Electrical installation for connecting male terminals to female terminals

Abstract

The installation comprises a connector with a body and input openings connected to a housing used for receiving the male terminals. The installation also comprises output openings through which the female terminal wiring is passed, separation walls, side tabs and a first cover hinged to the connector and characterised in that it incorporates a second hinged cover on the aforementioned connector that is facing the first cover, which blocks the side tabs when closed and defines a base, and female terminals made of an electrical conductive material and housed in the connector housing. The female terminals expand when the male terminals are inserted inside them and the area of the housing is greater than the area occupied by the female terminals prior to expanding.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for connecting male terminals to female terminals that comprises: a connector (20) defining a body (1) and input openings (2) which communicate with a housing (12) for input male terminals (3); output openings (4) through which female terminal (5) wiring is passed; separation walls (7); a first cover (6) hinged to the connector (20); a second cover (9) comprising a base (10) and hinged to the said connector (20) and facing the first cover (6); female terminals (5) made of an electrical conductive material and housed in the housing (12) of the connector (20), which expand when the male terminals (3) are inserted inside them, and wherein a space in the housing (12) is larger than a space occupied by the female terminals (5) prior to expanding; and side tabs (8) extending outward from opposite sides of the connector (20) body (1) such that the first cover (6) and the second cover (9) lock together between the side tabs (8) to block in the female terminals (5) when the first cover (6) and second cover (9) are closed.

2. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the separator walls (7) incorporate a dual locking mechanism (11) on one of their ends, which locks the first cover (6) and the second cover (9), closing the connector.

3. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the female terminals (5) are blocked inside the housing (12) once the male terminals (3) are inserted and the female terminals (5) expand.

4. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a descending ramp (14) located inside the housing (12) which ends on the second cover (9).

5. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising locking stoppers (16) on the first cover (6).

6. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the size of the first cover (6) is different than that of the second cover (9).

7. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the size of the first cover (6) is larger than that of the second cover (9).

8. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the female terminals (5) form a convex shape, reducing an inner space (13) wherein the male terminals (3) are housed.

9. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein the female terminals (5) are fitted inside the housing (12) once the male terminals (3) are inserted and the female terminals expand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To facilitate the explanation of this specification, six drawings are enclosed representing a practical embodiment, which are provided as a non limiting example of the scope of this invention:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of the connector with its covers closed,

(3) FIG. 2 is a view of the connector with its covers open,

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of line III-III of FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of line IV-IV of FIG. 2 and

(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b are a view of the operation of the female terminal after having eliminated elements and shortened others (such as the female terminal).

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a connector 20, a body 1, a first cover 6, a second cover 9, some input openings 4, a dual locking mechanism 11, and side tabs 8.

(8) FIG. 2 shows connector 20, the first cover 6, the second cover 9, the dual locking mechanism 11, female terminals 5, locking stoppers 16, separation walls 7 and an inner base 10.

(9) FIG. 3 shows connector 20, the body 1, the first cover 6, the second cover 9, the locking stoppers 16, the female terminal 5, input openings 2, a housing 12, an inner space 13 and a descending ramp 14.

(10) FIG. 4 depicts the female terminal 5, the side tabs 8, the separator walls 7 and some positioning stoppers 15.

(11) FIG. 5a shows the first cover 6, the second cover 9, the female terminal 5 with its inner space 13, the locking stoppers 16, the housing 12, the input openings 2 and some male terminals 3.

(12) Lastly, FIG. 5b shows the first cover 6, the second cover 9, the female terminal 5, the housing 12, the locking stoppers 16, the input openings 2 and the male terminals 3.

(13) Therefore, in a specific embodiment, the electrical installation for connecting male terminals to female terminals, a connector 20 as well as some male terminals 3 and female terminals 5.

(14) Connector 20 defines a body 1. This body 1 incorporates input openings 2 connected to a housing 12. These input openings 2 allow male terminals 3 to enter.

(15) It also comprises some input openings 4 through which the female terminal 5 wiring is passed.

