Granted Patent B2

US 6,893,276 · App. 10/709,678 · Granted May 17, 2005

Abstract

Claims (11)

1. A multi-wire connector with interlocking device, said connector being of the type comprising:

a body ( 1 ) provided with a plurality of first connection terminals connected to respective conductive wires (W) projecting from a top portion, which body ( 1 ) is susceptible of fitting through the lower portion of;

a cavity ( 21 ) of a base piece ( 2 ) provided with other such second connection terminals provided for coupling with said first connection terminals when said body ( 1 ) is in coupling position within said cavity ( 21 );

a “U”-shaped support ( 10 ) being arranged projecting from said body ( 1 ), and a lever ( 3 ) comprising a bridge ( 30 ) and arms ( 31 ) jointed at their ends with regard to opposite sides of said body ( 1 ) by means of projections ( 11 ), so that said lever ( 3 ) can rotate a certain angle, limited by stop configurations ( 12 , 13 ), between an open position and a closed position, wherein said bridge ( 30 ) co-operates with said support ( 10 ) to confine said conductive wires (W), forming a bundle, locking configurations being arranged to immobilize said lever ( 3 ) in said closed position;

characterized in that means are provided for releasably interlocking said body ( 1 ) in said coupling position in said cavity ( 21 ) of said base piece ( 2 ), which means comprise at least a first interlocking configuration ( 33 ), integral to a portion ( 32 ) of said lever ( 3 ), and at least a second interlocking configuration ( 22 ), integral to an inner side wall of said cavity ( 21 ), in respective positions such that, when said body ( 1 ) is introduced in said cavity ( 21 ) with said lever ( 3 ) in said open position, said first and second interlocking configurations ( 33 and 22 ) do not interfere with each other, and when said lever ( 3 ) is placed in the closed position, said body ( 1 ) being in said coupling position, said first interlocking configuration ( 33 ) interferes with said second interlocking configuration ( 22 ), remaining both interlocked with each other, preventing extraction of said body ( 1 ) from said cavity ( 21 ); and

further characterized that said lever ( 3 ) includes one of said portions ( 32 ) at the end of each arm ( 31 ), each portion ( 32 ) being arranged so that said corresponding first interlocking configuration ( 33 ) remains close to a coupling hole for the corresponding joint snug ( 11 ), and in that said cavity ( 21 ) includes two of said second interlocking configurations ( 22 ) arranged on opposite inner side walls thereof.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said portions ( 32 ) with said first interlocking configurations ( 33 ) are arranged at one side of said coupling hole angularly displaced from the rest of said arm ( 31 ).

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that said body ( 1 ), said base piece ( 2 ), and the lever ( 3 ) are made of a slightly resilient material allowing mutual interlocking of said first and second interlocking configurations ( 33 and 22 ) by the passage of at least part of the first ones over at least part of the second ones by means of a certain elastic deformation of said pieces.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises two pairs of said stop configurations ( 12 , 13 ), which adopt the form of first and second protuberances ( 12 , 13 ) arranged on said opposite sides of said body ( 1 ) in such positions that they respectively interfere with first and second edges ( 34 , 35 ) of opposite sides of said arms ( 31 ) of said lever ( 3 ) when the same is respectively in the open and closed positions.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that said locking configurations to immobilize said lever ( 3 ) in the closed position comprise locking protuberances ( 15 ) arranged at the end of respective flexible tabs ( 16 ), extension of said opposite sides of said body ( 1 ) and projecting over the top portion thereof, said flexible tabs ( 16 ) which are bent towards the inside when said lever ( 3 ) is displaced from the open position to the closed position, due to the effect of forces exerted by said arms ( 31 ) against tapered or rounded edges of said locking protuberances ( 15 ), allowing for the passage of said lever ( 3 ) towards the closed position, and said flexible tabs ( 16 ) of which recover resiliently when said lever ( 3 ) overcomes said locking protuberances ( 15 ), which occurs immediately after said second edges ( 35 ) of said arms ( 31 ) have abutted against the second protuberances ( 13 ) and, by virtue of which, said locking protuberances ( 15 ) interfere with said first edges ( 34 ) of said arms ( 31 ), whereby said lever( 3 ) is immobilized in the closed position in which in addition said first and second interlocking configurations( 33 and 22 ) are mutually interlocked.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that said arms ( 31 ) of said lever ( 3 ) include in addition respective windows ( 36 ) in which fit retention protuberances ( 14 ) located on sides of said body ( 1 ) to releasably immobilizes said lever ( 3 ) in the open position when said lever ( 3 ) is in said open position.

Assignments (12)