GB2352883A

GB2352883A - Connector with terminal position assurance member

Info

Publication number: GB2352883A
Application number: GB0016878A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dirk Koburg
Original assignee: Delphi Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Delphi Technologies Inc
Priority date: 1999-07-30
Filing date: 2000-07-11
Publication date: 2001-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-11
Also published as: GB0016878D0; GB2352883B; GB9917886D0

Abstract

A connector comprises a body 12 to the front of which is attached a two-stage Terminal Position Assurance member. The TPA has legs 36 with inturned lips 40 which are latched at 30 to respective opposed external sides of the body in the first stage. The TPA is moved into a position wherein lips of the TPA enter apertures respective 32 in the opposing sides of the connector in the second stage whereby to retain contacts (not shown) in the body. Latches each comprise ribs 28 on the external surface of the connector body.

Description

2352883 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical connector housing, and in particular to an electrical connector housing having means for retaining electrical terminals in the housing.

Backuound of the Invention It is known to provide terminal retaining means with an electrical connector housing. However, such terminal retaining means are generally separately formed and can be misplaced during assembly of the electrical connector.

Summga of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned problem.

An electrical connector housing in accordance with the present invention comprises a main housing portion and a locking cap portion, wherein the main housing portion includes a fear end surface, a front end surface, opposed side surfaces, and a number of through bores which extend in a direction substantially parallel to one another between the rear end surface and the front end surface, each through bore having a rear opening through the rear end surface and a front opening through the front end surface, each side surface having a pair of projection means formed thereon which are spaced apart to define a groove therebetween, the projection means and the groove in each side surface extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the through bores, and aperture means formed in each side surface which open into the adjacent through bores and positioned between the projection means in each side surface and the rear end surface; and wherein the locking cap portion is substantially U shaped in cross-section and includes a front wall and a pair of side walls, the side walls being resiliently flexible and integral with the front wall along one 2 edge thereof, each side wall having an inturned lip at its free edge remote from the front wall, and the front wall having one or more apertures which align with the front openings of the through bores in the main housing portion, the inturned lips being positionable either in the groove in the adjacent side surface of the main housing portion, or in the aperture means in the adjacent side surface to extend into the through bores.

The locking cap portion can be pre-assembled on the main housing portion with the inturned lips in the grooves. Terminals can then be inserted in the through bores. The inturned lips are then positioned in the aperture means and extend into the through bores to retain the terminals in the through bores.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of an electrical connector housing in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing of Figure 1 in a position prior to insertion of electrical terminals therein; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the housing of Figure 1 in a position after insertion of electrical terminals therein.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, the electrical connector housing 10 in accordance with the present invention comprising a main housing portion 12 and a locking cap portion 14 which are formed separately from electrically insulating material. The main housing portion 12 comprises a rear end surface 16, a front end surface 18, and a number of through bores 20 which extend in a direction A substantially parallel to one another between the rear end surface and the front end surface. The through bores 20 have a rear opening 22 through the rear end surface 16, and a front opening 24 through the front end surface 18.

3 Each side surface 26 of the main body portion 12 has a pair of ribs 28 formed thereon which are spaced apart to define a groove 30 therebetween. The ribs 28 and the groove 30 in each side surface 26 extend in a direction B substantially perpendicular to the through bores 20. Between the ribs 28 in each side surface 26 and the rear end surface 16, a slot 32 is fon-ned in each side surface which opens into the adjacent through bores 20.

The locking cap portion 14 is substantially U-shaped in cross section and comprises a front wall 34 and a pair of side walls 36. The side walls 36 are resiliently flexible and integral with the front wall 34 along one edge 38.

Each side wall 36 has an intumed lip 40 at its free edge 42 remote from the front wall 34. The front wall 34 has a number of apertures 44 which align with the front openings 24 of the through bores 20 in the main housing portion 12.

The locking cap portion 14 is pre-assembled in a first position on the main housing portion 12, as shown in Figure 2, with the side walls 36 flexed outwardly, with each lip 40 positioned in one of the grooves 30 in the side surfaces 26 of the main housing portion, and with the front wall 34 positioned adjacent the front end surface 18 of the main housing portion. The locking cap portion 14 can either be slid into place by pushing the lips 40 into their respective grooves 30 by sliding in the longitudinal direction B of the ribs 28.

Alternatively, the locking cap portion 14 may be pushed into place in the direction A with the lips 40 sliding over the side surfaces 26 of the main housing portion 12 and then making a snap fit over one of the ribs 28 and into the associated groove 30.

After insertion of electrical terminals 46 (one of which is shown in outline in Figure 3) into the through bores 20 through the rear opening 22 thereof, the locking cap portion 14 is moved to an assembled or second position, as shown in Figure 3. The locking cap portion 14 can be moved to the assembled position by pushing the locking cap portion towards the rear end surface 16 of the main housing portion 12 such that the lips 40 slide over the adjacent rib 28 and make a snap fit in the corresponding slot 32. Alternatively, the locking cap portion 14 can be moved to the assembled position by sliding, in 4 the direction B, the lips 40 out of the grooves 30, and then sliding the lips into the slots 32. In the assembled position of the locking cap portion 14, the lips 40 extend into the adjacent through bores 20 and act as a stop member to prevent withdrawal of the electrical terminals 46 from the through bores 20 by way of the rear opening 22. Also, in the assembled position, the apertures 44 in the front wall 34 of the locking cap portion 14 with the front opening 24 of the through bore 20 to allow mating and electrical connection of the terminals 46 with corresponding electrical terminals (not shown).

For dis-assembly, the lips 40 of the locking cap portion 14 can be slid, in the direction B, out of the slots 32 in the main housing portion 12.

As alternatives to the above described arrangement, the continuously extending lips 40 could be replaced by a number of spaced lips, and in which case, the continuously extending slots 32 could be replaced by a number of spaced apertures in the side surfaces 26 of the main housing portion 12. As a further alternative, each continuously extending rib 28 could be replaced by a number of spaced aligned projections. As a still further alternative, the apertures 44 in the front wall 34 of the locking cap portion 14 may be replaced by a single aperture which allows access to all the front openings 24 of the through bores 24.

The present invention provides an arrangement by which a ten-ninal retaining member (the locking cap portion 14) can be pre- assembled on the connector housing 10 prior to insertion of the terminals 46 for easier handling during assembly.

Claims

1. An electrical connector housing comprising a main housing portion and a locking cap portion, wherein the main housing portion includes a rear end surface, a front end surface, opposed side surfaces, and a number of through bores which extend in a direction substantially parallel to one another between the rear end surface and the front end surface, each through bore having a rear opening through the rear end surface and a front opening through the front end surface, each side surface having a pair of projection means formed thereon which are spaced apart to define a groove therebetween, the projection means and the groove in each side surface extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the through bores, and aperture means formed in each side surface which open into the adjacent through bores and positioned between the projection means in each side surface and the rear end surface; and wherein the locking cap portion is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and includes a front wall and a pair of side walls, the side walls being resiliently flexible and integral with the front wall along one edge thereof, each side wall having an intumed lip at its free edge remote from the front wall, and the front wall having one or more apertures which align with the front openings of the through bores in the main housing portion, the inturned lips being positionable either in the groove in the adjacent side surface of the main housing portion, or in the aperture means in the adjacent side surface to extend into the through bores.

2. An electrical connector housing as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the aperture means in each side surface of the main housing comprises a slot which extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the through bores.

3. An electrical connector housing as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the intumed lip in each side wall of the locking cap portion is substantially continuous.

6

4. An electrical connector housing as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the projections means in each side surface of the main housing portion comprises a rib.

5. An electrical connector housing substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.