Mounting base for an electrical component having a housing with a groove with a convergent bottom for crimping an electrical wire
10012373 ยท 2018-07-03
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01R4/2495
ELECTRICITY
F21V21/002
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V33/0008
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H01R4/2433
ELECTRICITY
F21Y2115/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
H01R24/00
ELECTRICITY
F21V23/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V33/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A base for a wired electrical component, including: a cavity receiving the electrical component including at least one electrical crimp contact; and at least one groove configured to receive an electrical wire to be connected to the electrical component. The at least one groove includes, in a transverse cross-section: a portion shaped to receive an electrical wire; and a converging base acting as a crimping die when the electrical crimp contact is inserted in the groove. A lighting module includes such a base, a method creates and mounts, on a corresponding mounting, a module including such a base, and a garment includes at least one module that includes such a base.
Claims
1. A mounting base for a wired electrical component comprising: a housing to receive the electrical component including at least one crimping electrical contact; and at least one groove configured to receive an electrical wire configured to be connected to the electrical component; wherein the at least one groove includes in cross section: a portion configured to receive an electrical wire, and a convergent bottom acting as a crimping shape when the crimping electrical contact is inserted into the groove.
2. The mounting base as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one groove includes an access canal for the crimping electrical contact, the access canal being arranged opposite to the convergent bottom.
3. The mounting base as claimed in claim 2, wherein the access canal is oriented substantially perpendicular to the overall plane defined by the mounting base.
4. The mounting base as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one groove extends along a longitudinal axis and includes, in cross section: the portion configured to receive an electrical wire having a maximum width, the access canal for the crimping electrical contact oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the groove and having a width smaller than the maximum width of the portion configured to receive an electrical wire, and the convergent bottom opposite to the access canal.
5. The mounting base as claimed in claim 4, wherein the portion configured to receive an electrical wire is of substantially cylindrical overall shape and the maximum width corresponds to the diameter of the portion.
6. The mounting base as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one groove has a substantially elbowed overall shape with a first groove portion extending in a first direction and a second groove portion extending in a second direction different than the first direction.
7. The mounting base as claimed in claim 3, wherein the access canal for the crimping electrical contact is oriented substantially perpendicular to an axis of each of groove portions.
8. The mounting base as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one blocking portion extending from a wall of the mounting base delimiting a groove toward inside of the groove.
9. The mounting base as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one blocking portion is formed as an integral part of the base.
10. The mounting base as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one flow guide for flow of a coat of encapsulant or resin, chosen from a discontinuity at a dividing wall between two grooves and/or at least one notch made on an edge of at least one groove and/or a difference in level in a bottom of at least one groove.
11. The mounting base as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is a through-housing.
12. The mounting base as claimed in claim 1, comprising a peripheral edge partially covering the groove.
13. The mounting base as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least two grooves extending at least partially in parallel.
14. A lighting module comprising: a mounting base as claimed in claim 1, and a light emitting diode as the electrical component, the light emitting diode including at least two crimping electrical contacts.
15. The lighting module as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least two grooves are made on a rear face of the mounting base.
16. The lighting module as claimed in claim 15, wherein the housing for the light emitting diode includes, on a front face of the mounting base, a flared shape encouraging the light emitting diode to emit a cone of light.
17. The lighting module as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a coat of transparent resin, or a domed coat, covering the light emitting diode.
18. The lighting module as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a coat of encapsulant covering a rear face of the mounting base.
19. The lighting module as claimed in claim 14, having an overall shape of a pellet.
20. A method for producing a lighting module as claimed in claim 14, comprising: passing an electrical wire into each groove, inserting a diode including at least two crimping contacts with crimping spikes facing toward the associated grooves via the rear face of the mounting base so that on insertion, crimping onto the electrical wires is performed; pouring a transparent resin over a front face of the mounting base.
21. A method for mounting a lighting module as claimed in claim 14 on a support, comprising: positioning an assembly roundel on the support intended to receive the module; positioning the lighting module to sandwich the support between the assembly roundel and the lighting module; and fixing together the lighting module and the assembly roundel.
22. A garment, comprising at least one module formed of a mounting base as claimed in claim 1 and an electrical component including at least two crimping electrical contacts.
Description
(1) Other features and advantages will become apparent from reading the description of the following figures, among which:
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(25) In all the figures, the same elements bear the same reference numerals. Elements in
(26) The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, that does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment or that the features apply only to one single embodiment. Simple features from various embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.
FIRST EMBODIMENT
(27)
(28) This mounting base 1 has, for example, the shape of a disk or of a pellet, but other shapes are conceivable, for example square or oval, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(29) The shape of the mounting base 1 is configured to allow the mounting base 1 to be mounted for example on another support, for example a wall, a fabric or a canvas, a rigid or flexible casing, etc. For that purpose, provision may also be made for the mounting base 1 to be equipped with lateral fixing lugs (not depicted), for screwing or bonding of the mounting base 1.
