Abstract:
Terminal position assurance (TPA) member used in a connector, to make sure that a terminal is positioned properly. The TPA member has at least one locating/guide feature to provide proper guidance and to avoid an imbalance during engagement with a connector housing, and has at least one flexible feature to help retain the TPA member in a preset position and/or a final lock position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/279,109, filed Jan. 15, 2016, it is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a terminal position assurance (TPA) member used in a connector. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a terminal position assurance (TPA) member used in a connector. A TPA member can be used in a connector to make sure that a terminal is positioned properly. The connector can be an electrical connector or other type of connector, for example. The connector can have one or more terminals for electrical connections or for other types of connections, for example. 
         [0004]    According to the principles of the present invention, a first TPA member has at least one flexible feature. 
         [0005]    According to the principles of the present invention, a second TPA member has at least one locating/guide feature and at least one flexible feature. The locating/guide feature can also be referred to as a guide feature or a guide. The flexible feature can also be referred to as a protrusion. 
         [0006]    According to the principles of the present invention, a second TPA member has at least one locating/guide feature to provide proper guidance and to avoid any imbalance created during engagement and disengagement with a connector or a connector housing. 
         [0007]    A TPA member, according to the principles of the present invention, provides a number of desirable characteristics, including at least, for example: it helps to achieve a full potential force of the system and desirable audible “click” sound when TPA member is inserted into connector housing; it helps to avoid a TPA member being moved to a final lock position (or “set” position) during shipping and/or handling; it requires no secondary operation of a user; and it helps prevent failure. 
         [0008]    It is a desirable trait to achieve full potential force of the system and an audible “click” sound. For example, when the TPA member is inserted into a connector housing, it is a desirable trait to achieve a full potential force of the system and to have an audible “click” sound for convenient assurance that the components are completely mated. In the automotive connector field and other fields, for example, an extra loud sound is favorable. It is desirable to have the loudest “click” sound possible. The “click” sound can be achieved by an interaction of latching features, for example. 
         [0009]    Because of the use of location/guide features of the present invention, the TPA member&#39;s first pair of flexible features is more likely to engage substantially simultaneously, and then subsequently the TPA member&#39;s second pair of flexible features is more likely to engage substantially simultaneously, thereby achieving full potential force of the system and producing an audible “click” sound. Because of the location/guide features, there is additional force when a TPA member and a connector housing are mated together, and that additional force helps to make the “click” sound louder than it would have been if the location/guide features were not present. 
         [0010]    It is a desirable trait to avoid a TPA member being moved to a final lock position (or “set” position) during shipping and/or handling. The location/guide features and flexible features of TPA members, according to the principles disclosed herein, help to make the TPA member more resistant to entering a final lock position (or “set” position) during shipping and/or handling. The location/guide features and flexible features of TPA members, according to the principles disclosed herein, help to prevent a movement of TPA members from a pre-set position to a final lock position during shipping and/or handling. 
         [0011]    It is a desirable trait for a TPA member to avoid a need for a secondary operation of a user. The location/guide features and flexible features of TPA members, according to the principles disclosed herein, help to avoid a need for a secondary operation of a user. The desired movement can be accomplished by a single operation of a user. 
         [0012]    It is a desirable trait for a TPA member to help prevent failure. The location/guide features and flexible features of TPA members, according to the principles disclosed herein, help to avoid failure. 
         [0013]    When a TPA member and a connector housing are engaged together in a final lock position, the engagement thereof is assured because there is an audible “click” sound. 
         [0014]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention are set forth or are apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first TPA member that has flexible features, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a graph showing the forces used to insert the first TPA member of  FIG. 1  into a connector. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second TPA member that has location/guide features and flexible features, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the second TPA member of  FIG. 3  and a connector, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the second TPA member of  FIG. 4  partially inserted into the connector of  FIG. 4 , in a preset position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an devotional view of the second TPA member of  FIG. 4  fully inserted into the connector of  FIG. 4 , in a final lock position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    There is a need to provide a TPA member with a configuration that helps to prevent inadvertent movement from a preset position to a final lock position. 
         [0026]    For example, a TPA member can be partially inserted into a connector before shipping, and that position can correspond to a preset position. Then the connector, having the TPA in the preset position, can be shipped to a customer. At that time, the customer can put the connector to use, and then can lastly move the TPA member from the preset position to the final lock position. The customer typically does not want to receive a connector with a TPA member already in the final lock position, because this could mean that the customer needs to take one or more additional steps which would be inconvenient and not desirable. For example, the customer will need to move the TPA member from the final lock position to the preset position, then put the connector to use, and then move the TPA member from the preset position to the final lock position. Additional steps, or secondary operations, are not desired. 
