FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrical cable connector and an assembly of an electrical cable connector and an electrical cable connected to the electrical cable connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical cable connectors are commonplace used in electrical devices. In some applications, there is a need to enable a quick connection or disconnection of electrical cables to electrical cable connectors in ensuring efficient connection. It is therefore desirable to provide an electrical cable connector which enables electrical cable to be quickly connected or disconnected in a fast, robust and safe way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, an electrical cable connector comprises a housing and a terminal element disposed in the housing. The terminal element has a base, a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of spring arms each extending forwardly from a respective sidewall. The pair of spring arms are configured to receive a cable therebetween to connect the cable to the terminal element. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments, illustrated by way of example the inventive concept of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are disclosed hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical cable connector according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cable connector of Fig. 1 when an electrical cable is to be connected to the connector;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of Fig. 1; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal element of the cable connector of Fig. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the terminal element of Fig. 4 viewing from another angle; FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a cable connected to the connector of Fig. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective showing a cable connected to the connector of Fig. 1 without showing the housing of the connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter a preferred embodiment of an electrical cable connector is described with reference to the drawings Figs. 1 to 8.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an electrical cable connector 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 110 and a terminal element 120 disposed in housing 110. Housing 110 has a front side 102, a rear side 104 opposite to front side 102, a bottom side 106 and a top side 108 opposite to bottom side 106. At rear side 104 of housing 110 there is a connection opening 114 into which an electrical cable 20 can be inserted, for establishing electrical connection with terminal element 120 of connector 100. At inner wall of housing 110, adjacent to connection opening 114, there is formed one or more guiding groove, e.g. guiding grooves 114a, 114b as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, extending along a direction from rear side 104 towards front side 102. At top side 108 of housing 110 there is an operation opening 118 for access and passing through of a jig 30, to assist connection of cable 20 to the terminal element 120 of connector 100.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, terminal element 120 is formed of a single piece thin metal plate, by e.g. stamping. Terminal element 120 has a base 121 and a pair of sidewalls

122, 132 each extending upwardly from base 121. Sidewalls 122 and 132 are spaced apart from each other. A cantilevered first spring arm 124 extends forwardly from sidewall 122, and a cantilevered second spring arm 134 extends forwardly from sidewall 132. The tips

123, 133 of respective spring arms 124, 134 extend to converge towards each other, for clamping to an end portion of electrical cable 20. In addition, the upper end portions 128, 138 of tips 123, 133 are located in alignment with operation opening 118 of housing 110, and tapered to diverge upwardly facing operation opening 118, for receiving jig 30 between upper end portions 128, 138. When electrical cable 20 is to be connected to connector 100, jig 30 is inserted into operation opening 108 to abut against upper end portions 128, 138. Jig 30 deflects spring arms 124, 134 away from each other, to allow electrical cable 20 to be placed and between tips 123, 133 of respective spring arms 124, 134. After jig 30 is removed, tips 123, 133 of respective spring arms 124, 134 clamp electrical cable 20 in between, to fix electrical cable 20 to terminal element 120 and form electrical connection thereto.

Terminal element 120 has a cover piece 126 formed integral to base 121. A front portion 126a of cover piece 126 is connected to one of the spring arms, e.g. in this embodiment, spring arm 124, via a link portion 125. Front portion 126a of cover piece 126 extends toward the other one of the spring arms, e.g. in this embodiment, spring arm 122. Base 121, the pair of sidewalls 122, 124 and front portion 126a of cover piece 126 form a first channel segment 127a into which electrical cable 20 can be received. Cover piece 126 has a rear portion 126b extending backwardly from front portion 126a in a cantilevered manner. Base 121, sidewalls 122, 132 and rear portion 126b of cover piece 126 form a second channel segment 127b connected to first channel segment 127a. Second channel segment 127b has a channel entrance 127e positioned in alignment with connection opening 114 of housing 110.

Extending backwardly from each sidewall 122, 132 there is a guiding projection 142, 152. When terminal element 120 is assembled to housing 110, as shown in Fig. 6, guiding projections 142, 152 engage respective guiding groove 114a, 114b (only one guiding projection 142 and corresponding guiding groove 114a are shown in Fig. 6), to ensure the correct position of terminal element 120 inside housing 110. At front portion of base 121 of terminal element 120 there is formed a stopper 129 projecting upwardly.

Stopper 129 abuts against front wall 119 of housing 110 to prevent movement of terminal element 120 relative to housing 110 towards front side 102.

Rear portion 126b of cover piece 126 abuts against a shoulder 116b formed on top wall 116 of housing 110 and projected inside housing 110 toward terminal element 120. Rear portion 126b and top wall 116 form a gap 117 therebetween. The engagement of cover piece 126 and housing 110 by the abutment between rear portion 126b and shoulder 116b assists in preventing the displacement of terminal element 120 relative to housing 110 towards rear side 104. In addition, rear portion 126b of cover piece 126 is allowed to deform relative to base 121 within the gap 117, and restricted by the top wall of housing 110.

In the present embodiment, front portion 126a of cover piece 126 is parallel to base 121, and rear portion 126b may be bent slightly upwardly relative to front portion 126a and away from base 121. There is therefore formed a tapered portion at the entrance 127e of second channel segment 127b, by sidewalls 122 and 132 and rear portion 126b of cover piece 126. First channel segment 127a is further tapered inwardly by the pair of spring arms 124, 134 and the front portion 126a of cover piece 126.

In use, jig 30 is inserted into operation opening 118 of housing 110, as shown in Fig. 2, to force spring arms 124, 134 to deflect away from each other. A front end 22 of electrical cable 20 is then inserted into second channel segment 127b and first channel segment 127a, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, through connection opening 114 of housing 110, and with the front end 22 placed between tips 123, 133 of spring arms 124, 134. Jig 30 is then removed, allowing spring arms 124, 134 to deflect back toward original positions to clamp the front end 22 of electrical cable 20 between tips 123, 133 of spring arms 124, 134. Electrical cable 20 is therefore securely connected to terminal element 120 of connector 100.

During the insertion process of electrical cable 20 into housing 110, second channel segment 127b and first channel segment 127a act to guide electrical 20 toward the connected position. The positional accuracy required to connect electrical cable 20 to connector 100 is ensured.

When it is desired to disconnect electrical cable 20 from connector 100, e.g. for replacement and/or repairing purpose, jig 30 is inserted into operation opening 118, to defect spring arms 124, 134 away from each other. The electrical cable 20 is then retracted away from spring arms 124, 134, and can be removed from terminal element 120.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed. Therefore, the present invention should be understood to be capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, alternatives and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and recited by the following claims.