Retention article for electrical contacts

Abstract

A retention article for retaining closely-spaced terminals in a connector housing is formed having a stiff water-like article of thermoplastic material and elastomeric material therearound, with a plurality of holes extending therethrough. A pair of arcuate, partly converging wall sections partly surround each hole of said water-like article and extend forwardly from a planar section thereof having forward ends acting as stop surfaces to engage a stop shoulder on each terminal inserted therein. Elastomeric material forward of the planar section surrounds and abuts the outside surfaces of the wall sections, so that when a terminal is inserted into a hole of the retention article it slightly expands the stiff wall sections apart until the stop shoulder passes the forward ends, and the elastomeric material acts to urge the wall sections together against the terminal behind the stop shoulder. Elastomeric material rearward of the planar section has holes extending therethrough from the planar section to a rearward end of the retention article, and the holes preferably have a diameter slightly smaller than conductors on terminals inserted therethrough to grip the conductors. The elastomeric material permits a slender extraction tool to be inserted along a conductor, expanding the elastomeric material, and then urging the ends of wall sections and adjacent elastomeric material around the terminal to release the terminal which may then be withdrawn rearwardly along with the extraction tool from the connector. A method of molding the elastomeric material over the stiff wafer-like article is disclosed. Large retention tines on sides of the retention article secure the retention article within the housing.