Connector assembly including provision for body clip

An electrical connector assembly including a housing and a retainer releasably supported by the housing is provided. The retainer includes a clip receiver configured to retain a supporting clip and a lock configured to engage an electrical connector for restricting axial movement thereof relative to the housing.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a connector lock including a body clip provision.

Radio frequency (RF) coaxial cable connector assemblies have been used for numerous automotive applications, such as global positioning systems (GPS), car radios, mobile phones, airbag systems, and multimedia devices. Such connector assemblies are often secured relative to an automotive component, such as a door or a roof panel, through the use of a body clip.

Conventional coaxial cables typically consist of an outer conductor, an inner conductor, a dielectric, and a jacket. The outer conductor and the inner conductor of the cable often electrically interface with a mating coaxial cable through jack and plug connectors. Such conventional coaxial cable connectors are known in the art, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,676,445 and 6,824,403, which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Typical electrical connector assemblies have retention means in a connector housing in order to secure the electrical connectors within the connector housing. One such retainer is a plastic movable member which is configured to move in place over the connector to lock the connector in place within the connector housing. Some of such movable members are moved transversely to the axial direction, while others are designed as hinged flaps which are rotated into place.

The connector housing often further includes an integrally formed clip provision which is configured to releasably retain the body clip. As noted above, the body clip is typically configured to secure the position of the connector assembly relative to an automobile component.

In order to standardize various types of connectors and thereby avoid confusion, certain industry standards have been established. One of these standards is referred to as FAKRA. FAKRA is the Automotive Standards Committee in the German Institute for Standardisation, representing international standardization interests in the automotive field. The FAKRA standard provides a system, based on keying and color coding, for proper connector attachment. Like jack keys can only be connected to like plug keyways in FAKRA connectors. Secure positioning and locking of connector housings is facilitated by way of a FAKRA defined catch on the jack housing and a cooperating latch on the plug housing.

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical connector assembly includes a jack housing having a first side, a second side, and an axial passageway configured to receive an electrical connector jack. A plug housing includes a first side, a second side, and an axial passageway configured to receive an electrical connector plug for mating with the electrical connector jack. A retainer includes a first leg, a second leg, a bridge member connecting the first leg and the second leg, and a clip receiver configured to retain a supporting clip. A first coupler is supported by the jack housing and is configured to releasably couple the retainer to the jack housing. A second coupler is supported by the plug housing and is configured to releasably couple the retainer to the plug housing, wherein the retainer may be alternatively coupled to the jack housing and the plug housing.

According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical connector assembly includes a housing having an axial passageway and a transverse passageway. An electrical connector is configured to be received within the axial passageway. The electrical connector includes a shell having a shoulder. A retainer is releasably coupled to the housing and includes a clip receiver configured to retain a supporting clip. A lock is configured to be received within the transverse passageway and to engage the shoulder of the electrical connector for restricting axial movement of the electrical connector relative to the housing.

According to yet another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a retainer is configured to be releasably coupled to an electrical connector housing. The retainer includes a first leg having an opening configured to receive a first latch supported by a first side of the electrical connector housing, and a second leg including an opening configured to receive a second latch supported by a second side of the electrical connector housing. A bridge member connects the first leg and the second leg, and includes a lower surface and an upper surface. A clip receiver is supported by the lower surface of the bridge member and is configured to retain a supporting clip. A lock is supported by the upper surface of the bridge member and is configured to restrict movement of an electrical connector received within the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-5, an electrical connector assembly10according to the present disclosure includes a plug assembly12which is configured to couple to a jack assembly14. The plug assembly12includes a plug housing16having an axial passageway18which is configured to receive a coaxial cable20(FIGS. 3 and 4). The coaxial cable20illustratively includes a conventional plug connector22(FIGS. 2 and 3).

With reference toFIGS. 1,2, and6-8, the jack assembly14similarly includes a jack housing24having an axial passageway26which is configured to receive a coaxial cable28(FIGS. 6 and 7). The coaxial cable28includes a conventional jack connector30which is configured to mate with the corresponding plug connector22and provide an electrical connection between respective cables20and28(FIG. 2).

With reference now toFIGS. 2,3,9, and10, a generally U-shaped retainer32is configured to releasably couple to either the plug housing16or the jack housing24. In other words, the retainer32may be alternatively coupled to either the plug housing16or the jack housing24depending upon the environment and application requirements of the connector assembly10. In certain applications, two retainers32may be provided, one for each of the plug housing16and the jack housing24. The retainer32includes a first leg34extending substantially parallel to a second leg36. A bridge member38connects the first leg34and the second leg36.

The first leg34includes a first opening, illustratively first slot40configured to releasably receive a first coupler, illustratively upper and lower first latches42aand42bsupported by the plug housing16. Similarly, the second leg36includes a second opening, illustratively second slot44configured to releasably receive a second coupler, illustratively upper and lower second latches46aand46bsupported by the plug housing16. The latches42and46each include an inclined ramp surface48and a locking surface50. The ramp surface48is configured to facilitate installation of the retainer32on the respective housing16,24. More particularly, a leading edge52of each leg34and36passes over the ramp surface48until a locking edge54passes over the apex56and locks in place. The locking edge54“snap-fits” over the latch42,46and is retained in position by engaging the locking surface50.

