Electrical connector

• US 4,084,875 A
• Filed: 01/10/1975
• Issued: 04/18/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Telephone & Telegraph Corp. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Stephen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US05/540,252
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 339/94, 339/74, 339/111, 339/113, 339/147, 339/195, 339/196, 339/217, 340/248 R, 340/252 P
• US Class Current: 439/274
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/52 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/623 Casing or ring with helicoidal groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26

Abstract

An electrical connector having means providing a signal when the connector members are fully interengaged. The signal means includes a pair of contacts in the two connector members which are axially spaced apart a distance greater than that of the power contacts in the two members so that the power contacts will become electrically coupled prior to the signal contacts when the connector members are mated. The signal contacts are preferably fixedly mounted in the connector insulators and conductors are releasably coupled to the rear portions of such contacts.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

an insulator having a bore therein;

a contact fixedly mounted in said bore, said contact having a forward contacting portion of a rear contacting portion;

a mating contact element is said bore behind said contact being in releasable electrical engagement with said rear contacting portion of said contact, said mating contact element incorporating means adapted for connection to a conductor passing outwardly through the rear of said bore;

said rear contacting portion of said contact being formed as a socket contact;

said mating contact element comprising a pin contact slidable into said socket contact;

a sleeve fixed to and surrounding said pin contact providing an annular space therebetween receiving said socket contact;

said sleeve having a rearwardly facing shoulder thereon; and

means releasably retaining said mating contact element in said bore, said retaining means comprising a radially inwardly forwardly extending resilient finger means in said bore engaging said shoulder.

2. An electrical connector as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the rear portion of said sleeve is hollow providing a crimp barrel for connection to said conductor.

3. An electrical connector comprising:

interengageable receptacle and plug members, each member comprising a shell containing an insulation body;

a plurality of pairs of axially aligned first contacts mounted in said bodies respectively, the axially aligned contacts of each pair being in an electrically coupled condition when said receptacle and plug members are interengaged;

sealing means between said receptacle and plug members being in sealing condition when said receptacle and plug members are interengaged;

coupling means on one of said shells engageable with the other shell for establishing an interengaged condition between said receptacle and plug members; and

electrical means providing an audio or visual signal when at least one of said conditions is established, said signal means comprising a pair of axially aligned second contacts in said bodies, respectively, the axial spacing between the forward electrically conductive ends of said second contacts being greater than the axial spacing between the respective contacts of each said first-mentioned pairs of contacts before said receptacle and plug members are interengaged by said coupling means, said second contacts being fixedly mounted in their respective insulation bodies;

the rear ends of said second contacts being formed as contact elements;

mating contact elements releasably engaged with said contact element-formed rear ends of said second contacts, said mating contact elements being adapted to terminate electrical conductors passing outwardly through said insulation bodies; and

means releasably retaining said mating contact elements in said bodies, the rear end of each said second contact being formed as a socket contact; and

each said mating contact element comprising a pin contact slidable into said socket contact, a sleeve being fixed to and surrounding each said pin contact providing an annular space therebetween slidably receiving said socket contact;

said sleeve having a rearwardly facing shoulder thereon; and

said retaining means comprising a radially inwardly forwardly extending resilient finger means in said body engaging said shoulder.

4. An electrical connector comprising:

interengageable receptacle and plug members each having an insulation body;

means for coupling said members together;

a plurality of pairs of axially aligned contacts mounted in said bodies respectively;

a pair of axially aligned second contacts mounted in said bodies respectively;

said contacts being axially positioned in their respective bodies so that when said plug and receptacle members are interengaged by said coupling means said first contacts will become electrically coupled together prior to said second contacts;

said second contacts being fixedly mounted in their respective insulation bodies;

the rear ends of said second contacts being formed as contact elements;

mating contact elements releasably engaged with said contact element-formed rear ends of said second contacts, said mating contact elements being adapted to terminate electrical conductors passing outwardly through said insulation bodies; and

means releasably retaining said mating contact elements in said bodies, the rear end of each said second contact being formed as a socket contact; and

each said mating contact element comprising a pin contact slidable into said socket contact, a sleeve being fixed to and surrounding each said pin contact providing an annular space therebetween slidably receiving said socket contact; and

sleeve having a rearwardly facing shoulder thereon; and

said retaining means comprising a radially inwardly forwardly extending resilient finger means in said body engaging said shoulder.