Electrical connector housing cover

• US 7,416,445 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Brown, Cecil
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US12/004,368
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 439/352, 439/620.05, 439/467, 439/713, 439/596
• US Class Current: 439/596
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/424 Securing in base or case composed of a plurality of insulating parts having at least one resilient insulating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve

Abstract

An electrical connector housing including a base; and a cover. The cover is adapted to be connected to the base to capture at least one electrical connector component in the base. The cover includes a first section and a second section. The second section is movably connected to the first section by a connection. The second section is movable between an open position relative to the base and a closed position. The connection includes a detent latching system for latching the second section in the open position to allow access to a location inside the base.

Claims

1. An air bag electrical connector housing comprising:

a base comprising a plug section adapted to be plugged into a mating electrical connector, wherein the base comprises contact receiving areas adapted to house electrical contacts; and

a cover adapted to be connected to the base to capture the electrical contacts in the base for subsequent connection to the mating electrical connector, wherein the cover comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the second section is movably connected to the first section by a connection, wherein the second section is movable between an open position relative to the base and a closed position, wherein the connection comprises a detent latching system for latching the second section in the open position to allow access to a location inside the base.

2. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1 wherein the connection comprises a pivot connection.

3. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1 wherein the first and second sections are separate members comprised of different materials.

4. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1 wherein the second section is adapted to snap-lock connect with the base in the closed position.

5. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1 wherein the base comprises at least one aperture through a bottom side of the base into the location, wherein the base and cover are sized and shaped to allow portions of contacts to be crimped in the location through the at least one aperture and from above the location when the second section is at the open position.

6. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1 wherein the first section is adapted to snap-lock connect to the base to capture the at least one electrical connector component in the base regardless of the position of the second section.

7. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1 wherein the first and second sections are distinct separate members.

8. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1 wherein the base comprises at least one aperture through a bottom side of the base into the contact receiving areas.

9. An air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 8 wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to be covered, least partially, by the mating electrical connector.

10. A squib electrical connector comprising:

an air bag electrical connector housing as in claim 1; and

at least two electrical contacts mounted in the base of the electrical connector housing.

11. A squib electrical connector as in claim 10 further comprising at least one ferrite member mounted on the at least two electrical contacts.

12. An air bag squib electrical connector comprising:

electrical contacts; and

a housing having the electrical contacts therein, wherein the housing comprises;

a base having contact receiving areas, wherein the electrical contacts are located in the contact receiving areas, and wherein the base further comprises at least one aperture through a bottom side of the base into the contact receiving areas; and

a cover connected to a top side of the base to capture the electrical contacts in the base for subsequent connection to a mating electrical connector, wherein the cover comprises a first member and a separate second member, wherein the second member is pivotably connected to the first member by a connection, wherein the second member is movable between an open position relative to the base and a closed position, wherein the connection comprises a latching system for latching the second member in the open position to allow access to a location inside the base.

13. An air bag squib electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the base comprises a plug section adapted to be plugged into the mating electrical connector.

14. An air bag squib electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the latching system comprises a detent latch system.

15. An air bag squib electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the first and second members are comprised of different materials.

16. An air bag squib electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the second member is adapted to snap-lock connect with the base in the closed position.

17. An air bag squib electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the base and cover are sized and shaped to allow portions of the electrical contacts to be crimped in the location through the at least one aperture and from above the location when the second member is at the open position.

18. An air bag squib electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the first member is adapted to snap-lock connect to the base to capture the electrical contacts in the base regardless of the position of the second member.

19. An air bag squib electrical connector as in claim 12 further comprising at least one ferrite member mounted on the electrical contacts.

20. A method of assembling an air bag squib electrical connector comprising:

providing an electrical connector housing base, wherein the base comprises contact receiving areas and at least one aperture through a bottom side of the base into the contact receiving areas;

inserting electrical contacts into the base; and

connecting a cover to the base to capture the electrical contacts in the base, wherein the cover comprises a first member and a distinct separate second member, wherein the second member is pivotably connected to the first member by a connection, wherein the second member is movable between an open position relative to the base and a closed position, wherein the connection comprises a latching system for latching the second member in the open position to allow access to a location inside the base.