Electrical connector with terminal modules and frame having module bays for customizable input/output configuration
AssigneeAptiv Technologies AG
InventorsJustin Kopelos, Daniel Vernon, ABHAYA KISHORE, SIVAKUMAR JOGULA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical connector assembly includes a frame with multiple module bays, and terminal modules removably received in these bays. Each terminal module has a housing with an electrical terminal inside. A wire dress cover attaches to the frame and has posts that engage the terminal modules, forcing them into a fully seated position within the bays when attached. The cover can only be fully attached to the frame when the terminal modules are fully seated, thereby ensuring proper placement and connection.
Claims12
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a frame defining a plurality of module bays;
- a plurality of terminal modules removably received in the plurality of module bays, each terminal module having a housing and an electrical terminal disposed within a cavity of the housing;
- and
- a wire dress cover attachable to the frame and defining a plurality of posts, attachment of the wire dress cover to the frame causes the plurality of posts to engage the plurality of terminal modules and force the plurality of terminal modules into a fully seated position within the plurality of module bays, the wire dress cover is capable of being fully attached to the frame only when the plurality of terminal modules are fully seated within the plurality of module bays.
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a frame defining a plurality of module bays, each module bay in the plurality of module bays including at least one resilient locking arm;
- a plurality of terminal modules received in the plurality of module bays;
- and
- a wire dress cover having posts that inhibit deflection of the at least one resilient locking arm to prevent disengagement of the plurality of terminal modules from the plurality of module bays when the wire dress cover is attached to the frame.
A method of assembling an electrical connector, comprising:
- inserting a plurality of terminal modules into a frame having module bays;
- attempting to attach a wire dress cover to the frame;
- driving the plurality of terminal modules into fully seated positions within the module bays using posts of the wire dress cover;
- and
- preventing attachment of the wire dress cover to the frame if any terminal module of the plurality of terminal modules is not fully seated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.