(30) The mounting base 1 is, for example, made of plastic, for example using injection molding.
(31) The mounting base 1 comprises a housing 3 to receive an electrical component 5 equipped with at least one crimping electrical contact 7 (see
(32) In this exemplary embodiment, the electrical component 5 is, for example, a light emitting diode 9.
(33) In other embodiments, the electrical component may for example be a sensor (a temperature sensor, magnetic and/or electrical field sensor, light sensor/photodiode), a battery, an emitter/receiver, for example an antenna, etc. In general terms, this is an electrical component measuring a few mm across, which needs to be connected to individual electrical wires.
(34) The housing 3 in this particular instance is a through-opening 11, for example square in shape and having, on the front face 13 of the mounting base 1, a shape 15 that flares toward the top (which means to say in a direction substantially parallel to the emission direction of the diode), encouraging the light emitting diode 9 to emit a cone of light when this diode is mounted in the mounting base 1.
(35) In a more sophisticated version, provision may be made for the flared shape 15 to be, for example, metalized, in order to act as a reflector.
(36) What is meant by the front face 13 is that face of the mounting base 1 from which a light emitting diode 9 may emit light when such a diode 9 is mounted in the mounting base 1. The rear/front direction of the mounting base 1 is therefore substantially parallel to the direction of emission of such a light emitting diode 9.
(37) The front face 13 also corresponds to the face of the mounting base 1 that is intended to be at least partially visible when the mounting base 1 is mounted on a support such as a fabric or garment. In particular, this front face 13 is intended to be fixed, for example by bonding, to the support, such as a fabric or garment, in such a way that the part of the front face 13 of the mounting base 1 that has the housing 3 and the flared shape 15 projects with respect to this support, notably by passing through a corresponding hole of complementary shape made in the support intended to receive the mounting base 1.
(38) As an alternative or in addition, this front face 13 may be fixed to an assembly roundel 60 (visible in
(39) As can be better seen in
(40) In general, the mounting base 1 has as many grooves 17 as there are electrical wires to be connected to the electrical component 5.
(41) Each groove 17 has in cross section a particular shape depicted according to one embodiment in
(42) Thus, the groove 17 in cross section has, on the one hand, a portion 19, for example of substantially cylindrical overall shape, configured to receive an electrical wire 21 (see
(43) Thus, when a suitable electrical wire 21 having, for example, a diameter slightly smaller than the width L.sub.MAX but greater than the width L.sub.A of the access canal 23 is inserted, it is guided longitudinally along the groove 17 without being able to leave the groove.
(44) The width L.sub.A of the access canal 23 is dimensioned so that it is slightly greater than the width L.sub.C (see
(45) In the exemplary embodiment of
(46) This convergent bottom 25 with its inclined slopes 27 acts as a crimping shape when the crimping electrical contact 7 is inserted into the groove 17.
(47) Moreover, the mounting base 1 comprises a peripheral edge 31 partially covering the groove 17. This peripheral edge 31 serves firstly as a retainer to retain the electrical wires 21, notably to prevent them from being pulled out in the direction perpendicular to the rear face 18 of the mounting base 1 and secondly as a retaining edge so that a layer of encapsulant can be poured in after the electrical component 5 has been mounted (this will be explained later on).
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(49) As explained hereinabove, the electrical component 5 is, for example, a light emitting diode 9.
(50) The crimping electrical contacts 7 each comprise a region 33 (visible in
(51) In this example, the two electrical contacts 7 are parallel to one another.
(52) One exemplary embodiment of a way of mounting a module such as a lighting module 37 (see
(53) This lighting module 37 comprises a light emitting diode 9 of
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(55) In a first step, an electrical wire 21 is passed into each groove 17 in the direction of the arrow F1.
(56) Next, the diode 9 equipped with its two crimping contacts 7 with the crimping spikes 35 directed toward the associated grooves 17 is inserted via the rear face 18 of the mounting base 1 in the direction of the arrow F2 so that on insertion, crimping onto the electrical wires 21 is achieved.
(57) The mounting base 1 therefore acts both as a support or protective casing for the electrical component 5 and as a crimping counterform in order to make the electrical connection with the electrical wires 21.
(58) During this insertion, the spikes 35 will pierce through the electrical wires 21 in such a way as to establish an electrical contact with the strands of the core 39 (see
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(60) According to an optional step, a transparent resin 40 is then poured over the front face 13 of the mounting base 1, so as to cover the diode 9 and obtain a domed shape which acts as a lens for the diode 9.
(61) A layer of encapsulant (not visible in the figures) for example is also poured over the rear face 18 of the mounting base 1.
