Power cable connector with retention spring

• US 4,335,931 A
• Filed: 07/30/1980
• Issued: 06/22/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Woodhead Industries Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: BRAD Harrison Company
• Inventors: Kinnear, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Application Number:
  US06/173,603
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 339/217 S, 339/49 R
• US Class Current: 439/295
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/28 Contacts for sliding cooperation with identically-shaped contact, e.g. for hermaphroditic coupling devices H01R24/84 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/426 Securing by a separate resilient retaining piece supported by base or case, e.g. collar or metal contact-retention clip

Abstract

A power cable connector for battery cables or the like includes a terminal cantilever-mounted in a cavity in an insulating housing. A retention spring includes a biasing portion with latching structure for retaining the terminal in the cavity. A release tongue on the spring permits the biasing portion to be flexed for withdrawal of the terminal. The release tongue includes a transversely extending barrier portion blocking the gap between the spring and the terminal so that the terminal can be pushed from the cavity without wedging.

Claims

1. In a power cable connector for battery cables and the like;

a housing formed of electrically insulating material;

at least one terminal receiving cavity extending through said housing in a longitudinal direction between forward and rear ends of the housing;

a terminal longitudinally insertable into said cavity from the rear end of said housing and including a contact portion adjacent the forward end of the terminal and a cable attachment structure adjacent the rear end of the terminal;

a cantilever spring including a base portion mounted in said housing and including a resiliently flexible biasing portion extending in the longitudinal direction toward the contact portion of said terminal and disposed between a wall of said cavity and said terminal;

a latching structure defined on said biasing portion engageable with said terminal to prevent withdrawal of said terminal from said cavity;

a release tongue defined on said biasing portion permitting said biasing portion to be flexed in a transverse direction away from said terminal and toward said cavity wall to disengage said latching structure;

and the improvement comprising;

a barrier portion defined on said release tongue for covering the gap formed between said terminal and said biasing portion upon disengagement of said latch structure;

said barrier portion comprising a segment of said release tongue extending in a transverse direction away from said cavity wall and overlying a transverse wall of said terminal.

2. A power cable connector as claimed in claim 1, said transverse wall comprising the forward end of the terminal contact portion.

3. A power cable connector as claimed in claim 1, said transverse wall being defined in a recess formed in the forward end of the terminal contact portion.

4. A power cable connector as claimed in claim 1, said barrier portion comprising a transversely bent end portion of said release tongue.

5. A power cable connector as claimed in claim 1, said barrier portion overlapping said terminal transverse wall by a distance at least as great as the distance between said cavity wall and said biasing portion in the terminal latched condition.

6. A retention spring for use with an electrical connector of the type having a terminal cantilever-mounted in a connector housing upon insertion of the terminal in a longitudinal direction into a cavity in the housing, said retention spring comprising:

a generally planar body of flexible and resilient material including a base portion adapted to be secured in said cavity;

a biasing portion extending in the longitudinal direction adjacent the terminal and including latch structure normally self-biased into latching engagement with the terminal;

a release tongue extending from the region of said latching structure in the longitudinal direction and permitting release of the terminal in response to flexing of said biasing portion in a first transverse direction away from said terminal;

and the improvement in accordance with which said release tongue includes a barrier portion extending from the longitudinal plane of said biasing portion in the opposed transverse direction and overlapping a transverse wall of the terminal.

7. A retention spring as claimed in claim 6 wherein the extent of overlap of said barrier portion and terminal wall exceeds the distance through which said biasing portion is flexed for release of the terminal.

8. A retention spring as claimed in claim 6 wherein said barrier portion is defined by a bend formed in the end of said biasing portion.

9. A retention spring as claimed in claim 8 wherein the end of said barrier wall includes a notch.

10. A retention spring as claimed in claim 8 wherein the end of said barrier portion lies generally in a straight line.