Insulation replacement electrical connector

• US 6,332,801 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hirose Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hirose Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Watanbe, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/650,994
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 439/409, 439/407, 439/492, 439/495, 439/493, 439/942
• US Class Current: 439/409
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2433 one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/942 Comblike retainer for conductor

Abstract

A housing (1) supports a plurality of contact elements (21) with contact sections (27) making contact with core wires (C2) of cables. A press member (14) is rotatable between the open and closed positions with the housing (1). The press member (11) is provided with a receiving section (13) which has a guiding section (13A) opposed to the contact section at the open position and a retention section (13C) opposed to the contact section (27) at the closed position.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing made of a electrical material;

at least one contact element supported by said housing arid made of a metal, said contact element having a shaft section and a contact section including teeth;

a press member rotatable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said housing and having a press section for pressing a cable to said contact section at said closed position, said press member having a concave bearing section for receiving said shaft section, wherein

a cable receiving groove Is provided on a surface of said press member which is opposed to said contact section, said cable receiving groove comprising;

a guiding section which faces said contract section when said press member is at said open position;

a retention section which faces said contact section when said press member is at said closed position; and

a transition section provided between said guiding and rotation sections and having a width which gradually decreases from said guiding section to said retention section, wherein said cable is easily inserted into said cable receiving groove through said guiding section and being supported by said transition suction and said retention section while said pressing member is rotated from said open position to said close position, thus firmly press-fitting said cable to said teeth of said contact section of said contact element.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said press section is a bottom face of said retention section,

said retention section of said receiving groove having a width substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a diameter of said cable, and

said guiding section of said receiving groove having a width greater than said width of said retention section.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said cable is a flat cable,

said press section is a bottom face of said retention section,

said retention section has a width substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a width of said flat cable, and

said guiding section has a width greater than said width of said retention section.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said contact element is made of a metal sheet such that said contact section is flat in a plane of said metal sheet, and

said contact section has a side edge capable of making connection with a core wire of said cable by insulation replacement.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said retention section has a bottom surface of a V-shaped cross section.