Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly that has an insulative housing for holding an electrical contact that is connected to a wire. A ferrite member is arranged in the insulative housing. The ferrite member includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece and the second piece each have a groove that forms a wire receiving aperture when the first piece and the second piece are positioned adjacent to each other. An elastic portion is arranged in the insulative housing. The elastic portion urges the first piece toward the second piece so that the first piece is pressed against the second piece in a manner that prevents gaps from forming therebetween.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an electrical connector assembly and, more particularly, to an electrical connector assembly that has a ferrite member for the reduction of noise. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Noise reduction techniques for suppressing noise in electrical paths are well known. For example, with regard to electrical paths that operate air bags used in automobiles to protect passengers during impact, reduction of exterior noise is accomplished by employing noise reduction elements. The noise reduction elements prevent the igniter systems of the air bags from being triggered by noise that inflates the air bags inadvertently. Ferrite members are commonly provided as noise reduction elements within electrical connectors in these electrical paths. 
     One example of such a ferrite member for an electrical fuse ignition connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,794. The electrical fuse ignition connector has a single ferrite member with two apertures that acts as a noise reduction element. Wires, which are connected to electrical contacts of the electrical fuse ignition connector, are inserted through the two apertures. In this electrical fuse ignition connector, the apertures in the ferrite member are set to be only slightly larger than the diameters of the wires so that the noise reduction effect is increased. Because the diameters of the apertures are relatively small, it is difficult to insert the wires through the apertures in the ferrite member, causing a problem with workability during assembly. However, in cases where the apertures are made bigger to ease the insertion of the wires therethrough, the noise reduction effect is diminished. 
     Another example of a ferrite member for an electrical connector assembly for air bags is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,282. The electrical connector assembly has a two-piece ferrite member with two grooves formed in each of the ferrite members. When the ferrite members are joined with each other, the grooves match up to form two apertures. Wires connected to the connector assembly are arranged within the apertures. In this connector assembly, there is a risk that a gap will be formed between the two pieces of the ferrite member due to dimensional tolerances occurring during manufacture thereof. The gap would diminish the noise reduction effect. In addition, audible noise may be generated by the two pieces of the ferrite member striking each other due to vibration or impact. There is also a risk that this vibration or impact will damage the two pieces of the ferrite member. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly which is easy to assemble, positively obtains a noise reduction effect, and poses little risk of damage to the ferrite members even if vibration or impact is imparted thereto. This and other objects are achieved by an electrical connector assembly that has am insulative housing that holds an electrical contact connected to a wire. A ferrite member is arranged in the insulative housing. The ferrite member includes a first piece and a second piece configured to receive the wire that is connected to the electrical contact. An elastic portion is arranged in the insulative housing. The elastic portion urges the first piece toward the second piece so that the first piece is pressed against the second piece in a manner that prevents gaps from forming therebetween. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower housing of the electrical connector assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a magnified cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1 in an assembled state along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, electrical connector assembly  1  includes an insulative housing  3 , electrical contacts  26 , a locking button  8  or Connector Position Assurance Device (CPA), and a ferrite member  6 . The insulative housing  3  is constructed of an upper housing  4  and a lower housing  2 . The upper housing  4  and the lower housing  2  are of a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The ferrite member  6  is arranged between the upper housing  4  and the lower housing  2  and includes an upper ferrite member  6   a  and a lower ferrite member  6   b , which are vertically separated. The individual components of the electrical connector assembly  1  will be described in greater detail herein. The side of the assembly  1  at which wires  14  are inserted will be referred to as a front side thereof, and the side opposite to the front side will be referred to as a rear side thereof. In addition, references to the sides up, down, left, and right are as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The lower housing  2  will now be described in greater detail. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower housing  2  has an engagement protrusion  10  that extends downward from a central portion thereof. The engagement protrusion  10  may engage another connector on a side of a device (not shown) such as an air bag. As best shown in FIG. 2, a pair of vertically extending contact housing apertures  12  is formed at the central portion of the lower housing  2 . The contact housing apertures  12  penetrate through the engagement protrusion  10 . A substantially rectangular recess  16  for placing the ferrite member  6  is formed toward a front of the contact housing apertures  12 . The recess  16  is defined by a front wall  20 , portions of side walls  18  and a central wall  22  in a vicinity of the contact housing apertures  12 . A pair of cutouts  24  for receiving wires  14  is formed in the front wall  20 . A pair of cutouts  28  for housing contacts  26  is formed in the central wall  22  and is separated in a horizontal direction. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of cutouts  30 , separated in a front to back direction, is formed on each of the side walls  18  that define the recess  16  at portions toward the front wall  20  thereof. Engagement protrusions  32  are formed between the cutouts  30 . The engagement protrusions  32  are inclined toward an exterior of the housing  3  and have downward facing shoulders  32   a . Holding protrusions  34  are formed integrally with the engagement protrusions  32  on interior sides thereof and on the side of the recess  16  to prevent extraction of the lower ferrite member  6   b.    