         [0027]    Thus, in view of the above, there is a need to provide a TPA member with a configuration that helps to prevent inadvertent movement from a preset position to a final lock position, during shipping and/or handling, for example. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first TPA member that has flexible features, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first TPA member, generally referred to by reference numeral  100 . The first TPA member  100  has a body that has a first side which includes flexible feature  102  and flexible feature  104 . The body of the first TPA member  100  has a second side which includes flexible feature  106  and flexible feature  108 . The body of the first TPA member  100  forms at least one terminal aperture  110 . 
         [0030]    When the first TPA member  100  is inserted into a connector, it is desirable for the first side to be even, balanced, or in alignment with the second side, so that flexible feature  102  will be engaged with a first tab of the connector at substantially the same time as the flexible feature  106  is engaged with a second tab of the connecter. 
         [0031]    When flexible feature  102  engages with a first tab of the connector at substantially the same time as the flexible feature  106  engages with a second tab of the connector, this corresponds to a single peak force. If the first TPA member  100  is inserted into a connector in a lopsided manner, such that flexible feature  102  engages a first tab of the connector before flexible feature  106  engages a second tab of the connector, wherein the first side of the TPA member  100  is inserted into the connector before the second side of the TPA member  100 , this can correspond to two or more peak forces, which is not desirable. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a graph showing the forces used to insert the first TPA member of  FIG. 1  into a connector. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows the forces used to insert the first TPA member  100  into a connector, or to extract the first TPA member  100  from a connector. The first TPA member  100  does not have locating/guide features  220 ,  222 . Because the first TPA member  100  does not have locating/guide features  220 ,  222 , the flexible feature  102  might be engaged before the flexible feature  106  is engaged. That is, the first TPA member  100  might be inserted into a connector in a lopsided manner, such that one side is inserted before another side. 
         [0034]    Because the first TPA member  100  does not have the locating/guide features  220 ,  222  of the present invention, the first TPA member  100  can be lopsided during insertion and this can lead to an imbalance of force, and the corresponding force curve can have two or more peaks of force. It is desirable to just have one peak of force when a TPA member is inserted into a connector. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 2 , each different colored curve represents threes from a different sample, when a TPA member that does not have the locating/guide features  220 ,  222  of the present invention is inserted into a connector. It is easy and common to insert a TPA member in a lopsided manner or uneven manner, when that TPA member does not have the locating/guide features  220 ,  222  of the present invention. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 2 , most or all of the different colored curves have two or more peak forces, because it is easy and common to insert a TPA member in a lopsided manner or uneven manner, when that TPA member does not have the locating/guide features  220 ,  222  of the present invention. 
         [0037]    To achieve the maximum force and/or a single peak three during insertion, a TPA member can be configured to have the locating/guide features  220 ,  222  of the present invention. To achieve the maximum force and/or a single peak force when a TPA member is extracted from a connector, a TPA member can be configured to have the locating/guide features  220 ,  272  of the present invention. The locating/guide features  220 ,  222 , in a middle area of a TPA member  200  as shown in  FIG. 3 , help to enable the flexible features  102  and  106  to engage a tab substantially simultaneously. The locating/guide features  220 ,  222  help to enable the flexible features  104  and  108  engage substantially simultaneously. 
         [0038]    The locating/guide features  220 ,  222  help to have flexible features  102  and  106  engage a connector substantially simultaneously. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second TPA member that has location/guide features and flexible features, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  depicts a second TPA member  200  that has a body  201 . The body has flexible features  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  formed thereon. The flexible features  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  can also be referred to as protrusions  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  extending outward from sides of the body of the second TPA member  200 .  FIG. 3  shows that the body of the second TPA member  200  has a top  224 . The body also has a location/guide feature  220  extending outward from the body in a first direction, and a location/guide feature  222  extending outward from the body in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The body forms at least one terminal aperture  110 . A plurality of terminal apertures  110  are shown in  FIG. 3 . The flexible features  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  are more flexible than the location/guide features  220  and  222 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows that the location/guide features  220 ,  222  are at or near a middle area of the top  224 , but the location/guide features  220 ,  222  could be located at one or more different areas of the second TPA member  200 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention. One of the purposes of the location/guide features  220 ,  222  is to help the second TPA member  200  be even and balanced during insertion and extraction, and is not lopsided during insertion or extraction. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the second TPA member of  FIG. 3  and a connector, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  indicates the top  224  and bottom  226  of the second TPA member  200 . FIG,  4  shows a connector  300  which has an aperture  302 . The aperture  302  receives the bottom  226  of the second TPA member  200 . The connector  300  has ribs  304  and  306 . 
