And Multiple Insulating Components Patents (Class 439/599)
  • Patent number: 10218112
    Abstract: An electrical plug connector, comprising an insulating plug connector housing and at least one electrical contact element accommodated in the plug connector housing is provided. The plug connector housing forms a plugging side and a connection side, wherein at least one contact opening extends through the plug connector housing from the plugging side to the connection side. An electrical contact element is accommodated in the contact opening and is fastened and retained in the contact opening. An additional cable fixing arrangement for fastening a connected cable is formed on the connection side of the electrical plug connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: HARTING Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Lüttermann, Uwe Foss
  • Patent number: 9954337
    Abstract: Overmolded electrical plugs with integrated strain relief are disclosed. The strain relief may have multiple protrusions extending though the overmolded housing which are visible to users. The strain relief may employ a ratcheting mechanism which permanently secures the strain relief on the electrical power cord. The strain relief may be partially assembled in a pre-lock configuration on the electrical power cord where the strain relief may be positioned on the power cord, and then be further pressed to a locked configuration in which the is securely attached to the power cord. The strain relief is self-aligned on the electrical plug during an assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Selvin Kao, Philip Carlo J. DeGuzman, Sze-Han Liao
  • Patent number: 9929518
    Abstract: An assembled electrical cable includes at least one core that is surrounded by an insulating sheath and that extends in a longitudinal cable direction between a first and a second free end of the cable. At the first free end of the cable, the core is freed of the insulating sheath and is provided with an electrical contact element. The core, together with the contact element thereof, is accommodated in an electrically insulating carrier. The carrier has at least one cutout through which the contact element is externally accessible. The contact element is provided in a section with an electrical insulation that differs from the insulating sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: MD ELEKTRONIK GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Friesinger, Karl Ott, Markus Lindner, Erich Fleischer, Petr Psutka, Zdenek Kocur, Petra Kallova
  • Patent number: 9722347
    Abstract: A connector is miniaturized and while still preventing damage to locking lances. Deflectable first and second locking lances (19, 79) configured to lock first and second terminal fittings (11, 61) are arranged to be exposed on first and second facing surfaces (15, 75) of first and second housings (10, 60). When the first and second housings 10, 60 are assembled, the first and second locking lances (19, 79) are arranged back-to-back with each other. Surfaces of the first and second locking lances (19, 79) facing the first and second cavities (17, 77) on tip parts in a projecting direction are continuous without any step and include locking surfaces (23, 83) configured to lock the first and second terminal fittings (11, 61) on tips in the projecting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Chikusa, Shinji Iihoshi
  • Patent number: 9231387
    Abstract: A method and system for installing and removing a row of cables from a cable array is provided. The method includes providing an installation tool having a first body with a plurality of arms extending from one side. The plurality of arms being configured to receive a cable connector body, the plurality of arms including at least one first projection extending from one of the plurality of arms. The installation tool is moved onto a row of cables held coupled together by a bracket, each of the cables in the row of cables having a cable connector body. The connector bodies are engaged into receptacles and the bracket is moved with the at least one first projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan F. Benner, Eric J. McKeever, Thong N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9147957
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that includes a housing, terminals, and a stuffer. The housing has a plurality of terminal channels extending from a rear to a front of the housing. The front of the housing is configured to interface with a mating connector. The terminals are loaded into corresponding terminal channels from the rear of the housing. The terminals extend along a terminal axis between a mating end and a terminating end. The terminating end includes at least one tab that protrudes radially outward from the terminal axis. The stuffer is coupled to the rear of the housing. The stuffer includes multiple teeth received in corresponding terminal channels. When one terminal is not fully loaded in the terminal channel, the corresponding tooth engages one or more of the at least one tab of the terminal and forces the terminal further into the terminal channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurt Allan Randolph, Jeffrey Richard Ruth, Richard Benjamin Emenheiser
  • Patent number: 8608515
    Abstract: A terminal block in which a plurality of conductive plates (10) connected to device-side busbars provided in a motor are made integral by a connector housing (50) made of synthetic resin includes a plurality of cores (65) in which the conductive plates (10) are made integral to a primary molded portion (61); a metal plate (30) to be attached and fixed to a motor case; and a secondary molded portion (70) integrally forming the plurality of cores (65) held in contact side by side and the metal plate (30). A contact portion (66) is provided between a pair of adjacent cores (65, 65) and the pair of adjacent cores (65, 65) are held in contact via the contact portion (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring System, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Tate, Hiroyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8506329
