Electrical connector
AssigneeFCI Automotive Holding
InventorsJeffrey S. Campbell, Franklin A. Holub, Louis M. Carrer, Richard A. Johannes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector sub-assembly including a housing having at least one electrical contact receiving area configured to receive an electrical contact; and a terminal position assurance (TPA) member located on a front section of the housing. The TPA member is laterally movable on the front section between an unlocked position and a locked position. The TPA member comprises two spaced sections configured to lock the electrical contact in the electrical contact receiving area at two spaced locations when the TPA member is moved to the locked position. This prevents unintentional withdrawal of the electrical contact from the electrical contact receiving area.
Claims6
An electrical connector comprising:
- a housing comprising contact receiving areas and contact latches;
- electrical contacts located in the receiving areas and retained with the housing by the latches;
- and
- a terminal position assurance (TPA) member movably connected to the housing, wherein the TPA member is slidably connected to the housing between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein in the unlocked position the TPA member allows the latches to move to a disengaged position with the contacts, and wherein in the locked position the TPA member prevents the latches from deflecting to the disengaged position,
- wherein the TPA member is slidably on the housing between the unlocked position and the locked position, and wherein the TPA member comprises at least one cam surface which is configured to cam the latches as the TPA member is slid towards the locked position,
- wherein the TPA member comprises a leading face with cam holes therethrough, wherein the latches comprise front portions located in the cam holes.
An electrical connector housing comprising:
- a first housing member comprising contact receiving areas and contact latches;
- and
- a second housing member forming a terminal position assurance (TPA) member movably connected to the first housing member, wherein the TPA member is slidably connected to the first housing between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein in the unlocked position the TPA member allows the latches to move to a disengaged position with electrical contacts located in the contact receiving areas, and wherein in the locked position the TPA member prevents the latches from deflecting to the disengaged position, and
- wherein the TPA member is slidable on the housing between the unlocked position and the locked position in a first direction which is orthogonal to a second direction of insertion of the contacts into the housing, and wherein the TPA member comprises at least one cam surface which is configured to cam the latches from the disengaged position as the TPA member is slid from the unlocked position,
- wherein the TPA member comprises a leading face with cam holes therethrough, wherein the latches comprise front portions located in the cam holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.