# US 2023/0056598 A1 · Quick assembly plug connector

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- Number: US 2023/0056598 A1
- Document ID: US20230056598A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/404,196
- Filed: 2021-08-17
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-17
- Assignees: Littelfuse, Inc.
- Applicants: Littelfuse, Inc.
- Inventors: TIZIANO BIANCHIN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056598A1

## CPC

- H01R 13/5829: {the clamping part being flexibly or hingedly connected to the housing}
- H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap}
- H01R 13/506: assembled by snap action of the parts
- H01R 13/5205: {Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet (H01R13/5221 takes precedence)}
- H01R 13/629: Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)}
- H01R 2201/26: for vehicles
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Provided herein is are quick-assembly plug connectors. In some embodiments, an assembly may include a body, and a contact carrier within the body, the contact carrier including a main body including a plurality of openings each operable to receive a contact, and a plurality of legs extending from the main body, each of the plurality of legs coupled with the body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly, comprising:
a body;
a contact carrier within the body, the contact carrier comprising:
a main body including a plurality of openings each operable to receive a contact; and
a plurality of legs extending from the main body, each of the plurality of legs coupled with the body, wherein the plurality of legs are rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the plurality of the legs extend parallel to one another, and wherein in the open position the plurality of legs are angled away from one another.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises:
a first section including a first cavity operable to receive the main body of the contact carrier; and
a second section including a second cavity operable to receive the plurality of legs of the contact carrier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly of claim 2, further comprising a gasket within the second cavity of the second section of the body, wherein the gasket is operable to engage a cable connected to the contacts.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of legs includes a central support operable to engage the cable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of legs comprises a flexible first leg and a flexible second leg, and wherein the central support of the flexible first leg is coupleable with the central support of the flexible second leg.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second flexible legs each comprises a button at a free end, and wherein the button extends through the second section of the body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking device coupled to the body, the locking device including an opening operable to receive a snap-fit joint along an exterior of the body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the locking device comprises a roller extending through an opening of a first arm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body and the contact carrier are coupled together, and wherein the contact carrier comprises an opening operable to receive a snap-fit joint along an interior of the body.

### Claim 10

A plug connector, comprising:
a body including a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity;
a contact carrier within the interior cavity of the body, the contact carrier comprising:
a main body including a plurality of openings each operable to receive a contact; and
a plurality of legs extending from the main body, each of the plurality of legs coupled with the body, wherein the plurality of legs are rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the plurality of the legs extend parallel to one another, and wherein in the open position the plurality of legs are angled away from one another.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The plug connector of claim 10, wherein the body comprises:
a first section at the first end, the first section including operable to receive the main body of the contact carrier; and
a second section at the second end, the second section operable to receive the plurality of legs of the contact carrier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The plug connector of claim 11, further comprising a gasket within the second section of the body, wherein the gasket is operable to engage a cable connected to the contacts.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The plug connector of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of legs includes a central support operable to engage the cable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The plug connector of claim 13, wherein the plurality of legs comprises a flexible first leg and a flexible second leg, and wherein the central support comprises:
a first component between a first base and a first free end of the first flexible leg; and
a second component between a second base and a second free end of the second flexible leg, wherein when the first component and the second component are coupled together the central support is in a closed position about the cable, and wherein when the first component and the second component are disengaged from one another the central support is in an open position away from the cable.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The plug connector of claim 14, wherein the first and second flexible legs each comprises a button at a free end, wherein the button extends through the second section of the body, and wherein each of the first and second flexible legs includes a sealing ring along an exterior surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The plug connector of claim 10, further comprising a locking device coupled to the body, the locking device including an opening operable to receive a snap-fit joint extending from an exterior of the body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The plug connector of claim 10, wherein the body and the contact carrier are coupled together, and wherein the contact carrier comprises an opening operable to receive a snap-fit joint along an interior of the body.

### Claim 18

A plug connector, comprising:
a body including a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity;
a contact carrier within the interior cavity of the body, the contact carrier comprising:
a main body including a plurality of openings each operable to receive a contact; and
a plurality of legs extending from the main body, wherein each of the plurality of legs is rotatably coupled with the body, wherein the plurality of legs are rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the plurality of the legs extend parallel to one another, wherein in the open position the plurality of legs are angled away from one another, wherein in the open position a central support of the plurality of legs is disengaged from a cable connected with the contact, and wherein in the closed position the central support of the plurality of legs is engaged with the cable.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The plug connector of claim 18, wherein the body comprises:
a first section at the first end, the first section operable to receive the main body of the contact carrier; and
a second section at the second end, the second section operable to receive the plurality of legs of the contact carrier, wherein the cable is extendable through the second section, and wherein a gasket is positioned within the second section and surrounding the cable.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The plug connector of claim 18, wherein the plurality of legs comprises a flexible first leg and a flexible second leg, wherein the central support comprises:
a first component between a first base and a first free end of the first flexible leg; and
a second component between a second base and a second free end of the second flexible leg, wherein when the first component and the second component are coupled together the central support is in the closed position, and wherein when the first component and the second component are disengaged from one another the central support is in the open position.