Hinged Or Flexed Detent On Insulation Engaging To Secure Contact Within Coupling Part Housing Patents (Class 439/595)
  • Female multiple connector for electrical plug-type connectors
    Patent number: 7264504
    Abstract: A female multipole connector for electric plug-type connectors, particularly for weak current, having contact springs accommodated in guide channels of a plate-shaped basic body, so as not to become loose. The contact springs are directly, mechanically, and rigidly connected with the basic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: ERNI Elektroapparate GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Lappöhn
  • Electrical contact including integral stop member
    Patent number: 7264518
    Abstract: An electrical contact is provided. An embodiment of the electrical contact includes a bottom member, a pair of side walls and a tongue. The bottom member includes a first portion and a second potion and also defines a horizontal plane. The pair of sides walls extend away from the bottom member. The pair of side walls define an opening therebetween which is located above the second portion of the bottom member. The tongue extends at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane. A wire is insertable into the electrical contact from the first portion of the bottom member and a post or conductor is insertable into the opening. At least a portion of the tongue helps maintain at least a portion of the post at least partially within the electrical contact. The electrical contact may also include a fold and a stop member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Ellis
  • Connector having a spacer for preventing an entrance of foreign particles
    Patent number: 7261603
    Abstract: The connector includes a connector housing having two terminal fittings and terminal receiving chambers for receiving the terminal fittings, and a spacer 4 to be inserted into the connector housing through an opening. A receptacle for inserting an unlocking jig is formed on the spacer. The receptacle is opened at an outer wall of the spacer and a boundary wall to the connector housing 3. The receptacle is disposed in a manner not to spread across two terminal-receiving chambers. The receptacle communicates with one of the terminal-receiving chambers. A block of a main body of the spacer blocks a path between the receptacle and the other terminal-receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Takashi Wakasugi, Takuji Akiyama, Katsutoshi Komatsu, Koji Ebisu
  • Connector with moving front wall
    Patent number: 7252557
    Abstract: A female connector (F) has a housing (10) with a front end and cavities (11) extend to the front end. Terminal fittings (40) are mounted in the cavities (11). A front wall (50) is mounted on the front end of the housing (10) and is formed with tab insertion holes (51) that can communicate with cavities (11). An operable surface (59A) is exposed at an end surface of the front wall (50). The front wall (50) can be moved from a full locking position to a partial locking position along the front end of the housing (10) by pushing this operable surface (59A). Portions of the end surface of the front wall (50) other than the operable surface (59A) are covered at least partly by an wall (26) of the housing (10) to limit movement of the front wall (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakamura, Ryotaro Ishikawa, Yutaka Noro, Yutaka Kobayashi, Hajime Kawase, Nobuhiro Suzuki
  • Adaptable electrical connector
    Patent number: 7247051
    Abstract: An adaptable electrical connector is disclosed that includes a parallelepiped insulative seat including a front end, a rear end, a bottom, a top, and a plurality of lengthwise parallel grooves through the bottom, the groove being open to the front end, the rear end, and the bottom respectively; and a plurality of cylindrical conductors each including a rear cylindrical section; wherein the conductors are fastened in the grooves with the rear cylindrical sections exposed. The invention can decrease height and is adapted to mount on a PCB in either a first orientation or a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Connectek Inc.
