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:
Mar. 14, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 17, 1998
Michael Eugene Francis, Beaver Falls, PA (US);
Kathleen D Murphy, Girard, OH (US);
Christopher Adrian Margrave, Cortland, OH (US);
Gregory Larry Bensing, Cortland, OH (US);
William Gilbert Strang, Warren, OH (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An electrical connection system for interfacing with an end portion of a strut rod, wherein the electrical connection therebetween is sealed against environmental degradation and is unaffected by vehicular vibration, and wherein the electrical connection system is easily installed and easily serviced. A connector includes a connector shell having an upper end and an opposite lower end; an insert which carries a ground terminal and a power terminal within the connector shell; a lock ring which interfaces connectably with the connector shell to provide anchorage with the end portion of the strut rod; and seals at the upper and lower ends of the connector shell. The ground terminal connects with a ground cable and resiliently clips onto a smooth section of the end portion of the strut rod, wherein the strut rod serves as the ground conduit. The power terminal is connected with a power cable and abuts a pin axially resident in the strut rod. In order to assure proper seating of the terminals with respect to the strut rod, the lock ring is inhibited from rotating with respect to the connector shell unless it has been sufficiently placed over the strut rod. Connector position assurance (CPA) is provided by a CPA member which snappingly engages the connector shell and the lock ring only when they are correctly interfaced with each other and thereupon prevents rotation relative to each other.