Electrical Connector

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a first tubular square connector having an inner end portion and an enlarged, grippable outer end portion, and a generally square, elongated tubular body portion having a generally square cross sectional shape, said tubular body portion having inner and outer surfaces, said outer surface having an integrally formed, spaced apart locking tab catch portion and said inner surface having a first internal locking shoulder portion, said first internal locking shoulder portion being operable to lockingly and abuttingly engage with a shoulder portion of an elongated electrical terminal pin inserted into said first tubular connector through said outer end portion thereof, to thereby captively hold said elongated electrical terminal pin therein;
• and
• a second tubular connector having an inner end portion and an enlarged, grippable outer end portion, a generally square-shaped, elongated tubular body portion, and an integrally formed, planar, elongated locking tongue portion spaced apart from said tubular body portion, said planar elongated locking tongue portion, having a tab element protruding therefrom, said elongated tubular body portion of said second tubular connector further having inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface having a second, internal locking shoulder portion operable to lockably engage with a shoulder portion of a mating electrical terminal inserted into said body portion of said second tubular connector through said outer end portion thereof to thereby captively hold said mating electrical terminal securely within said elongated tubular body portion of said second tubular connector;
• and
• whereby said elongated, tubular body portion of said second tubular connector may be slidably inserted within said inner end portion of said elongated, tubular body portion of said first tubular connector to thereby cause said elongated electrical terminal pin to be slidably inserted within said mating electrical terminal, and to thereby cause said tab element of said planar, elongated locking tongue portion to lockably, releasably engage with said locking tab catch portion of said first tubular connector, to thereby releasably secure said first and second tubular connectors in mating, electrical and mechanical engagement;
• wherein said body portion of said first tubular connector further comprises a slot disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of said body portion and extending from said inner end portion of said body portion at least part way along said body portion;
• wherein said body portion of said second tubular connector further comprises an elongated, protruding rib portion disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of said body portion of said second tubular connector and extending along at least a portion of the length of said body portion of said second tubular connector, said rib portion and said slot being operable to engage in a key-like fashion when said first and second tubular connectors are slidably coupled together to thereby help prevent axial rotation of said second tubular connector with respect to said first tubular connector;
• and
• wherein said first tubular connector comprises a leaf beam portion formed intermediate said first internal locking shoulder portion and a portion of said first elongated tubular body portion.

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a first tubular connector having an inner end portion and an enlarged, grippable outer end portion, and a generally square, elongated tubular body portion, said tubular body portion having inner and outer surfaces, said outer surface having an integrally formed, spaced apart locking tab catch portion and said inner surface having a first internal locking shoulder portion, said first internal locking shoulder portion being operable to lockingly and abuttingly engage with a shoulder portion of an elongated electrical terminal pin inserted into said first tubular connector through said outer end portion thereof to thereby captively hold said elongated electrical terminal pin within said first elongated tubular body portion;
• and
• a second tubular connector having an inner end portion and an enlarged, grippable outer end portion, a generally square, elongated tubular body portion, and an integrally formed, planar, elongated locking tongue portion spaced apart from said tubular body portion, said planar elongated locking tongue portion spaced apart from said tubular body portion, said planar elongated locking tongue further having a tab element protruding therefrom, said elongated tubular body portion of said second tubular connector further having inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface having a second, internal locking shoulder portion operable to lockably engage with a shoulder portion of a mating electrical terminal inserted into said body portion of said second tubular connector through said outer end portion thereof to thereby captively old said mating electrical terminal securely therein;
• wherein said elongated, tubular body portion of said second tubular connector may be slidably inserted within said inner end portion of said elongated, tubular body portion of said first tubular connector to thereby cause said elongated electrical terminal pin to be slidably inserted within said mating electrical terminal, and to thereby cause said tab element of said planar, elongated locking tongue portion to lockably, releasably engage with said locking tab catch portion of said first tubular connector, to thereby releasably secure said first and second tubular connectors in mating, electrical and mechanical engagement;
• and wherein said elongated tubular body portion of said first tubular connector further comprises a slot disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of said first tubular connector and extending from said inner end portion of said elongated, tubular body portion at least part way therealong;
• and
• wherein said elongated, tubular body portion of said second tubular connector further comprises an elongated, protruding rib portion disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of said elongated, tubular body portion of said second tubular connector and extending along at least a portion of the length of said body portion of said second tubular connector, said rib portion and said slot being operable to engage in a key-like fashion when said first and second tubular connectors are slidably coupled together to thereby help prevent axial rotation of said second tubular connector with respect to said first tubular connector:
• and
• wherein said second tubular connector comprises a leaf beam portion formed intermediate said second internal locking shoulder portion and a portion of said elongated tubular body portion of said second tubular connector.