MULTI POSITION ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20090130902A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: HARDY, DOUGLAS JOHN, HALL, JOHN WESLEY
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/595
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4361 Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having more than one cavity extending along an insertion axis for inserting a connector in each of the more than one cavity. The housing has a slot extending perpendicular to the insertion axis and the housing has a locking chamber therethrough including a first section and a wider second section. A retention lock is inserted into the slot and held within the housing. The retention lock has a split center post with a top latch and the retention lock passes through the locking chamber so that the top latch locks within the wider second section of the locking chamber. The retention lock locks each of the more than one connector within each cavity.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a housing having more than one cavity extending along an insertion axis for inserting a connector in each of the more than one cavity, the housing having a slot extending perpendicular to the insertion axis, the housing having a locking chamber therethrough including a first section and a wider second section; and

a retention lock inserted into the slot and held within the housing, the retention lock having a split center post with a top latch, wherein the retention lock passes through the locking chamber so that the top latch locks within the wider second section of the locking chamber, wherein the retention lock locks each of the more than one connector within each cavity.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention lock is configured to engage each connector for at least 120 degrees of the circumference of the connector.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes primary retention features for locking each connector in each cavity.

4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot includes at least one rail extending across the slot parallel to the insertion axis.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the retention lock includes at least one slot aligned with, and receiving, the at least one rail.

6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention lock includes outer legs for secondary locking of the connectors in the cavities.

7. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a housing having connector cavities extending along parallel insertion axes, axis bisectors being defined between adjacent insertion axes, the housing having a locking chamber opening to each of the connector cavities;

a plurality of connectors received in respective connector cavities, at least one of the connectors being a SubMiniature version B (SMB) connector having a cylindrical body, the body having a lock engagement surface; and

a retention lock received in the locking chamber to hold each of the connectors in the respective connector cavities against movement in a direction along the respective insertion axes, the retention lock including a post extending through each axis bisector, the retention lock directly engaging the lock engagement surface to secure the SMB connector in the housing.

8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the connectors are SMB connectors.

9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the retention lock includes an outer leg, the outer leg engaging the lock engagement surface of the SMB connector.

10. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the connectors are aligned on a common centerline.

11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the lock includes an outer leg cooperating with the adjacent post to circumferentially engage the lock engagement surface around approximately half of the body.

12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the retention lock is inserted into the locking chamber through a slot, and each post includes a top latch at a distal end thereof engaging a ledge formed in the housing.

13. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein each post includes a pair of deflectable latches releasably engaging the housing to secure the retention lock in the locking chamber.

14. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a plurality of primary retention features, each primary retention feature extending into a corresponding connector cavity and engaging a corresponding connector.

15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of the connectors is a wire terminal connector, the housing having a primary latch engaging the wire terminal connector, the retention lock having a leg engaging the primary latch for secondary locking of the primary latch.

16. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a housing having connector cavities extending along parallel insertion axes, the housing defining primary retention features extending into the connector cavities, the housing having a locking chamber opening to each of the connector cavities;

an SMB connector received in one of the connector cavities and being held therein by one of the primary retention features, the SMB connector having a cylindrical body and a lock engagement surface;

a wire terminal connector received in one of the connector cavities, the wire terminal connector having a lock engagement surface, wherein one of the primary retention features engages the lock engagement surface of the wire terminal connector; and

a retention lock received in the locking chamber to hold each of the connectors in the respective connector cavities, the retention lock having a first leg engaging the lock engagement surface of the SMB connector to hold the SMB connector in the connector cavity, and the retention lock having a second leg engaging the primary retention feature that engages the lock engagement surface of the wire terminal connector for secondary locking of the primary retention feature.

17. The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the retention lock circumferentially engages the SMB connector around approximately half of the body.

18. The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the primary retention feature is positioned between the wire terminal connector and the second leg.

19. The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the retention lock includes a post extending between the SMB connector and the wire terminal connector.

20. The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, further comprising a second SMB connector received in one of the connector cavities and being held therein by one of the primary retention features, wherein the SMB connector, the second SMB connector and the wire terminal connector are substantially aligned along a common centerline.