Abstract: A lever mated connector assembly including a housing configured to mate with a header, a wire guide mounted to the housing having a latch with a retaining surface, and a lever having a catch with a retaining surface and being coupled to the housing for rotational movement between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein the catch retaining surface engages the latch retaining surface to inhibit movement of the lever out of the locked position. A connector position assurance (CPA) member has a locking surface mounted to the wire guide in a low profile configuration for movement between a first position and a second position. The CPA is attached to the wire guide by way of a dovetail interlocking arrangement.

Abstract: A terminal 20 for use in connecting a battery cable 9 to a rectangular blade 4 oil a battery 2 includes a terminal body 22 and a spring member or multiple contact band 70. The spring member 70 is fabricated from a material that is more elastic than the terminal body 22 to reduce mating force, but still generate sufficient normal force to provide a good connection to the rectangular blade 4. The multiple contact spring band 70 has a plurality of spring beams in the form of twisted louvered spring beams 78 or curved spring beams 80. The spring member 70 is positioned within a receptacle section 30 of the terminal body 22 that includes two parallel walls 32, 46. The terminal body 22 also includes a wire termination section for attaching the terminal 20 to a battery cable 8. Inline and right angle versions of the terminals employ similar spring members 70.

Abstract: An electrical connector and methods for minimizing arcing when the connector is connected or disconnected under load are disclosed. The invention provides an arc reduction circuit with one or more regulators, such as transistors, integrated into the connector housing that sense movement of the connector and shunt the current to an impedance circuit when a potential arc condition is sensed.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes housing having a mating face that is configured to be mounted onto an electrical connector interface. A latch assembly is provided on a side wall of the housing. The latch assembly is oriented to extend along the side wall. The latch assembly has a latch element formed on an end thereof proximate the mating face, and includes mounting brackets separated from one another along a length of the latch assembly. The mounting brackets join the latch assembly to the side wall. The latch assembly has a portion between the mounting brackets that is deflectable toward the side wall.

Abstract: Electrical connectors (40, 104) including contact terminals that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power include main contacts (12, 112) and auxiliary contacts (16, 130) that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (6, 140) located between the main and auxiliary contact. The main contact (12, 112) will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact (16, 130) can be longer than the main contact (12, 112). Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact (12, 112), because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact (16, 130). I2R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor (6, 140), so when the auxiliary contact (16, 130) is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold.

Abstract: Electrical connectors 40, 104 including contact terminals that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power include main contacts 12, 112 and auxiliary contacts 16, 130 that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor 6, 140 located between the main and auxiliary contact. The main contact 12, 112 will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact 16, 130 can be longer than the main contact 12, 112. Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact 12, 112, because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact 16, 130. I2R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor 6, 140, so when the auxiliary contact 16, 130 is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold. Multiple latches 54A, B and 60A, B or 180 and 196 permit only discontinuous mating of electrical connectors, so that the connectors can be disconnected without arcing for a range of currents.