Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US5489224A/en
Timestamp: 2019-01-21 06:30:39
Document Index: 366808485

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24']

US5489224A - Hooded electrical connector with terminal position assurance means - Google Patents
Hooded electrical connector with terminal position assurance means Download PDF
US5489224A
US5489224A US08323654 US32365494A US5489224A US 5489224 A US5489224 A US 5489224A US 08323654 US08323654 US 08323654 US 32365494 A US32365494 A US 32365494A US 5489224 A US5489224 A US 5489224A
US08323654
An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between a forward mating end of the housing and a rear end thereof. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages. A terminal position assurance device is mounted on the housing for movement between first and second positions only when all of the terminals are properly positioned in their respective passages. A cover is securable to the housing over at least a portion of the rear end thereof. The terminal position assurance device has a portion which prevents securing the cover to the housing unless the terminal position assurance device is in its second position.
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector which includes a hood or cover which cannot be secured to the connector unless a terminal position assurance device is properly positioned.
"Hooded" electrical connectors generally include a connector housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between a forward mating end of the housing and a rear end thereof. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages, and the terminals are connected to a multi-wire cable which extends away from the rear end of the connector. A cover or hood covers or encloses the rear end of the connector about the terminated end of the multi-wire cable.
On the other hand, terminal position assurance devices are known for use in electrical connectors to assure that all of the terminals are properly positioned within the connector housing. Basically, a terminal position assurance device is movable between a first position and a second position. The device can move to the second position only when all of the terminals are properly positioned in their respective passages. If even a single terminal is not properly positioned, the terminal position assurance device cannot move away from its first position. Such a device often is used to prevent mating of a connector with a complementary connector unless the terminal position assurance device is moved to its second or enabling position. A problem with such systems is that an operator often does not discover that one or more terminals are not properly positioned until attempts are made to mate the connector. At that time, "defective" connectors simply are wastefully discarded.
The present invention is directed to a unique system wherein the hood or cover of an electrical connector cannot be assembled or secured to the connector housing unless all of the terminals within the housing are in their respective proper positions, i.e. until the terminal position assurance device is moved to its second or enabling position. Therefore, an improperly positioned terminal will be detected at the early stage of assembling the hooded connector.
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved hooded electrical connector with a terminal position assurance means.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes housing means having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between a forward mating end of the housing means and a rear end thereof. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages. A terminal position assurance device is mounted on the housing means for movement between first and second positions only when all of the terminals are properly positioned in their respective passages. A hood or cover is secured to the housing means over at least a portion of the rear end thereof.
The invention contemplates that the terminal position assurance device include means to prevent securing the cover to the housing unless the terminal position assurance device is in its second position. As disclosed herein, the terminal position assurance device includes a first portion operatively associated with the terminals such that the device can move to its second position only when the terminals are properly positioned. The device includes a second portion operatively associated with the cover such that the cover can be secured to the housing only when the device is in its second position.
Specifically, the first portion of the terminal position assurance device comprises a plate slidably mounted on the connector housing means. The plate has a plurality of apertures through which the terminals extend. The second portion of the terminal position assurance device comprises an arm projecting from the plate into a path of movement of the cover into securing position on the housing means when the device is in its first position. Specifically, the cover is secured to the housing means by rib means on the cover positionable into groove means on the housing means. The arm of the terminal position assurance device blocks the groove means when the device is in its first position, but the arm allows the rib means to enter the groove means when the device is in its second position.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the housing (without the terminal block and the terminal position assurance device), along with the cover located in position for assembly to the housing;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, with the terminal position assurance device in its second or enabling position, along with the rib means of the cover received in the groove means of the housing; and
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the housing means and the lock slides for engaging the complementary connector housing.
