CONNECTOR WITH TPA

• US 20160056563A1
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: LUTHY, John, SOUSEK, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,490,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4361 Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4364 Insertion of locking piece from the front

Abstract

A connector is provided with a terminal position assurance (TPA) member that secures terminal within a channel provided in a base. The TPA member can be secured to the base with a hinge that extends substantially a width of the base. The TPA member and the base can be formed as a one-piece molded part.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a housing with a base, the base including a first side and a second side and having a top surface that extends between the first and second side, the base including a channel, the channel having a nose that extends from the base;

a terminal positioned in the channel, the terminal including a bottom side, a top side and two adjacent sides, the terminal having a contact end with a contact width and a crimp with a crimp width, the terminal further include at least one projection extending above the top side; and

a terminal position assurance (TPA) member extending from the top surface of the base, the TPA member having a hinge that substantially extends from the first side to the second side of the housing, the hinge extending a first distance from the top surface and connecting the TPA member to the top surface, the TPA member including a rear edge that is configured to rotate 180 degrees so as to press against the base, the TPA member including a pushing flange that extends a second distance from the rear edge and is configured to be inserted into the channel, the pushing flange engaging the projection so as to prevent the terminal from translating past the TPA member.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the base includes a plurality of channels, each channel having a nose the extends from the base, each Bose be spaced apart from an adjacent nose so that there is an air gap between two adjacent noses, and wherein a plurality of the terminals are position in each channel.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the channel has a first width in the nose and a second width in the base, the second width being greater than the first width and the first width being greater than the contact width.

5. The connector of claim 4, further comprising a tapered portion in the channel, the tapered portion providing a transition from the second width to a third width that is less than the first width.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the terminal includes at least one wing and the channel includes a shoulder, the wing configured to engage the shoulder and prevent removal of the terminal once the terminal is inserted into the channel.