EP1109262A2 - Electrical connector with terminal retainer - Google Patents
Electrical connector with terminal retainer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1109262A2 EP1109262A2 EP00126905A EP00126905A EP1109262A2 EP 1109262 A2 EP1109262 A2 EP 1109262A2 EP 00126905 A EP00126905 A EP 00126905A EP 00126905 A EP00126905 A EP 00126905A EP 1109262 A2 EP1109262 A2 EP 1109262A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- terminals
- cavities
- opening
- retainer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
- H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
- H01R13/436—Securing a plurality of contact members by one locking piece or operation
- H01R13/4361—Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
Definitions
- This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector having a retainer for locking terminals in a connector housing.
- a typical electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities or passages into which male or female terminals are inserted. Often, the cavities arc generally parallel and elongated, and the terminals also are elongated and inserted into the cavities along longitudinal axes. In a hard wired connector, each terminal normally is crimped to a wire conductor and then inserted into one of the cavities.
- the housing may have primary locking means, such as flexible locking arms, for holding the terminals in their fully inserted positions. Mating plug and socket housings then can be joined in order to interconnect male and female terminals mounted in the housings, or the housing might be joined with other terminal supporting devices.
- connectors of the character described above have been generally successful, unreliable interconnections between the terminals can occur in some instances.
- a terminal may not be fully inserted into its housing cavity during assembly, whereby the locking structure is not effective to secure the terminal in place.
- a terminal can subsequently work loose because of vibrations or other extraneous forces and cause a faulty or intermittent connection.
- Such occurrences might be expected in such applications as automotive electrical systems which are subject to vibration and impact during normal use. Consequently, a variety of systems have been designed wherein a separate terminal retainer is employed on the connector housing to act as either a primary or a secondary locking means.
- retainers may be inserted into openings in the connector housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the axes of the cavities.
- the retainers themselves, are elongated generally transversely of the cavities to span a plurality of cavities and terminals.
- the openings in the housings communicate with the cavities so that the retainers can lockingly engage the terminals in the cavities. Examples of locking connectors are shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication Nos. Hei 1 (1989) - 43986 and 64872 as well as in U.S. Patent No. 5,203,722.
- a major problem with independent retainers of the character described above is to ensure that a retainer is inserted into its opening in the housing in a proper orientation so that forcible insertion of the retainer does not damage the delicate terminals in the terminal-receiving cavities.
- the present invention is directed to providing a very simple means which allows a terminal retainer to be positioned in the opening in a housing in only one, proper orientation.
- An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector of the character described, incorporating a novel terminal retainer.
- the electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of generally parallel elongated terminal-receiving cavities extending in an axial direction.
- a generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical opening is provided in a side wall of the housing. The opening is elongated in a direction generally transversely of the axial direction and communicating with the cavities.
- a plurality of generally elongated terminals are insertable into the cavities.
- Each terminal includes first and second locking shoulders. Primary interengaging locking means are provided between the housing and the first locking shoulders of the terminals to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities.
- the invention contemplates an elongated, generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical terminal retainer positionable in the opening the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the axial direction. Secondary interengaging locking means are provided between the terminal retainer and the second locking shoulders of the terminals to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities.
- a tab on the housing projects into the opening at an edge thereof, and a notch is provided in the terminal retainer at a periphery thereof for accommodating the tab, to allow the terminal retainer to be positioned in the opening in only one orientation.
- the tab on the housing and the notch in the terminal retainer are located at respective corners of the rectangular opening and the rectangular retainer.
- a conventional electrical connector generally designated 10 which is shown as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,203,722 which is listed in the "Background", above.
- This prior art connector includes a housing 12 having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities 14.
- the cavities have rear openings 16 into which a plurality of female terminals 18 are inserted in the direction of arrow "A".
- the rear ends of the terminals are crimped and terminated to a plurality of discrete electrical wires 20.
- the cavities have front ends 22 into which male terminals are inserted for connection with the female terminals.
- a primary locking arm 24 is molded integrally with housing 12 and projects into each cavity 14 for locking engagement with the respective terminal 18 in the cavity.