Generally, hooded electrical connector 16 includes housing means, generally designated 18, which include a terminal block 20 positionable within a cavity 22 of a receptacle housing part, generally designated 24. A terminal position assurance device, generally designated 26, is slidably received in a horizontal slot 28 in one end of housing part 24. A pair of lock slides, generally designated 30, are slidably received within a pair of vertical slots 32 on opposite sides of housing part 24, all for purposes to be described hereinafter. Housing part 24 defines a forward mating end 34 and a rear end 36 which is substantially covered by a hood or cover, generally designated 38. A one-piece locking lever, generally designated 40, is pivoted on a pair of pivot pins 42 projecting outwardly from the sides of housing part 24, again for purposes described hereinafter.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1, terminal position assurance device 26 has a first or plate portion 44 and a pair of second or arm portions 46 projecting laterally from the plate portion. The plate portion has a plurality of apertures 48a, 48b and 48c which are of different sizes and which correspond to a plurality of terminal-receiving passages 50a, 50b and 50c, respectively, in terminal block 20 of housing means 18 described above in relation to FIG. 1. A latch 52 is formed in a cut-out 52a in plate portion 44 of the terminal position assurance device. Plate portion 44 is inserted into slot 28 (FIG. 1) of housing part 24 in the direction of arrow "A", and arms 46 are positionable into a pair of vertical slot portions 28a which communicate with slot 28.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in conjunction with FIGS. 1-3, FIG. 4 shows terminal position assurance device 26 in its first position defined by latch 52 engaging within a shoulder 54 of terminal block 20. Some of the terminals of the connectors are shown in their respective terminal-receiving passages, namely: a large terminal, generally designated 56, is shown in one of the terminal-receiving passages 50a; an intermediate size terminal, generally designated 58, is shown in one of the terminal-receiving passages 50b; and a small terminal, generally designated 60, is shown in one of the terminal-receiving passages 50c. Terminals 56, 58 and 60 project through respective ones of the apertures 48a, 48b and 48c, respectively, of terminal position assurance device 26. It can be seen that each of the terminals 56-60 has a necked-down portion which defines a shoulder 62 on each terminal. The terminals are inserted into the terminal-receiving passages in the direction of arrows "B". When the terminals are fully or properly positioned within their respective terminal-receiving passages, shoulders 62 of all of the terminals are located at least below a bottom surface 64 of terminal position assurance device 26.
Therefore, and referring to FIG. 5, if all of the terminals 56-60 are fully or properly inserted into their respective terminal-receiving passages, such that shoulders 62 of the terminals are below bottom surface 64 of terminal position assurance device 26, the device can be moved in the direction of arrow "C" (FIG. 5). This second position of the device can be considered the enabling position for securing cover 38 to housing means 18 as described below.
Now, turning to FIG. 12, it can be seen that terminal position assurance device 26 has been moved to its second or enabling position in the direction of arrow "C", whereby blocking tab 80 no longer blocks access opening 78, and whereby enlarged rib boss 74 of the cover can be inserted through the access opening in the direction of arrow "D". The cover then can be secured to the housing part by sliding enlarged rib boss 74 and rib 68 in groove 72 in the direction of arrow "E". It can be seen in FIG 12 that, with rib 68 being thinner than the enlarged rib boss 74, the rib can slide within groove 72 above blocking tab 80 of terminal position assurance device 26, when the device is in its second position which indicates that all of the terminals are properly positioned within the connector.
Referring to FIG. 13 in conjunction with FIG 1, the invention contemplates a camming system for mating and unmating connector 16 (FIG. 1) and a complementary connector which includes housing 17. It can be seen in FIG. 13 that each lock slide 30 has a pair of cam slots 82 which include an open mouth 82 at one end of each slot and a closed area 82b at the opposite end of each slot. Each lock slide further includes an upwardly facing gear rack 84 and a downwardly directed flexible detent latch 86. The lock slides are slidably received in groove means 32 formed outside opposite sides 88 of housing part 24, as indicated by arrows "F" (FIG. 13). Latches 86 seat into a two-position detent means, generally designated 90, on the outside of walls 88. Each detent means include a first detent recess 90a which represents the unmated condition of the connector, and a second detent recess 90b which represents the mated position of the connector, all as described below.
