Electrical connector having opposed locking ramp members

• US 4,449,776 A
• Filed: 09/13/1982
• Issued: 05/22/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacific Electricord Co. (Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Electricord Co. (Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carmo, Robert A., Dietz, Ernest W.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kline, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US06/416,931
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 339/196 R, 339/196 M, 339/206 R, 339/206 P, 339/184 R, 339/184 M, 339/186 R, 339/186 M, 339/102 R, 339/103 C, 339/107, 339/91 R
• US Class Current: 439/350
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/58 Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable for flat or ribbon cables H01R12/771
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms

Abstract

An electrical connector comprising a hollow first connector body housing electrical connector blades and adapted to receive a hollow second connector body housing electrical contacts for receiving the connector blades. Blade insertion and withdrawal forces are minimized by using generous tolerances and assuring integrity of the connection through utilization of opposed locking ramp members to resist connector and power cord separation forces. Exterior lock members on the second connector body engage a pair of first ramp members on the first connector body. A power cord strain relief fitting is held within an insert assembly which is insertable into an open end of the second connector body. Second ramp members on the insert assembly engage openings in the second connector body whereby axial forces on the strain relief fitting are transferred from the insert assembly to the second connector body, and then to the first connector body by means of the first ramp members.

Claims

1. An electrical connector having opposed locking ramp members to resist connector and power cord separation forces, said electrical connector comprising:

a hollow first connector body including interiorly located, axially extending electrical connector blades, and exteriorly located first ramp means;

a hollow second connector body adapted to fit within said first connector body in an insert position, said second connector body having an open end, ramp engaging means, and exteriorly located pivotable lock means adapted to ride up upon and latch behind said first ramp means in said insert position to lock said second connector body within said first connector body;

a strain relief fitting for mounting upon a power cord having axially extending electrical contacts for receiving said connector blades, said strain relief fitting including a collar; and

an insert assembly insertable into said open end of said second connector body and adapted to mount said electrical contacts, said insert assembly including a collar recess for receiving said collar and for constraining said strain relief fitting against axial movement relative to said insert assembly, said insert assembly further including exteriorly located second ramp means adapted to engage said ramp engaging means whereby axial forces on said strain relief fitting are transferred from said insert assembly to said second connector body by means of said second ramp means, and to said first connector body by means of said first ramp means.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said insert assembly comprises half sections movable from an open position for receiving said collar to a closed position encompassing said collar for capturing said collar in said collar recess prior to insertion of said insert assembly into said second connector body.

3. An electrical connector having opposed locking ramp members to resist connector and power cord separation forces, said electrical connector comprising:

a hollow first connector body including interiorly located, axially extending electrical connector blades, an interiorly located pair of elongated, axially extending and oppositely disposed slots, and an exteriorly located pair of inclined, oppositely disposed first ramp members;

a hollow second connector body adapted to fit within said first connector body in an insert position, said second connector body having an open end and a pair of oppositely disposed ramp openings extending from within said second connector body, said second connector body further having an exteriorly located pair of elongated, axially extending and oppositely disposed guides for seating within said slots of said first connector body in said insert position, said second connector body further having an exteriorly located pair of oppositely disposed, pivotable lock members adapted to ride up upon and latch behind said first ramp members in said insert position to lock said second connector body within said first connector body;

a strain relief fitting for mounting upon a power cord having axially extending electrical contacts for receiving said connector blades, said strain relief fitting including a collar; and

an insert assembly insertable into said open end of said second connector body and adapted to mount said electrical contacts, said insert assembly including a collar recess for receiving said collar and for constraining said strain relief fitting against axial movement relative to said insert assembly, said insert assembly further including an exteriorly located pair of inclined, second ramp members adapted to project into said pair of ramp openings in said second connector body, said second ramp members being inclined oppositely of said first ramp members whereby axial forces on said strain relief fitting are transferred from said insert assembly to said second connector body by means of said second ramp members, and to said first connector body by means of said first ramp members.