- Prior art connector 10 in Figure 1 includes a secondary locking means in the form of a terminal retainer, generally designated 26, which is insertable through an opening 28 in a side wall 30 of housing 12.
- opening 28 in the housing is generally rectangular, elongated and bilaterally symmetrical.
- Terminal retainer 26 also is generally rectangular, elongated and bilaterally symmetrical. Therefore, the retainer can be inserted into the opening in different orientations approximately 180° from each other. If the terminal retainer is inserted in the wrong orientation, it will not function properly, and/or the retainer might damage terminals 18 which are delicate and fabricated of thin sheet metal material.
- FIG. 2 shows a connector assembly, generally designated 30, which includes a receptacle connector, generally designated 32, mateable with a plug connector, generally designated 34. As will be seen hereinafter, the invention herein is incorporated in plug connector 34.
- Receptacle connector 32 of connector assembly 30 includes a dielectric housing 36 mounting a plurality of male or pin terminals 38.
- Housing 36 defines a receptacle 40 into which plug connector 34 is inserted in the direction of arrow "B" to mate the connectors.
- Housing 36 may include one or more apertured mounting flanges 42 for mounting the receptacle connector to a panel, printed circuit board or the like.
- Male terminals 38 may have tail portions (not shown) for termination to circuit traces on the printed circuit board.
- plug connector 34 of connector assembly 30 includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 44, which is a one-piece structure unitarily molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like.
- the housing has a front mating end or face 46 and a rear terminating end or face 48.
- Two rows of terminal-receiving passages 50 extend in an axial direction through housing 44 between front and rear faces 46 and 48, respectively.
- the passages have front ends 50a which open at front face 46 of the housing, and the cavities have rear ends 50b opening at rear face 48 of the housing.
- each cavity 50 has an elongated rib 52 defining a pair of grooves 54 on opposite sides thereof to facilitate guiding the terminals as they are inserted into the passages.
- Figure 3 also shows a generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical opening 56 in a side (bottom) wall 58 of housing 44. The opening is elongated to span all of the terminal-receiving cavities laterally of the housing. The opening also extends into the housing communicating with the cavities.
- a terminal retainer is positionable into opening 56 in housing 44.
- the terminal retainer is elongated, generally rectangular and bilaterally symmetrical.
- the retainer is inserted into the opening in the direction of arrow "C" (Fig. 3).
- the terminal retainer is a one-piece structure unitarily molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like.
- the retainer is formed by a pair of rectangular, parallel outer and inner plates 62 and 64, respectively, joined by a plurality of partitions or walls 66.
- the walls define passages 68 therebetween.
- a plurality of guide protrusions 70 project inwardly of inner plate 64 for guiding the inserted terminals.
- a pair of latch protrusions 71 project from one longitudinal edge of outer plate 62 for purposes described hereinafter.
- a pair of notches 72 along the other longitudinal edge of outer plate 62 allow the terminal retainer to be removed from the housing by a tool, such as a screwdriver.
- FIG 4 shows one of a plurality of terminals, generally designated 80, which are inserted into the terminal-receiving passages of housing 44 in the direction of arrow "D" (Fig. 2).
- Each terminal includes a contact section and a terminating section shown schematically at 82 and 84, respectively, in Figure 4.
- Each terminal is stamped and formed of conductive sheet metal material.
- Contact section 82 of the terminal includes a pair of upstanding ears 86 which are laterally spaced and which ride in guide grooves 54 (Fig. 3). The ears are formed out of an opening in the contact section which defines a first locking shoulder 88.
- a second opening 90 forms a second locking shoulder 92.
- a contact spring arm 94 is cantilevered rearwardly into contact section 82 for engaging one of the terminal pins 38 (Fig.2) of receptacle connector 32.
- the contact spring arm has a front sloped surface 96 for engagement by the terminal pin.
- terminating section 84 has two pairs of crimp arms 98 and 100 for crimping onto an electrical wire 102.
- Crimp arms 98 conductively engage a conductor or core 104 of the electrical wire which has been stripped of an outer cladding 106.
- Crimp arms 100 clamp onto the outer cladding to provide strain-relief means for the wire.
