terminal having a female socket portion for cooperation with a counterpart male plug, a cable connection portion and a spring portion engageable with said connector body for releasably mounting said terminal in said passageway, the connector body having at least one opening whereby a tool may be inserted through said opening to disengage said spring portion with said connector body for releasing said terminal from said passageway.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said female socket portion of said terminal has four walls defining a generally rectangular socket and a spring member for engaging said male plug whereby said spring member urges said male plug towards one of said walls.

3. An electrical connector as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connector body has mounting means for attachment to an electrical wiring conduit.

4. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim in combination with a bulb holder wherein said bulb holder comprises said counterpart male plug.

5. An electrical connector including a pipe connection, a terminal, a lighting connection and a socket, said pipe connection having the terminal connected in one end, said terminal having the slanted leaf spring on the top, the locating chute in the front, said locating chute having the inside-bending arc leaf spring on the top, said lighting connection having the penetrating plug in the center, the fastening opening at the top and the bottom, said fastening opening is interlinked with said penetrating plug, said light bulb socket having a receptacle installed in one end.

6. An electrical connector constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2-6 of the accompanying drawings.