The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1997
Anthony J Pill, Aurora, IL (US);
Molex Incorporated, Lisle, IL (US);
Abstract
A terminal position assurance (TPA) system is disclosed in an electrical connector assembly. The system includes a dielectric connector housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages. A plurality of terminals are insertable in an insertion direction into the passages. A TPA device is insertable into the housing and includes a plurality of fingers movable in a direction transverse to the insertion direction into the passages when the TPA device is moved from a pre-load position allowing insertion of the terminals to a final position with the fingers projecting into the passages in engagement with the terminals. The TPA device includes a pair of flexible latch arms at opposite ends of the plurality of terminals for holding the TPA device in at least one of its pre-load and final positions. The flexible latch arms are flexible in the same direction of movement of the fingers into the terminal-receiving passages.