- Figure 5 shows an axial section through housing 44 of plug connector 34, with terminal retainer 66 in a first or preliminary position of mounting on the housing.
- latch protrusions 71 (Figs. 2 and 3) along one edge of outer plate 62 establish a press-fit with wall 58 of the housing to hold the retainer in its preliminary position.
- all of the terminals 80 are freely insertable into cavities 50 through openings 50b at rear face 48 of the housing.
- Figure 5 also shows the primary locking means for the terminals.
- a flexible locking arm 110 is molded integrally with housing 44 for each terminal-receiving passage 50 and includes a protrusion 112 projecting into the respective cavity. Protrusions 112 define locking shoulders 14 for engaging first locking shoulders 88 of terminals 80.
- Figure 6 shows plug connector 34 in fully assembled condition.
- Terminals 80 have been fully inserted into cavities 50 in housing 46 in the direction of arrows "D".
- the terminals are in locking engagement with the primary locking means which includes locking arms 110 of the housing.
- Terminal retainer 60 has been fully inserted to its second or final position in the direction of arrow "B" whereat outer and inner plates 62 and 64, respectively, are in engagement with second locking shoulders 92 of the terminals.
- FIG. 3 best shows that a tab 120 is formed integrally with the housing and projects into opening 56 at a corner of the rectangular opening.
- a notch 122 is formed in a corner of each of the outer and inner plates 62 and 64, respectively, of the rectangular terminal retainer. Therefore, the retainer must be oriented as shown in Figure 3 so that notches 122 on the retainer are aligned with tab 120 within the opening, before the retainer can be inserted into the opening. If the retainer is reversed, a corner of inner plate 64 of the retainer will abut the tab and prevent the retainer from being inserted into opening 56.
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
An electrical connector (34) includes a dielectric housing (44) having a
plurality of cavities (50) extending in an axial direction (D) for receiving a plurality of
terminals (80). Each terminal includes a locking shoulder (92). The housing includes a
generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical opening (56) in a side wall (58) thereof
communicating with the cavities. An elongated, generally rectangular and bilaterally
symmetrical terminal retainer (60) is positionable in the opening in the housing. The
retainer has locking surfaces (62,64) for engaging the locking shoulders (92) of the
terminals to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities. A tab (120) on the housing (44)
projects into the opening (56) at an edge thereof, and a notch (122) is formed in the
terminal retainer (60) at a periphery thereof, for accommodating the tab to allow the
terminal retainer to be positioned in the opening in only one orientation.
Description
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and,
particularly, to an electrical connector having a retainer for locking terminals in a
connector housing.
A typical electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a
plurality of terminal-receiving cavities or passages into which male or female terminals
are inserted. Often, the cavities arc generally parallel and elongated, and the terminals
also are elongated and inserted into the cavities along longitudinal axes. In a hard wired
connector, each terminal normally is crimped to a wire conductor and then inserted into
one of the cavities. The housing may have primary locking means, such as flexible
locking arms, for holding the terminals in their fully inserted positions. Mating plug and
socket housings then can be joined in order to interconnect male and female terminals
mounted in the housings, or the housing might be joined with other terminal supporting
devices.
Although connectors of the character described above have been generally
successful, unreliable interconnections between the terminals can occur in some
instances. For example, a terminal may not be fully inserted into its housing cavity
during assembly, whereby the locking structure is not effective to secure the terminal in
place. In addition, even if a connection is made initially, a terminal can subsequently
work loose because of vibrations or other extraneous forces and cause a faulty or
intermittent connection. Such occurrences might be expected in such applications as
automotive electrical systems which are subject to vibration and impact during normal
use. Consequently, a variety of systems have been designed wherein a separate terminal
retainer is employed on the connector housing to act as either a primary or a secondary
locking means. These retainers may be inserted into openings in the connector housing
in a direction generally perpendicular to the axes of the cavities. The retainers,
themselves, are elongated generally transversely of the cavities to span a plurality of
cavities and terminals. The openings in the housings communicate with the cavities so
that the retainers can lockingly engage the terminals in the cavities. Examples of locking
connectors are shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication Nos. Hei 1 (1989) - 43986
and 64872 as well as in U.S. Patent No. 5,203,722.
