Electrical tab receptacle

Abstract

An electrical tab receptacle for mating with a complementary tab is provided with an integral tongue having a lance whereby the receptacle can be releasably secured to the tab, the tongue being resiliently depressible by means of a finger, a tool, or part of a housing containing the receptacle, to release the receptacle from the tongue.

I claim: .[.1. An electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal and comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding side walls with free edge portions of the side walls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab between the base and the turned-in edges of the side walls and an integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry end of the receptacle portion, the tongue extending rearwardly in inclined manner towards the turned-in edges of the side walls, the free end of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle portion projecting rearwardly beyond the turned-in edges of the side walls, said tongue being turned outwards away from said base and projecting externally of said receptacle portion thereby forming a readily accessible release member, and the tongue within the receptacle portion being formed in a middle portion with a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to engage a corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal 
     
        from the receptacle..]. 2. In combination, an electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal and comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding side walls with free edge portions of the side walls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab between the base and the turned-in edges of the side walls, the base of the receptacle being formed with an outwardly and rearwardly directed lance, and an integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry end of the receptacle portion, the tongue extending rearwardly in inclined manner towards the turned-in edges of the side walls, the free end of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle portion projecting rearwardly beyond the turned-in edges of the side walls, said tongue being turned outwards away from said base and projecting externally of said receptacle portion, and the tongue within the receptacle portion being formed in a middle portion with a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to engage a corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from the receptacle, and an insulating housing in which the receptacle is secured, a base of the housing being formed with a shoulder which is engaged by the lance on the base of the receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in one axial direction relative to the housing, and an upper wall of the housing being formed with a depending wall which prevents insertion of a complementary tab between the receptacle and the upper wall of the housing, and which is engaged by the turned-in edge portions of the side walls of the receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in the other axial direction relative to the housing, the upper wall of the housing being formed with a flexible portion which can be depressed to contact the free end of the tongue of the receptacle thereby to depress the tongue and release the lance on the 
     
     
        tongue from a complementary tab mated with the receptacle. 3. In combination, an electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal and comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding side walls with free edge portions of the side walls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab between the base and the turned-in edges of the side walls, the base of the receptacle being formed with a hole, and an integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry end of the receptacle portion, the tongue extending rearwardly in inclined manner towards the turned-in edges of the side walls, the free end of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle portion projecting rearwardly beyond the turned-in edges of the side walls, said tongue being turned outwards away from said base and projecting externally of said receptacle portion, and the tongue within the receptacle portion being formed in a middle portion with a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in edges of the side walls and arranged and adapted to engage a corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from the receptacle, and an insulating housing in which the receptacle is secured, a base of the housing being formed with a boss which is received in the hole in the base of the receptacle, the relative sizes of the hole in the base of the receptacle and boss being such that the receptacle is capable of limited axial movement relative to the housing, and an upper wall of the housing being formed with a sloping surface which engages the free end of the tongue of the receptacle as the receptacle moves in one axial direction relative to the housing, whereby the tongue can be depressed to release the lance on 
     
