Squib connector for automotive air bag assembly

• US 5,616,045 A
• Filed: 07/14/1995
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Augat, Inc. (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Gauker, Bradford K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US08/502,523
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 439/15, 439/352, 439/135, 439/595, 439/746, 439/747, 439/741, 439/733
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/103 Mounting initiator heads in initiators; Sealing-plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/06 Electric contact parts specially adapted for use with electric fuzes switches operated by change of speed H01H35/06; switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. shock or vibration, inertia switches H01H35/14; fluid-pressure-operated switches H01H35/24
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4226 comprising two or more integral flexible retaining fingers acting on a single contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5825 the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5833 the cable being forced in a tortuous or curved path, e.g. knots in cable H01R13/582 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• 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 13/7032 making use of a separate bridging element directly cooperating with the terminals

Abstract

A squib connector for automotive air bag assemblies is disclosed. The squib connector includes a connector position assurance mechanism (CPA) to ensure that the connector is properly connected to the squib receptacle and a connector lock assurance mechanism (CLA) to ensure that the connector is locked into the receptacle. The connector includes a pair of terminals each having contact beams which provide at least four points of contact with the terminals of the squib. Primary and secondary terminal latches ensure that the terminals are firmly retained within the connector. Wire strain relief is provided by placing an intentional bend in the wires and rounding the end of the connector where the wires enter.

Claims

1. A squib connector for an automotive air bag assembly having a squib, the squib having a pair of terminal pins anchored thereto and extending upwardly in a squib connector receiving receptacle, said squib connector comprising:

a connector housing having a portion adapted to mate with the receiving receptacle of the squib;

a terminal assembly disposed within said connector housing for electrical communication with the terminal pins of the squib;

a latching assembly extending from said connector housing moveable from a latched position to a released position, said latching assembly having a latching member thereon adapted to mate with a corresponding latch receiving member on the squib when said latching assembly is in the latched position;

a connector position and lock assurance assembly comprising a pivoting member hingedly connected to said connector housing for pivoting about an axis to and from a closed position against said connector housing and having an opening therein located to receive said latching assembly when said pivoting member is in the closed position, thereby ensuring said latching assembly is in the latched position.

2. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said connector position and lock assurance assembly further comprises a wedge member depending from said pivoting member at a position to fit between said latching assembly and a surface of said connector housing to retain said latching assembly in the latched position.

3. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said latching assembly comprises a pair of upwardly extending flexible latching beams.

4. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said pivoting member further includes a latch mechanism to retain said pivoting member in the closed position against said connector housing.

5. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said connector housing comprises a connector body and a cover fixedly attached to said connector housing.

6. The squib connector of claim 5, further comprising a wire strain relief assembly comprising a space between said cover and said connector body sized to place a bend in a wire entering between said cover and said connector body.

7. The squib connector of claim 5, further comprising a wire strain relief assembly comprising a rounded end of said cover at a location where a wire enters said connector housing.

8. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said terminal assembly comprises two pairs of opposed contact beams disposed to contact the terminal pins of the squib, said opposed contact beams having free ends curved to wrap around the terminal pins.

9. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said terminal assembly comprises a pair of terminals having a box shape, a louver being formed in one wall of each of said box shapes, and further comprising a pair of terminal latches disposed to contact said louvers to retain said terminals in said connector housing.

10. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said terminal assembly comprises a pair of terminals having a box shape, and further comprising a pair of terminal latches disposed to contact a top edge of each of said box shapes to retain said terminals in said connector housing.

11. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said pivoting member is hingedly connected to said connector housing for pivoting by a hinge pin integrally formed with said pivoting member and received in a corresponding hinge pin receptacle formed in said connector housing.

12. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said terminal assembly comprises two pairs of opposed contact beams disposed to contact the terminal pins of the squib, said beams having a conductive stripe of a conductive material deposited thereon and a lubricating material deposited thereon below said conductive stripe and formed of said conductive material.

13. The squib connector of claim 12, wherein said conductive material comprises gold, silver, palladium, or a silver/palladium alloy.