A major problem with independent retainers of the character described
above is to ensure that a retainer is inserted into its opening in the housing in a proper
orientation so that forcible insertion of the retainer does not damage the delicate
terminals in the terminal-receiving cavities. The present invention is directed to
providing a very simple means which allows a terminal retainer to be positioned in the
opening in a housing in only one, proper orientation.
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved
electrical connector of the character described, incorporating a novel terminal retainer.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrical connector
includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of generally parallel elongated terminal-receiving
cavities extending in an axial direction. A generally rectangular, bilaterally
symmetrical opening is provided in a side wall of the housing. The opening is elongated
in a direction generally transversely of the axial direction and communicating with the
cavities. A plurality of generally elongated terminals are insertable into the cavities.
Each terminal includes first and second locking shoulders. Primary interengaging
locking means are provided between the housing and the first locking shoulders of the
terminals to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities.
The invention contemplates an elongated, generally rectangular,
bilaterally symmetrical terminal retainer positionable in the opening the housing in a
direction generally perpendicular to the axial direction. Secondary interengaging locking
means are provided between the terminal retainer and the second locking shoulders of
the terminals to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities. A tab on the housing
projects into the opening at an edge thereof, and a notch is provided in the terminal
retainer at a periphery thereof for accommodating the tab, to allow the terminal retainer
to be positioned in the opening in only one orientation. As disclosed herein, the tab on
the housing and the notch in the terminal retainer are located at respective corners of the
rectangular opening and the rectangular retainer.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth
with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and
the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
identify like elements in the figures and in which:
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to Figure 1, a
conventional electrical connector, generally designated 10, is shown as disclosed in U.S.
Patent No. 5,203,722 which is listed in the "Background", above. This prior art
connector includes a housing 12 having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities 14. The
cavities have rear openings 16 into which a plurality of female terminals 18 are inserted
in the direction of arrow "A". The rear ends of the terminals are crimped and terminated
to a plurality of discrete electrical wires 20. The cavities have front ends 22 into which
male terminals are inserted for connection with the female terminals. A primary locking
arm 24 is molded integrally with housing 12 and projects into each cavity 14 for locking
engagement with the respective terminal 18 in the cavity.
Prior art connector 10 in Figure 1 includes a secondary locking means in
the form of a terminal retainer, generally designated 26, which is insertable through an
opening 28 in a side wall 30 of housing 12. Although not visible in Figure 1, opening 28
in the housing is generally rectangular, elongated and bilaterally symmetrical. Terminal
retainer 26 also is generally rectangular, elongated and bilaterally symmetrical.
Therefore, the retainer can be inserted into the opening in different orientations
approximately 180° from each other. If the terminal retainer is inserted in the wrong
orientation, it will not function properly, and/or the retainer might damage terminals 18
which are delicate and fabricated of thin sheet metal material.
Figure 2 shows a connector assembly, generally designated 30, which
includes a receptacle connector, generally designated 32, mateable with a plug connector,
generally designated 34. As will be seen hereinafter, the invention herein is incorporated
in plug connector 34.
Referring to Figure 3 in conjunction with Figure 2, plug connector 34 of
connector assembly 30 includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 44, which is
a one-piece structure unitarily molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like.
The housing has a front mating end or face 46 and a rear terminating end or face 48.
Two rows of terminal-receiving passages 50 (Fig. 3) extend in an axial direction through
housing 44 between front and rear faces 46 and 48, respectively. The passages have
front ends 50a which open at front face 46 of the housing, and the cavities have rear ends
50b opening at rear face 48 of the housing. As seen in Figure 3, each cavity 50 has an
elongated rib 52 defining a pair of grooves 54 on opposite sides thereof to facilitate
guiding the terminals as they are inserted into the passages. Figure 3 also shows a
generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical opening 56 in a side (bottom) wall 58 of
housing 44. The opening is elongated to span all of the terminal-receiving cavities
laterally of the housing. The opening also extends into the housing communicating with
the cavities.
