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US 7,731,502 B2Granted
Trailer tow connector assembly
AssigneeStoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
InventorsDave Cummings, Michael O'Reilly, Neal Pugh, Mark Vincent
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector including a first connector portion and a second connector portion. First and second covers are pivotally attached to the body about a common axis for covering the first and second connector portion.
Claims13
An electrical connector comprising:
- a first connector portion comprising a plurality of first connector terminals;
- a second connector portion separate from said first connector portion and comprising a plurality of second connector terminals;
- at least one of said first connector terminals or said second connector terminals comprising a receptacle terminal comprising:
- a tubular member configured to receive at least a portion of a plug-type terminal in a central opening thereof, said receptacle terminal comprising a slot extending axially along at least a portion of said tubular member, and
- and a resiliently expandable member disposed around said tubular member, said resiliently expandable member configured to expand upon receiving said at least a portion of said plug-type terminal and configured to urge said tubular member to contract when said at least a portion of said plug-type terminal is removed,
- wherein adjacent ones of said first connector terminals or said second connector terminals comprise associated ones of said receptacle terminals, said resiliently expandable members disposed around adjacent ones of said tubular members being offset along a length of said adjacent ones of said tubular members relative to one another.
3 more elements
An electrical connector comprising:
- a body including a four-way connector portion comprising a four first connector terminals and a seven-way connector portion comprising a seven second connector terminals;
- each of a plurality of said first connector terminals comprising an associated receptacle terminal, each of said receptacle terminals comprising
- a tubular member configured to receive at least a portion of a plug-type terminal in a central opening thereof, said receptacle terminal comprising a slot extending axially along at least a portion of said tubular member,
- and a resiliently expandable member disposed around said tubular member, said resiliently expandable member configured to expand upon receiving said at least a portion of said plug-type terminal and configured to urge said tubular member to contract when said at least a portion of said plug-type terminal is removed,
- said resiliently expandable members disposed around adjacent ones of said tubular members being offset along a length of said adjacent ones of said tubular members relative to one another.
2 more elements
An electrical connector comprising:
- a receptacle terminal comprising a tubular member configured to receive at least a portion of a plug-type terminal in a central opening thereof, said receptacle terminal comprising a slot extending axially along at least a portion of said tubular member;
- and
- a resiliently expandable member disposed around said tubular member, said resiliently expandable member configured to expand upon receiving said at least a portion of said plug-type terminal and configured to urge said tubular member to contract when said at least a portion of said plug-type terminal is removed,
- wherein said resiliently expandable member on adjacent ones of said tubular members are offset along a length of said tubular members relative to one another.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.