GB2522840B - Improvements in or relating to electrical connection arrangements - Google Patents

Description

Improvements in or relating to electrical connection arrangements

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to electrical connection arrangements.

Electrical connection arrangements such as interfitting male and female plugs are used in many different situations. The connection arrangements may provide connections for multiple conductors for various power and control purposes. The intended application of the electrical connection arrangement may impose mechanical connection requirements, such as resistance to inadvertent disconnection, interoperability, ease of intended connection and disconnection etc.

Examples of the present invention provide an electrical connection arrangement comprising first and second parts which can be brought together, in use, to form a connection, there being electrical terminals associated with the parts and the parts being connectable to bring the electrical terminals into contact thereby providing an electrical connection between the parts, and the parts being releasable to separate the electrical terminals, thereby breaking the electrical connection; and the arrangement further comprising a releasable retention arrangement operable to retain the parts in the connected condition, the retention arrangement comprising: a latch member, comprising a first latch portion and a second latch portion connected by a connecting bar, carried by the first part and movable relative to the first part between a latching position and a release position, and first and second keeps carried by the second part and engaged by the first and second latch portions when the parts are in the connected condition and the latching member is in the latching position, the engagement serving to retain the parts in the connected condition; and wherein the retention arrangement further comprises a release member carried by the second part and positioned to bear on the connecting bar, when the release member is moved while the parts are in the connected condition, to cause the latch member to move between the latching position and the release position, thereby allowing the parts to be separated.

The release member may bear directly on the latch member when the parts are in the connected condition. The retention arrangement may be resilient to urge the latch member to the latching position. The release member may be resiliency mounted on the second part. The release member may have a control surface which is manually engageable to move the release member. The release member may be moved by pressing on the control surface of the release member. The latch member may be resiliently mounted on the first part. The latch member may have a control surface which is manually engageable to move the latch member away from the latching position. The latch member may be moved by pressing on the control surface of the latch member.

The first and second latch portions and the first and second keep portions may be positioned to resist relative twisting of the first and second parts when in the connected condition. The first and second latch portions may be arranged to respective sides of a centreline parallel with an axis of the electrical terminals. The first and second latch portions may be movable with one another to release the first and second keep portions.

The release member may carry a further latch portion. The first part may provide a socket region between the first and second of latch portions, for receiving the release member.

The retention arrangement may further comprise lead-in surfaces which engage as the parts are brought together, the engagement causing the latch member to deflect past the keep. The retention arrangement may further comprise lead-in surfaces which engage as the parts are brought together, the engagement causing the parts to adopt a predetermined alignment as they are brought together. The lead-in surfaces may be formed to remain in engagement after the parts have been brought together, to maintain the predetermined alignment. The arrangement may comprise cooperating sets of lead-in surfaces spaced on respective sides of a centreline parallel with an axis of the electrical terminals.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the company in drawings, in which:

Fig 1 and Fig 2 are perspective views of an electrical connection arrangement which is an example of the present invention, viewed from two different directions to illustrate the first and second parts, respectively;

Fig 3 and Fig 4 are exploded views of the first and second parts, respectively;

Fig 5 is a perspective view of the electrical connection arrangement with the first and second parts connected;

Fig 6 and Fig 7 are sections of the arrangement of Fig 5 at the lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively with Figs. 6a and 7a showing the retention arrangement in a released condition; and

Fig 8 illustrates another form in which the electrical connection arrangement can be realised.

Overview

Fig 1 and Fig 2 illustrate a connection arrangement 10. The arrangement 10 comprises first and second parts 12, 14. In this example, the connection arrangement provides electrical connection by each part 12, 14 having electrical terminals at 16, 18.

The parts 12, 14 can be brought together, in use, to form a mechanical connection. In doing so, the electrical terminals 16, 18 are brought into contact thereby providing an electrical connection between the parts 12, 14. The parts 12, 14 are also releasable. When released, the parts can be separated to separate the electrical terminals 16, 18, thereby breaking the electrical connection, as will be described.