    Inventor: Pin-Yuan Hou
  • Sealed electrical connector
    Patent number: 7232339
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having at least one terminal-receiving passage extending in a terminal-insertion direction. A pair of grooves are respectively formed in side walls of the passage and extend in the terminal-insertion direction. A conductive terminal having side walls is inserted into the passage. A pair of smooth outwardly extending projections is formed on the side walls for riding in the grooves in the side walls of the passage. A locking shoulder is spaced from the projections a distance greater than the given distance, whereby the front contact end of the terminal can be inserted into the passage only when the top walls of the terminal and the passage are juxtaposed to align the projections on the terminal with the grooves in the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Bill Blake Wilson, Mathew W. Sandberg, Gary E. Polgar
  • Terminal fitting
    Patent number: 7229314
    Abstract: A male terminal fitting (1) has a rectangular tube (4). A locking edge (15) engageable with a locking portion provided in a cavity is formed over the entire width in an outer surface of a rectangular tube (4). No opening is formed in the outer surface of the rectangular tube portion (4) by forming this locking edge (15). Closing pieces (12) are provided at positions slightly retracted inwardly of the locking edge (15). Thus, problems such as the intrusion of external matter from the outside and the deformation of a leading end portion of another male terminal fitting (1) due to the entrance into the rectangular tube (4) can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakamura, Yutaka Noro, Hajime Kawase
  • Female contact
    Patent number: 7229328
    Abstract: A female contact comprises a tube-shaped socket having a male-contact accommodation space, and a flat spring held in the socket so as to apply elastic force to a male contact. A notch is formed at a male-contact inlet of the socket. A hook formed at one end of the flat spring is engaged with the notch, so that the flat spring is latched at the male-contact inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: J.S.T. MFG. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawada, Keichiro Ikuta, Masato Wada
  • Female terminal fitting
    Patent number: 7229329
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting has a rectangular tubular body (12) with opposed first and second walls (16, 17) and an insertion opening (15) for receiving a tab (11). An elastic contact piece (21) is inside the body (12) and extends obliquely from a support (27) on the second wall (17) of the body (12) towards both the first wall (16) and the insertion opening (15). The elastic contact piece (21) then bends back towards the second wall (17) to define an apex (23). A projection (30) projects toward the first wall (16) from a location on the elastic contact piece (21) between the support (27) and the apex (23). The elastic contact piece (21) deforms flexibly about the support (27) when the tab (11) is inserted into the body (12), thus sandwiching the tab (11) between a contact (31) of the projection (30) and the first wall (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamashita, Hiroyuki Oka
  • Connector having an improved locking structure
    Patent number: 7226320
    Abstract: A connector includes an electrically conductive plug provided with a retaining hole, and an insulating housing that has a retaining member shaped in a cantilever beam. The retaining member has a retaining claw portion. The retaining claw portion has a projecting portion formed at a proximal end side of the retaining member. The projecting portion is crashed by an edge portion of the retaining hole when the retaining claw portion is engaged with the retaining hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiro Abe, Tohru Ikumi, Syuji Kimura
  • Connector having slits for guiding terminal fittings and locking retainer
    Patent number: 7226313
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (10) with cavities (13) for receiving terminal fittings (20) and a front retainer (30) that can be mounted on a front surface of the housing (10). A short projection (24) and a long projection (37) are formed at a front end of a guide (18) that receives a stabilizer (21) of the terminal fitting (20). Locking projections (35, 36) are formed on the front retainer (30) and can be locked respectively to the short and long projections (24, 37). Thus, the connector has a simple construction and is compact. The housing (10) also has a lance (22) that can be locked to the terminal fitting (20). The lance (22) constitutes part of an outer surface of the housing (10). Thus, the connector can be even smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Shamoto, Hiroyuki Hiramatsu
  • Connector and a method of assembling it
    Patent number: 7223124
    Abstract: A front wall (50) is movable between a full locking position and a partial locking position on the front of a female housing (10). When the front wall (50) is at the full locking position, mating tabs (70) can enter main portions (41) of the female terminal fittings (40) through tab insertion holes (51) of the front wall (50) for contacting resilient contacts (45) and an unlocking jig can be inserted into a mold-removal hole (14) of the female housing (10) through a jig insertion hole (52) of the front wall (50) to disengage a lock (12). When the front wall (50) is at the partial locking position, detection probes (60) can be inserted into the jig insertion holes (52) of the front wall (50) for contacting detecting plates (46) offset from resilient contacts (45) in main portions of the female terminal fittings (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakamura, Ryotaro Ishikawa, Hajime Kawase, Yutaka Kobayashi, Takahiro Yoneda, Ryo Sawada, Ken Yoshimura