As seen in FIG. 1, mating housing 17 of the complementary connector includes a pair of side walls 92 each having a pair of inwardly directed cam followers or bosses 94. These cam followers ride in cam slots 82 of lock slides 30, as described below. Lastly, locking lever 40 includes a generally U-shaped handle 96 extending radially from a pair of hub portions 98 which have apertures 100 therethrough and which have arcuate gear segments 102 at the bottom thereof. Apertures 100 receive pivot pins 42 which project outwardly from side walls 88 of housing part 24, and arcuate gear segments 102 mesh with gear racks 84 of lock slides 30, again as described in detail below. The arcuate gear segments are concentric with apertures 100 and pivot pins 42.
Specifically, when connector 16, particularly housing part 24 of the connector, is mated with complementary connector housing 17, cam followers 94 enter mouths 82a of cam slots 82 of lock slides 30. In this unmated condition, detent latches 86 of the lock slides are located in detent recesses 90a on housing part 24 which represents the unmated positions of the lock slides. In this unmated condition of the connectors, locking lever 40 is in a relatively elevated position, i.e. a bight portion 104 of the U-shaped handle 96 is elevated above cover 38. When the handle is depressed in the direction of arrow "G" (FIG. 1), lock slides 30 are moved further in the direction of arrows "F" (FIG. 13) because of the meshed engagement of arcuate gear segments 102 on the lever with gear racks 84 on the lock slides. As the slides move in the direction of arrows "F", cam followers 94 of the complementary connector housing 17 ride up cam slots 82 to the closed ends 82b of the cam slots. Since the lock slides actually are the members which are moving transversely of the mating axis of the connectors, the mating connectors, in essence, are drawn toward each other to their mated condition as the lock slides are moved by depressing and rotating locking lever 40. In the fully mated condition of the connectors, detent latches 86 of lock slides 30 snap into detent recesses 90b on the outside of housing part 24 to define the fully mated condition of the connectors.
1. In an electrical connector which includes housing means having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between a forward mating end of the housing means and a rear end thereof,
a plurality of terminals received in the passages,
a terminal position assurance device mounted on the housing means for movement between first and second positions only when all of the terminals are properly positioned in their respective passages, and
a cover for securing to the housing means over at least a portion of the rear end thereof,
means on the terminal position assurance device to prevent securing the cover to the housing means unless the terminal position assurance device is in said second position;
wherein said terminal position assurance device includes a first portion operatively associated with the terminals such that the device can move to its second position only when the terminals are properly positioned, and a second portion operatively associated with the cover such that the cover can be secured to the housing means only when the device is in its second position; and
wherein said first portion of the terminal position assurance device comprises a plate slidably mounted on the housing means, the plate having a plurality of apertures through which the terminals extend.
2. In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second portion of the terminal position assurance device comprises an arm projecting from said plate into a path of movement of the cover into securing position on the housing means when the device is in its position.
3. In an electrical connector which includes housing means having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between a forward mating end of the housing means and a rear end thereof,
means on the terminal position assurance device to prevent securing the cover to the housing means unless the terminal position assurance device is in said second position; and
wherein said cover is secured to the housing means by rib means on the cover positionable into groove means on the housing means, and said terminal position assurance device includes means for blocking the groove means when the device is in its first position.
US08323654 1993-11-26 1994-10-17 Hooded electrical connector with terminal position assurance means Expired - Lifetime US5489224A (en)
EP93119069 1993-11-26
EP19930119069 EP0655799B1 (en) 1993-11-26 1993-11-26 Hooded electrical connector with terminal position assurance means
US5489224A true US5489224A (en) 1996-02-06
ID=8213444
US08323654 Expired - Lifetime US5489224A (en) 1993-11-26 1994-10-17 Hooded electrical connector with terminal position assurance means
US (1) US5489224A (en)
EP (1) EP0655799B1 (en)
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KR (1) KR0156026B1 (en)
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