Patent · US Expired

Electric connector

US5044972A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
4References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 2, 1990
Grant dateSep 3, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 2, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R13/4223
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The connector of this invention has a connector housing with a terminal accommodating chamber formed therein, into which a female terminal is to be assembled. A release bar is formed separately from the connector housing. With the release bar mounted on the connector housing, the female terminal is inserted into the connector. As the female terminal advances in the terminal accommodating chamber, its front end abuts against and then slides along the tapered surface of the front portion of the release bar, forcing it up. At the same time the female terminal slides over a lance formed in the connector housing. As it further advances, the front end of the lance engages with a hole in the underside of the female terminal and the front portion of the release bar snaps into an opening formed in the upper side of the female terminal. The female terminal in this way is doubly locked by the lance and by the front end of the release bar. If the lance fails to fit into the hole of the female terminal, the front portion of the release bar rests on the female terminal, projecting markedly from the houisng, which is easily recognizable from outside. This in turn alerts the assembly worker to the…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.