A terminal retainer, generally designated 60, is positionable into opening
56 in housing 44. Like the opening, the terminal retainer is elongated, generally
rectangular and bilaterally symmetrical. The retainer is inserted into the opening in the
direction of arrow "C" (Fig. 3). Like housing 44, the terminal retainer is a one-piece
structure unitarily molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like. The retainer
is formed by a pair of rectangular, parallel outer and inner plates 62 and 64, respectively,
joined by a plurality of partitions or walls 66. The walls define passages 68
therebetween. A plurality of guide protrusions 70 project inwardly of inner plate 64 for
guiding the inserted terminals. A pair of latch protrusions 71 project from one
longitudinal edge of outer plate 62 for purposes described hereinafter. A pair of notches
72 along the other longitudinal edge of outer plate 62 allow the terminal retainer to be
removed from the housing by a tool, such as a screwdriver.
Figure 4 shows one of a plurality of terminals, generally designated 80,
which are inserted into the terminal-receiving passages of housing 44 in the direction of
arrow "D" (Fig. 2). Each terminal includes a contact section and a terminating section
shown schematically at 82 and 84, respectively, in Figure 4. Each terminal is stamped
and formed of conductive sheet metal material. Contact section 82 of the terminal
includes a pair of upstanding ears 86 which are laterally spaced and which ride in guide
grooves 54 (Fig. 3). The ears are formed out of an opening in the contact section which
defines a first locking shoulder 88. A second opening 90 forms a second locking
shoulder 92. A contact spring arm 94 is cantilevered rearwardly into contact section 82
for engaging one of the terminal pins 38 (Fig.2) of receptacle connector 32. The contact
spring arm has a front sloped surface 96 for engagement by the terminal pin. Finally,
terminating section 84 has two pairs of crimp arms 98 and 100 for crimping onto an
electrical wire 102. Crimp arms 98 conductively engage a conductor or core 104 of the
electrical wire which has been stripped of an outer cladding 106. Crimp arms 100 clamp
onto the outer cladding to provide strain-relief means for the wire.
Figure 5 shows an axial section through housing 44 of plug connector 34,
with terminal retainer 66 in a first or preliminary position of mounting on the housing.
In this position, latch protrusions 71 (Figs. 2 and 3) along one edge of outer plate 62
establish a press-fit with wall 58 of the housing to hold the retainer in its preliminary
position. In this first or preliminary position, all of the terminals 80 are freely insertable
into cavities 50 through openings 50b at rear face 48 of the housing.
Before proceeding, Figure 5 also shows the primary locking means for the
terminals. Specifically, a flexible locking arm 110 is molded integrally with housing 44
for each terminal-receiving passage 50 and includes a protrusion 112 projecting into the
respective cavity. Protrusions 112 define locking shoulders 14 for engaging first locking
shoulders 88 of terminals 80.
Figure 6 shows plug connector 34 in fully assembled condition.
Terminals 80 have been fully inserted into cavities 50 in housing 46 in the direction of
arrows "D". The terminals are in locking engagement with the primary locking means
which includes locking arms 110 of the housing. Terminal retainer 60 has been fully
inserted to its second or final position in the direction of arrow "B" whereat outer and
inner plates 62 and 64, respectively, are in engagement with second locking shoulders 92
of the terminals.
Since opening 56 in housing 44 is rectangular and bilaterally symmetrical.
and since terminal retainer 60 also is rectangular and bilaterally symmetrical, provision
is made to ensure that the retainer can be inserted into the opening in only one
orientation. To this end, Figure 3 best shows that a tab 120 is formed integrally with the
housing and projects into opening 56 at a corner of the rectangular opening.
Correspondingly, as seen best in Figure 2 and 3, a notch 122 is formed in a corner of
each of the outer and inner plates 62 and 64, respectively, of the rectangular terminal
retainer. Therefore, the retainer must be oriented as shown in Figure 3 so that notches
122 on the retainer are aligned with tab 120 within the opening, before the retainer can
be inserted into the opening. If the retainer is reversed, a corner of inner plate 64 of the
retainer will abut the tab and prevent the retainer from being inserted into opening 56.
