Patent ID: 9054454
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. An electrical connector assembly configured to connect to a mating electrical connector, comprising: a connector body forming a connector shroud, the connector shroud defining a shroud cavity therein for receiving said mating electrical connector; a terminal projecting along a terminal axis from a base to a tip disposed within said shroud cavity; a terminal stabilizer defining an aperture and disposed within said shroud cavity, wherein said terminal stabilizer is moveable from a stabilizing position proximate said tip to a stowed position proximate said base and moveable from the stowed position toward the stabilizing position, wherein the tip of the terminal is received in the aperture in the stabilizing position, whereby the terminal stabilizer protects the terminal from being bent away from the terminal axis by a force applied to the tip in a direction substantially orthogonal to the terminal axis; and an arcuate resilient spring member integrally formed by said terminal stabilizer and configured to exert an axial spring force on said terminal stabilizer, thereby holding the terminal stabilizer in the stabilizing position until an axial insertion force applied to the terminal stabilizer by the mating electrical connector exceeds the spring force and thereby moving the terminal stabilizer from the stowed position toward the stabilizing position when the spring force exceeds the insertion force.