J.s.t. Corporation

Rajit Abraham

Franklin Anthony Holub

Khalid Jabrane

David Demaratos

Connector apparatus having a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly. The female connector assembly includes a female housing, a connector position assurance (CPA) member for assuring the engagement of the male connector assembly with the female connector assembly, and a first terminal position assurance (TPA) member for assuring that terminals for the female connector assembly are positioned properly. The female housing further includes a connector latch used to securely hold together a connector apparatus. The female housing has TPA protection ribs and CPA protection walls. The male housing has TPA protection ribs.

MSL connector series

Method of operating a connector apparatus having a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly. The female connector assembly includes a female housing, a connector position assurance (CPA) member for assuring the engagement of the male connector assembly with the female connector assembly, and a first terminal position assurance (TPA) member for assuring that terminals for the female connector assembly are positioned properly. The female housing further includes a connector latch used to securely hold together a connector apparatus. The female housing has TPA protection ribs and CPA protection walls. The male housing has TPA protection ribs.

Method of operating MSL connector series

Terminal position assurance (TPA) member used in a connector, to make sure that a terminal is positioned properly. The TPA member has at least one locating/guide feature to provide proper guidance and to avoid an imbalance during engagement with a connector housing, and has at least one flexible feature to help retain the TPA member in a preset position and/or a final lock position.

Terminal position assurance member and method of operating a terminal position assurance member

Electrical connector assembly

An electrical connector apparatus with a protected terminal position assurance device (TPA) provided in the male housing and the female housing, the male housing having a TPA for connecting thereto at least a set of terminals, and the female housing having a TPA for connecting thereto at least a set of terminals. Specifically, the male housing and the female housing of the electrical connector apparatus are designed with ribs and other protective features to prevent the TPA from moving from a pre-set position to a final lock position during shipping and/or handling. The ribs and other protective features of the male housing and the female housing ensure a physical barrier from any contact with the TPA which may alter the position of the TPA.

Electrical connector apparatus having a male housing and a female housing with ribs

A self-rejecting connector apparatus ensures that the connector apparatus of the present invention become fully engaged or fully locked when a rejection force, which pushes connector locks out of any partial-lock or partial-mate condition, ceases to be generated. A specially-shaped spring element, which is used to generate the rejection force, is blocked from being removed from the connector apparatus of this invention until the connector apparatus is fully engaged or fully locked.

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Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Rajit Abraham