Cardell Corporation

Darrin F Wilber

Robert J Flowers

A connector component includes a housing portion and an insert portion. The insert portion includes a plurality of terminal-receiving passages. Conductive terminals may be inserted into the passages, and a ramped fixed shoulder is formed on each passage surface for retaining the terminals in the passage. Additionally, a flexible finger is provided for each passage for holding the terminals in position in the passage. A terminal may be loaded into each passage and disposed in front of the shoulder. The housing portion of the invention includes a generally box-shaped casing having a hollow cavity for receiving the insert portion of the invention. Each of the upper and lower walls includes a transverse step formed along the expanse between the side walls. The upper and lower walls further include a transverse ramped locking area which also extends between the side walls. The transverse step serves as part of a terminal position assurance (&ldquo;TPA&rdquo;) system for preventing assembly of the insert portion into the housing if a terminal is not properly seated in its passage. When a terminal is not properly seated, the finger for that passage will extend outward more than the remaining fingers, and this finger will contact the transverse step on the upper or lower wall. The step will prevent further insertion of the insert and alert a technician assembling the component as to the incorrectly positioned terminal. However, when all terminals are properly seated, there is sufficient clearance for the insert to be completely inserted into the housing. As complete insertion occurs, the fingers on the insert contact the ramped locking area. The ramped area forces the fingers against the terminals, thereby securely locking the terminals in position.

Electrical connector having a two-piece socket portion

A connector includes a first housing half and a second housing half, with one of the connector halves being a socket half, and the other connector half being a plug half. A latching mechanism is provided so that when the connector halves are assembled, they are latched together in the assembled position. A CPA device is also provided which is independent of the connector halves. The CPA device may be securely mounted on one of the connector halves prior to assembly of the connector halves. Following latching of the connector halves into the assembled condition, the CPA device may be slid forward to a final position to lock the latching mechanism to prevent the connector from being inadvertently unlatched. Also, if the connector halves are not fully and properly assembled, it is not possible to slide the CPA device into the final position. Additionally, after the CPA device is seated in its final position, the two connector halves cannot be disconnected from each other unless the CPA device is manually slid back to the initial or &ldquo;ready&rdquo; position. However, in order to disassemble the connector, the CPA device must be manually disengaged from the final locked position, and moved to the initial unlocked position, before the latch may be manually unlatched so that the connector halves may be unmated.

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Metamora, MI, United States of America

Darrin F Wilber