Orientationless squib connector assembly

• US 6,609,931 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Parrish, Jeffrey David, Rhein, David James, Rahman, Sheikh Habibur
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US10/037,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20030082949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/108, 439/98, 439/99, 439/668, 439/609, 439/579, 439/669, 439/696, 439/731, 439/695, 439/394, 439/825, 439/686, 439/687
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/17 with spring member on the pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A squib connector assembly comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and a tip; a female contact disposed within the tip of said housing for mating engagement with a male contact in a mating squib socket; and a ground contact having at least one resilient spring beam disposed on an external surface of the tip of said housing.

Claims

1. A squib connector assembly comprising:

a) a housing having a longitudinal axis and a tip;

b) an electrical contact disposed within the tip of said housing for mating engagement with a corresponding electrical contact in a squib socket; and

c) a ground contact comprising a substantially cylindrical cage having a plurality of spring beams disposed in spaced relation and defining a circumference of said cage;

d) wherein said housing comprises an upper housing, a lower housing and a nose body partially disposed between said upper housing and said lower housing, wherein a portion of the nose body extends beyond the upper and lower housings and comprises said tip.

2. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein the spring beams are positioned along a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

3. The squib connector of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower housings are secured together by latching means formed integral with the upper and lower housings.

4. The squib connector of claim 1, said housing comprising latching ears disposed on external surfaces of the housing, said latching ears comprising means for securing the connector in a squib socket.

5. The squib connector of claim 1, further comprising a ferrite block disposed within said housing, said ferrite block being disposed around a portion of a pair of electrical wires, each electrical wire being electrically and mechanically attached to a respective one of said female contact and ground contact.

6. The squib connector of claim 5, wherein the pair of electrical wires are disposed along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

7. A squib connector assembly comprising:

a) a housing having a longitudinal axis and a tip;

b) an electrical contact disposed within the tip of said housing for mating engagement with a corresponding electrical contact;

c) a ground contact comprising at least one resilient spring beam disposed on an external surface of the tip of said housing; and

d) a ferrite block disposed in said housing, said ferrite block being disposed around a portion of a pair of electrical wires, each electrical wire being electrically and mechanically connected to a respective one of said electrical contact and said ground contact.

8. The squib connector of claim 7, wherein the ground contact comprises a substantially cylindrical cage having a plurality of spring beams disposed in spaced relation and defining a circumference of said cage.

9. The squib connector of claim 7, wherein the ground contact comprises a single spring beam.

10. The squib connector of claim 7, wherein the at least one spring beam is position along a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

11. The squib connector of claim 7, wherein said housing comprises an upper housing, a lower housing and a nose body partially disposed between said upper housing and said lower housing, wherein a portion of the nose body extends beyond the housing and comprises said tip.

12. The squib connector of claim 7, said housing comprising latching ears disposed on external surfaces of the housing, said latching ears comprising means for securing the connector in a squib socket.

13. The squib connector of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing secured together.

14. The squib connector of claim 13, wherein the upper and lower housings are secured together by latching means formed integral with the upper and lower housings.

15. A squib connector assembly comprising:

a) a housing having a longitudinal axis and a tip;

b) a female contact disposed within the tip of said housing for mating engagement with a male contact; and

c) a ground contact consisting of a single resilient spring beam disposed on an external surface of the tip of said housing.

16. The squib connector of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing secured together.

17. The squib connector of claim 16, wherein the upper and lower housings are secured together by latching means formed integral with the upper and lower housings.

18. The squib connector of claim 15, further comprising a ferrite block disposed within said housing, said ferrite block being disposed around a portion of a pair of electrical wires, each electrical wire being electrically and mechanically attached to a respective one of said female contact and ground contact.