  • Three position electrical connector assembly
    Patent number: 7223131
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including a housing for receiving a plurality of electrical connectors is disclosed. A connector position assurance device (CPA) is configured to be received within the housing and to restrict axial movement of the electrical connectors. The electrical connectors include shells having shoulders configured to be received within non-cylindrical portions of axial passageways formed within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hurley Chester Moll, James Michael Raudenbush, John Wesley Hall
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7207841
    Abstract: Upon releasing a locking arm from a connecting terminal by inserting a jig through a front holder, the jig could not be erroneously inserted into a terminal inserting hole. Connecting terminals are inserted into a housing, and the connecting terminals are prevented from being pulled out of the housing backwardly by means of locking arms arranged above the respective connecting terminals. The front holder is engaged with the housing by a clamping mechanism in an axial direction and is movable laterally in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. A pair of terminal inserting holes and an arm operating hole 18 provided for respective connecting terminals are shifted laterally. In a first position of the front holder, the terminal inserting hole is aligned with an axial line of a female-type connecting terminal, but the arm operating hole is shifted laterally from the locking arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukifumi Machida, Shinji Yamaguchi, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Takayuki Higuchi
  • Electrical connector latch
    Patent number: 7201599
    Abstract: An electrical connector including electrical contacts, a first housing member and a second housing member. The first housing member has contact receiving areas. The electrical contacts are located in the contact receiving areas. The second housing member is connected to the first housing member and comprises a mating electrical connector latch comprising a latch surface at a front end of the latch and a lever arm extending reward from the front end of the latch. The lever arm is adapted to pivot on top of a portion of the second housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin Anthony Holub
  • Terminal and a connector provided with such a terminal
    Patent number: 7179123
    Abstract: A connector (1) is provided with a housing (10) formed with press-in holes (17), and terminals (20) to be pressed into the press-in holes (17). Each terminal (20) includes a tab (21) connectable with a mating terminal, a base (22) extending from the tab (21), and two press-in portions (23, 25) arranged side-by-side along the longitudinal direction on the base (22). Each press-in portion (23, 25) has press-in pieces (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b) projecting from the base (22) in substantially opposite outward directions and pressed into the housing (10). The respective press-in pieces (24a, 24b, 26a, 26b) are displaced from each other when the terminal (20) is viewed in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Ohara
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7168982
    Abstract: A connector includes a connector housing that includes a terminal receiving chamber for receiving a terminal, and an elastic retaining member that is arranged to retain an engagement portion of the terminal. The elastic retaining member includes a pair of ribs that are spaced from each other in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the terminal is inserted, and a retaining portion that extends between the pair of ribs, and that is arranged to abut against the engagement portion of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Sakamoto
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7168981
    Abstract: A connector comprising: a connection terminal; a connector housing having a terminal receiving chamber in which said connection terminal is inserted and a lance that is elastically deformable to engage the connection terminal in the connector housing; and a front holder supported on a front end portion of said terminal receiving chamber so as to be movable along said inserting direction; wherein said front holder is pressed by a mating connector to be moved in the opposite direction in accordance with a fitting movement of said connector relative to said mating connector; and when said connector is completely fitted relative to said mating connector, said front holder abuts against said connection terminal, and cooperates with said lance to hold said connection terminal therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiharu Takahashi
  • Connector and method of molding a connector
    Patent number: 7165993
    Abstract: A mold-removal hole (60) formed upon forming a locking portion (39) and communicating with a tab insertion hole (31) is formed before a locking portion (39) by partly cutting a wall of the tab insertion hole (31). As this mold-removal hole (60) is formed, preventing portions (70) for preventing a displacement of the tab (22) inserted into the tab insertion hole (31) toward the mold-removal hole (60) are formed on the wall of the tab insertion hole (31) at the lateral sides of the mold-removal hole (60) and at the opposite widthwise outer sides of the locking portion (39). By displacing the position of the locking portion (39) toward one widthwise side from the center of the cavity (32), the preventing portion (70) provided at the other side is set to have an increased area of engagement with the tab (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Fukamachi, Kenji Inoue