The arrangement 10 further comprises a releasable retention arrangement indicated generally at 20 and operable to retain the parts 12, 14 in the connected condition. The retention arrangement 20 comprises a latch member 22 carried by the first part 12 and movable relative to the first part 12 between a latching position and a release position, as will be described. The retention arrangement 20 also comprises a keep 24 carried by the second part 14 and engaged by the latch member 22 when the parts 12, 14 are in the connected condition and the latch member 22 is in the latching position. This engagement serves to keep the parts 12, 14 in the connected condition.

The retention arrangement 20 further comprises a release member 26 carried by the second part 14 and coupled with the latch member 22 when the parts 12, 14 are in the connected condition, the release member 26 being movable to cause the latch member 22 to move between the latching position and the release position, thereby allowing the parts 12, 14 to be separated.

First part

The first part 12 is formed in this example with a two-part cover (Fig 3), here called the bottom cover 28 and the top cover 30. The terms “bottom” and “top” are used solely for simplicity of description and are not intended to restrict the orientation of the devices in any way.

The bottom cover 28 forms a base on which a connector block 32 is mounted by means of hooked pins 34 received in corresponding features in the connector block 32. Many other arrangements can be used to secure the connector block 32 within the part 12, such as adhesive, fixing screws and moulding techniques. The connector block 32 has a line of conventional terminals 36 to which electrical wires can be secured in a conventional manner. The connector block 32 also has a corresponding line of projections 38 which are hollow. Each projection 38 contains a female connector of generally conventional form. Internal connections within the block 32 are provided between the female connectors and the terminals 36. Wires connected to the terminals 36 can together form a multi-core cable which leaves the first part 12 through an exit aperture 40. The exit aperture 40 may have strain relief arrangements associated with it. One example of strain relief arrangements 41 is illustrated in Fig 3 only. Other examples are shown in other drawings.

The covers 28, 30 fit together to form the part 12. In this example, the top cover 30 has resilient arms 42 which reach around the bottom cover 28 in grooves 44, allowing the top cover 30 to be a snap fit on the bottom cover 28 to form the first part 12 as illustrated in Fig 1. Many other arrangements can be used to secure the top and bottom covers 28, 30 together, such as adhesives, fixing screws and moulding techniques. The arrangements may include features to prevent disassembly except by means of an appropriate tool.

The latch member 22 carried by the first part 12 is, in this example, integrally moulded with the top cover 30. Alternatively, the latch member 22 could be a separately formed component. The latch member 22 has two latch portions 46, in this example. Alternatively, the latch member 22 may have more than two portions. In this example, each latch portion is in the form of a tooth 48 which stands up from the forward edge of a shelf 50. The shelf 50 projects forward from a block 52 which may be hollow. The blocks 52 are connected to the top cover 30 by a resilient, live hinge or other resilient hinge arrangement indicated generally at 54 (in Fig 1) and also visible in Fig 7. The top surface of each block 52 is formed with ridges to provide one or more finger grips 56.

The teeth 48 are connected to move with one another, in this example by a connecting bar 58. This may be integrally moulded with the teeth 48, the shelves 50 and the top cover 30. It can readily be seen from Fig 3 that pressure can be applied to the bar 58 to push the bar towards the bottom cover 28, relative to the top cover 30, thereby also deflecting the teeth 48 in the same direction. Pressure can also be applied to one or both of the grips 56 to press the blocks 52 towards the bottom cover 28, thereby also deflecting the teeth 48 in the same direction. The resilience of the live hinge 54 will cause the teeth 48 to return to be position illustrated in Fig 3, when the bar 58 and/or grips 56 are released. The relaxed position corresponds with the latching position of the teeth 48. The depressed position corresponds with the release position of the teeth 48.

The latch portions 46, provided by the teeth 48, are spaced apart, being arranged to either side of a centreline of the first part 12. The centreline is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the electrical terminals in the projections 38.

It can be seen from Fig 3 that the shape of the connecting bar 58 provides a recess between the adjacent shelves 50, and that the top cover 30 is recessed between the blocks 52. This geometry provides a socket region 61 between the teeth 48.

