Patent · US Active

Electrical connector having finger-actuated retainer

US8550860B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
6References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 27, 2009
Grant dateOct 8, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 30, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R13/4365
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to TPA connectors. The TPA connectors of the present disclosure can have a connector body that can include a plurality of cavities for receiving terminals. The TPA connectors can also include a retainer for locking the terminals in their seated position and for locking to the connector body to prevent unwanted removal thereof. The connector body can include posts with stop surfaces which can prevent the retainer from moving from a pre-lock position to a fully locked position by engaging contact surfaces on the locking arms of the retainer. The locking arms can be cantilevered and have outwardly directed projections to engage the posts for locking the retainer to the connector body. The locking arms can be deflected inwardly with a squeezing or pinching motion to disengage the contact surfaces from the stop surfaces of the posts and permitting the retainer to move to the fully locked position by pushing retainer towards the connector body. Once the projects pass the post, locking arms can be release to allow the projections to engage the posts to lock the retainer to the connector body.

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