Shroud for electrical connector

• US 6,059,602 A
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Ward, Bobby Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US09/270,698
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 439/465, 439/467, 439/470, 439/752
• US Class Current: 439/465
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/432 by stamped-out resilient tongue snapping behind shoulder in base or case
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/582 the cable being clamped between assembled parts of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly is provided having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities for housing a plurality of terminals connected to conductors. The terminals are held in the cavities by primary latches which are reinforced by projections on a shroud which extend behind the primary latches. The shroud provides wire dressing and strain relief for the conductors while providing a terminal position assurance function and secondary locking for the terminals.

Claims

1. A shroud for attachment to an electrical connector housing which carries a plurality of electrical terminals within terminal receiving cavities, the shroud comprising:

a top shell attached to a bottom shell, the top shell and bottom shell each having opposing inner surfaces facing an interior bound by side walls which extend from a forward opening to a rear opening; and

a plurality of projections disposed on at least one inner surface of the top shell or the bottom shell and which project forwardly from the forward opening into the terminal receiving cavities.

2. The shroud of claim 1, wherein the top shell and the bottom shell have a raised surface proximate the forward opening for engagement with a complementary recess disposed on the electrical connector housing.

3. The shroud of claim 1, wherein latch members extend from the inner surface of at least one of the bottom shell or top shell and engage latching shoulders disposed on the inner surface of the other bottom shell or top shell.

4. The shroud of claim 1, wherein at least one guide post is provided on the inner surface of one of the top shell or the bottom shell and is received in at least one guide slot disposed on the inner surface of the other top shell or bottom shell.

5. The shroud of claim 4, wherein the at least one guide post is tapered.

6. The shroud of claim 5, wherein the at least one guide slot has a tapered wall which is complementary to the at least one tapered guide post.

7. The shroud of claim 1, wherein the side walls of one of the top shell or bottom shell has a flared rim for engaging the side walls of the other of the top shell or bottom shell.

8. The shroud of claim 1, wherein the rear opening is fitted around a plurality of conductors attached to the plurality of electrical terminals, thereby providing strain relief of the plurality of conductors.

9. The shroud of claim 8, wherein the plurality of conductors are carried in the form of a cord.

10. The shroud of claim 9, wherein a strain relief member is provided on the cord and is retained in a recess disposed proximate the rear opening.

11. The shroud of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections each has a nose portion which protrudes forwardly behind terminal latches located within the terminal receiving cavities.

12. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a connector housing having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities for receiving a plurality of electrical terminals terminated to conductors, the terminal receiving cavities opening at a back end of the connector housing; and

a shroud for attachment to the back end of the connector housing, the shroud comprising;

a top shell attached to a bottom shell, the top shell and the bottom shell each having an inner surface facing an interior;

opposing side walls disposed perpendicularly to the top shell and the bottom shell and extending from a forward opening to a rear opening; and

projections located on the inner surface of at least one of the top shell or the bottom shell, the projections disposed proximate the forward opening and extending beyond the forward opening into the terminal receiving cavities of the connector housing.

13. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the top shell and the bottom shell have a lip along the forward opening for engagement with grooves on the back end of the connector housing.

14. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein one of the top shell and the connector housing has a lip for engaging a groove disposed on the other of the top shell and the connector housing.

15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein one of the bottom shell and the connector housing has a lip for engaging a groove disposed on the other of the bottom shell and the connector housing.

16. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the top shell has latching members which extend into the interior of the shroud and the bottom shell has complementary latching members which engage the latching members of the top shell.

17. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein one of the top shell or bottom shell has least one guide post which engages at least one guide slot disposed on the other of the top shell or bottom shell.

18. The electrical connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one guide post is tapered and the at least one guide slot has a corresponding taper.

19. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the side walls of one of the top shell or bottom shell has a flange to receive the side walls of the other of the top shell or bottom shell.

20. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of conductors are carried in the form of a cord having a strain relief and wherein the strain relief is disposed within a recess disposed proximate the rear opening.

21. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the projections has a nose portion which extends behind a terminal latch in the terminal receiving cavities.

22. A shroud for attachment to a connector housing wherein the connector housing carries a plurality of electrical terminals in a plurality of terminal cavities, the shroud comprising:

a shell having a front opening and a rear opening, wherein the front opening and the rear opening are joined by peripheral shell walls which define an interior of the shroud, the shell having an inner surface facing the interior of the shroud, the shell having at least one lip disposed proximate the front opening, the lip being attachable to the connector housing; and

a plurality of locking members disposed on the inner surface proximate the front opening and which extend into terminal receiving cavities.