(16) Inside the body there are separation walls 7 used for separating the female terminal 5 wires, side tabs 8 for positioning the connector 20 and a first cover 6 hinged to the connector 20.

(17) The body also comprises a second cover 9 that is hinged to the said connector 20 and faces the first cover 6 when both covers 6, 9 are closed. When the second cover 9 is closed, it locks the side tabs 8, preventing them from moving. Also, this second cover 9 incorporates a base 10 that delimits the female terminal 5.

(18) Once the covers 6,9 are closed, the connector is inserted in the element onto which a rear-view mirror fits, for example.

(19) The said female terminals 5 are made of electrical conductive material in order to conduct the electricity to the male terminal 3 when it is inserted in the female terminals 5 or vice versa.

(20) The female terminals 5 are housed in the housing 12 of connector 20.

(21) The female terminals 5 expand when they receive the male terminals 3. When inserted, the male terminals 3 push the female terminals 5 outward and expand them (FIGS. 5a and 5b).

(22) For this reason, the space in the housing 12 is larger than the space occupied by the female terminals 5 prior to expanding, since the male terminal 3 pushes the walls of the second connector 5 outward when it is being inserted in the inner space 13, occupying space inside the housing 12 and thus reducing its space.

(23) For example, as an option, the female terminals 5 form a convex shape; in other words, they have a curvature towards the inner space 13, such that when the male terminals 3 are inserted in the inner spaces 13, they push these convexities outward, occupying space inside the housing 12.

(24) This also allows making a safe connection between both terminals 3,5 since the female terminal 5 tends to recover the convexity and therefore pushes against the male terminal 3 and vice versa; the male terminal 3 pushes outward on the convexities of the female terminal 5 for a perfect fitting.

(25) Also as an option, the female terminal 5 can be configured so that when the male terminals 3 are inserted and expand the female terminals 5, these female terminals 5 become fitted inside the housing 12 as a result of the expansion.

(26) As an option, both covers 6, 9 may be of different sizes and in this embodiment, the first cover 6 is larger than the second cover 9. The reason for this is to facilitate the positioning of the female terminals 5 inside the housing 12.

(27) To facilitate closing the covers 6, 9, the separator walls 7 comprise a dual locking mechanism 11 on one of their ends, which locks the first cover 6 and the second cover 9, closing the connector 20.

(28) Also as an option, a descending ramp 14 may be added, which would be located on the inner base 10 and ends on the second cover 9. The function of this ramp 14 is to help insert the female terminals 5 inside the housing 12.

(29) This way, when the operator is holding the connector 20 in his hand, he would open both covers 6, 9 and would position the female terminals 5, which would be separated by the separator walls 8.

(30) Then the covers 6, 9 are closed, which then locked the side tabs 8 and said covers 6, 9 house said female terminals 5 inside the housing 12 of connector 20.

(31) Subsequently, connector 20 along with the female terminal 5 wiring is installed, for example, in a rear-view mirror.

(32) Then, the male terminals 3 are passed through the input openings 2 inside the housing and then inserted inside the female terminals 5 inside the inner space 13, expanding the female terminal 5, improving the connection and fixing these terminals 3, 5 to each other.

(33) If the female terminal 5 wiring were pulled, the terminal would not be pulled out because both covers 6, 9 would need to be opened in order to release the female terminal 5. The positioning stoppers 15 also help prevent movements.

(34) Likewise, the existence of the locking stoppers 16 prevent the female terminal from moving, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. This point is important because the close art comprises the blocked cable, which damages the cable as a result of the pressure, while in this case the longitudinal movement of the female terminal 5 is locked, which does not cause any damage.

(35) The locking stoppers 16, once the second cover 9 is closed, leave a space below to extend the female terminal 5, resulting in the female terminal 5 being fully fitted in place, preventing it from being pulled out of the connector 20.

(36) Also, a simple pull will not release the male terminal 3 from the female terminal 5; an intentional vigorous stretching is required to disconnect the terminals.

(37) This invention describes a new installation used for connecting male and female terminals. The examples mentioned herein are non-limiting of this invention; and therefore, it can have different applications and/or adaptations all comprised within the scope of the following claims.