Te Connectivity Corporation

Te Connectivity Solutions Gmbh

Tyco Electronics Corporation

Thomas Robert DeWitte

David James Rhein

Adam Price Tyler

Lindsey E Gatesman

Zoran Krnetic

Aric J Boyer

Pushkar S Kolhatkar

Deborah J Probert

Eric D Shields

An electrical connector includes a housing having a mounting end configured to be mounted to a structure. The electrical connector includes an electrical shield having shield walls surrounding a shield cavity. The shield walls are coupled to the housing and provide electrical shielding for the housing. The electrical shield includes grounding tabs extending from the shield walls. The grounding tabs include teeth having cutting edges. The grounding tabs are received in the opening in the structure. The teeth of the grounding tabs configured to engage the structure to electrically ground the grounding tabs to the structure. The cutting edges configured to cut through a coated surface of the structure to directly engage a conductive layer of the structure to electrically connect the electrical shield to the structure through the coated surface.

Electrical shield for an electrical connector

An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body adapted to mount to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof and adapted to engage with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a locking feature adapted to engage with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body and defining a keying feature. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction distinct from the first direction.

Bi-directional header for multi-direction connector mating

An electrical header for use in an electrical connector assembly includes a body for mounting to an object and having an opening formed therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal. The body further defines a plug on a first side thereof for engaging with a mating electrical connector of the assembly. The plug includes a pair of first opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a first height and defining a locking feature for engaging with a corresponding locking feature of the mating connector, and a pair of second opposing sidewalls extending from the body at a second height, less than the first height. The first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls are adapted to mate with a first mating connector oriented in a first direction, and mate with a second mating connector oriented in a second direction distinct from the first direction.

A gasket assembly includes a substrate, such as a portion of a body of an electrical connector. The substrate defines a mating surface to which a gasket or gasket seal is mechanically fixed. The gasket defines at least one recess or other mounting feature thereon for engaging with a complementary feature of the substrate for fixing the gasket to the substrate. According to an embodiment, the gasket defines a sealing face or sealing wall opposing and/or abutting the mating surface of the substrate, and a sidewall extending from the sealing wall and defined about a perimeter thereof. The sealing wall and sidewall define a circumferential recess configured to receive a peripheral edge of the substrate for securing the gasket to and generally over the mating surface of the substrate.

Seal gasket retention for connector assembly or housing

A terminal extraction tool includes a handle and an extraction arm extending from the handle. The handle has a bottom extending between a handle front and a handle rear having a handle axis centered between the handle front and the handle rear. The extraction arm has a base at the bottom of the handle and a finger extending from the base. The finger has an elbow between an upper finger member and a lower finger member. The lower finger member is angled non-parallel to the upper finger member. The lower finger member extends from the elbow to a tip configured to engage a latching beam to release the latching beam and allow removal of the terminal from a housing. The handle and the extraction arm are rotated about the elbow to rotate the lower finger member and the tip to engage the latching beam.

Terminal extraction tool

Electrical connector includes an electrical contact coupled to a connector body and configured to engage a respective contact of a mating connector. The electrical connector includes a seal gland secured to the connector body. The seal gland is shaped to engage the mating connector during the mating operation. The seal gland includes a lubricating section and a sealing section that are displaceable by the mating connector during the mating operation. The lubricating section is positioned in front of the sealing section such that the lubricating section initially engages the mating connector. The lubricating section has at least one of an added lubricant or an intrinsic lubricant. The seal gland is configured to provide a first frictional force as the mating connector engages the lubricating section and a second frictional force as the mating connector engages the sealing section. The second frictional force is greater than the first frictional force.

Electrical connector and connector assembly having a seal gland

A ferrule assembly for terminating an electrical connector to a cable includes an inner ferrule, an outer ferrule and an inner ferrule sleeve. The inner ferrule has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner ferrule is conductive and provides electrical shielding. The outer ferrule is positioned radially outside of the inner ferrule such that a cable shield of the cable is received between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The outer ferrule secures the cable shield between the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve is positioned radially inside of the inner ferrule. The inner ferrule sleeve substantially fills the space between the inner ferrule and an inner jacket of the cable. The inner ferrule sleeve is dielectric and electrically isolating the inner ferrule from an inner conductor of the cable.

Ferrule assembly for an electrical connector

An electrical connector with recordable position assurance includes a housing, an electrical conductor, an indicating feature, and a concealing feature. The housing is configured to engage a complementary mating connector during a mating operation. The indicating feature and the concealing feature are both carried by the housing. The indicating feature has a visual identifier disposed thereon. The indicating feature and the concealing feature are movable relative to each other between a concealed position and an exposed position. The concealing feature conceals at least a portion of the visual identifier in the concealed position. The visual identifier is exposed or exposable in the exposed position. The indicating feature is in the exposed position relative to the concealing feature when the housing is fully mated to the mating connector, and is in the concealed position relative to the concealing feature when the housing and mating connector are not fully mated.

Electrical connector with recordable position assurance

A connector assembly includes an outer housing, an electromagnetic shield, and a plug. The outer housing includes an interior chamber and an opening. The electromagnetic shield is disposed within the outer housing and includes a conductive body having an interior compartment with an aperture. The plug is disposed in the opening of the outer housing and is engaged with the shield around the aperture of the shield. The plug seals the opening in the outer housing and the aperture in the shield to prevent ingress of contaminants into the interior chamber of the outer housing. The plug also restricts emission of electromagnetic interference from the interior compartment of the shield.

Connector assembly having a cavity sealing plug

A connector assembly includes a housing, an input conductor, and an output conductor. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The input conductor is held in the housing and extends between a receiving end and a coupling end. The receiving end is configured to receive electric current from a power source. The coupling end is configured to join with a fuse inside the housing. The output conductor is held in the housing and extends between a transmission end and a joining end. The joining end is configured to couple with the fuse inside the housing. The transmission end is configured to convey the electric current to a first electric load. The input conductor and the output conductor are electrically coupled with one another via the fuse to provide a fused conductive pathway within the connector assembly over which the electric current passes from the power source to the first electric load.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Thomas Robert DeWitte