  • Female terminal fitting and a blank for a plurality of terminal fittings
    Patent number: 7144281
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting (10) is integrally formed by applying bending or the like to a metallic plate and provided with a main portion (20), a wire barrel (40) and an insulation barrel (50) in this order from front side to rear side. A cantilever-shaped resilient contact piece (70) that can be resiliently brought into contact with a male terminal fitting is resiliently deformably provided in the main portion (20). In a development obtained upon stamping the metallic plate out, the resilient contact piece (70) extends backward from the rear end edge of a ceiling wall (24) of the main portion (20) as a base end. The leading end of the resilient contact piece (70) is let to escape by an escaping recess (92) of a carrier (91).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taisaku Maeda
  • Electrical connector having one or more electrical contact points
    Patent number: 7140916
    Abstract: An electrical connector having one or more electrical contacts for providing an electrical connection to an inserted pin is provided. The electrical connector includes a spring made of electrically conductive material and a loading element attached to the spring and arranged to define an opening for pin insertion. The spring is physically arranged relative to the loading element to create a tension on the loading element. The electrical connector includes at least one conductive wire in electrical communication with the spring. The wire is wound around the spring and the loading element, providing multiple electrical contact points radially inward relative to a center of the opening to provide electrical contact to the inserted pin. When the pin is inserted into the opening, the loading element is tensioned such that the loading element generates a contact force at each contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Tribotek, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Sweetland
  • Connector and resin molding method therefor
    Patent number: 7131869
    Abstract: A male housing (20) has cavities (23) into which male terminal fittings (10) are insertable and locks (24) for locking the male terminal fittings (10) in the cavities (23). Each lock (24) is deformed temporarily resiliently during insertion of the male terminal fitting (10), and is restored resiliently to lock the male terminal fitting (10) when the male terminal fitting (10) reaches a proper depth. Lowered parts (35) of bottom walls (34) of the cavities (23) facing the locks (24) with deformation spaces (S) therebetween are provided at their portions coupled to the locks (24) with bulges (49) bulging toward the locks (24). Each bulge (49) is inclined such that a bulging distance thereof gradually increases toward the corresponding lock (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Fukatsu
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7128606
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a contact having a wire connection member and a mating contact receiving end. The mating contact receiving end includes an abutment edge and an inclined portion. A housing has a contact receiving opening with a contact receiving end. The housing has a projection extending into the contact receiving opening and a first bevelled surface opposing the projection. The first bevelled surface is arranged closer to the contact receiving end than the projection. The inclined portion engages the first bevelled surface to bias the abutment edge into the projection when the contact is incorrectly inserted into the contact receiving opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K.
    Inventors: Kazushige Sakamaki, Masato Minakata, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Atsushi Nishida
  • Process for assembling connector
    Patent number: 7124506
    Abstract: A process for assembling a connector is provided, by which the production efficiency can be improved by preventing the problem of insertion error from occurring in a step of terminal insertion into a connector housing in the manufacturing process of the wiring harness by using an automatic assembly machine or in a step of the operation by the human hands. The process includes the steps of: provisionally locking the spacer in the connector housing; inserting ajig rod into the connector housing before inserting the terminal into the connector housing, the jig rod being for releasing the locking of the spacer which is completely locked in the connector housing; pulling the jig rod out from the connector housing; and inserting the terminal into the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yamanashi, Shogo Suzuki
  • Connector with reinforced retainer mount hole
    Patent number: 7118426
    Abstract: A female housing (10) is formed with a retainer mount hole (11) communicating with cavities (14) into which female terminal fittings (50) are insertable while crossing the cavities (14). The retainer mount hole (11) makes an opening from the upper surface of the female housing (10) to the opposite side surfaces thereof, and a retainer (40) is inserted through one of the opposite side surfaces. Reinforcements (20) are provided on the upper surface of the female housing (10) to cross over the opening of the retainer mount hole (11) in a direction intersecting with the opening. The reinforcements (20) are behind pressing portions (13) and arranged on planes of projection of the pressing portions (13) when viewed from the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideto Nakamura