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, upward facing tapered ribs or elastic portions  40  are provided substantially parallel to the wires  14  on a flat bottom surface of the recess  16 . The ribs  40  are positioned slightly toward the interior relative to the engagement protrusions  32 . Exterior sides of the ribs  40 , that is, the sides closer to the engagement protrusions  32 , are substantially vertical, and interior sides of the ribs  40  have slightly inclined planes  42 . The cross-sectional form of the ribs  40  is substantially triangular. The ribs  40  are formed integrally with the lower housing  3  and have a thickness, shape, and height that possesses elasticity. The ribs  40  are structured to elastically support the lower ferrite member  6   b.    
     As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface of the recess  16  has an inspection window  17 . The inspection window  17  is formed through the approximate center of the recess  16 . The inspection window  17  serves to confirm whether the lower ferrite member  6   b  has been properly mounted after completion of the assembly  1 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, T-shaped openings  36  extend vertically through the lower housing  2  on both sides of the contact housing apertures  12 . Latch protrusions  36   a  having downward facing shoulders (not shown) are formed on interior surfaces of the T-shaped openings  36 . As shown in FIG. 2, downwardly extending engagement legs  56  are integrally formed with the lower housing  2 , adjacent to the T-shaped openings  36  and to the exterior thereof. The engagement legs  56  are capable of elastically deforming in the horizontal direction and are inclined slightly toward the interior  3 , as best shown in FIG. 3, so that the engagement legs  56  latch with the other connector when the assembly  1  engages with the other connector and maintains the engagement therebetween. The structure of the engagement legs  56  reduces the insertion resistance of the assembly  1  with respect to the other connector. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of horizontally separated openings  38  is formed to the rear of the contact housing apertures  12 . An upwardly extending latch arm  41  is formed within each of the horizontally separated openings  38 . Each of the latch arms  41  has an inwardly extending protrusion  41   a . Upwardly protruding ear portions  74  are integrally formed with the lower housing  2  behind the openings  38 . Horizontal grooves (not shown) are formed on the rear sides of each of the ear portions  74 . The grooves (not shown) serve as engagement portions with the upper housing  4 . 
     The contacts  26  will now be described in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the contacts  26  are substantially L-shaped in configuration. The contacts  26  have contact portions  26   a  and crimping portions  26   b . The contact portions  26   a  are arranged within the contact housing apertures  12 . The crimping portions  26   b  are crimped to the wires  14 . 
     The upper housing  4  will now be described in greater detail. The upper housing  4  is structured to be combined with the lower housing  2 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper housing  4  has latch arms  50  corresponding to the engagement protrusions  32  of the lower housing  2  that extend from the upper housing  4  for engagement thereto. As best shown in FIG. 3, four downwardly extending holding arms  54  extend from an upper wall  52  of the housing  4  for holding both sides of the upper ferrite member. The holding arms  54  are formed on exterior sides of rectangular apertures  76  formed in the upper wall  52 . Tips of the holding arms  54  are positioned within the cutouts  30  of the lower housing  2  after assembly of the housing  3 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, openings  58  extend vertically through the upper housing  4  at positions corresponding to the T-shaped openings  36 . Apertures  66  are formed at positions corresponding to the latch arms  41  and rearward of the openings  58 . A web  78  is formed at the rear edge of the upper housing  4 . Protrusions  78   a  for engaging the grooves of the ear portions  74  are formed at lateral sides of a distal end of the web  78 . An inspection window  53  extends through a top surface of the upper housing  4  in substantially the same manner as the inspection window  17 . The inspection window  53  serves to confirm whether the upper ferrite member  6   a  has been properly mounted. 
