Patent ID: 6162085
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly comprising;an outer molded connector housing having an inner connector body that includes a plurality of terminal cavities and that is molded as an integral part of the outer connector housing, the inner connector body being spaced from the respective ends of the outer connector housing so as to provide a first socket at a cable end and a second socket at a contact end of the outer connector housing,a cable having a plurality of electric leads, each lead having a lead terminal and a lead seal attached at one end, each lead terminal being plugged into one of the terminal cavities with the lead seal engaging a wall of the terminal cavity to seal the end of the terminal cavity between the wall and the lead,a terminal position assurance device having a separator body that has a plurality of lead passages extending through the body in an axial direction,each of the lead passages having a radial loading slot that extends from the passage to the periphery of the body so that individual leads of the cable can be loaded into the respective lead passages,the separator body being plugged into the first socket at the cable end of the outer connector housing and having forward pusher portions engaging axial ends of the lead seals to properly position the lead terminals in the inner connector body,the terminal position assurance device having a pair of clam shells that are disposed outside the outer connector housing and that are individually attached to a rearward end of the separator body by a living hinge,the clam shells being pivotal from an open position allowing the loading of the leads of tube cable into the cable passages to a closed position encompassing the leads and embracing the cable,the clam shells each having an arcuate rib that engages the cable to provide a strain relief when the clam shells are in the closed position,means for locking the clam shells in the closed position, anda disposable transition connector plugged into the second socket at the connector end of the outer connector housing, the transition connector having an elastomeric body and a plurality of transition terminals that are insert molded in the elastomeric body, the transition terminals having a male contact at one end and a female receptacle at the opposite end, and the elastomeric body having a circumferential lip seal engaging a wall of the second socket to seal the contact end of the outer connector housing.