Automotive door-to-body electrical connector

US5391086A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Whitaker & Company · US

Inventors

• Josef Woller · Griesheim, DE
• Peter H. Hilser · Nauheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 1993
• Grant date: Feb 21, 1995
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01R13/62944
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly is comprised of an insulating housing for fixed mounting within an automotive body behind panel walls. A mating connector has a housing portion and a peripheral shroud. The shroud has integral latches which retain the shroud and housing together, and the shroud includes latches which retain the shroud to the panel. Actuating lugs are positioned on the front of the housing portion and are profiled for receipt within a groove on a camming slide. The latches hold the shroud and housing together during the actuation of the lugs and the camming slide. When the latches are locked behind the panel wall, the shroud inner surface contacts the panel wall, whereby the latches break free of the corresponding lugs on the housing. Continued actuation of the U-shaped camming slide moves the connector housing into fully locked position, leaving the shroud positioned against the wall.