         [0044]    The location/guide feature  220  extends from the top  224  of the body of the second TPA member  200  in a first direction outward away from the body as shown in  FIG. 4 , and the location/guide feature  222  extends from the top  224  of the body of the second TPA member  200  in a second direction opposite to the first direction, outward away from the body as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0045]    The location/guide feature  220  also extends downward in a direction toward the bottom  226  of the body of the second TPA member  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The location/guide feature  222  also extends downward in a direction toward the bottom  226  of the body of the second TPA member  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the connector  300  has an aperture  320  for receiving the locating/guide feature  220  of the second TPA member  200 . The connector  300  also has an aperture  322  for receiving the locating/guide feature  222  of the second TPA member  200 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the second TPA member of  FIG. 4  partially inserted into the connector of  FIG. 4 , in a preset position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  depicts the preset position, wherein the second TPA member  200  is partially inserted into the aperture  302  of the connector. In the preset position, the flexible features  104  and  108  are visible in  FIG. 5 , but the flexible features  102  and  106  are not visible in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  depicts the preset position, wherein the second TPA member  200  is partially inserted into the aperture  302  of the connector.  FIG. 6  shows that connector  300  forms a receiving area  330  and a tab  332  on an interior of aperture  302 , at one side.  FIG. 6  also shows that connector  300  forms a receiving area  340  and a tab  342  on an interior of aperture  302 , at an opposite side. 
         [0051]    When the bottom  226  of the second TPA member  200  is first inserted into the aperture  302 , the flexible feature  102  of the second TPA member  200  will engage with the tab  332  of the connector  300 , and then the flexible feature  102  will be held in the receiving area  330  by the tab  332 , so that the second TPA member  200  is held in the preset position. 
         [0052]    When the bottom  226  of the second TPA member  200  is inserted into the aperture  302 , the flexible feature  106  of the second TPA member  200  will engage with the tab  342  of the connector  300 , and then the flexible feature  106  will be held in the receiving area  340  by the tab  342 , so that the second TPA member  200  is held in the preset position. 
         [0053]    In the preset position, as shown in FIG,  6 , the flexible feature  104  is not in the receiving area  330 , and the flexible feature  108  is not in the receiving area  340 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 6 . The scale of  FIG. 7  is 30:1. 
         [0055]      FIG. 8  is an elevational view of the second TPA member of  FIG. 4  fully inserted into the connector of  FIG. 4 , in a final lock position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  depicts the final lock position, wherein the second TPA member  200  is fully inserted into the aperture  302  of the connector. In the final lock position, the tabs  332  and  342  are visible in  FIG. 8 , but the flexible features  104  and  108  are not visible in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 9  depicts the final lock position, wherein the second TPA member  200  is fully inserted into the aperture  302  of the connector.  FIG. 9  shows that connector  300  forms a receiving area  330  and a tab  332  on an interior of aperture  302 , at one side.  FIG. 9  also shows that connector  300  forms a receiving area  340  and a tab  342  on an interior of aperture  302 , at an opposite side. 
         [0059]    When the second TPA member  200  is moved from the preset position to the final lock position, the flexible feature  104  of the second TPA member  200  will engage with the tab  332  of the connector  300 , and then the flexible feature  104  will be held in the receiving area  330  by the tab  332 . 
         [0060]    When the second TPA member  00  is moved from the preset position to the final lock position, the flexible feature  108  of the second TPA member  200  will engage with the tab  342  of the connector  300 , and then the flexible feature  108  will be held in the receiving area  340  by the tab  342 . 
         [0061]    In the final lock position, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the flexible features  102  and  104  are both in the receiving area  330 , and the flexible features  106  and  108  are both in the receiving area  340 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in  FIG. 9 . The scale of  FIG. 10  is 30:1. 
         [0063]    Although the foregoing description is directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Moreover, features described in connection with one embodiment of the invention may be used in conjunction with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated above. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0064]      100  Terminal position assurance member 
         [0065]      102  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
         [0066]      104  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
         [0067]      106  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
         [0068]      108  Flexible feature (protrusion) 
         [0069]      110  Terminal aperture, formed by the body of the terminal position assurance member 
         [0070]      200  Terminal position assurance member with locating/guide features 
         [0071]      201  Body of the terminal position assurance member 
         [0072]      220  Locating/guide feature (guide) 
         [0073]      222  Locating/guide feature (guide) 
         [0074]      224  Top of body of terminal position assurance member 
         [0075]      226  Bottom of body of terminal position assurance member 
         [0076]      300  Connector 
         [0077]      302  Aperture for receiving bottom of body of terminal position assurance member 
         [0078]      304  Rib 
         [0079]      306  Rib 
         [0080]      320  Aperture for receiving locating/guide feature  220   
         [0081]      322  Aperture for receiving locating/guide feature  222   
         [0082]      330  Receiving area for receiving flexible features  102  and  104   
         [0083]      332  Tab 
         [0084]      340  Receiving area for receiving flexible features  106  and  108   
         [0085]      342  Tab