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:
May. 12, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 23, 2008
Larry R. Cox, Austin, TX (US);
Sidney J. Berglund, Round Rock, TX (US);
Jerome A. Pratt, Round Rock, TX (US);
Larry R. Cox, Austin, TX (US);
Sidney J. Berglund, Round Rock, TX (US);
Jerome A. Pratt, Round Rock, TX (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An electrical connector assembly for terminating first and second electrical wires, the electrical connector assembly comprising a housing including a compartment for receiving first and second IDC elements and a cap movably mounted to the housing to cover the compartment. The cap is movable between an open position and a closed position. The cap includes a general body portion, a wire retention portion, and a latching mechanism. The wire retention portion includes first and second wire holders to retain and align the respective electrical wires within the housing for engagement with a gripping portion of the respective IDC element when the cap is placed in a closed position. The gripping force of the wire holders is less than a gripping force of the IDC elements. The latching mechanism can releasably fasten the cap to the housing when the cap is placed in a closed position. When the cap is returned to an open position after the cap was placed in the closed position, the first and second wires are retained by the first and second IDC elements and the first and second wire holders disengage the first and second wires from the cap.