    Abstract: A method assembling a cable connector system and an alignment insert are provided. The alignment insert includes a body having a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a thickness extending therebetween. The body includes an outer peripheral surface sized complementarily to an inner surface of a first connector portion and further including one or more slots therethrough and extending from the outer peripheral surface inwardly a first predetermined distance. A first width of each of the one or more slots and the predetermined distance based on an orientation of a connector pin positioned within the first connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Carl Evans Bonner
  • Patent number: 8215988
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connector having a seal member for sealing around an electrical wire. The connector includes a connector housing, the seal member, and a rear holder. The connector housing has a layer-by-layer arrangement of plate-shaped housings which each have terminal receiving channels to receive terminals. The seal member has a seal main body surrounding the electrical wire and a tube portion projecting from the seal main body in the lengthwise direction of the electrical wire. The rear holder includes a plurality of holders to pinch the tube portion of the seal member. Each holder has a groove to pinch the tube portion of the seal member and the groove compresses an inner diameter of the tube portion when the holders pinch the tube portions therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yuusaku Ooki, Nobuyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7494377
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of contacts, and an outer shell having a cavity formed therein. The cavity extends between a loading end and a mating end of the outer shell, and the mating end is configured to join with a mating connector. A front dielectric member includes a base portion and an appendage extending from a rear end of the base portion. The base portion and the appendage have contact passages receiving the contacts. A rear dielectric member includes a hollow interior and contact passages extending between front and rear ends of the rear dielectric member and defining the hollow interior. The front end of the rear dielectric member contacts the rear end of the front dielectric member such that the appendage is positioned within the hollow interior of the rear dielectric member. The contact passages of the appendage and the rear dielectric member cooperate to surround the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Brent David Yohn, William Henry Bernhart, Richard Paul Walter
  • Patent number: 7244147
    Abstract: A connector equipped with an insulant comprising four channels. Each channel is able to receive at the location of a rear extremity a strand of a cable, and at the location of a front extremity an end of a contact in order to connect each strand to an end. The connector comprises a ferrule equipped with four cavities arranged in such a way that a front extremity of each cavity coincides with a rear extremity of a channel of the insulant in such a way that each strand connected to an end in the connector extends in a cavity of the ferrule and in a corresponding channel of the insulant. The invention also relates to a process for fitting the coaxial cables in such a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Souriau
    Inventor: José De La Cruz
  • Patent number: 7234976
    Abstract: An object is to provide a terminal cover which can be easily attached to a cluster while securely holding the cluster and which can protect lead wires extending from the cluster, a sealed type electromotive compressor whose terminal is covered with the terminal cover, and a refrigerant cycle device whose refrigerant circuit is constituted of the sealed type-electromotive compressor. The terminal cover comprises: a storage section which is depressed so as to contain a cluster electrically connected to the terminal and whose terminal-side face opens; and a recessed portion which is formed in a side wall inner portion connected to an opening of the storage section and which is to engage with a protruding portion protruding from the cluster, and an opening edge of the storage section is provided with a cut which corresponds to a terminal-side position of the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Takeda, Kazuaki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7192309
    Abstract: A connector equipped with an insulant comprising four channels. Each channel is able to receive at the location of a rear extremity a strand of a cable, and at the location of a front extremity an end of a contact in order to connect each strand to an end. The connector comprises a ferrule equipped with four cavities arranged in such a way that a front extremity of each cavity coincides with a rear extremity of a channel of the insulant in such a way that each strand connected to an end in the connector extends in a cavity of the ferrule and in a corresponding channel of the insulant. The invention also relates to a process for fitting the coaxial cables in such a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Souriau
    Inventor: José De La Cruz
  • Patent number: 7044789
