# US 10,122,117 B2 · Quick connect power connector system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,117 B2 - Document ID: US10122117B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/095,323 - Filed: 2016-04-11 - Published: 2016-10-20 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-14 - Assignees: Te Connectivity Corporation - Applicants: Tyco Electronics Corporation - Inventors: Keith Edwin Miller; John Anthony Fulponi; Lawrence Se-Jun Oh; John Louis McKibben; Dustin Carson Belack; Lynn Robert Sipe; Robert Mulfinger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122117B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6271: {Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 11/282: {comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal} - H01R 13/20: Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together - H01R 13/625: Casing or ring with bayonet engagement - H01R 13/6277: {comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove} - H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} - H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement - H01R 2101/00: One pole - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electrical connector and system for connecting to a terminal post. The electrical connector includes a housing body, a contact and a locking release member. The housing body includes a post receiving passage for receiving the terminal post therein. The contact is provided in the post receiving passage and is positioned about the circumference of the post receiving passage. The contact will make an electrical engagement with a terminal post inserted into the post receiving passage regardless of the orientation of the terminal post with respect to the contact. The electrical connector which prevents the improper mating of the connector to the post, prevents unwanted rotation of the connector, provides a visual indication that the proper connection is secured and provides a secondary lock to ensure that unwanted unmating of the connector does not occur. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector system for connecting an electrical connector to a terminal post, the electrical connector system comprising: the electrical connector having a housing body with a post receiving passage for receiving the terminal post therein; a contact provided in the post receiving passage, the contact positioned about the circumference of the post receiving passage wherein the contact will make an electrical engagement with the terminal post inserted into the post receiving passage regardless of the orientation of the terminal post with respect to the contact; a locking release member moveably mounted to the housing body, the locking release member being moveable between a locking release member first position and a locking release member second position, the locking release member cooperating with a locking spring member, the locking spring member having a locking section which cooperates with a first recess of the terminal post when the locking release member is in the locking release member first position; and a secondary lock member positioned above the locking spring member, the secondary lock member being movable between a secondary lock member open position and a secondary lock member locked position, the secondary lock member having a post locking member which cooperates with a second recess of the terminal post to prevent the unwanted disengagement of the connector from the terminal post when the second lock member is in the secondary lock member locked position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary locking member has an upper portion with the post locking member and an engagement member, the secondary locking member has a lower portion with a securing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 2, wherein the lower portion of the secondary locking member extends below a top end of the housing body and the upper portion extends above a top end of the housing body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 3, wherein a reduced portion of the secondary locking member extends between the upper portion and the lower portion, the reduced portion is positioned in a slot provided in the top end of the housing body proximate an opening, the slot is dimensioned to receive the reduced portion while allowing the reduced portion and the secondary locking member to move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top end of the connector body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 2, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are positioned on either side of a top end of the housing body, thereby preventing the movement of the secondary locking member in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the top end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein an anti-rotation device is provided to minimize or eliminate the effects of movement of the connector relative to the terminal post. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 6, wherein the anti-rotation device includes radial ribs positioned on a post receiving end of the housing body, the ribs extend outward from the circumferences of the post receiving passage, circular key receiving recesses intersect the ribs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein the terminal post includes a mating projection which extends from a top surface of the terminal post, a mating indicator is positioned on the mating projection, wherein when the terminal post is fully inserted into the housing body, a top portion of the mating indicator is positioned in an opening of a top end of the housing body to provide a visual indication that the connector is fully mated to the terminal post. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 8, wherein the mating projection has a shoulder which extends between a neck portion and a head portion, the shoulder cooperates with a projection of the mating indicator to retain the mating indicator in position relative to the terminal post. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 8, wherein the mating indicator is made from nonconductive material. ### Claim 11 An in-line electrical connector for connecting to a terminal post, the in-line electrical connector comprising: a housing body having a post receiving passage for receiving the terminal post therein; a contact provided in the post receiving passage, the contact positioned about the circumference of the post receiving passage wherein the contact will make an electrical engagement with terminal posts inserted into the post; and a locking release member moveably mounted to the housing body, the locking release member being moveable between a first position and a second position, the locking release member cooperating with a locking spring member, the locking spring member having a locking section which cooperates with a recess of the terminal post when the locking release member is in the first position; a secondary locking element is positioned on the terminal post, the secondary locking member has a post locking member and an engagement member, the secondary locking member is positioned in a slot provided in a mating indicator at a top end of the terminal post, wherein when the terminal post is fully inserted into the housing body, the engagement member of the secondary locking member is moved toward the longitudinal center of the post, causing the secondary locking member to move to the second position, in which the post locking member engages or is positioned proximate to a top end of the housing body of the connector to prevent, the removal of the terminal post from the connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The in-line electrical connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the locking release member includes a locking spring member housed in a cavity, the locking spring member has a pair of mounting sections, locking sections positioned proximate the mounting sections have a radiused locking surface which cooperates with the terminal post. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The in-line electrical connector as recited in claim 11, wherein an anti-rotation device is provided to minimize or eliminate the effects of movement of the connector relative to the terminal post. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The in-line electrical connector as recited in claim 13, wherein the anti-rotation device includes radial ribs positioned on a post receiving end of the housing body, the ribs extend outward from the circumferences of the post receiving passage, circular key receiving recesses intersect the ribs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The in-line electrical connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the terminal post includes a mating projection which extends from a top surface of the terminal post, a mating indicator is positioned on the mating projection, wherein when the terminal post is fully inserted into the housing body, a top portion of the mating indicator is positioned in an opening of a top end of the housing body to provide a visual indication that the connector is fully mated to the terminal post. ### Claim 16 An electrical connector system for connecting an electrical connector to a terminal post, the electrical connector system comprising: the electrical connector having a housing body with a post receiving passage for receiving the terminal post therein; a contact provided in the post receiving passage, the contact positioned about the circumference of the post receiving passage wherein the contact will make an electrical engagement with the terminal post inserted into the post receiving passage regardless of the orientation of the terminal post with respect to the contact; a locking release member moveably mounted to the housing body, the locking release member being moveable between a locking release member first position and a locking release member second position, the locking release member cooperating with a locking spring member, the locking spring member having a locking section which cooperates with a first recess of the terminal post when the locking release member is in the locking release member first position, the locking release member has a slot into which secondary locking member is positioned; and a secondary lock member to prevent the unwanted disengagement of the connector from the terminal, the secondary lock member being moveable between a first position and a second position, a stop member of the secondary locking member is positioned below the locking release member when the secondary locking member is in the first position, the stop member is positioned between the locking release member and a back wall of the housing body when the secondary locking member is in the second position, wherein when the secondary locking member is in the second position the locking release member is prevented from being depressed toward the back wall, preventing the removal of the terminal post from the electrical connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 16, wherein an anti-rotation device is provided to minimize or eliminate the effects of movement of the connector relative to the terminal post. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 17, wherein the anti-rotation device includes radial ribs positioned on a post receiving end of the housing body, the ribs extend outward from the circumferences of the post receiving passage, circular key receiving recesses intersect the ribs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The electrical connector system as recited in claim 16, wherein the terminal post includes a mating projection which extends from a top surface of the terminal post, a mating indicator is positioned on the mating projection, wherein when the terminal post is fully inserted into the housing body, a top portion of the mating indicator is positioned in an opening of a top end of the housing body to provide a visual indication that the connector is fully mated to the terminal post.