The front edges of the teeth 48 may slope to provide lead-in surfaces, for purposes which will be described below.

The top cover 30 has two shrouds 60 which project forward, around the projections 38. This is to provide some degree of protection around the projections 38, and also for reasons which will be described below.

Second part

The second part 14 is also formed in this example with a two-part cover (Fig 4), here called the bottom cover 62 and the top cover 64. The terms “bottom” and “top” are used solely for simplicity of description and are not intended to restrict the orientation of the devices in any way.

The bottom cover 62 forms a base on which a connector block 66 is mounted by means of hooked pins 67 received in corresponding features in the connector block 66. Again, many alternative arrangements could be used, as noted above in connection with the first part. The connector block 66 has a line of conventional terminals 68 to which electrical wires can be secured in a conventional manner. The connector block 66 also has a corresponding line of projections 70 which are hollow.

Each projection 70 contains a male connector (pin) of generally conventional form. Internal connections within the block 66 are provided between the male connector pins and the terminals 68. Wires connected to the terminals 68 can together form a multicore cable which leaves the second part 14 through an exit aperture 72. The exit aperture 72 may have strain relief arrangements associated with it. One example of strain relief arrangements 73 is illustrated in Fig 4 only. Other examples are illustrated in other drawings.

The covers 62, 64 fit together to form the part 14. In this example, the top cover 64 has resilient arms 74 which reach around the bottom cover 62 in grooves 76, allowing the top cover 64 to be a snap fit on the bottom cover 62 to form the second part 14 as illustrated in Fig 2. Many other arrangements can be used to secure the top and bottom covers 64, 62 together, such as adhesives, fixing screws and moulding techniques, as noted above. Features to prevent disassembly may be incorporated.

The release member 26 is carried by the second part 14. In this example, the release member 26 is integrally moulded with the top cover 64. Alternatively, the release member 26 could be a separately formed component. The release member 26 is in the form of a shelf 80. The shelf 80 projects forward from a block 82, which may be hollow. The block 82 is connected to the top cover 64 by a resilient, live hinge or other hinge arrangement indicated generally at 84 (in Fig 2) and also visible in Fig 6. The top surface of the block 82 is formed with ridges to provide a finger grip 86. The forward edge of the shelf 80 carries a lip 78.

It can readily be seen from Fig 4 that pressure can be applied to the grip 86 to push the block 82 towards the bottom cover 62, thereby also deflecting the shelf 80 in the same direction. The resilience of the live hinge 84 will cause the shelf 80 to return to the position illustrated in Fig 4, when the grip 84 is released.

The shelf 80 is positioned generally at a centreline of the second part 14, in this example. The front face of the lip 78 may slope to provide one or more lead-in surfaces, for purposes which will be described below.

The top cover 64 has two wings 88 which project forward, around the projections 70. This is to provide some degree of protection around the projections 70, and also for reasons which will be described below.

The top cover 64 also has two keeps 24 in the form of downward lips (Fig 7) spaced to either side of the release member 26. These each provide a keep behind which one of the teeth 48 can be latched, during use, as will be described. Other geometries could be used.

Assembled parts

The assembled parts, described above, can be used as the first (female) and second (male) parts of an electrical connection arrangement. The parts 12, 14 are first brought to confront each other as illustrated in Fig 1 and Fig 2. The precise order in which the events now to be described will occur will depend on the relative sizes and positions of the various features. The order chosen for the description is primarily chosen in the interests of clarity and simplicity.

The parts 12, 14 may be moved together in a direction generally parallel with the projections 38, 70 until the projections 38 enter the projections 70. Further movement in the same direction will result in the connection pins within the projections 70 entering the projections 38 and eventually encountering, and forming an electrical connection with the female connections within the projections 38.

As the parts 12, 14 are brought together in this way, the features of the retention arrangement 20 will begin to interact. This may occur before the electrical connection is formed, or later.