  • Connector with lock arm
    Patent number: 7118417
    Abstract: A female housing (40) has a lock arm (40) with an arm main body (43) that cantilevers back from the front of the female housing (40). A lock (46) is formed on the arm main body (43). An unlocking portion (44) is at the rear end of the arm main body (43) and extends normal to the arm main body (43). Arm portions (55) project obliquely downward from the opposite sides of the unlocking portion (44), and are coupled to protection walls (52) to sandwich the unlocking portion (44). Two restricting walls (55) project from the upper ends of the protection walls (52) at positions behind the arm portions (50) and higher than the arm portions (50) and face each other. The restricting walls (55) prevent an operator's finger from touching the arm portions (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aihara, Kenji Okamura
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7114992
    Abstract: An electrical connector reduces backlash of the retainer in a main locking state and increases the rigidity of the front plate of the retainer, while providing dimensional stability, and preventing warpage of the locking arms. The electrical connector comprises a front insertion retainer that is locked to the housing in a temporary locking position and in a main locking position. The retainer comprises a front plate having contact passage holes, and locking arms extending rearward from the upper and lower ends of the front plate. A strip extends in the direction of length and protrudes rearward from the center on the back surface of the front plate, and a recessed groove extends on the front surface of the front plate in a position corresponding to the strip. The housing has a recessed groove that mates with the strip when the retainer is in the main locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sagawa, Yasumasa Aita, Tomoaki Kajii, Ryo Sawada
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7114997
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulating housing and a retainer. The housing has a plurality of contact accommodating cavities. The retainer is moveable between a temporary locking position and a main locking position. The retainer has first retainer arms that extend into a front surface of the housing. The first retainer arms have a second locking member formed on a top surface in a vicinity of a free end of the first retainer arms and a third locking member formed on a bottom surface in substantially a center of the first retainer arms. The second and third locking members are configured to abut the housing in the temporary locking position so that the retainer is prevented from moving from the temporary locking position to the main locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp K.K.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sagawa, Toshiaki Kono, Takahiro Yoneda, Ryo Sawada
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7112104
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a retainer that is inserted from the front surface of the connector housing and locked to the housing in a temporary locking position and in a main locking position, wherein the state of the retainer in the main locking position can easily be confirmed by visual inspection or by using an inspection probe. The retainer has main locking arms comprising main locking projections which prevent the retainer from being pushed in when the retainer is in the temporary locking position, and which prevent the retainer from being pulled out when the retainer is in the main locking position. The main locking projections are exposed through the housing when the retainer is in the main locking position. The housing has supporting parts that support the back surface of the main locking arms in the vicinity of the main locking projections when the retainer is in the main locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sagawa, Yasumasa Aita, Tomoaki Kajii, Ryo Sawada
  • Divided connector and a method of assembling it
    Patent number: 7108551
    Abstract: Error insertion preventing ribs (37) fittable into error insertion preventing grooves (23) of an accommodating portion (12) of a housing main body (11) project on the side surfaces of an auxiliary connector (30), and detecting ribs (43) insertable into error insertion preventing grooves (23) are provided on retainers (40). In the case that the auxiliary connector (30) is insufficiently inserted, the error insertion preventing ribs (37) of the auxiliary connector (30) interfere with the detecting ribs (43) of the retainers (40) in the process of mounting the retainers (40) to restricting positions to prevent the mounting of the retainers (40). In this way, the insufficiently inserted state of the auxiliary connector (30) can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Nishide
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7108550
    Abstract: A connector includes terminals having engagement parts. The connector includes a connector housing having chambers configured to insert and receive the terminals from the rears of the chambers. The connector includes projecting flexible locking arms including locking parts configured to lock with the engagement parts of the terminals. A single flexible arm is positioned to each of the chambers. The flexible locking arm has a front end supported on a front wall of the connector housing. The flexible locking arm has a rear end supported on a peripheral wall of the connector housing. The flexible locking arm includes a flexible part between the front and rear ends. The flexible part includes a locking part. The flexible part is flexibly deformable relative to an engagement part of a terminal. The locking part is lockable with the engagement part of the terminal received in a chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Murakami, Chieko Torii