     
        the tongue from a complementary tab mated with the receptacle. 4. A combination as claimed in claim 3, in which the upper wall of the housing is formed with a longitudinal rib which extends between the turned-in edge portions of the side walls of the receptacle to prevent insertion of a complementary tab between the receptacle and the upper wall of the housing. .Iadd. 5. An electrical connector, comprising: a. a first terminal formed from sheet metal and having a conductor receiving end and an opposite channel-shaped, mating end for making electrical engagement with a complementary second terminal, a tongue on the first terminal having means thereon for releasably engaging the second terminal with the free end of the tongue being located intermediate the conductor receiving end and the mating end; and   b. a housing of insulating material having a passage therein in which the first terminal is located, retaining means on the housing for retaining the first terminal in the passage and for permitting limited axial movement therebetween, and release means on the housing positioned to engage the free end of the tongue whereby movement of the housing relative to the first terminal causes said release means to engage the tongue free end to thereby release the first terminal from a complementary second terminal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the complementary second terminal comprises a tab and the mating end of the first terminal includes a channel-shaped, tab receiving portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein the channel-shaped, tab receiving portion of the first terminal includes a base and upstanding sidewalls with the free edge portions thereof turned in over the base for receiving the tab. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 8. The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein the tongue is integral with the base and extends rearwardly in the space between the base and turned-in edges of the sidewalls. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein the tongue includes a lance protruding from its upper surface and adapted to releasably engage a recess or aperture in the tab which may be positioned between the tongue and turned-in edge portions of the sidewalls. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The electrical connector of claim 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein the first terminal has an elongated hole and the retaining means on the housing includes boss means which is received in the elongated hole. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. The electrical connector of claim 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein the release means includes a sloping surface in the passage of the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein the release means includes a sloping surface in the passage of the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. An electrical connector, comprising:     a. a receptacle formed from sheet metal and having wire receiving means at one end and a channel-shaped, tab receiving portion at another end, said portion having a base and upstanding sidewalls with the free edge portions thereof turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab therein between, further, a tongue integral with the base and extending rearwardly in the space between the base and the turned-in edges of the sidewalls with the free end of the tongue being located beyond the ends of the turned-in edges, said tongue having a rearwardly inclined lance protruding from its upper surface adapted to engage a recess or aperture in the complementary tab for releasably latching the tab when mated in the receptacle; and   b. a housing for insulating material having a passage therethrough in which the receptacle is secured, means in the passage adapted to engage the receptacle to permit limited independent axial movement of the housing relative to the receptacle, further camming means in the passageway adapted to engage and depress said tongue toward the base of the receptacle as the housing is moved axially whereby the lance is withdrawn from its latching engagement with the complementary tab which may be in the receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the base of the receptacle has an axially elongated hole and the means in the passage of the housing includes a boss on the floor of the passage which is received in the elongated hole. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein the camming means includes a sloping surface in the passage in the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. In combination an electrical tab receptacle as claimed in claim 9, an insulating housing in which the receptacle is secured, said housing having means cooperable with the tongue of the receptacle to effect resilient depression of the tongue away from the turned-in edge portions of the sidewalls to thereby disengage the lance on the tongue from a complementary tab mated with the receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. In combination, an electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal and comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding sidewalls with free edge portions thereof turned-in over the base for receiving a complementary tab between the turned-in edge portions and an integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry end of the receptacle portion, the free end of the tongue at the rearward end of the receptacle portion projecting beyond the rearward ends of the turned-in edge portions and thereat being turned outwardly to project away from the base, and the tongue within the receptacle portion being formed with a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in edge portions and arranged and adapted to engage a corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from the receptacle, further the base of the receptacle being formed with an outwardly and rearwardly directed lance, and an insulating housing in which the receptacle is secured, a base of the housing being formed with a shoulder which is engaged by the lance on the base of the receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in one axial direction relative to the housing, and in upper wall of the housing being formed with a depending wall which prevents insertion of a complementary tab between the receptacle and the upper wall, and which is engaged by the turned-in edge portions of the sidewalls of the receptacle when the receptacle tends to move in the other axial direction relative to the housing, the upper wall of the housing being formed with a flexible portion which can be depressed to contact the free end of the tongue and release the lance thereon from a complementary tab mated with the receptacle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. In combination, an electrical tab receptacle formed from sheet metal and comprising a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion having a base and upstanding sidewalls with free edge portions of the sidewalls turned in over the base for receiving a complementary tab between the turned-in edge portions and an integral tongue extending from the base at the forward, tab-entry end of the receptacle portion rearwardly so that the free end of the tongue extends beyond the rearward ends of the turned-in edge portions, the free end of the tongue being turned outwards to project away from the base, and the tongue within the receptacle portion being formed with a lance inclined rearwardly from the tongue towards the turned-in edge portions and arranged and adapted to engage a corresponding recess or aperture in a complementary tab when mated with the receptacle for latching the tab against withdrawal from the receptacle, the base of the receptacle being formed with a hole, and an insulating housing in which the receptacle is secured, a base of the housing being formed with a boss which is received in the hole in the base of the receptacle, the relative sizes of the hole and boss being such that the receptacle is capable of limited axial movement relative to the housing, and an upper wall of the housing being formed with sloping surface which engages the free end of the tongue of the receptacle as the receptacle moves in one axial direction relative to the housing, whereby the tongue can be depressed to release the lance of the tongue from a complementary tab mated with the receptacle. .Iaddend.