The upper latches42aand46aprovide for locking of the retainer32in a fully assembled position, while the lower latches42band46bprovide for locking of the retainer32in a pre-staged position. In the pre-staged position, the retainer32is coupled to the respective housing16,24but is not operably coupled to the cable20,28. By providing a pre-staged position, the number of separated components for final assembly may be reduced.

A clip receiver58is supported by a lower surface60of the bridge member38(FIG. 9) and is configured to retain a conventional supporting clip62(FIG. 4). The supporting clip62is illustratively coupled to an automotive component (not shown), such as a door or a roof panel. The clip receiver58includes first and second walls66and68having slots70and72formed therein. The slots70an72define a channel74having a first open end76configured to slidably receive the clip62. A latch78is positioned at the second end80of the channel74and is configured to be received within an opening82formed within the clip62. The latch78illustratively includes a ramp surface84and a locking surface86. The clip62is configured to glide over the ramp surface84and then latches in place over the locking surface86.

With reference toFIGS. 9,10, and12, a flange or lock90extends upwardly from an upper surface92of the bridge member38. The lock90includes an arcuate engagement surface94configured to engage one of the jack connector22and the plug connector30for restricting axial movement thereof. More particularly, the engagement surface94is configured to be received intermediate first and second flanges or shoulders96,97, and98,99extending outwardly from a shell100,101of the respective connector22,30(FIGS. 11 and 13).

With reference toFIG. 11, the outer shell100of the plug connector22receives traditional coaxial components including a retaining ring102, a front dielectric103, a rear dielectric104, and an outer contact105. As known, the front dielectric103and the rear dielectric104may be replaced with a single dielectric. An annular groove106is defined intermediate the shoulders96and98. A cylindrical ferrule108extends outwardly from the shell100and is configured to help retain the coaxial cable20. More particularly, the outer conductor110of the coaxial cable20is received within a jacket112and is coupled between a cylindrical mount114of the shell100and the mating ferrule108. Cable dielectric115passes into an interior bore117. Inner conductor116of cable20is crimped and/or soldered to a socket contact (not shown) of the plug connector22in a conventional manner, and passes through the interior bore117. An annular spacer or washer118may be positioned within the bore112for cooperating with the cable dielectric115.

With further reference toFIG. 5, the plug housing16includes a front mating end120and a rear connector receiving end122. The axial passageway18is substantially cylindrical and is in communication with a transversely extending slot124. The slot124is configured to slidably receive the lock90. The first side126and the second side128of the housing16include recesses130and132, respectively, to cooperate with the legs34and36of the retainer32. The first leg34is received within the first recess130and the second leg36is received within the second recess132.

With reference toFIG. 8, the jack housing24includes a front mating end140and a rear connector receiving end142. The passageway26is substantially cylindrical and is in communication with a transversely extending slot144. The slot144is configured to slidably receive the lock90of a retainer148.

While in the illustrative embodiment, the plug housing16is shown as receiving the retainer32and the jack housing24is shown as receiving the retainer148, it should be appreciated that the retainers32and148are interchangeable between the plug and jack assemblies12and14.

As shown inFIG. 12, retainer148is similar to retainer32detailed herein. Moreover, the retainer148includes first and second legs34and36connected by bridge member38. The retainer148also includes lock90extending from upper surface92of bridge member38and including arcuate engagement surface94. However, retainer148does not include the clip receiver58.

With reference toFIG. 13, the outer shell101of the jack connector30receives traditional coaxial components including a front dielectric152and a rear dielectric154. As known, the front dielectric152and the rear dielectric154may be replaced with a single dielectric. Flanges or shoulders97and99define an annular groove160which is configured to receive the lock90. A cylindrical ferrule162extends outwardly from the shell101and is configured to help retain the coaxial cable28. More particularly, the outer conductor164of the coaxial cable28is received within a jacket166and is coupled between a cylindrical mount168of the shell101and the mating ferrule162. Cable dielectric170passes into an interior bore172. Inner conductor174of cable28is crimped and/or soldered to a pin contact (not shown) of the jack connector30in a conventional manner, and passes through the interior bore172. An annular spacer or washer176may be positioned within the bore172for cooperating with the cable dielectric170.

With further reference toFIG. 8, the jack housing24includes a first coupler, illustratively upper and lower first latches42aand42b, which are substantially the same as latches42aand42bof the plug housing16and are configured to be received within first slot40of the retainer148. Likewise, the jack housing24includes a second coupler, illustratively upper and lower second latches46aand46b, which are substantially the same as latches46aand46bof the plug housing16and are configured to be received within second slot44of the retainer148. The first side178and the second side180of the housing24include recesses182and184, respectively, to cooperate with the legs34and36of the retainer148.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional coupler186may be configured to releasably couple the plug housing16with the jack housing24. More particularly, a catch188supported by the jack housing24may be positioned within an opening190supported by the plug housing16to secure together the jack assembly14and the plug assembly12.