  • Connector and a method of disassembling it
    Patent number: 7097503
    Abstract: A housing (20) includes a terminal accommodating portion (21) for accommodating terminal fittings (10), and an outer tube (22) surrounding the terminal-accommodating portion (21) and having an open front end. A mounting member (40) is detachably mountable on the terminal-accommodating portion (21) along forward and backward directions through an opening of the outer tube (22). The mounting member (40) has first and second jig catches (54, 55) that can be caught by a jig (J) inserted into the outer tube (22). The jig (J) can be levered to move the mounting member (40) forward. The first and second jig catching portions (54, 55) are arranged at positions displaced along forward and backward directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tsuji
  • Terminal block assembly
    Patent number: 7097502
    Abstract: A terminal block assembly includes a housing having a base portion and partition walls extending from the base portion. The partition walls are spaced apart to define a cavity therebetween. The terminal block assembly further includes a terminal connector removably secured in the cavity between the partition walls. The terminal is configured to accept at least one of a bare wire and a contact attached to a wire. At least one of the partition walls includes a latch arm deflectable outward away from the cavity. The latch arm snappably retains the terminal connector within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Landis, David James Fabian, Ronald Martin Weber
  • Terminal fitting
    Patent number: 7094101
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (T) has a rectangular tube (10). A resilient locking piece (25) is accommodated in a rectangular tube portion (10) and a locking hole (19) in the tube (10) exposes the resilient locking piece (25). A side plate (13R) of the rectangular tube (10) is provided with an intrusion restricting portion (21) near the resilient contact piece (25) and in an opening area of the locking hole (19). Thus, the intrusion of an external matter through the locking hole (19) can be restricted by the intrusion restricting portion (21), thereby preventing the interference of the external matter with the resilient contact piece (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Noro, Ryotaro Ishikawa, Hajime Kawase, Takahiro Yoneda, Ryo Sawada, Ken Yoshimura
  • Jack
    Patent number: 7086908
    Abstract: A jack with a hollow columnar contact has a housing, which holds the hollow columnar contact firmly and the front end of the hollow columnar contact does not deflect readily. The insulating housing 1 comprises a plug connection opening 61, which a mating plug 65 is inserted into, a first insertion chamber 9 having the plug connection opening 61, and a first opening 14 in communication with the contact insertion chamber 9. The hollow columnar contact 3 is inserted along an axial direction into the first insertion chamber from the first opening 14. A cylindrical main contact body 3a is held by the first opening 14. A press-fit pin 6, arranged with a small-diameter axial part 6a, a large-diameter axial part 6b, and a head part 6c having an outer diameter is press-fitted into the cylindrical main contact body 4a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukuzaki, Satoru Kihira, Kiyoshi Washino, Tsuyoshi Fukami, Yuki Morita, Masaharu Takai
  • Sealed electrical connector
    Patent number: 7077701
    Abstract: A sealed electrical connector includes a housing having a mating end and a wire receiving end. The wire receiving end is configured to receive a terminal joined to a wire. A cover is provided on the wire receiving end of the housing. The cover includes a terminal position assurance (TPA) element that extends from the cover through the wire receiving end and into the housing. The TPA engages the housing to prevent movement of the cover to a closed position until the terminal is fully loaded through the wire receiving end of the housing. The connector also includes a seal held between the housing and cover to seal the terminal receiving end when the cover is in the closed position. The connector further includes a terminal retention device to retain a terminal contact when the contact is fully loaded in the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Galen Monroe Martin
  • Terminal position assurance with forward interlocking face keying
    Patent number: 7077702
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprising a cap member having a plurality of fixed cap terminal position assurance mechanisms defined thereon, and a plug member having one or more of fixed plug terminal position assurance mechanisms defined thereon, wherein each of the cap terminal position assurance mechanisms fixably mate with each of the plug terminal position assurance mechanisms, wherein each of the cap and plug terminal position assurance mechanisms comprise a post projecting outwardly from each of the cap member and the plug member, and a cutout configured to fixably mate to the post. The cutout maybe configured adjacent the post, wherein the cap/plug terminal position assurance mechanisms are arranged proximate an outer rim of the cap/plug member or the cap/plug terminal assurance mechanism may be located generally in the center of the interface manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby Gene Ward, Wolfgang Hoelscher, Joseph Edward Geniac
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7063567
