Electrical connector assembly connected upon rotation about a bracket

A connector assembly can include a bracket, a first connector and a second connector. The bracket can have a base adapted to be mounted in a fixed position and include a wall extending at a right angle from a plane of the base. The wall can have two curved, side-by-side grooves and an axis raised above the plane of the base. The first and second connectors can each have a housing for accommodating electrical terminals. One housing can include two posts located alongside each other for receipt in the grooves of the bracket such that the first connector is guided in a stable, curved sliding movement along the grooves. The second connector can include a channel for receiving and being acted upon by the axis of the bracket to draw the connectors further together and the terminals of the connectors into electrical engagement to a final position.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to electrical connectors and more specifically to a connector assembly having a first and second electrical connector that are electrically connected upon rotation about a bracket without the need for supplemental fasteners.

BACKGROUND

Bussed electrical centers (BECs), also known as power distribution centers or junction boxes can be used in automotive vehicles to simplify electrical system wiring by eliminating multi-branch wiring, consolidating fuses, relays and other electrical circuit components in a single location. In one example, a BEC can include a plastic case having complementary upper and lower housing portions. A multitude of sockets can be formed in the BEC for receiving the circuit components. The plastic case can include bus bars, printed circuit boards (PCBs) or other conductive elements for interconnecting and supplying power to the various circuit components. Electrical connectors can be disposed on the BEC to receive mating connectors. Such mating connectors can terminate wire harnesses extending throughout the vehicle to interconnect the circuitry of the BEC with various electrical systems and devices within the vehicle.

In many applications, mechanical fasteners can be provided for securing the upper and lower housing portions together. As can be appreciated, the use of fasteners can be time consuming and require special torque installation requirements. In one example, torque guns can be provided for installation of such fasteners during assembly.

SUMMARY

A connector assembly can include a bracket, a first connector and a second connector. The bracket can have a base adapted to be mounted in a fixed position and include a wall extending at a right angle from a plane of the base. The wall can have two curved, side-by-side grooves and an axis raised above the wall and the plane of the base.

The first connector can have a first housing for accommodating electrical terminals. The first housing can include two posts located alongside each other for receipt in the grooves of the bracket such that the first connector is guided in a stable, curved sliding movement along the grooves.

The second connector can have a first housing for accommodating electrical terminals. The second housing can be sized to fit around the first connector in an initial position with the terminals of the first connector and the second connector not engaged. The second connector can include a channel for receiving and being acted upon by the axis of the bracket to draw the first and second connectors further together and the terminals of the first and second connectors into electrical engagement as the second connector is pushed toward the plane of the bracket and the first connector is guided by the posts and the grooves of the bracket to a final position.

According to additional features, a window can be formed in the second connector for viewing the axis of the bracket when the first and second connectors are in the final position. The axis can be defined by finger portions extending generally perpendicularly from the wall. The second connector can define a ramped portion wherein the finger portions slidably engage the ramped portion while the second connector is pushed toward the plane of the bracket to the final position.

According to still other features, the ramped portion can be linear. The first connector can define a pair of opposing walls defining a central opening of the first connector. The wall of the bracket can be received through the central opening in the final position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses.

With initial reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary connector assembly according to the present teachings is shown and generally identified at reference number10. The connector assembly10can generally include a first connector12, a second connector14and a bracket16. In the example shown, the first connector12is in the form of a retainer and the second connector14is in the form of a Bussed Electrical Center (BEC). The first connector12can include a first electrical component20having first terminals22. The second connector14can include a second electrical component24having second terminals26. It is appreciated that the first and second electrical components20and24, respectively, are generically depicted for simplicity. In this way, the electrical components20and24may comprise other mating shapes and/or sizes. While not specifically shown, the connector assembly10can also include additional electrical connectors, various busbars, printed circuit boards, relays, fuses and other components. As will be described in detail herein, the connector assembly10is movable from an initial position (FIG. 9) wherein the respective first and second terminals22and26are not electrically connected to a final position (FIG. 12) wherein the respective first and second terminals22and26are in electrical communication.

With continued reference toFIG. 2and additional reference toFIG. 3, the first connector12will be described in greater detail. The first connector12can generally include a first housing28having a retainer base30, a first pair of outer walls32and a second pair of outer walls34. The first and second pairs of outer walls32and34can cooperate to define an opening36. In the example shown, the first pair of outer walls32are parallel to each other and the second pair of outer walls34are parallel to each other. The base30can define an angled surface38on one end (best shown inFIG. 7). The angled surface38can define an angle relative to a bottom surface40of the retainer base30whose magnitude is less than 90 degrees.

The first pair of outer walls32can define male engagement portions42. The first connector12can define a central divider48. A portion of the central divider48can include a pair of opposing walls50extending generally parallel to the first pair of outer walls32. A central opening54can be defined through the retainer base30and between the pair of opposing walls50. A first and second pair of opposing posts58and60, respectively, can be formed on the opposing walls50(as best viewed inFIG. 3). A pair of preset engaging tabs64can be formed on the pair of opposing walls50. The first connector12can be formed of rigid lightweight material such as plastic.

With continued reference toFIG. 2and additional reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, the second connector14will be described in greater detail. The second connector14can generally include a second housing70having a BEC cover72, a first pair of outer walls74and a second pair of outer walls76. The first and second pairs of outer walls74and76can cooperate to define an opening80. In the example shown, the first pair of outer walls74are parallel to each other and the second pair of outer walls76are parallel to each other. The first pair of outer walls74can define female engagement portions82. The second connector14can define a window86formed through the cover72.