As the teeth 48 approach the second part 14, they will abut the top cover 64 in the region of the keeps 24. Lead-in surfaces on the teeth 48 and/or on the keeps 24 will cause the teeth 48 to be deflected toward the bottom cover 28, against the bias provided by the hinge 54. That is, the teeth are forced away from their latched position, to their release position. As this happens, the blocks 52 will also be deflected in the same direction. Alternatively, the blocks 52 may be pressed in this direction to encourage the deflection and thus reduce the force required to push the parts home. When the teeth 48 move clear of the back of the keeps 24, they become free to spring back on the hinge 54 to their latched position (Fig. 7), thereby engaging behind the keeps 24 to form a latch arrangement. In this case, the arrangement latches at two positions, one to either side of the centreline of the first part 12.

The release member 26 will move into the socket region 61, between the shelves 50, thereby positioning the connecting bar 58 between the release member 26 and the bottom cover 28 (Fig. 6). There may be clearance between the release member 26 and the connecting bar 58, or shelf 80 of the release member 26 may ride gently on the connecting bar 58. However, any interaction between the release member 26 and the connecting bar 58 will not cause the connecting bar 58 to be deflected sufficiently to release the teeth 48 from behind the keeps 24.

The wings 88 will move into a close fit position under the shrouds 60. Lead-in surfaces on the leading edges of the wings may be used to assist this.

The connection arrangement has now been connected. The projections 38, 70 have fitted together to create electrical connections from the first part 12 to the second part 14. The parts 12, 14 are retained together by the engagement of the teeth 48 behind the keeps 24. The wings 88 and the shrouds 60 provide resistance against the parts 12, 14 being twisted relative to each other. Consequently, the wings 88 and the shrouds 60 cause the parts 12, 14 to adopt a predetermined alignment as they are brought together and they remain in engagement after the parts 12, 14 have been brought together, to maintain the predetermined alignment. The location of the shrouds 60 and wings 88 to either side of the centreline of the arrangement encourages the predetermined alignment to be maintained. Further resistance against twisting is provided by the location of the teeth 48, to either side of the centreline of the arrangement (parallel with the electrical terminals).

Disconnection

The electrical connection arrangement 10 can be disconnected in a variety of ways. Whichever way is chosen, it is necessary to disconnect the retention arrangement 20 so that the parts 12, 14 can be pulled apart. Figs. 6a and 7a correspond respectively with Figs. 6 and 7, showing the retention arrangement 20 in its release condition.

In one example, in which both parts 12, 14 are free to move, each of the parts 12, 14 is gripped by hand, using two hands of a user. A finger of the hand which is holding the first part can be used to press on a region of the control surface 56 (wherever is most convenient). This deflects the latch member 22 and therefore deflects the teeth 48 to release the keeps 24. The teeth 48 move with one another to their release position allowing the parts 12, 14 to be pulled apart. Alternatively, a finger of the other hand can be used to press on the grip 86. This deflects the release member 26 which presses, in turn, on the connecting bar 58 of the latch member 22 so that the force applied to the control surface 86 is transferred directly to the latch member 22. The teeth 48 are therefore deflected to release the keeps 24, allowing the parts 12, 14 to be pulled apart. In a further alternative, one finger from each hand can be used, one to press the grip 56, and one to press the grip 86.

Consequently, two hands are used to grip respective parts 12, 14 and pull them apart, but only one hand is necessary to release the retention arrangement 20. However, either hand can be used to release the retention arrangement 20. Either a grip 56 is used, or the grip 86 is used. It is expected that this will make the release of the parts 12, 14 convenient in a variety of different situations, particularly if access is restricted.

If one of the parts is fixed in position, operation can be one-handed by gripping the other part and using a finger to release the retention arrangement 20 by operating the control surface of that part, which may be a control surface 56 or 86. Either type of part can be removed from a fixed other part in a one-handed operation of this type.