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an outer shell having a cavity formed therein and a front dielectric member having a base portion and an insulating sleeve extending from the base portion. The base portion has contact passages formed therein that extend between front and rear ends of the base portion, wherein the contact passages are configured to receive contacts. The electrical connector also includes a rear dielectric member having open sided contact passages extending between front and rear ends of the rear dielectric member. The contact passages are configured to receive the contacts such that at least a portion of the contacts are exposed laterally through open sides of the contact passages. The front end of the rear dielectric member is inserted at least partially into the insulating sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Brent David Yohn, William Henry Bernhart
  • Patent number: 6790086
    Abstract: An electrical plug includes a first insulating body, a first prong extending from one end of the first insulating body, a second insulating body, and a second prong extending from one end of the second insulating body. The first insulating body and the second insulating body are separably held together so as to enable the first prong and the second prong to fit into the electrical outlets of various specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Cheng Kun Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeng-Huel Lo
  • Patent number: 6764350
    Abstract: Contacts (12) that are terminated to the front ends of wires (22) are rapidly mounted in a connector shell (20) while assuring reliable separation of the contacts. After each contact is terminated to the front end of a wire, the contact is laid in a slot (60) of an insulative retainer (50). The retainer is then inserted forwardly between top and bottom arms (70, 72) of the rear portion (64) of an insulative body, while the contacts project into passages (14) in the front portion of the body. The assembly of retainer and body is inserted into the shell (20) that has a cylindrical inner surface (110) that radially positions the retainer between the arms of the body. A crimp barrel (122) is moved forwardly into the shell to about the rear of the retainer, a braiding (34) of a cable that contains the wires is folded back around the crimp barrel, and the rear portion (120) of the shell is crimped around the braiding and crimp barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lawrence Kosmala
  • Patent number: 6625885
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming an electrical contact device and a pre-assembly for producing the electrical contact device. The electrical contact device is formed by providing a conducting frame and an insulating frame which is added to predetermined portions of the conducting frame to form the pre-assembly. A plurality of fine pitch electrical leads are disposed in parallel spaced apart relation and connected to each other by connecting strips. An insulating material is applied to the conducting frame to form the insulating frame. The insulating frame encapsulates portions of the electrical leads which extend from opposite sides of the center of the insulating frame retaining, therefore, the electrical leads in position and electrically isolated from one another. Portions of the conducting frame are then removed from the pre-assembly to obtain the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Moden
  • Patent number: 6352373
    Abstract: An optical connector having a spring cap which easily fits on and hardly comes off from a plug housing has been provided. The optical connector contains an optical plug including: a ferrule assembly; a plug housing for receiving the ferrule assembly; and a spring cap fitting on the plug housing, wherein the plug housing includes a pair of guide rails formed on an upper surface of the plug housing and a pair of engaging projections each formed on right and left side surfaces of the plug housing, the spring cap includes a pair of side walls, each of which is divided into portions for establishing a portion to bend and a portion to control aging. A pair of engaging parts each engaging with the respective engaging projection of the plug housing is formed in the portion to bend and grooves having an inverse U-shape cross-section are formed at the portion to control aging for inserting the guide rail thereinto from one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6171154
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having a front face and a rear face opposite the front face. A mating portion extends from the rear face for mating with a complementary connector. A first contact section is integrally formed on the front face for connecting with a first connector. A second contact section is integrally formed on the front face for connecting with a second connector and includes at least a contact pin extending beyond the front face. An alignment plate having an opening for insertion of the contact pin is assembled to the front face for securely positioning the contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Juntwait, George Lee, Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6017252
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plug connector (1) having a housing (2, 3) with a secondary interlock (4), the housing (2, 3) having at least one longitudinal channel (5) for holding a contact, and the secondary interlock (4) being arranged on the housing (2, 3) such that it can be displaced transversely with respect to the channel axis in order to fix contacts in its channels. The housing is composed of two parts (2, 3) which are attached to one another in the region of the secondary interlock (4) and leave a space free between them in which the secondary interlock (4) can be displaced and can be inserted from above during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventors: Guntram May, Steffen Muller