    Abstract: A housing (10) is formed with an excessive deformation preventing portion (29) for preventing an excessive deformation of a locking portion (17) beyond its resiliency limit by being brought into contact with a part of the locking portion (17) behind a free end (17F) when the locking portion (17) is resiliently deformed toward a deformation space (23). Since the excessive deformation preventing portion (29) of the present invention to be brought into contact with the part of the locking portion (17) behind the free end (17F) is located at a position closer to the locking portion (17) as compared to the one to be brought into contact with a free end of a locking portion, a connector A can be miniaturized along a deformation direction of the locking portion (vertical direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryotaro Ishikawa
  • Electrical connector having improved terminal positioning assurance member
    Patent number: 7063578
    Abstract: An electrical connector is shown having a connector housing and a terminal positioning assurance member. The housing has slots which co-exist in a parallel manner with terminal receiving passageways of the housing. The terminal positioning assurance member has leg portions receivable transversely of the slots, and the TPA is movable from a position where a primary latch in the connector can be biased into the slot to allow the insertion of a terminal into the cavity of the housing and the terminal positioning assurance member can be moved to a locked position, where legs of the TPA, which are movable within the slot, are moved behind the latch, preventing the movement of the latch members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Goto
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7059903
    Abstract: A connector enables a size reduction while maintaining a function of reliably preventing terminal members from falling out of terminal holes. In this connector, a plate spring piece is provided in a terminal hole of a connector housing, with a length thereof set to an axial direction of the terminal hole, and an engaging pawl protrudes from the plate spring piece. When a female terminal is inserted into the terminal hole, the engaging pawl engages with the female terminal and bends the plate spring piece downward, enabling the insertion. When the female terminal is inserted to a predetermined depth in the terminal hole, the plate spring piece returns and the engaging pawl moves into an engaging hole of the female terminal. The plate spring piece has a structure of which one length direction end portion and one side portion, along the length direction, are fixed to the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Harehide Sasaki, Reiki Okamoto, Yoshiaki Kato, Masato Minakata, Atsushi Nishida
  • Connector, a connector assembly and a method of assembling a connector assembly
    Patent number: 7059902
    Abstract: A male housing (60) has a receptacle (61) for receiving a mating female housing (20) and cavities (63) for receiving male terminal fittings (50). A retainer (70) is mounted in the male housing (60) and locks the male terminal fittings (50) when the retainer (70) reaches a full locking position. The retainer (70) has a detector (74). The detector (74) is in a fitting space (64) of the receptacle (61) for the female housing (20) when the retainer (70) is at a position before the full locking position, and interferes with a rib (24) of the female housing (20) to prevent a connecting operation. On the other hand, the detector (74) is outside the fitting space (64) when the retainer (70) is at the full locking position thereby avoiding the interference with the rib (24) of the female housing (20) to permit connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideto Nakamura
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7052318
    Abstract: A connector 10, by forming an elastically deformable locking arm 13 integrally with a connector housing 11, providing a fixing projection 14 for the look arm 13, and causing the locking arm 13 to deform elastically to guide the fixing projection 14 in the mating connector and fix the fixing projection 14 to the mating connector, locks in the mating connector. The locking arm 13, since an elastic deformation portion 17 is extended from a proximal end portion 16 to the fixing projection 14 linearly in a slant state, and an arm portion 18 is extended from the fixing projection 14 along an outer surface 12A, is V-shaped; and between an end portion 18A of the arm portion 18 and the connector housing 11, space 19 is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Shinichi Tsuchiya
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7052319
    Abstract: A connector includes a body and a terminal. The body has an interior hollow for the terminal to fit therein and an outer surface provided with plural axial projecting ridges. The interior hollow has a large diameter portion, a medium diameter portion and a small diameter portion. The terminal is made of a metal, having an insulating tubular member, a large annular wall in an intermediate portion and a small annular wall behind the large annular wall, and the large annular wall fits in the medium diameter portion of the interior hollow of the body, and the small annular wall fits in the small diameter portion. So the terminal may be combined with the body stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Aimmet Ibdustrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsiang Feng Chen
  • Female terminal fitting and connector provided therewith
    Patent number: 7048582
