US 5,474,477 A · Method and apparatus for doubly securing a terminal within a connector

Abstract

A connector includes a retainer for retaining metal terminals within a housing. The retainer includes provisional retaining projections and complete retaining projections. The retainer can be held on a housing in three depth positions. Namely, in the first insertion position (free position) of the retainer, the metal terminal is allowed to be inserted and withdrawn. In the second insertion position (provisional retained position), the provisional retaining portion engages the stabilizers to prevent the withdrawal of the metal terminal but allows the insertion of the metal terminal. In the third insertion position (complete retained position), the complete retaining projection is projected into and engaged in a retaining hole in the metal terminal, thereby preventing the withdrawal and insertion of the metal terminal.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A connector comprising:

a connector housing having terminal receiving holes for receiving metal terminals, said housing having a retainer insertion hole that is formed transverse to said terminal receiving holes, and extends from a side of said housing;
and
a retainer insertable into said retainer insertion hole, said retainer having provisional retaining portions each capable of provisionally retaining an already inserted associated metal terminal while simultaneously allowing the insertion of other said metal terminals in a primary inserted position of said retainer, said retainer also having complete retaining portions each capable of completely retaining the associated metal terminal against withdrawal in a secondary inserted position of said retainer that is deeper in said retainer insertion hole than said primary inserted position.

A method for assembling terminals within terminal receiving holes in a housing, each of said terminals including stabilizers and a terminal retaining hole, said method comprising the steps of:

forming the housing with a recess and inserting a retainer partially in said recess;
inserting said terminals through said terminal receiving holes until stabilizers of said terminals align with said retainer;
engaging one of said terminal retaining hole and a pair of said stabilizers with a respective provisional retaining portion of said retainer whereby said terminals can be inserted but not withdrawn;
and fully inserting the retainer in the recess thereby engaging a respective complete retaining portion of said retainer with the other of said terminal retaining hole and a pair of said stabilizers while maintaining engagement between the provisional retaining portion and said one of said terminal retaining hole and said pair of stabilizers.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for doubly securing a terminal within a connector

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for doubly securing a terminal within a connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18