(62) This then yields a lighting module 37 that is sealed and protected against moisture and dust.
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(64) Such a module 37, for example a lighting module, can then be fixed to a support such as a fabric or garment. As stated previously, the module 37 may be fixed by the front face 13 of the mounting base 1 against the support so that at least part of the front face 13 exhibiting the housing 3 passes through a corresponding and complementary hole made in the support.
(65) The mounting base 1 may be attached to the support by bonding the front face 13 to the support.
(66) As an alternative or in addition, in order to fix the mounting base 1 on a support, it is possible to provide an assembly roundel 60 (cf.
(67) Of course, the order in which some of the steps described hereinabove are performed could be interchanged.
SECOND EMBODIMENT
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(69) Assembly and mounting in this second embodiment are performed in a similar way to that which was described in relation to the first embodiment.
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THIRD EMBODIMENT
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FOURTH EMBODIMENT
(72) A fourth embodiment of the mounting base 101 is described with reference to
(73) In a similar way to the first embodiment, the mounting base 101 comprises at least one groove 117, and here two grooves 117, respectively having in cross section a portion 119 able to receive an electrical wire 21 and a convergent bottom 125.
(74) Each groove 117 is delimited here by two opposite walls 116 of the mounting base 101. The shape of a groove 117 differs from the first embodiment notably in that the portion 119 able to receive the electrical wire 21 no longer has a cylindrical overall shape of diameter L.sub.MAX. According to the example illustrated, substantially planar opposite walls 116 delimit the portion 119. In this example, the portion 119 is of constant width.
(75) The convergent bottom 125 itself, better visible in
(76) In a similar way to the first embodiment, the convergent bottom 125 comprises two inclined straight slopes 127 which terminate in a straight bottom 129 substantially parallel to the rear face 118 of the mounting base 101. The inclined straight slopes 127 are inclined with respect to the straight bottom 129 of the groove 117 and are inclined in such a way as to converge toward one another at the straight bottom 129.
(77) Of course other converging shapes of convergent bottom 125 may be envisioned.
(78) Referring once again to
(79) In this example, the or each groove 117 extends along a substantially elbowed axis and substantially has the overall shape of an L. Thus, the or each groove 117 comprises: a first portion 117.sub.1 near to the housing 103 intended to receive the electrical component 5 extending in a first direction, and a second portion 117.sub.2 distant from the housing 103 extending in a second direction different than the first direction, for example substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
(80) The intersection or elbowed portion between the first portion 117.sub.1 and the second portion 117.sub.2 of the groove 117 is advantageously curved.
(81) According to the example illustrated, in which a mounting base 101 comprises two grooves 117, the first portions 117.sub.1 of the two grooves 117 extend substantially parallel whereas the second portions 117.sub.2 extend in the same direction in opposite senses.
(82) The or each groove 117 therefore has a proximal end 120.sub.1 with respect to the housing 103 and a distal end 120.sub.2, distant from the housing 103, which is not aligned with the proximal end 120.sub.1. The proximal end 120.sub.1 is provided at the level of the first portion 117.sub.1 whereas the distal end 120.sub.2 is provided at the level of the second portion 117.sub.2. More specifically in this example, the proximal end 120.sub.1 and the distal end 120.sub.2 are oriented in two directions substantially perpendicular to one another. The distal end 120.sub.2 allows a suitable electric wire 21 to be inserted into the associated groove 117.
(83) Inserting an electrical wire 21 into a groove 117 along such an elbowed axis of the groove 117, as indicated schematically by the arrow F3 in
(84) Finally, according to this fourth embodiment, the or each groove 117 may comprise an access canal 123 or access passage for the crimping electrical contact 7. This access canal 123 allows the crimping electrical contact 7 to be inserted along an axis F2 substantially perpendicular to the axis of the groove 117, more specifically to the axis of the first groove portion 117.sub.1 near to the housing 103. More generally, the axis F2 of insertion of the crimping electrical contact 7 is substantially perpendicular to the overall plane defined by the mounting base 101.
(85) Moreover, according to the example illustrated, the access canal 123 does not have a width smaller than the maximum width of the portion 119 able to receive the electrical wire 21.
(86) It might be possible, in an alternative form that has not been illustrated, to envision a narrowing that is the opposite to the convergent bottom 125 of the groove 117, so as to form an access canal smaller in width than the portion 119, making it possible when a suitable electrical wire 21, for example having a diameter slightly smaller than the width of the portion 119 but larger than the width of the narrowing that forms the access canal is inserted, for this wire to be guided in the groove 117 without being able to leave this groove.