Concluding remarks

In the example described above, a two-part electrical connection arrangement has been described using a single first part and a single second part. The electrical connection arrangement can be embodied in other ways. An example is illustrated in Fig 8. In this example, the first part 12 and a second part 14 are both connected to a central part 92. The central part 92 is formed with features which correspond with a second part 14, for connection with the first part 12, and features which correspond with a first part 12 for connection with the second part 14. For example, the central part 92 may be a terminal block for an installation such as a lighting luminaire and in this case, the parts 12, 14 would be connected to cables which bring power and control signals to the luminaire and pass them onward to other luminaires in a daisy chain fashion. A lip feature 78 has been described on the release member 26. This is not used in the example described above. However, the feature 78 allows the second part to interfit with some conventional designs of connector. Similarly, the socket region 61, in addition to accommodating the release member 26 in the manner described above, can also accommodate features of some conventional designs, allowing the first member 12 to interfit with these. Various lead-in surfaces could be provided to assist with interfitting with other connector designs.

In the example described above, the teeth 48 are located to either side of a centre line of the first part running parallel with the projections 38, and will thus interfere with teeth 48 of another first part, if two first parts are brought together in an attempt to connect them. Similarly, locating the release member 26 at the centre line will create interference if two second parts are brought together. This provides protection against parts being fitted together incorrectly. For example, it will be more readily apparent that parts are being fitted together incorrectly and thus less likely that they will be forced together by a user, which might result in damage.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the electrical connection arrangement described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, many features and combinations of features can be implemented in other ways, many dimensions, shapes, sizes and relative shapes and sizes can be varied according to the intended application of the arrangement.

The electrical connectors used in the parts described above may be conventional electrical connector components and many different designs of these could be accommodated within the parts or within suitably modified parts which retain a retention arrangement 20 of the type described. Coupling between the release member and the latch member could be direct or indirect. Movement of the release member and the latch member could be in the same direction or in different directions, according to the nature of the coupling between them. Other forms of movement and bias could be provided, as alternatives to the live hinges which have been described. The control surfaces of the latch member and release member could be controlled by sliding or in other ways.

Claims (17)

1. An electrical connection arrangement comprising first and second parts which can be brought together, in use, to form a connection, there being electrical terminals associated with the parts and the parts being connectable to bring the electrical terminals into contact thereby providing an electrical connection between the parts, and the parts being releasable to separate the electrical terminals, thereby breaking the electrical connection; and the arrangement further comprising a releasable retention arrangement operable to retain the parts in the connected condition, the retention arrangement comprising: a latch member, comprising a first latch portion and a second latch portion connected by a connecting bar, carried by the first part and movable relative to the first part between a latching position and a release position, and first and second keeps carried by the second part and engaged by the first and second latch portions when the parts are in the connected condition and the latch member is in the latching position, the engagement serving to retain the parts in the connected condition; and wherein the retention arrangement further comprises a release member that is carried by the second part and positioned to bear on the connecting bar, when the release member is moved while the parts are in the connected condition, to cause the latch member to move between the latching position and the release position thereby allowing the parts to be separated.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the release member is arranged to be able to bear directly on the latch member when the parts are in the connected condition.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retention arrangement is resilient to urge the latch member to the latching position.

4. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the release member is resiliently mounted on the second part.

5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the release member has a control surface which is manually engageable to move the release member.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the release member is movable by pressing on the control surface of the release member.

7. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch member is resiliently mounted on the first part.

8. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch member has a control surface which is manually engageable to move the latch member away from the latching position.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the latch member is movable by pressing on the control surface of the latch member.

10. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second latch portions are arranged to respective sides of a centreline parallel with an axis of the electrical terminals.

11. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second latch portions are movable with one another to release the first and second keep portions.

12. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the release member carries a further latch portion.

13. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the first part provides a socket region between the first and second latch portions, for receiving the release member.

14. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the retention arrangement further comprises lead-in surfaces which engage as the parts are brought together, the engagement causing the latch member to deflect past the keep.

15. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the retention arrangement further comprises lead-in surfaces which engage as the parts are brought together, the engagement causing the parts to adopt a predetermined alignment as they are brought together.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the lead-in surfaces are formed to remain in engagement after the parts have been brought together, to maintain the predetermined alignment.

17. An arrangement according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the arrangement comprises cooperating sets of lead-in surfaces spaced on respective sides of a centreline parallel with an axis of the electrical terminals.