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present
examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative
and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.
Claims (6)
- An electrical connector (34), comprising:a dielectric housing (44) having a plurality of generally parallel elongated terminal-receiving cavities (50) extending in an axial direction (D), and a generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical opening (56) in a side wall (58) of the housing, the opening being elongated in a direction generally transversely of said axial direction and communicating with said cavities (50);a plurality of generally elongated terminals (80) insertable into the cavities (50), each terminal including first and second locking shoulders (88,92);primary interengaging locking means (110) between the housing (44) and the first locking shoulders (88) of the terminals (80) to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities (50);an elongated generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical terminal retainer (60) positionable in the opening (56) in the housing (44) in a direction (C) generally perpendicular to said axial direction;secondary interengaging locking means (62,64) between the terminal retainer (60) and the second locking shoulders (92) of the terminals (80) to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities (50); anda tab (120) on the housing (44) projecting into said opening (56) at an edge thereof and a notch (122) in the terminal retainer (60) at a periphery thereof for accommodating said tab (120) to allow the terminal retainer to be positioned in the opening in only one orientation.
- The electrical connector of claim 1, including complementary interengaging latch means (71,58) between the housing (44) and the terminal retainer (60) to hold the retainer on the housing in a first position allowing the terminals (80) to be inserted into the cavities (50) and a second position locking the terminals (80) in the cavities (50).
- The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said tab (120) on the housing (44) and said notch (122) in the terminal retainer (60) are located at respective corners of the rectangular opening and the rectangular retainer.
- An electrical connector (34), comprising:a dielectric housing (44) having a plurality of generally parallel elongated terminal-receiving cavities (50) extending in an axial direction (D), and a generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical opening (56) in a side wall (58) of the housing, the opening being elongated in a direction generally transversely of said axial direction and communicating with said cavities (50);a plurality of generally elongated terminals (80) insertable into the cavities (50), each terminal including a locking shoulder (88,92);an elongated generally rectangular, bilaterally symmetrical terminal retainer (60) positionable in the opening (56) in the housing (44) in a direction (C) generally perpendicular to said axial direction;interengaging locking means (62,64) between the terminal retainer (60) and the locking shoulders (92) of the terminals (80) to hold the terminals inserted into the cavities (50); anda tab (120) on the housing (44) projecting into said opening (56) at an edge thereof and a notch (122) in the terminal retainer (60) at a periphery thereof for accommodating said tab (120) to allow the terminal retainer to be positioned in the opening in only one orientation.
- The electrical connector of claim 4, including complementary interengaging latch means (71,58) between the housing (44) and the terminal retainer (60) to hold the retainer on the housing in a first position allowing the terminals (80) to be inserted into the cavities (50) and a second position locking the terminals (80) in the cavities (50).
- The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said tab (120) on the housing (44) and said notch (122) in the terminal retainer (60) are located at respective corners of the rectangular opening and the rectangular retainer.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR9928149 | 1999-12-14 | ||
KR2019990028149U KR200183163Y1 (en) | 1999-12-14 | 1999-12-14 | Connector assembly for double lock electrical connection |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1109262A2 true EP1109262A2 (en) | 2001-06-20 |
Family
ID=19601246
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00126905A Withdrawn EP1109262A2 (en) | 1999-12-14 | 2000-12-08 | Electrical connector with terminal retainer |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1109262A2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR200183163Y1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2002100434A (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2002-04-05 | Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd | Connector |
KR100427051B1 (en) * | 2002-05-07 | 2004-04-13 | 타이코에이엠피 주식회사 | Double locking construction for terminal of connector |
KR100871444B1 (en) | 2006-10-30 | 2008-12-03 | 한국단자공업 주식회사 | Dual Engagement Connector |
KR100874967B1 (en) * | 2007-04-24 | 2008-12-19 | 한국단자공업 주식회사 | Terminal flow guard and connector including the same |
-
1999
- 1999-12-14 KR KR2019990028149U patent/KR200183163Y1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2000
- 2000-12-08 EP EP00126905A patent/EP1109262A2/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR200183163Y1 (en) | 2000-05-15 |
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