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting (20) has a main portion (21) that can be inserted into a cavity. An engaging portion (50) for engaging a lock (17) in the cavity is folded back from the front of the main portion (21). The fold (55) is rounded and contacts the lock (17) when the terminal fitting (20) is inserted into a cavity. Thus, resistance to insertion is low. The engaging portion (50) is distanced from an opposed surface (25) of the main portion (21) by an embossment (51). Thus, a large area of engagement with the lock (17) exists. A slanted surface (53) is formed at a corner of a locking surface (52) closer to the ceiling plate (25). Thus, the leading end of the lock (17) intrudes at the inner side of the slanted surface (53) to prevent the lock (17) from escaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Tabata, Eiji Kojima
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7048584
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a connector body and an electrical terminal. The connector body has a terminal receiving cavity that includes a lock nib that extends from a floor into the cavity. The terminal has a lock bar that engages the lock nib to retain the terminal in the terminal receiving cavity. The lock nib and lock bar are shaped to increase terminal retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Morello, William G. Strang
  • Electrical connector with a terminal position assurance mechanism
    Patent number: 7048583
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and a terminal position assurance member, which is inserted into the housing. The housing has a front receiving portion and a rear receiving portion, which receives a terminal of a wiring harness. The housing also has a recess disposed at a top, front portion thereof. The terminal position assurance member has a protrusion disposed on a top thereof and configured to be fitted into the front receiving portion. The terminal position assurance member assures a position of the terminal of the wiring harness. The protrusion of the terminal position assurance member engages with the recess, and thereby the terminal position assurance member is locked in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: J.S.T. Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Osada, Brad Mace
  • TPA connector for rotatable terminals
    Patent number: 7048581
    Abstract: A plastic connector having a terminal position assurance (TPA) component receives a radio frequency terminal having a cylindrical casting as a portion thereof in snap lock relationship within the interior of the connector body. The TPA may be resiliently snapped between the outermost “preset” and innermost “set” positions, the former permitting operation of the snap lock lance which comes into play when the terminal is inserted into the connector body. In the latter position, the TPA blocks movement of the lance and provides a semi-circular stabilizing cradle in conforming contact with the terminal body to protect it against rocking motion while at the same time allowing rotation of the terminal about its own axis or symmetry. The TPA may also be moved from the “preset” position to a “service” position which allows access to the connector lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard P. Wong
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7044788
    Abstract: In the process of inserting a terminal fitting (20) into a cavity (11), a locking portion (16) is resiliently deformed along a partition wall (12) or an outer wall (13) due to the interference with the terminal fitting (20). Escaping recesses (17) are formed in surfaces of the partition walls (12) and the outer wall 13 facing the locking portions (16), whereby the widths of the locking portions (16) can be enlarged while defining clearances between the partition walls (12) and the locking portions (16) and clearances between the outer wall (13) and the locking portions (16). Thus, an area of engagement of each locking portion (16) with the terminal fitting (20) can be enlarged to improve a retaining function of the locking portion (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taisaku Maeda
  • Electrical connector terminal position assurance polarization
    Patent number: 7044806
    Abstract: An electrical connector including an electrical terminal; a housing member having the electrical terminal mounted therein; and a terminal position assurance (TPA) member. The housing member includes a deflectable latch which latches the electrical terminal inside the housing member. The TPA member is movably mounted on the housing member. The TPA member includes a blocking section adapted to substantially prevent deflection of the deflectable latch and at least one polarization section. The polarization section comprises a first polarizer and a second polarizer. The first polarizer is adapted to allow proper mounting of the TPA member relative to the housing member in only one position. The second polarizer is adapted to allow proper mounting of a mating electrical connector relative to the electrical connector in only one position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: FCI America Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sucha S. Sian
  • Connector
    Patent number: 7033217
    Abstract: A connector has a resin housing (10) molded with a cavity (11) for receiving a terminal fitting (30). A lock (16) is molded adjacent the cavity (11) and is configured to lock the terminal fitting (16). A mold-removal space (19) is formed during the molding of the lock (16). The terminal fitting (30) has a stabilizer (35) that can enter the mold-removal space (19). A protrusion (21) is formed in the mold-removal space (19) and can be engaged by the stabilizer (35) to limit inclination of the terminal fitting (30) in the cavity (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mase, Tsutomu Tanaka