  • Patent number: 5871375
    Abstract: A sensor assembly (10) for measuring oxygen in vehicle exhaust gasses, which must be connected by a plurality of wires (20) to a microprocessor, is modified to facilitate its installation and removal. In the modified assembly, each of a plurality of high temperature metal strips (34), which were previously crimped to cable wires, are instead bent to form contact pin parts (70) that are inserted into passages (74) of an insulative connector insert (72) to form a connector with pin contacts. Portions (120) of the metal strips are bent to have V-shaped cross-sections, to stiffen them against column collapse as the connector insert is moved forwardly to receive the pin parts, with front portions (110) of the insert passages being tapered to facilitate passage of the pin parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Zoltan Muzslay
  • Patent number: 5355583
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for smoothly and securely inserting a terminal connected to an electric wire into a terminal accommodating chamber within a connector housing from an opening in a notched rear end portion of the housing. The housing has an interior divided by partition walls into a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers each having a rear end defining an opening through which the terminal can be inserted, a notched shoulder portion formed in each partition wall at at least one of joints between the partition wall and top and bottom walls of the housing, and a terminal retaining cover capable of opening away from and closing onto the notched shoulder portions. A guide wall capable of engaging with the notched shoulder portions when the terminal retaining cover is open, thereby defining a flame-shaped terminal insertion opening, allows the terminal to be inserted through the terminal insertion opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Osumi, Hiroo Suzuki, Takao Nakagame
  • Patent number: 5273443
    Abstract: A high pin-density electrical connector of the type comprising a rear housing having openings for the passage of elongated, shouldered, electrical contacts through it, and having latching elements on its front face comprising spring fingers which close on the contacts behind their shoulders to latch them against withdrawal. A front housing provides recesses in which each of the latching elements and the front end of a corresponding one of the contacts are seated, with the sidewalls of the recesses providing support for the spring fingers. Close spacings of adjacent contacts are achieved by locating at least some of the recesses so close together that their walls intersect to form a communicating opening between them, and by placing the spring fingers circumferentially in their respective recesses so as to be in apposition to and supported by complete recess walls, rather than at the position of one of the communicating openings, where wall support for the fingers would be absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Frantz, Benjamin H. Mosser III
  • Patent number: 5261834
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a connector in which terminals are inserted into and retained to a connector housing, and the alignment of the terminal can be made accurately when assembling the connector, and the assembling operation can be done easily. A base plate portion 4 of the male terminal 1 is bent into a channel-shaped transverse cross-section to provide a pair of side walls 4a and 4a. A retaining hole 4c, which can be engaged with a retaining projection 8 which is formed upright on the housing 2 and has a retaining pawl 8a at its distal end, is formed through a bottom plate 4b, thereby providing retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yamanashi
  • Patent number: 5201674
    Abstract: A connector comprising an upper housing and a lower housing connected with each other vertically and each having terminal accommodating chambers arranged in parallel with each other therein and a cover interposed therebetween with projections extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom. An electric wire is fixedly sandwiched in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire between the upper and lower edges of the projections and the rear end of the upper and lower end surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers. The terminal is locked at the rear end thereof by the front end of the projections and also locked at a front portion thereof by a terminal-locking portion formed on the wall of each terminal accommodating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Okura
  • Patent number: 5181860
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plug connector having a plug shell formed with a flange and a receptacle connector having a receptacle shell provided on its outer circumference with a fitting device. The electrical connector further includes a coupling ring surrounding the plug shell and rotatable and holding the flange of the plug shell. The coupling ring has on its inner circumference a fitting device fitted with the first mentioned fitting device and a flange urging portion for urging the flange, and a key provided between the receptacle shell and the plug shell for preventing relative rotation therebetween. The electrical connector includes at least one wave-shaped annular spring interposed between the flange and the flange urging portion and rotatable together with the coupling ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignees: Daiichi Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Honma, Kunio Watanabe, Takeshi Morita, Shingo Nanao
  • Patent number: 5167534
