Molex Corporation

Cardell Corporation

Other

Robert J Flowers

Vijy Koshy

Darrin F Wilber

Yves Lepottier

Yves LePottier

Gregory E Avery

Keith G Koehler

Robert Pust

An electrical connector includes a first housing part having first walls, and a second housing part is engageable with the first housing part and has second walls. The first and second walls of the two housing parts combine to define different sides of a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities for mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. The first walls define at least one side of each cavity, and the second walls define at least an opposite side of the cavity.

Electrical connector with improved terminal mounting housing means

An electrical connector includes a connector body and a wire shroud secured to the connector body. A mating assist lever is pivotally mounted on the body to be pivotable between an inoperative position and a latched position. A connector position assurance (CPA) member is slidably mounted on the mating assist lever to be slidable between an inoperative position and a locked position. Complementary interengaging locks are provided between the CPA member and the wire shroud to lock the mating assist lever in its latched position when the CPA member is moved to its locked position.

Lever type electrical connector with CPA member

A lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a first housing mounting a plurality of first terminals. A mating assist lever is pivotally movably mounted on the first connector for movement in a pivotal operating stroke between a pre-mated position at one end of the stroke and a fully mated position at an opposite end of the stroke. A second connector includes a second housing mateable with the first housing of the first connector. A coupling is provided between the mating assist lever and the second connector, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to pivotal movement of the lever between its pre-mated and mated positions. Interengaging interference surfaces are provided at spaced locations between the first and second housings of the first and second connectors, respectively. The interference surfaces are engageable when the mating assist lever is at an intermediate point between the opposite ends of its operating stroke. Thereby, the housings are overstrained during an end portion of the operating stroke as the lever reaches its fully mated position.

Lever type electrical connector

An electrical connector includes a housing having a front mating end, a rear terminating end and at least one terminal-receiving passage extending in a direction defining an insertion axis extending between the ends. The passage has a rear open end communicating with the rear terminating end of the housing. A TPA device is engageable with the housing at the front mating end thereof in a pre-load position. The TPA device includes a through passage communicating with the terminal-receiving passage in the housing. The TPA device is movable rearwardly from the pre-load position to a locking position. A terminal is insertable through the rear terminating end of the housing into the rear open end of the terminal-receiving passage along the insertion axis and into the through passage in the TPA device. The terminal moves conjointly with the TPA device from the pre-load position to the locking position. A terminal lock includes a locking surface on the housing at the terminal-receiving passage engageable with the locking shoulder on the terminal Complementary interengaging ramp surfaces are provided between the TPA device and the housing and extend at an angle to the insertion axis for moving the locking shoulder of the terminal transversely of the axis onto the locking surface on the housing as the TPA device and the terminal move conjointly from the pre-load position to the locking position angularly of the axis.

Electrical connector with terminal position assurance device

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.

Connector position assurance device

A device for forcing railroad car deck planks downward against a support and sidewards against a stop to aid in tying the plank to the support with a clip-like tie member. The device includes an anchor member for being fixedly attached to the support, a body member attached to and extending upward from the anchor member, an engagement member for engaging a portion of the plank, and a jack member for selectively causing the engagement member to force the plank downwards and sidewards relative to the body member.

Growing community of inventors

Ortonville, MI, United States of America

Robert J Flowers