Quick release connectors for electrical terminals
First Claim
1. An electrical connector adapted to releasably secure electrical terminals connected to electrical wires to a housing having an open end for receiving the connector, the connector comprising;
- a connector body having first and second ends, said connector body including a first cavity for selectively receiving an electrical terminal and a second cavity for selectively receiving a spacer member, said first cavity having an inlet opening at said first end of said body and said second cavity having an inlet opening at said second end of said body,first and second partitions provided within said body, said first partition separating said first and second cavities and having a flexible portion adjacent said second end of said body, said flexible segment including a terminal retention portion, said second partition being oriented in opposing relationship to said first partition and on an opposite side of said second cavity and including a spacer member retention portion,said terminal retention portion of said flexible segment of said first partition being urged into said first cavity upon insertion of said spacer member within said second cavity, anda connector body retention member spaced from said second partition and having a free end adjacent said first end of said body, said free end being yieldable toward said second partition and including a retention portion which is selectively engageable with the housing when said second end of said connector body is inserted into the housing to thereby retain said connector body within the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector for releasably securing electrical terminals which includes a body having a first cavity in which an electrical terminal may be selectively received and a second cavity in which a spacer member may be slidingly received. The spacer member is engageable with a retention element formed along a first partition separating the first and second cavities so as to urge the retention element into engagement with a terminal selectively seated within the first cavity. The spacer member is also retained by a separate retention element in different portions within the second cavity dependent upon the proper seating of a terminal within the first cavity. The connector further includes a housing in which the body may be selectively received and quickly released by a yieldable retention element extending along an outer portion of the connector body.
42 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrical connector adapted to releasably secure electrical terminals connected to electrical wires to a housing having an open end for receiving the connector, the connector comprising;
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a connector body having first and second ends, said connector body including a first cavity for selectively receiving an electrical terminal and a second cavity for selectively receiving a spacer member, said first cavity having an inlet opening at said first end of said body and said second cavity having an inlet opening at said second end of said body, first and second partitions provided within said body, said first partition separating said first and second cavities and having a flexible portion adjacent said second end of said body, said flexible segment including a terminal retention portion, said second partition being oriented in opposing relationship to said first partition and on an opposite side of said second cavity and including a spacer member retention portion, said terminal retention portion of said flexible segment of said first partition being urged into said first cavity upon insertion of said spacer member within said second cavity, and a connector body retention member spaced from said second partition and having a free end adjacent said first end of said body, said free end being yieldable toward said second partition and including a retention portion which is selectively engageable with the housing when said second end of said connector body is inserted into the housing to thereby retain said connector body within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electrical connector for releasably securing electrical terminals connected to electrical wires, the connector comprising;
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a connector body having first and second ends, said second end being releasably receivable within a housing, said housing having an open end and opposing side walls with a slot formed in one of said side walls, said connector body including a first cavity for selectively receiving an electrical terminal and a second cavity for selectively receiving a spacer member, said first cavity having an inlet opening at said first end of said body and said second cavity having an inlet opening at said second end of said body, first and second partitions provided within said body, said first partition separating said first and second cavities and having a flexible portion adjacent said second end of said body, said flexible segment including a terminal retention portion, said second partition being oriented in opposing relationship to said first partition and on an opposite side of said second cavity and including a spacer member retention portion, said terminal retention portion of said flexible segment of said first partition being urged into said first cavity upon insertion of said spacer member within said second cavity, and a connector body retention member spaced from said second partition and having a free end adjacent said first end of said body, said free end being yieldable toward said second partition and including a retention portion which is selectively receivable within said slot in one of said side walls of said housing to thereby retain said connector body within said housing.
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Specification