     The ferrite member  6  will now be described in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the ferrite member  6  is arranged between the upper housing  4  and the lower housing  2 . For simplicity, FIG. 1 illustrates the ferrite member  6  as two pieces that face each other above the wires  14 , in actuality, the lower ferrite member  6   b  is positioned beneath the wires  14 . The upper ferrite member  6   a  and the lower ferrite member  6   b  are of substantially the same construction and are positioned above and below the wires  14  in reverse orientation. The lower ferrite member  6  will, therefore, be described in greater detail herein with the understanding that the upper ferrite member  6   a  is of substantially the same construction. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the lower ferrite member  6   b  has two grooves  68  defined by three protrusive ribs  72 . The grooves  68  are provided for arranging the contacts  26  to which the wires  14  have been crimped therein. Step portions  70  extend on both exterior sides along the grooves  68 . The step portions  70  on the lower ferrite member  6   b  engage with the holding protrusions  34  of the recess  16  to prevent the lower ferrite member  6   b  from being extracted upwardly from the recess  16  of the lower housing  2 . The step portions  70  on the upper ferrite member  6   a  engage with the holding arms  54  of the upper housing  4 . When the upper and lower ferrite members  6   a ,  6   b  are placed adjacent to each other, the grooves  68  form apertures that house the contacts  26 . 
     The CPA  8  will now be described in greater detail. The CPA  8  is formed as an integral structure from resin. The CPA  8  has a planar pressing portion  60 . A pair of tongue pieces  62  and a pair of engagement protrusion pieces  64  structured to pass through the apertures  66  of the upper housing  4  extend from the pressing portion  60 . The engagement protrusion pieces  64  have upward facing shoulders  64   a  on interior sides. Latch arms  80  extend downward from the pressing portion  60  within openings  63  provided in the tongue pieces  62  at both lateral edges thereof. 
     The assembly of the electrical connector assembly  1  will now be described in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 1, when mounting the upper housing  4  onto the lower housing  2 , the protrusions  78   a  are engaged within the grooves of the ear portions  74 . The front edge of the upper housing  4  is rotated toward the lower housing  2  using the engaged portion as the center of rotation. 
     When the lower ferrite member  6   b  is placed within the recess  16 , the ribs  40  abut arcuate edges of lateral lower sides of the lower ferrite member  6   b  and elastically urge the lower ferrite member  6   b  upward. Accordingly, when the upper ferrite member  6   a  held by the upper housing  4  is combined with the lower ferrite member  6   b  held by the lower housing  2  by engagement of the upper housing  4  and the lower housing  2 , the lower ferrite member  6   b  is urged upward by the ribs  40 . In effect, the upper ferrite member  6   a  is pressed against the upper wall  52  of the upper housing  4 . Thus, each of the protrusive ribs  72  of the lower ferrite member  6   b  and the upper ferrite member  6   a  abut each other such that there are no gaps therebetween. As a result, the operational effect of the ferrite member  6  as a noise reduction element is sufficiently exhibited, audible noise is prevented from being generated when vibrations are imparted thereto, and the risk of damage to the ferrite member  6  in the case that an external shock is applied is reduced. In addition, the assembly of the electrical connector assembly  1  is facilitated, because the lower housing  2  that holds the lower ferrite member  6   b  is simply combined with the upper housing  4  which holds the upper ferrite member  6   a.    
     The CPA  8  is temporarily mounted on the upper housing  4  by the engagement protrusion pieces  64 . The shoulders  64   a  temporarily engage with engagement portions (not shown) within the openings  66 . At this time, if the engagement protrusion pieces  64  open outwardly, the CPA  8  will be inadvertently completely inserted into the upper housing  4 , thereby preventing the engagement legs  56  from flexing inwardly. If this occurs, then engagement with the other connector becomes impossible. Therefore, the latch arms  41  press the engagement protrusion pieces  64  from the outside, to prevent them from flexing outwardly. By this construction, the CPA  8  can be prevented from being inadvertently completely mounted on the upper housing  4 . 
     After the housing  3  is assembled, the CPA  8  is pressed against the upper housing  4  so that the planar pressing portion  60  is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the upper housing  4 . The tongue pieces  62  enter the T-shaped openings  36 . The tongue pieces  62  spread the engagement legs  56  outward. By this flexure, the engagement legs  56 , which are engaged with the other connector, are prevented from moving in an engagement release direction, that is, toward the interior and, thereby, the engagement between the connectors is positively maintained. When the CPA  8  is fully inserted into the upper housing  4 , the latch arms  80  engage with the latch protrusions  36   a  of the lower housing  2 . 
     The electrical connector assembly of the present invention has been described in detail herein. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described. It goes without saying that various changes and modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the ribs  40  are not limited to being provided within the lower housing  2 , alternatively, the ribs  40  may be provided in the upper housing  4  to urge the ferrite member  6  downward. The ribs  40  may also be provided as separate units from the lower housing  2 . In addition, the elastic portion is not limited to being ribs. Any desired shape may be adopted, as long as it is a shape that enables pressure to be applied to the ferrite member  6 . It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.