EP3316409A1 - Endgerätepositionssicherungselement und verfahren zum betrieb eines endgerätepositionssicherungselements - Google Patents

Endgerätepositionssicherungselement und verfahren zum betrieb eines endgerätepositionssicherungselements Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3316409A1
EP3316409A1 EP17207724.0A EP17207724A EP3316409A1 EP 3316409 A1 EP3316409 A1 EP 3316409A1 EP 17207724 A EP17207724 A EP 17207724A EP 3316409 A1 EP3316409 A1 EP 3316409A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
protrusion
terminal position
position assurance
assurance member
connector
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP17207724.0A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Rajit Abraham
Franklin A. Holub
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JST Corp
Original Assignee
JST Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/405,405 external-priority patent/US10622746B2/en
Application filed by JST Corp filed Critical JST Corp
Publication of EP3316409A1 publication Critical patent/EP3316409A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01R13/4362—Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion comprising a temporary and a final locking position
    • 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
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6271—Latching means integral with the housing
    • 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
    • H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling
    • H01R13/641—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a terminal position assurance (TPA) member used in a connector.
  • TPA terminal position assurance
  • the present invention generally relates to a terminal position assurance (TPA) member used in a connector.
  • TPA member can be used in a connector to make sure that a terminal is positioned properly.
  • the connector can be an electrical connector or other type of connector, for example.
  • the connector can have one or more terminals for electrical connections or for other types of connections, for example.
  • a first TPA member has at least one flexible feature.
  • a second TPA member has at least one locating/guide feature and at least one flexible feature.
  • the locating/guide feature can also be referred to as a guide feature or a guide.
  • the flexible feature can also be referred to as a protrusion.
  • a second TPA member has at least one locating/guide feature to provide proper guidance and to avoid any imbalance created during engagement and disengagement with a connector or a connector housing.
  • a TPA member provides a number of desirable characteristics, including at least, for example: it helps to achieve a full potential force of the system and desirable audible "click" sound when TPA member is inserted into connector housing; it helps to avoid a TPA member being moved to a final lock position (or "set” position) during shipping and/or handling; it requires no secondary operation of a user; and it helps prevent failure.
  • the TPA member's first pair of flexible features is more likely to engage substantially simultaneously, and then subsequently the TPA member's second pair of flexible features is more likely to engage substantially simultaneously, thereby achieving full potential force of the system and producing an audible "click" sound. Because of the location/guide features, there is additional force when a TPA member and a connector housing are mated together, and that additional force helps to make the "click" sound louder than it would have been if the location/guide features were not present.
  • TPA members It is a desirable trait to avoid a TPA member being moved to a final lock position (or "set" position) during shipping and/or handling.
  • the location/guide features and flexible features of TPA members help to make the TPA member more resistant to entering a final lock position (or "set” position) during shipping and/or handling.
  • the location/guide features and flexible features of TPA members help to prevent a movement of TPA members from a pre-set position to a final lock position during shipping and/or handling.
  • TPA member It is a desirable trait for a TPA member to avoid a need for a secondary operation of a user.
  • the desired movement can be accomplished by a single operation of a user.
  • TPA member It is a desirable trait for a TPA member to help prevent failure.
  • TPA member with a configuration that helps to prevent inadvertent movement from a preset position to a final lock position.
  • a TPA member can be partially inserted into a connector before shipping, and that position can correspond to a preset position. Then the connector, having the TPA in the preset position, can be shipped to a customer. At that time, the customer can put the connector to use, and then can lastly move the TPA member from the preset position to the final lock position.
  • the customer typically does not want to receive a connector with a TPA member already in the final lock position, because this could mean that the customer needs to take one or more additional steps which would be inconvenient and not desirable. For example, the customer will need to move the TPA member from the final lock position to the preset position, then put the connector to use, and then move the TPA member from the preset position to the final lock position. Additional steps, or secondary operations, are not desired.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first TPA member that has flexible features, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a first TPA member, generally referred to by reference numeral 100.
  • the first TPA member 100 has a body that has a first side which includes flexible feature 102 and flexible feature 104.
  • the body of the first TPA member 100 has a second side which includes flexible feature 106 and flexible feature 108.
  • the body of the first TPA member 100 forms at least one terminal aperture 110.
  • first TPA member 100 When the first TPA member 100 is inserted into a connector, it is desirable for the first side to be even, balanced, or in alignment with the second side, so that flexible feature 102 will be engaged with a first tab of the connector at substantially the same time as the flexible feature 106 is engaged with a second tab of the connecter.
  • FIG. 2 is a graph showing the forces used to insert the first TPA member of FIG. 1 into a connector.
  • FIG. 2 shows the forces used to insert the first TPA member 100 into a connector, or to extract the first TPA member 100 from a connector.
  • the first TPA member 100 does not have locating/guide features 220, 222. Because the first TPA member 100 does not have locating/guide features 220, 222, the flexible feature 102 might be engaged before the flexible feature 106 is engaged. That is, the first TPA member 100 might be inserted into a connector in a lopsided manner, such that one side is inserted before another side.
  • the first TPA member 100 does not have the locating/guide features 220, 222 of the present invention, the first TPA member 100 can be lopsided during insertion and this can lead to an imbalance of force, and the corresponding force curve can have two or more peaks of force. It is desirable to just have one peak of force when a TPA member is inserted into a connector.