(87) Moreover, according to the fourth embodiment illustrated in
(88) The thickness of such an edge 131 is defined by the person skilled in the art to suit his purposes. As is best visible in
(89) Furthermore, according to the fourth embodiment, the mounting base 101 may have one or more blocking portions 145. This makes it possible to prevent the electrical wire 21 from being pulled out of a groove 117 once mounted. Specifically, the blocking portion or portions is/are able to compress the electrical wire 21 in the associated groove 117.
(90) According to the example illustrated in
(91) The or each blocking portion 145 is, for example, as one with the mounting base 101. More specifically, the or each blocking portion 145 is formed as an integral part of the mounting base 101, in this example as an integral part of the edge 131. With more particular reference to the enlarged part of
(92) Moreover, such a blocking portion 145 also performs a sealing function, making it possible to limit the potential ingress of liquid such as water.
(93) Of course, provision may be made for the mounting base 101 to have two pairs of grooves 117, in a similar way to the second embodiment described hereinabove.
(94) The mounting base 101 may also receive an electrical component 5 as illustrated in
(95) Finally, the mounting base 101 may potentially have a mounting groove in a similar way to the third embodiment.
(96) The method for producing a module 137, such as a lighting module comprising such a mounting base 101 and an electrical component 5 comprising for example a light emitting diode 9, is similar to that of the first embodiment, except that in a first step, by way of nonlimiting example, an electrical wire 21 is passed into each groove 117 in the direction of the arrow F3. Of course, alternatively, the electrical wire 21 could be shaped beforehand to complement the elbowed shape of the groove 117 and be inserted into the groove 117 in the direction of the arrow F2 (namely upward with reference to the layout of
(97) Likewise, with reference to
FIFTH EMBODIMENT
(98)
(99) As before, the mounting base 201 comprises one or more grooves 217, in this instance two grooves 217. The mounting base 201 further comprises at least one flow guide 247, 249 at the level of at least one groove 217, to make it easier for a layer of encapsulant or resin (not visible in the figures) poured for example on the rear face 218 of the mounting based 201 after the electrical component 5 and the electrical wires 21 have been assembled to spread out even underneath an electrical wire 21 with reference to the layout illustrated in
(100) According to the example illustrated, a flow guide may be produced in the form of a discontinuity 247 between the edge 231 and the wall 232 between two grooves 217. The dimensions of such a discontinuity 247 are defined by the person skilled in the art to suit his purposes. By way of nonlimiting example, this discontinuity 247 is formed here near the intersection, in this instance elbowed intersection, between the first groove portion 217.sub.1 and the second groove portion 217.sub.2. In other words, in this example, the discontinuity 247 is provided near the change in direction of the grooves 217.
(101) Of course, any other siting of the discontinuity 247 may be envisioned to make it easier for the layer of encapsulant or of resin to flow even underneath an electrical wire 21 when the module 237 comprising the mounting base 201, the electrical component 5 and the electrical wire or wires 21 is assembled.
(102) The discontinuity 247 is advantageously sited at a location where, in the mounted state, the electrical wire 21 is most stable, for example at a point where the crimping is most effective.
(103) As an alternative or in addition, a flow guide may be produced in the form of at least one notch 249 provided on the edge 231 at the level of at least one groove 217. Through the creation of such a notch 249, the width of the groove 117 is increased at this point.
(104) The notch or notches 249 may be formed near the first groove portion 217.sub.1 and/or the second groove portion 217.sub.2. In the case of several grooves 217, at least one notch 249 may be provided at the level of each groove 217. In particular, the notch or notches 249 may be made on the edge 231 at the level of the two grooves 217 symmetrically, as illustrated in
(105) Of course, any suitable siting of the notch or notches 249 may be envisioned to facilitate the flow of the layer of encapsulant or resin, even underneath an electrical wire 21 when the module 237 comprising the mounting base 201, the electrical component 5 and the electrical wire or wires 21 is in the assembled state.
(106) In addition, in order to ensure that the layer of encapsulant or resin does indeed pass underneath the electrical wire 21 in the assembled state, a difference in height or difference in level at the bottom of the or each groove 217 may be provided. What is meant by height is the dimension in the direction in which the edge 231 extends in relief with respect to the rear face 218 of the mounting base 201, namely substantially at right angles to the plane defined by the rear face 218 of the mounting base 201. In the example illustrated in
(107) Thus, this difference in level or height in the bottom of the associated groove 217 makes it possible to guarantee that the layer of encapsulant or resin forms a ring around the electrical wire 21, and therefore does indeed pass underneath the electrical wire 21 with reference to the layout illustrated in
(108) Similarly, a mounting base 1 according to the first, second or third embodiment with reference to
(109) Of course, the features of the various embodiments described hereinabove may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.
(110) Moreover,
(111) It will therefore be appreciated that the mounting base 1, 101 according to one or other of the embodiments described hereinabove allows an electrical component 5 to be connected to individual electrical wires 21 easily and without a special-purpose tool.