Molex Corporation

Yves Lepottier

Robert M Fuerst

Dwaraganathan Bhagyanathan Sathianathan

Russell J Watt

Harry N Etters

Xin Wang

Vijy Koshy

Eric Hepler

Gregory E Avery

Robert J Flowers

Bradley M Dick

David A Pfaffinger

Kevin L Putnam

Dwaraganathan Bhagyanathan-Sathlanathan

Dwaraganathan Bhagynathan Sathianathan

In some embodiments, an electrical terminal includes a contact formed and a hood surrounding the contact. The contact and hood have cooperating retention features for securing the contact to the hood, and the hood provides strengthening features for improving the mechanical properties of the contact. The electrical terminal is mounted in a connector assembly. The electrical terminal has features which prevent or minimize damage to a seal of the connector assembly.

Electrical terminal and connector assembly

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material having a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that are spaced apart from the flexible contact beam that provide increased normal force to the flexible contact beam upon engagement of the flexible contact beam with the stiffening beam.

Terminal fitting

Connector terminal

In some embodiments, an electrical terminal includes a contact formed of a first material having a tensile strength, and a hood surrounding the contact, the hood formed of a second material having a tensile strength. The tensile strength of the second material is greater than the tensile strength of the first material. The contact and hood have cooperating retention features for securing the contact to the hood, and the hood provides strengthening features for improving the mechanical properties of the contact. The electrical terminal is mounted in a connector assembly. The electrical terminal has features which prevent or minimize damage to a seal of the connector assembly.

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material that can have a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that engage the flexible contact beam providing increased normal force to the flexible contact beam.

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a hood. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and stiffening beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The hood is formed from a second material having a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The hood includes a rib having tapered ends and a locking beam that engages a housing to secure the terminal. The locking beam further includes a stop having a rounded end.

Terminal fitting with hood

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material that can have a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that engages the flexible contact beam providing increased normal force to the flexible contact beam.

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

A lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector. A mating assist lever is pivotally movably mounted on the first connector. A slide member is linearly movably mounted on the first connector. A first cam groove and cam follower mechanism is provided between the mating assist lever and the slide member, whereby pivotal movement of the lever relative to the first connector effects linear movement of the slide member relative to the first connector. A second connector is provided with a second cam groove and cam follower mechanism between the slide member and the second connector, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the mating assist lever and resulting translation of the slide member. A latch member is provided on the slide member and is latchingly engageable with the first connector and releasable by the second connector, whereby the slide member and the mating assist lever cannot move unless the connectors are at least preliminarily mated. Complementary interengaging detents are provided between the latch member and the second connector to render at least a tactile indication that the connectors are at least preliminarily mated. Therefore, the singular latch member performs a dual function of latching the slide member and mating assist lever as well as providing a tactile feedback of the mating condition of the connectors.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Yves Lepottier