  • each different colored curve represents forces from a different sample, when a TPA member that does not have the locating/guide features 220, 222 of the present invention is inserted into a connector. It is easy and common to insert a TPA member in a lopsided manner or uneven manner, when that TPA member does not have the locating/guide features 220, 222 of the present invention.
  • most or all of the different colored curves have two or more peak forces, because it is easy and common to insert a TPA member in a lopsided manner or uneven manner, when that TPA member does not have the locating/guide features 220, 222 of the present invention.
  • a TPA member can be configured to have the locating/guide features 220, 222 of the present invention.
  • a TPA member can be configured to have the locating/guide features 220, 222 of the present invention.
  • the locating/guide features 220, 222 in a middle area of a TPA member 200 as shown in FIG. 3 , help to enable the flexible features 102 and 106 to engage a tab substantially simultaneously.
  • the locating/guide features 220, 222 help to enable the flexible features 104 and 108 engage substantially simultaneously.
  • the locating/guide features 220, 222 help to have flexible features 102 and 106 engage a connector substantially simultaneously.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second TPA member that has location/guide features and flexible features, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 depicts a second TPA member 200 that has a body 201.
  • the body has flexible features 102, 104, 106, and 108 formed thereon.
  • the flexible features 102, 104, 106, and 108 can also be referred to as protrusions 102, 104, 106, and 108 extending outward from sides of the body of the second TPA member 200.
  • FIG. 3 shows that the body of the second TPA member 200 has a top 224.
  • the body also has a location/guide feature 220 extending outward from the body in a first direction, and a location/guide feature 222 extending outward from the body in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
  • the body forms at least one terminal aperture 110.
  • a plurality of terminal apertures 110 are shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the flexible features 102, 104, 106, and 108 are more flexible than the location/guide features 220 and 222.
  • FIG. 3 shows that the location/guide features 220, 222 are at or near a middle area of the top 224, but the location/guide features 220, 222 could be located at one or more different areas of the second TPA member 200, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • One of the purposes of the location/guide features 220, 222 is to help the second TPA member 200 be even and balanced during insertion and extraction, and is not lopsided during insertion or extraction.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second TPA member of FIG. 3 and a connector, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 indicates the top 224 and bottom 226 of the second TPA member 200.
  • FIG. 4 shows a connector 300 which has an aperture 302. The aperture 302 receives the bottom 226 of the second TPA member 200.
  • the connector 300 has ribs 304 and 306.
  • the location/guide feature 220 extends from the top 224 of the body of the second TPA member 200 in a first direction outward away from the body as shown in FIG. 4
  • the location/guide feature 222 extends from the top 224 of the body of the second TPA member 200 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, outward away from the body as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the location/guide feature 220 also extends downward in a direction toward the bottom 226 of the body of the second TPA member 200, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the location/guide feature 222 also extends downward in a direction toward the bottom 226 of the body of the second TPA member 200, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the connector 300 has an aperture 320 for receiving the locating/guide feature 220 of the second TPA member 200.
  • the connector 300 also has an aperture 322 for receiving the locating/guide feature 222 of the second TPA member 200.
  • FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the second TPA member of FIG. 4 partially inserted into the connector of FIG. 4 , in a preset position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 depicts the preset position, wherein the second TPA member 200 is partially inserted into the aperture 302 of the connector.
  • the flexible features 104 and 108 are visible in FIG. 5 , but the flexible features 102 and 106 are not visible in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 6 depicts the preset position, wherein the second TPA member 200 is partially inserted into the aperture 302 of the connector.
  • FIG. 6 shows that connector 300 forms a receiving area 330 and a tab 332 on an interior of aperture 302, at one side.
  • FIG. 6 also shows that connector 300 forms a receiving area 340 and a tab 342 on an interior of aperture 302, at an opposite side.
  • the flexible feature 102 of the second TPA member 200 will engage with the tab 332 of the connector 300, and then the flexible feature 102 will be held in the receiving area 330 by the tab 332, so that the second TPA member 200 is held in the preset position.
  • the flexible feature 106 of the second TPA member 200 will engage with the tab 342 of the connector 300, and then the flexible feature 106 will be held in the receiving area 340 by the tab 342, so that the second TPA member 200 is held in the preset position.
  • the flexible feature 104 is not in the receiving area 330, and the flexible feature 108 is not in the receiving area 340.
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in FIG. 6 .
  • the scale of FIG. 7 is 30:1.
  • FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the second TPA member of FIG. 4 fully inserted into the connector of FIG. 4 , in a final lock position, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 depicts the final lock position, wherein the second TPA member 200 is fully inserted into the aperture 302 of the connector.
  • the tabs 332 and 342 are visible in FIG. 8 , but the flexible features 104 and 108 are not visible in FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 9 depicts the final lock position, wherein the second TPA member 200 is fully inserted into the aperture 302 of the connector.
  • FIG. 9 shows that connector 300 forms a receiving area 330 and a tab 332 on an interior of aperture 302, at one side.
  • FIG. 9 also shows that connector 300 forms a receiving area 340 and a tab 342 on an interior of aperture 302, at an opposite side.
  • the flexible feature 104 of the second TPA member 200 will engage with the tab 332 of the connector 300, and then the flexible feature 104 will be held in the receiving area 330 by the tab 332.
  • the flexible feature 108 of the second TPA member 200 will engage with the tab 342 of the connector 300, and then the flexible feature 108 will be held in the receiving area 340 by the tab 342.
  • the flexible features 102 and 104 are both in the receiving area 330, and the flexible features 106 and 108 are both in the receiving area 340.
  • FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the portion denoted in FIG. 9 .
  • the scale of FIG. 10 is 30:1.