A ramped portion90can be formed on the second connector14. The ramped portion90can include a first pair of linear walls92and a second pair of linear walls94. In one example, the first pair of linear walls92can be parallel to the second pair of linear walls94(FIG. 5). The respective first and second pairs of linear walls92and94can define an angle with respect to a plane defined by the BEC cover72(FIG. 5). A chimney98defined by a pair of chimney walls100can be formed between the window86and the ramped portion90. The ramped portion90and chimney98can collectively define a channel102. The second connector14can be formed of rigid lightweight material such as plastic.

With specific reference now toFIGS. 6-8, the bracket16will be described in greater detail. The bracket16can generally define a base110and a fin portion112. In a final or assembled position, the fin portion112can be received by the central opening54of the first connector12(FIG. 8). The fin portion112can include a pair of upright walls116and a forward wall120. In the example shown, the upright walls116can extend in a generally perpendicular direction relative to a plane defined by the base110. The forward wall120can extend between the upright walls116. A lever indicator122can be formed by a pair of finger portions124extending at an upper portion of the forward wall120. The finger portions124can define an axis128that is generally perpendicular to the upright walls116. A first and second pair of grooves130and132can be defined in the upright walls116. The first pair of grooves130can oppose each other and generally define an arcuate path. Similarly, the second pair of grooves132can oppose each other and define an arcuate path. In general, the first and second pair of grooves130and132can extend in a clockwise curved path (as viewed inFIG. 6), away from the base110and toward the forward wall120. A first pair of chutes134can be defined in the upright walls116that generally terminate at first entrance ramps136defined adjacent the first pair of grooves130. A second pair of chutes138can be defined in the upright walls116and terminate at second entrance ramps139at the second pair of grooves132.

A preset mechanism140can be formed on the upright walls116. The preset mechanism140can include a pair of arms142extending from the upright walls116. Angled surfaces144can be formed on the arms142that generally slope outwardly and away from each other toward the bracket base110. The bracket16can be formed of rigid lightweight material such as plastic. The arms142can define a cross-section suitable to permit inward deformation (i.e., in a direction toward each other) upon application of force as will be described in further detail herein.

With reference now toFIGS. 9-12, assembly of the connector assembly10will be described. At the outset, the base110of the bracket16can be mounted in a fixed position to a suitable structure S in any appropriate manner such as threaded fastening. The second connector14can be positioned relative to and placed in initial contact with the first connector12at a first position (FIG. 9). At the first position, the opening80defined by respective outer walls74,76of the second connector14can receive the respective outer walls32,34of the first connector12. At this point, as shown inFIG. 9, the terminals22of the respective first electrical component20are not in electrical communication with the terminals26of the second electrical component24. A gap150is defined between an upper edge152of the first connector12and a lower edge154of the second connector14. At this point, the fin112of the bracket16can be aligned for receipt within the central opening54of the first connector12, however, the bracket16and first connector12do not necessarily need to touch in the first position.

The first and second connectors12and14can be rotated relative to the bracket16into a second position that is shown inFIG. 10. During movement from the first position (FIG. 9) to the second position (FIG. 10), the first and second pair of posts58and60can be guided along the respective chutes134,138of the bracket16. In the second position, the first and second connectors12,14are collectively moved into engagement with the bracket16. More specifically, the arms142of the preset mechanism140can engage the preset engaging tabs64of the first connector12. In addition, the finger portions124of the lever indicator122can engage the first pair of linear walls92. The collective engagement of the preset mechanism140with the first connector12and the lever indicator122with the second connector14can cause the first and second connectors12and14to rest statically in a generally angled position relative to the bracket base (FIG. 10). In this position, the angled surface38of the first connector12can also engage the bracket base110. In the second position, the respective terminals22and26may not be in electrical engagement.

In order to advance the first and second connector12and14beyond the second position and toward a third position (FIG. 11), a user can apply force onto one of the first and second connectors12and14in a direction generally toward the bracket base110. As described above, the arms142of the preset mechanism140can engage the tabs64of the first connector12in the second position or preset position (FIG. 10). Once sufficient force is applied, the angled surfaces144of the arms142can begin to ride along the tabs64formed on the first connector12. During this motion, the arms142can begin to bow slightly inward (toward each other) until the respective angled surfaces144pass over the tabs64. Of note, the collective mass of the first and second connector12and14can facilitate ease of insertion force requirements from the second position (FIG. 10) through the final position (FIG. 12).

With reference toFIG. 11, the connector assembly10is shown in a third position. During movement from the second position (FIG. 10) to the third position (FIG. 11), the respective first and second pairs of posts58,60can ride along the arcuate grooves130,132of the bracket16. Concurrently, the finger portions124of the lever indicator122may transition from engagement with the first pair of linear walls92of the ramped portion90to engagement with the second pair of linear walls94. In the third position, the respective terminals22and26may not be in electrical engagement.

Turning now toFIG. 12, the connector assembly10is shown in a fourth or final position. During movement from the third position (FIG. 11) to the fourth position (FIG. 12), the respective posts58,60can continue to ride along the arcuate grooves130,132of the bracket16. Furthermore, the male engagement portions42(FIG. 2) formed on the first connector12can be slidably accepted between the female engagement portions82(FIG. 4) of the second connector14. In the final position, the respective terminals22and26can be electrically connected and the first and second connectors12and14can be in a secure mated position. Clips (not shown) can additionally be provided for securing the connector assembly in the final position. In addition, the fingers124of the lever indicator122can be viewed through the window86of the second connector14(FIG. 1).

While the disclosure has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.