The Whitaker Corporation

Tyco Electronics Corporation

Ralph Talmadge Bentley, Ii

Galen Monroe Martin

Frank L Duncan

Eric Shields

Michael Dale Brown

An electrical connector assembly is disclosed having an insulative housing and insulative terminal positioning assurance member. The terminal positioning assurance member has a prelatched position where corresponding latches abut, preventing inadvertent activation and locking of the terminal positioning assurance member. The terminal includes a projection which engages the terminal positioning assurance member, allowing the terminal positioning assurance member to move to a fully locked position.

Electrical connector having improved terminal positioning assurance member

A transfer tray or tube assembly 2 is formed by an upper thermoformed sheet 4 that is bonded to a lower thermoformed sheet 6. Each sheet includes protrusions that form interior walls 10 and exterior walls 12 that in turn define channels 8 in which a number of components, such as electrical connectors, can be loaded, unloaded, stored and transferred or shipped. The thermoformed sheets 4 and 6 are bonding along adjoining dual wall sections that form the interior and exterior walls 10 and 12. Discrete bonds 34 are formed at upper and lower levels along flat abutting surfaces at the tops and bottoms of staggered trapezoidal segments 18 and 20 on the top and bottom sheets. These spaced apart discrete bonds 34 reduce warping and bowing due to stressed induced by RF bonds or welds. Interior walls 10 are joined by continuous bonds 36 that are confined to the intersection of a male ridge 42 on one member with a recessed female section 38 on the other member. Ribs 40 defining the recessed female section 38 isolated stresses induced by the bond so that the sidewalls of the channels 8 are not distorted. Multiple discrete bonds, spaced apart and on different levels, and dual walls each reduce distortion of the trays 2 and of the channels or tracks.

Re-usable tray for electrical components

An electrical connector seal cap assembly (10), includes a seal cap (20) with a seal cap gasket (28) bonded thereto, which cap is assembled to an electrical connector (30). The seal cap (20) is pressed into engagement with the electrical connector (30) by action of screw (19). As this occurs, seal cap gasket (28) is sealingly pressed against sealing interface surface (38) of electrical connector (30). Gussets (22) of seal cap (20) advantageously distribute the compressive forces generated by screw (19) in the area of the interface between seal interface (38) and seal cap gasket (28) thereby creating an effective seal against sprays or other air-borne, high velocity contaminants.

Growing community of inventors

Belews Creek, NC, United States of America

Ralph Talmadge Bentley, Ii