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  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP17207724.0A 2017-01-13 2017-12-15 Endgerätepositionssicherungselement und verfahren zum betrieb eines endgerätepositionssicherungselements Pending EP3316409A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/405,405 US10622746B2 (en) 2016-01-15 2017-01-13 Terminal position assurance member and method of operating a terminal position assurance member

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3316409A1 true EP3316409A1 (de) 2018-05-02

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ID=60673700

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17207724.0A Pending EP3316409A1 (de) 2017-01-13 2017-12-15 Endgerätepositionssicherungselement und verfahren zum betrieb eines endgerätepositionssicherungselements

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2255864A (en) * 1991-05-13 1992-11-18 Sumitomo Wiring Systems Retaining terminals in a connector
EP0828318A2 (de) * 1996-09-09 1998-03-11 Yazaki Corporation Struktur zum Halten der Kontaktverrieglung
US7278890B1 (en) * 2006-07-26 2007-10-09 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Electrical connector with secondary lock
EP3046185A1 (de) * 2015-01-13 2016-07-20 Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Co., Ltd. Verbinder
US20170179643A1 (en) * 2015-12-21 2017-06-22 J.S.T. Corporation Method of operating a connector latch

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2255864A (en) * 1991-05-13 1992-11-18 Sumitomo Wiring Systems Retaining terminals in a connector
EP0828318A2 (de) * 1996-09-09 1998-03-11 Yazaki Corporation Struktur zum Halten der Kontaktverrieglung
US7278890B1 (en) * 2006-07-26 2007-10-09 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Electrical connector with secondary lock
EP3046185A1 (de) * 2015-01-13 2016-07-20 Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Co., Ltd. Verbinder
US20170179643A1 (en) * 2015-12-21 2017-06-22 J.S.T. Corporation Method of operating a connector latch

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