    Abstract: A connector having a terminal lock plate inserted into an intermediate portion of a housing across terminal receiving holes, in which flexible lock arms for effecting primary locking of terminals have an increased retaining force. The connector includes a main housing (A), a sub-housing (B) inserted into a frame portion provided at the front portion of the main housing, and a terminal lock plate (C), inserted into openings formed respectively through upper and lower walls of the frame portion. The main housing includes a main terminal receiving block having terminal rear half receiving holes. The sub-housing has a terminal receiving sub-block having terminal front half receiving holes corresponding respectively to the terminal rear half receiving holes and a wall portion provided rearwardly of the terminal receiving sub-block so as to close one of the upper and lower openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Ohsumi
  • Patent number: 5154642
    Abstract: A power plug socket assembly is provided which includes an outer casing (1) having a bevel block member (10) mounted in a bottom wall of the outer casing (1). An inner block member (2) is insertable and releasably captured by the bevel block member (10) of the outer casing (1). The outer casing (1) includes wall thicknesses at gripping portions which are relatively reduced in thickness with respect to the remaining wall thicknesses of the outer casing (1) in order to resiliently engage with the bottom groove (210) of the inner block member (2) when the inner block member (2) is inserted and pressed or fitted into the outer casing (1) during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Inventor: Lu Chung-Yin
  • Patent number: 5151052
    Abstract: An electrical connector system includes socket and plug connector components which each receive a plurality of electrical wires for interconnection. The socket and plug components each include a molded receiver element having a plurality of elongated, parallel locking finger elements and a molded spacer element having a plurality of elongated, parallel spacer fingers. The receiver and spacer elements are assembled so that their respective fingers are interdigitated to define a plurality of terminal receiver channels within each of the socket and plug components. Each of the electrical wires carries a socket or a pin terminal for connection to respective socket or plug components, the terminals each incorporating a locking surface which engages a corresponding locking surface formed in corresponding terminal receiver channels, so that the terminals can be releasably secured in the connector components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Cardell Corporation
    Inventor: Willard B. McCardell
  • Patent number: 5078622
    Abstract: A pin and socket connector using pin and socket terminals formed into a highly conductive material and using a separate contact band member less resistant to stress relaxation than the material used to form a stamped and formed pin and socket terminals is disclosed. These pin and socket terminals are suitable for use in both sealed and unsealed electrical connectors, employing a secondary lock. The secondary lock has at least one cylindrical projection engaging the corresponding terminals within the cavities from the rear. At least one curved concentric opening radially spaced from a central wire and terminal receiving opening in a rear conductor seal, is configured to receive a corresponding cylindrical secondary lock projections and establish sealing integrity therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Alexander Hunt, III, Lori A. Mayer, Keith R. Denlinger
  • Patent number: 5035648
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a first insulating housing (2) having terminal receiving through cavities (8) each having therein a resilient locking lance (16), and a second insulating housing (4) having through cavities (24). There projects from the front face (26) of the second housing (4) a row of locking lance actuating tongues (38). In a terminal loading position of the housings (2 and 4) the front face (26) of the second housing (4) is spaced from the front face (12) of the first housing (2) so that each tongue (38) projects to some extent beneath a respective locking lance (16). In this loading position, an electrical terminal (68) connected to a lead (L) is inserted through each cavity (24) of the second housing (4) into a cavity (8) of the first housing (2). The housings (2 and 4) are then moved relatively towards one another into a terminal locking position, so that each tongue (38) is advanced further beneath the corresponding lance (16) to lock the terminal in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: David B. Kuiper-Moore
  • Patent number: 5017162
    Abstract: A sealed electrical connector assembly is provided for wire-to-wire electrical connections. The assembly includes a pair of mateable electrical connectors each of which includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities extending therethrough. Each terminal receiving cavity preferably includes a static locking projection and a dynamic terminal positioning beam which deflects during insertion of the corresponding terminal and which resiliently returns to an undeflected condition for locking the terminal in the housing after complete insertion. A TPA component is mounted to the rear of each housing prior to insertion of the terminal. The TPA component includes terminal receiving apertures which function to rotationally align each terminal for efficient full seating in the corresponding terminal receiving cavity. Positive assurance of full terminal seating is achieved by advancing the TPA component from a first position into a second locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Fred L. Krehbiel, Bill B. Wilson, Stephen A. Colleran
  • Patent number: 5002504
