ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
First Claim
1. An electrical connector comprising:
- a housing including a front housing and a rear housing matable to define the housing, wherein the front housing and the rear housing are molded as a single piece with a hinge member connecting the front housing and the rear housing, the rear housing rotatable about the hinge member from an open position to a closed position, wherein the front and rear housings include multi-stage securing features engaged when the front and rear housings are in the closed position;
the front housing having front terminal channels configured to receive terminals, the rear housing having rear terminal channels aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is rotated to the closed position but not aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is in the open position,wherein the rear housing is movable relative to the front housing in the closed position between a clearance position and a blocking position with the securing features engaging each other in the clearance position and in the blocking position, wherein, in the clearance position, the rear terminal channels are configured to allow the terminals to at least partially pass therethrough into the front terminal channels during loading of the terminals into the housing, and wherein, in the blocking position, the rear terminal channels are offset from the front terminal channels such that the rear housing blocks the terminals from backing out of the front terminal channels.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector includes a housing including a front housing and a rear housing matable to define the housing. The front housing and the rear housing are molded as a single piece with a hinge member connecting the front housing and the rear housing. The rear housing is rotatable about the hinge member from an open position to a closed position. The front housing has front terminal channels configured to receive terminals and the rear housing has rear terminal channels aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is rotated to the closed position but not aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is in the open position. The rear terminal channels are configured to allow the terminals to at least partially pass therethrough into the front terminal channels during loading of the terminals into the housing.
81 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrical connector comprising:
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a housing including a front housing and a rear housing matable to define the housing, wherein the front housing and the rear housing are molded as a single piece with a hinge member connecting the front housing and the rear housing, the rear housing rotatable about the hinge member from an open position to a closed position, wherein the front and rear housings include multi-stage securing features engaged when the front and rear housings are in the closed position; the front housing having front terminal channels configured to receive terminals, the rear housing having rear terminal channels aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is rotated to the closed position but not aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is in the open position, wherein the rear housing is movable relative to the front housing in the closed position between a clearance position and a blocking position with the securing features engaging each other in the clearance position and in the blocking position, wherein, in the clearance position, the rear terminal channels are configured to allow the terminals to at least partially pass therethrough into the front terminal channels during loading of the terminals into the housing, and wherein, in the blocking position, the rear terminal channels are offset from the front terminal channels such that the rear housing blocks the terminals from backing out of the front terminal channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 22)
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8. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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16. An electrical connector comprising:
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a housing including a front housing and a rear housing matable to define the housing, wherein the front housing and the rear housing are molded as a single piece with a hinge member connecting the front housing and the rear housing, the rear housing rotatable about the hinge member from an open position to a closed position; the front housing having front terminal channels configured to receive terminals, the rear housing having rear terminal channels aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is rotated to the closed position but not aligned with the front terminal channels when the rear housing is in the open position; wherein, after the rear housing is moved to the closed position, the rear housing is movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein, in the unlocked position, the rear terminal channels are aligned with the front terminal channels to allow terminals to freely pass between the rear terminal channels and the front terminal channels, and wherein, in the locked position, the rear terminal channels are offset from the front terminal channels such that the rear housing blocks the terminals from being removed from the front terminal channels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification