Electrical connector assembly and method of assembling same
AssigneeMolex Incorporated
InventorsDavid F. Koehler, Jeffrey S. Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of terminals are assembled in a housing of an electrical connector with pin portions of the terminals projecting from the housing. The pin portions are inserted in an insertion direction in a plurality of free passages in a support member from one side thereof until retention portions of the terminals pass retention sections of a plurality of retention passages in the support member. The pin portions are moved transversely of the insertion direction through a plurality of communication openings in the support member from the free passages, into the retention passages and into alignment with the retention sections in the retention passages in the support member.
Claims35
A method of assembling an electrical connector, comprising the steps of:
- providing a dielectric connector housing with a plurality of terminal-receiving passages;
- providing a plurality of conductive terminals with pin portions having enlarged retention portions spaced inwardly from distal ends of the pin portions;
- inserting the terminals into the terminal-receiving passages of the housing with said pin portions projecting therefrom;
- providing a dielectric terminal support member with a plurality of pairs of through passages, one through passage in each pair thereof comprising a free passage through which the terminal pins can freely pass, the other through passage in each pair thereof comprising a retention passage with retention means therein, and a communication opening between the through passages in each pair thereof;
- inserting the pin portions of the terminals in an insertion direction into the free passages in the support member from one side thereof until the enlarged retention portions pass the retention means of the retention passages in the support member;
- moving the pin portions of the terminals transversely of said insertion direction through said communication openings and into the retention passages in the support member;
- and
- moving the pin portions of the terminals opposite said insertion direction in the retention passages until the retention portions of the pin portions engage the retention means in the retention passages.
A method of assembling an electrical connector which includes a dielectric connector housing, a plurality of conductive terminals and a terminal support member, comprising the steps of:
- inserting the terminals into a plurality of terminal-receiving passages in the housing with pin portions of the terminals projecting from the housing;
- inserting the pin portions of the terminals in an insertion direction into a plurality of free passages in the support member from one side thereof until retention portions of the terminals pass retention sections of a plurality of retention passages in the support member;
- and
- moving the pin portions of the terminals transversely of said insertion direction through a plurality of communication openings in the support member from the free passages, into the retention passages and into alignment with the retention sections in the retention passages in the support member.
A method of assembling an electrical connector which includes a dielectric connector housing, a plurality of conductive terminals and a terminal support member, comprising the steps of:
- inserting the terminals into a plurality of terminal-receiving passages in the housing with pin portions of the terminals projecting from the housing;
- inserting the pin portions of the terminals in an insertion direction into a free passage area in the support member from one side thereof until retention portions of the terminals pass retention sections of a plurality of retention passages in the support member;
- and
- moving the pin portions of the terminals transversely of said insertion direction through a plurality of communication openings in the support member from the free passage area, into the retention passages and into alignment with the retention sections in the retention passages in the support member.
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a dielectric connector housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages;
- a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the housing and having pin portions projecting therefrom, the pin portions having retention portions spaced inwardly from distal ends thereof;
- and
- a dielectric terminal support member having a plurality of pairs of through passages, one through passage in each pair thereof comprising a free passages through which the terminal pins can freely pass, the other through passage in each pair thereof comprising a retention passage with a retention section therein, and a communication opening between the through passages in each pair thereof;
- whereby the pin portions of the terminals can be inserted in an insertion direction into the free passages in the support member from one side thereof until the retention portions pass the retention sections of the retention passages in the support member, and the pin portions can be moved transversely of the insertion direction through the communication openings and into the retention passages in the support member.
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a dielectric connector housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages;
- a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the passages of the housing and having pin portions projecting therefrom, the pin portions having retention portions spaced inwardly from distal ends thereof;
- and
- a dielectric terminal support member having a plurality of through retention passages with respective retention sections therein, a through free passage area adjacent the retention passage, and a communication opening between each retention passage and the free passage area;
- whereby the pin portions of the terminals can be inserted in an insertion direction into the free passage area in the support member from one side thereof until the retention portions pass the retention sections of the retention passages in the support member, and the pin portions can be moved transversely of the insertion direction through the communication openings and into the retention passages in the support member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.