    Abstract: A secondary latch is provided for securing contacts which are located in desired position in passageways of an insulator relative to a mating face. The insulator has at least one opening whereby locking shoulders of the positioned contacts are accessible from the insulator exterior. A latch finger of the latch which is secured to the insulator exterior has a detent end which enters the insulator opening and latches the engaged contacts to the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Labinal Components & Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Carlson
  • Patent number: 4946398
    Abstract: Described herein is a connector terminal retainer which is connectible to a rear portion of a connector housing to anchor terminal members in the respective terminal compartments in the connector housing. The terminal retainer is provided with; a pair of locking arms extending forward from opposite side walls of the terminal retainer body for engagement in socket portions in the connector housing, and constituted by a pair of vertical resilient portions extending parallely on opposite sides of a gap space formed in the longitudinal direction of the arm and a horizontal resilient portion extending over and along the gap space on the outer side of the vertical resilient portions; and provisional and main locking projection provided in longitudinally shifted positions on the vertical and horizontal resilient portions of the locking arms of interlocking engagement with corresponding jocking portions in the socket portions of the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Takenouchi, Toshihiko Makita, Mitsuru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4940428
    Abstract: An electrical connector (2) is adapted at its forward end for insertion from the rear forwardly within a through opening (10) contained in a base member (1). A snap fastener retaining arrangement including a pair of resiliently outwardly biased hook members (6) on opposite sides of the connector is adapted to automatically engage corresponding shoulders on the base member when the connector has been inserted to a given position within the base member opening. The connector is thus releasably retained in position, whereupon the connector may be rigidly fastened to the base member by second fastener devices (4) operable from the front of the base member. Upon disconnection of the second fastener devices, the hook members may be manually compressed inwardly toward the connector to release the snap fastener retaining arrangement, whereupon the connector may be withdrawn from the base member opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: C. A. Weidmueller GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Werner Heidotting, Wolfgang Scheffner, Willi Duerkop
  • Patent number: 4895534
    Abstract: A pull to seat electrical connector having a plurality of terminals which are pulled into cavities in an insulative housing through the mating face of the terminal is disclosed. Unterminated wires are first inserted through cavities in the housing and terminals are attached adjacent the housing mating face. When wires are then pulled, the terminals are pulled into the cavities and rotated into alignment with the cavities, so that box-shaped receptacle contact sections are properly oriented. The rear of each cavity conforms generally to the outer contour of the wires, whereas the receptacle enclosing portion of each cavity adjacent the mating face of the connector conforms generally to the receptacle configuration, such as a box-shaped receptacle contact portion. Stop fingers, extending upwardly from the terminal, engage inner shoulders to stop rearward movement of the terminals in the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas M. Klunk, Allen F. VanDerStuyf
  • Patent number: 4891021
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a mating receptacle and header. The receptacle includes contacts having beam members integral with and extending between a forward and rearward cylindrical portion. The beam members are formed in opposed pairs with constricted portions at different axial locations. The spacing between the opposed pairs of beams is less than the widths of the beams. The header includes rows of square posts for mating with the socket contacts, the rows of posts being axially offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Earl J. Hayes, Allen F. VanDerStuyf
  • Patent number: 4878857
    Abstract: A pin assembly for use in an electrical connector includes an insulating body having two spaced flexible fingers with pins extending outwardly from the fingers. One finger carries a latch for securing the pin assembly in a surrounding body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: InterCon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Neidich
  • Patent number: 4838805
    Abstract: A locking type of connector assembly consists of two connector halves, one half having a more compliant surface in pressure contact with a surface of the other half. The surfaces have mating protrusions and recesses which are in pressure contact. The torque required to misalign the mating surfaces after tightening the connector is sufficiently great to prevent loosening of the connector by vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: James R. Sturges
  • Patent number: 4836804
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of contacts retained within a housing formed by an inner closure and an outer sleeve. The inner closure is formed of identical mating sections which are retained in a closed condition by the outer sleeve, and which, when separated from the outer sleeve, can be non-destructively opened to provided access to the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: London Harness & Cable Corp.
