# US 12,771,056 B2 · Electrical connector and electrical connector stack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,771,056 B2 - Document ID: US12771056B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/365,491 - Filed: 2023-08-04 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-04 - Assignees: Te Connectivity Japan G.K. - Applicants: Tyco Electronics Japan G.K. - Inventors: Daiki Tomura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12771056B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/502: composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) - H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm} - H01R 13/631: for engagement only - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electrical connector comprises a terminal and a housing. The terminal includes a terminal portion extending in a mating direction in which the terminal is mated with a mating terminal, and an electrical wire joining portion extending rearward behind the terminal portion and adapted to be joined to an electrical wire. The housing includes a cavity receiving the terminal therein along the mating direction with a front end of the terminal facing frontward, and a wall supporting the terminal. A catching portion of the housing protrudes into the cavity and secures the terminal within the cavity. The housing defines an opening formed opposite to the catching portion in a protruding direction of the catching portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector, comprising: a terminal, including a terminal portion extending in a mating direction in which the terminal is mated with a mating terminal; and an electrical wire joining portion extending rearward behind the terminal portion and adapted to be joined to an electrical wire; and a housing, including: a cavity receiving the terminal therein along the mating direction with a front end of the terminal facing frontward; a wall supporting the terminal; a catching portion protruding into the cavity and securing the terminal within the cavity, the terminal includes a first catch portion engaging with the catching portion of the housing and a second catch portion adapted to engage with a second catching portion of an adjacent electrical connector; and an opening formed at a position opposite to the catching portion in a protruding direction of the catching portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes: a first housing including the catching portion; and a second housing separate from the first housing and defining a front end of the cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a lid selectively closing at least a portion of the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the opening is closed in a thickness direction of the wall by the lid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes: a front wall forming a front end of the cavity and having a hole into which the mating terminal is plugged toward the front end of the terminal; and a supporting portion supporting the front end of the terminal in front of the opening along with the front wall and the catching portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein the supporting portion defines a slope formed thereon guiding the front end of the terminal to the front end of the cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the catching portion comprises a lance formed as a cantilever. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein the lance is removably fixed to the wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a top wall defining an opening formed therethrough, the opening aligned with the second catch portion of the terminal and sized to receive the second catching portion of the adjacent electrical connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the first and second catch portions of the terminal extend toward the top wall from the terminal portion. ### Claim 11 An electrical connector stack comprising: a first electrical connector; and a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector and arranged over the first electrical connector, each of the first and second electrical connectors including: a terminal having a terminal portion extending in a mating direction and an electrical wire joining portion extending rearward from the terminal portion and adapted to be joined to an electrical wire; and a housing, including: a cavity receiving the terminal therein along the mating direction with a front end of the terminal facing frontward; a wall supporting the terminal; a catching portion protruding into the cavity and securing the terminal within the cavity; and an opening formed at a position opposite to the catching portion in a protruding direction of the catching portion, wherein the housing of the first electrical connector closes at least a portion of the opening of the second electrical connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrical connector stack according to claim 11, wherein the terminal includes: a first catch portion engaging with the catching portion of the housing of the first electrical connector; and a second catch portion engaging with a second catching portion provided on the housing of the second electrical connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electrical connector stack according to claim 11, further comprising a lid selectively closing the opening of the first electrical connector. ### Claim 14 An electrical connector comprising: a terminal; and a housing, including: a cavity receiving the terminal therein along a mating direction with a front end of the terminal facing frontward; a wall supporting the terminal; a catch protruding into the cavity and securing the terminal within the cavity, the terminal includes a first catch portion engaging with the catch of the housing and a second catch portion adapted to engage with a catch of an adjacent electrical connector; and an opening formed through the wall and opposite to the catch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrical connector according to claim 14, wherein the housing further includes a top wall defining an opening formed therethrough, the opening aligned with the second catch portion of the terminal and sized to receive the catch of the adjacent electrical connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electrical connector according to claim 14, further comprising a wire attached to a rear end of the terminal and at least partially arranged within the cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The electrical connector according to claim 14, wherein the housing further includes: a front wall forming a front end of the cavity and having a hole into which the mating terminal is plugged toward the front end of the terminal; and a supporting portion supporting the front end of the terminal in front of the opening along with the front wall and the catch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electrical connector according to claim 17, wherein the supporting portion defines a slope formed thereon guiding the front end of the terminal to the front end of the cavity.