Miniature electrical connector with extractable contact elements and associated tool for unlocking and extracting the contacts
View Patent ↗An electrical connector may include an insulating body including a series of at least two parallel and adjacent longitudinal cells which may be aligned. The electrical connector may include a series of electrical contact elements, each of which may include a locking section which may include at least one locking notch and which may be configured to be received axially in one of the cells and to be axially immobilized therein. The electrical connector may include a series of locking elements each of which may be configured to retain axially, at least towards the rear, a locking section of an associated electrical contact element. Each locking element may include a locating base fixed axially relative to the insulating body and at least one locking finger, a free end of which may be received in a locking notch of the associated contact element to retain it axially, wherein each base may be arranged outside the locking section of the associated cell.
1. An electrical connector comprises:
an insulating body comprising a series of at least two parallel and adjacent longitudinal cells which are aligned, each cell being open axially and leading into a rear face of the insulating body;
a series of electrical contact elements, each of which comprises a locking section which comprises at least one locking notch which is configured to be received axially in a section, of one of the cells and to be axially immobilized therein;
a series of locking elements each of which is configured to retain axially, at least towards a rear, a locking section of an associated electrical contact element, each locking element comprising a locating base which is fixed axially relative to the insulating body and at least one locking finger, which is elastically deformable, and which extends from the locating base, which projects radially inside the locking section of an associated cell, and a free end of which is received in a locking notch of the associated electrical contact element to retain it axially,
wherein the locating base of each locking element comprises:
a plate from which the locking finger extends towards a front, and
a first wing and a second wing which are facing one another so that the locating base is in the form of a dovetail, and
wherein each locating base is configured to be threaded axially onto a complementary part of the insulating body of the electrical connector.
2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the locating base of each locking element is fixed to a part of the insulating body of the electrical connector by cooperating complementary forms in order to retain the locking finger in the associated cell.
3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first wing and the second wing of the locating base are configured to be substantially separated from each other by elastic deformation of the locating base, so that the first wing and the second wing constitute a clamp which is configured to elastically clamp the complementary part when the locking element is fixed, or elastically fitted, onto the complementary part.
4. The connector of claim 1 wherein each locking element is made of metal and each complementary fixing part is made of plastic.
5. The connector of claim 1 wherein each locking element is made by cutting and by bending a metal plate.
6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the locating base is radially offset relative to the locking section of the associated cell perpendicular to the cells.
7. The connector of claim 6 wherein the locating base of the locking element associated with the cells are aligned in a line parallel to the cells.
8. The connector of claim 1 wherein each locking finger extends axially at an oblique angle from back to front inside the associated cell, so that a front free end of each finger extends facing a rear radial face of the locking notch of the locking section of the associated electrical contact element.