    Inventors: Norman H. London, Leonard S. Greene, Lee J. Falgoust
  • Patent number: 4820199
    Abstract: An electrical connector adapter is disclosed having front and rear insulators with corresponding contact cavities therein which are slightly laterally offset from each other. The contacts have intermediate bendable portions. One of the insulators is formed of a resilient material. After one end of the contacts are mounted in the other insulator, the contact cavities in the resilient insulator are expanded to slidably receive the other ends of the contacts therein. The expansive force is then released causing the resilient insulator to contract around the contacts therein to automatically bend the intermediate portions of the contacts to accommodate for the lateral offset of the contact cavities in the front and rear insulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Z. Muzslay
  • Patent number: 4820198
    Abstract: A pin terminal secondary locking bar effects locking of keepers in circular slot of pin termainals that have two outer laterally directed triangular shaped fingers and at least one rectangular shaped finger disposed therebetween. The outer fingers are flexed inwardly upon insertion into or removal from a receiving cavity disposed under a housing holding the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Allen R. Lulko, David A. LesCamela
  • Patent number: 4789346
    Abstract: A right angle connector assembly (20) has a plurality of rows of contact receiving passages (36) laterally aligned with parallel profiled channels (112, 114) in a solder post spacer plate (46). Contacts (38) having a mating portion (40) and a mounting portion (42), typically a solder post (44), are inserted into all of the contact receiving passages (36) in a row simultaneously. Concurrent therewith, the solder posts (44) thereof are inserted into alternate profiled channels (112, 114) in the solder post spacer plate (46). As the solder posts (44) are inserted into the channels (112, 114) the portion (122, 124) of the post spacer plate (46) between adjacent channels (112, 114) deflect laterally with a different effective beam length (126, 154, 170) for each row of contacts (38) inserted. Contacts (38) seat in detents (148, 162 and 130) in channels (112, 114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert H. Frantz
  • Patent number: 4720272
    Abstract: A socket for and a terminal with a wire guide means for straightening skewed filament wires from a wedge base bulb and with terminal means for making electrical contact with the filament wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Remie P. Durand
  • Patent number: 4713021
    Abstract: A sealed electrical connector has a housing receiving terminated conductors therein, for mating to a corresponding connector. A camming member is latched to the rear of the housing with bores therethrough through which the conductors extend. Wire seals are disposed between the housing and the camming member around each conductor. A sequential latching provides a first or open position for the camming member which allows for insertion of the terminated conductors through bores of the camming member, through respective wire seals and into respective passageways of the housing wherein the terminals are seated. The camming member is then moved axially forward to a second or closed position which cams against the rear sections of the wire seals and urges and deforms them radially inwardly against the conductors so that a pressure-resistant seal is formed between the conductor, the wire seal, and the camming member. Several types of wire seals are usable with the sealed connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert J. Kobler
  • Patent number: 4669804
    Abstract: A boxless wiring installation in which a wall switch or a duplex electrical receptacle may be mounted with snap action within and on a support member which is mounted by means of swing-out wall clamps to a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Eagle Electric Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald G. Munroe