Tyco Electronics Corporation

Raychem Limited

Timm Seaton

Peter J Dutton

Mohamed Hussein Higgy

Jason T Valenta

Mohamad Higgy

The present electrical connector assembly includes an outer shell capable of receiving at least one electrical contact module. The outer shell works in cooperation with an improved contact module retaining device which secures the electrical contact module within the shell. The combination of the outer shell with the contact module retaining device protects the critical elements of the retaining device from exterior environments, does not interfere with insertion of the module into the shell, and provides for a precise alignment of the module during and after insertion of the module into the shell. In particular, the outer shell is comprised of two half shells which are open during attachment of a contact module retaining device to each of the half shells. The two half shells are joined to form a connector housing after attachment of the module retaining device. The preferred module retaining device is a clip which is attached so that the main body of the clip is in contact with an interior surface of the half shell. The clip is precisely aligned within the half shell using snap fit contacts which hold the clip in position until the half shells are joined, after which the clips may be held in position by contact with the interior surface of the half shell alone.

Electrical connector with split shells and retention clip

A modular connector includes a set of pairs of modular inserts configured to mate with each other to convey electrical signals or power in a structure such as a vehicle. Each pair of modular inserts are coupled to their respective wiring lines and supported by their respective structures. One of each pair of modular inserts is supported by a receptacle shell, while the other is supported by a plug shell. The modular inserts are characterized with removable characterized buttons for cooperation respectively with characterizations slots provided in the receptacle shell and plug shell. The characterization scheme ensures that incorrect modular inserts are not loaded onto the wrong position of the receptacle shell and plug shell. The shields of the wiring lines are grounded to grounding contacts provided in the corresponding modular inserts. The receptacle shell is coupled to a grounding shell supported by the vehicle with the corresponding grounding contacts contacting the grounding shell for grounding. The plug shell is coupled to the receptacle shell to place the respective contacts in the pairs of modular inserts in mating connections to convey signals or power. The grounding contacts of the modular inserts in the plug shell contact the grounding shell for grounding. The connector is easy and quick to assemble without the need for tools and with savings in assembly time.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Timm Seaton