ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SYSTEM CONNECTABLE IN A STRAIGHT OR RIGHT ANGLE CONFIGURATION

• US 20140302702A1
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: GERM, KENNETH B., ILER, TROY A., KETTERER, WILLIAM C., BIZON, DON E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,153,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/370
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/02 Contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/113 co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/35 for non-simultaneous co-operation with different types of contact member, e.g. socket co-operating with either round or flat pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus

Abstract

An electrical connector system having a male and female connector. The male connector includes a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding a male terminal having an opening generally perpendicular to the male terminal'"'"'s longitudinal axis. The female connector includes a female terminal having two openings, one generally parallel with the female terminal'"'"'s longitudinal axis and another generally perpendicular to that axis. The male and female terminals mate in a parallel configuration having the male terminal axis generally parallel to the female terminal axis or in a perpendicular configuration having the male terminal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal axis. A connector body holds the female terminal. The connector body defines a locking means that releasably secures the connector body to the shroud in both the parallel and perpendicular mating configurations. The locking means may include a triangular shaped lock tab that engages a similarly shaped lock aperture.

Claims

1. An electrical connector system comprising:

a male connector that includes

a male terminal, and

a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding the male terminal, wherein the shroud defines an opening generally perpendicular to a male terminal longitudinal axis; and

a female connector that includes

a female terminal defining a first terminal opening generally parallel with a female terminal longitudinal axis and a second terminal opening generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis, wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a parallel mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally parallel to the female terminal longitudinal axis and wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a perpendicular mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis, and

a connector body holding the female terminal, wherein the connector body defines a locking means configured to releasably secure the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration.

2. The electrical connector system of claim 1, wherein the shroud defines a lock aperture and wherein the locking means includes a resilient lock tab configured to engage the lock aperture, thereby securing the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration.

3. The electrical connector system of claim 2, wherein the lock tab defines a shape having 90 degrees of rotational symmetry.

4. The electrical connector system of claim 3, wherein the lock tab and the lock aperture are characterized as having a generally isosceles right triangle shape.

5. The electrical connector system of claim 2, wherein the connector body includes a resilient cantilever beam defining the lock tab.

6. The electrical connector system of claim 5, wherein the connector body further comprises a connector position assurance device including an arm configured to slide behind the cantilever beam, thereby inhibiting inward flexing of said cantilever beam.

7. The electrical connector system of claim 5, wherein the lock tab is proximate a free end of the cantilever beam.

8. A female connector configured to interconnect with a mating male connector having a male terminal defining a male terminal longitudinal axis and a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding the male terminal and defining a lock aperture, the female connector comprising:

a female terminal defining a first terminal opening generally parallel with a female terminal longitudinal axis and a second terminal opening generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis, wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a parallel mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally parallel to the female terminal longitudinal axis and wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a perpendicular mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis; and

a connector body holding the female terminal, wherein the connector body defines a locking means configured to engage the lock aperture, thereby securing the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration.

9. The female connector of claim 8, wherein the locking means includes a resilient lock tab configured to engage the lock aperture, thereby securing the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration.

10. The female connector of claim 9, wherein the lock tab defines a shape having 90 degrees of rotational symmetry.

11. The female connector of claim 10, wherein the lock tab is characterized as having a generally isosceles right triangle shape.

12. The female connector of claim 9, wherein the connector body includes a resilient cantilever beam defining the lock tab.

13. The female connector of claim 12, wherein the connector body further comprises a connector position assurance device including an arm configured to slide behind the cantilever beam, thereby inhibiting inward flexing of said cantilever beam.

14. The female connector of claim 12, wherein the lock tab is proximate a free end of the cantilever beam.

15. A male connector configured to interconnect with a mating female connector having a lock tab configured to releasably secure the mating female connector to the male connector in a parallel mating configuration and in a perpendicular mating configuration, said male connector comprising:

a male terminal; and

a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding the male terminal, wherein the shroud defines an opening generally perpendicular to a male terminal longitudinal axis.

16. The male connector of claim 15, wherein the shroud defines a lock aperture configured to receive the lock tab.

17. The male connector of claim 16, wherein the lock aperture defines a shape having 90 degrees of rotational symmetry.

18. The male connector of claim 17, wherein the lock aperture is characterized as having a generally isosceles right triangle shape.