Squib connector for automotive air bag assembly

• US 5,746,618 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• 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): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US08/705,427
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 439/15, 439/352, 439/135, 439/595, 439/746, 439/747, 439/741, 439/733, 439/466, 439/749
• 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, said connector housing having a wire entrance, said connector housing further having an internal floor and a terminal latching assembly; and

a terminal assembly disposed within said connector housing for electrical communication with the terminal pins of the squib and a pair of electrical wires entering said connector housing through said wire entrance, said terminal assembly comprising a pair of box elements and a pair of opposed contact beams integrally formed with each box element and disposed to extend within each box element from a base region of each box element in a direction away from the floor of the connector housing to contact the terminal pins of the squib, said terminal assembly retained within said connector housing between and in contact with generally opposed faces of said internal floor at said base region and said terminal latching assembly at an upper region spaced from said base region.

2. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said terminal latching assembly comprises a pair of retaining members each disposed in opposition to said internal floor to contact an upper surface of a respective one of said pair of box elements to retain said pair of box elements between said internal floor and said retaining members.

3. The squib connector of claim 2, wherein said pair of retaining members comprise resilient arms angled downwardly and inwardly toward the box elements.

4. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein said box elements each include an outwardly extending member and said terminal latching assembly includes a pair of retaining members each disposed in opposition to said internal floor to contact said outwardly extending members to retain said pair of box elements between said internal floor and said retaining members.

5. The squib connector of claim 4, wherein said outwardly extending members have a louver configuration.

6. The squib connector of claim 4, wherein said pair of retaining members comprise resilient arms angled downwardly and inwardly toward the box elements.