Molex Corporation

Paul D Cecil, Jr

Anthony J Pill

Lawrence E Geib

Paul Christopher Berg

Stephen A Colleran

Bill B Wilson

Scott P Marceau

Clarence Robert Moon, Iii

Julie Beyers Rutter

A connector is disclosed for mounting in an aperture in a panel. The connector is mateable with a complementary connecting device in a given mating direction. The connector includes a housing mountable in the aperture in the panel. The housing has a panel engagement member for restricting movement of the connector relative to the panel in the mating direction. A release component is operatively associated with the engagement member to release the engagement member and allow floating movement of the connector relative to the panel in the mating direction in response to a force greater than the given mating force.

Panel mounted connector

A connector assembly is disclosed for mounting through an aperture in a panel. The assembly includes an adapter mountable in the aperture. A first connector is mountable to the adapter and has limited axial floating movement relative thereto. A second connector is mateable with the first connector with a given mating force. A latch-release mechanism is provided between the first connector and the adapter to latch the first connector against the floating movement and to allow the second connector to be mated with the first connector with the given mating force. The latch-release mechanism is released in response to a force greater than the given mating force to allow the limited floating movement and numerous mating cycles.

Panel mounted connector assembly

A terminal retainer system is disclosed for an electrical connector assembly. The system includes a dielectric connector housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages and a retainer slot adjacent the passages. A plurality of conductive terminals are insertable in an insertion direction into the terminal-receiving passages. Each terminal includes an engaging portion. A terminal retainer is insertable into the retainer slot in a direction generally parallel to the insertion direction of the terminals to a pre-load position allowing insertion of the terminals into the passages. The terminal retainer is movable in a direction transverse to the insertion direction of the terminals from the pre-load position to a retaining position in engagement with the engaging portions of the terminals to retain the terminals in the passages.

Electrical connector assembly with terminal retainer system

A connector position assurance system is provided for an electrical connector adapted for mating with another mateable connecting device. A connector housing has at least one terminal-receiving passage and including a locking arm adapted for latching with the mateable connecting device. A terminal is positionable in the passage. A terminal position assurance device (TPA) is mountable on the housing. A connector position assurance device (CPA) is, movably mounted on the housing and is operatively associated with the locking arm. The TPA includes a guide structure for guiding movement of the CPA.

Electrical connector position assurance system

A connector position assurance system is provided for an electrical connector adapted to mate with another mateable connecting device. The connector includes a housing having an interior cavity. A flexible locking arm is provided on the housing and is adapted for locking engagement with appropriate lock means of the mateable connecting device. The locking arm is flexibly movable between a locking position when the connector is fully mated with the device inwardly to an unlocking position of incomplete mating of the connector with the device. A locking member is mounted substantially within the interior cavity of the connector housing and includes an actuating portion exposed exteriorly of the housing. The locking member is movable between a first position allowing movement of the locking arm and mating of the connector and the device, and a second position blocking inward movement of the locking arm away from its locking position when the connector and the device are fully mated. The locking arm in its unlocking position of incomplete mating of the connector and the device blocks movement of the locking member from its first position to its second position, thereby indicating that the connector and the device are not fully mated.

An electrical connector includes a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and at least one terminal-receiving cavity extending along an axis in a direction between the ends. A terminal is insertable into the cavity from the rearward terminating end of the housing. The terminal has a transversely enlarged portion located at a given axial position when the terminal is fully inserted into the cavity. A TPA device is engageable with the housing at the rearward terminating end thereof. The TPA device includes at least two parts interconnected for relative movement transversely of the axis between open and closed positions. The parts define a passage therebetween for receiving the terminal therethrough when the parts are in their open position. The parts are adapted to abut the enlarged portion of the terminal to prevent movement of the parts to their closed position in the event the terminal is not at least substantially inserted into the cavity and, thereby, indicating a condition of incomplete insertion of the terminal.

Electrical connector with a rear end mounted terminal position assurance

A terminal position assurance system is provided for an electrical connector which is adapted to mate with another mateable connecting device. The connector includes a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and at least one terminal-receiving cavity extending in a direction between the ends. The forward mating end has an opening for receiving the mateable connecting device. A terminal is insertable into the cavity from the rearward terminating end of the housing. A primary locking arm is provided on the housing in the cavity for movement between a first position when the terminal is fully inserted into the cavity and a second position of incomplete insertion of the terminal. A TPA device is at least partially positioned within the opening at the forward mating end of the housing and includes a passage therethrough for the mateable connecting device. The TPA device is movably between a first position allowing movement of the locking arm and insertion of the terminal and a second position blocking movement of the lock arm away from its first position with the terminal fully inserted. The primary locking arm in its second position blocks movement of the TPA device from its first position to its second position.

Connector with a front end mounted terminal position assurance system

An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a first mating portion and a second connector having a second mating portion mateable with the first mating portion of the first connector. The second connector includes a projection which is at a first location when the connectors are fully mated and which is at a second location when the connectors are less than fully mated. A connector position assurance device is movably mounted on the first connector for movement between a first position and a second position. The projection blocks movement of the device to its second position when the projection is in its second location. The device includes a final latch for holding the connectors in mated condition when the device is in its second position.

Growing community of inventors

Joliet, IL, United States of America

Paul D Cecil, Jr