Tamper evident connector system

• US 7,625,229 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Cross, Scott M, Sandburg, Joel D, Klein, David A
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli; Michael C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US12/077,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20090233478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 439/468, 439/953, 439/304, 439/473, 439/471, 439/446, 439/372, 439/902
• US Class Current: 439/468
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/902 Angularly disposed contact and conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/953 with latch rod to be retainingly received by opening of mating connector

Abstract

An electrical assembly is disclosed that provides evidence of tampering. The assembly includes a plug housing with a seal cover attached thereto, the seal cover including latching arms. A wire dress cover is attached over the seal cover, and a locking element is placed through the wire dress cover and is rotatably latched in place to the latching arms. The locking element overlies a jack screw, which prevents the disconnection of the plug housing or removal of a wire cover without first removing the locking element.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly for attachment to a mating device, comprising:

a plug housing assembly;

an attachment mechanism for attaching the plug housing assembly to the mating device;

a wire dress cover attached to the plug housing assembly, with an access opening communicating with the attachment mechanism;

the attachment mechanism extending through the plug housing assembly, with a portion of the attachment member positioned within the wire dress cover; and

a locking element, receivable in the access opening and covering the portion of the attachment mechanism positioned within the wire dress cover, and being retainable to the wire dress cover.

2. An electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug housing assembly is comprised of a plug housing and a seal cover.

3. An electrical connector assembly of claim 2, further comprising a mat seal, wherein the seal cover traps the mat seal in place to the plug housing.

4. An electrical connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the seal cover and the locking element comprise cooperable latching members.

5. An electrical connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the cooperable latching members comprise at least one fixed latching member on the seal cover and at least one rotatable latching member on the locking element, wherein upon rotation of the locking element, the rotatable latching member cooperates with the fixed latching member.

6. An electrical connector assembly of claim 5, wherein the fixed latching member is comprised of arms extending towards the wire dress cover and having shoulders providing an inner latching edge.

7. An electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the locking element is comprised of a key member, and the rotatable latching member is receivable under the shoulders of the fixed latching member.

8. An electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the fixed latching member has a radial opening adjacent to the arms and the wire dress cover includes an alignment keyway aligning the key member with the radial opening adjacent the fixed latching member.

9. An electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the alignment keyway and the shoulders of the fixed latching member, overlap longitudinally.

10. An electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking element is secured to the wire dress cover to prevent tampering with the plug housing assembly.

11. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing latched to the first housing, the second housing having latching arms with latching surfaces;

a cover attached to the first and second housing, with an access opening accessing the latching arms;

a locking element, receivable in the access opening and retainable to the latching arms, retaining the cover and the second housing together; and

wherein the first housing further comprises an attachment mechanism for attaching the connector assembly to a mating device.

12. An electrical connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the cover and the locking element comprise cooperable latching members.

13. An electrical connector assembly of claim 11, further comprising a mat seal, wherein the second housing traps the mat seal in place to the plug housing.

14. An electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the cooper able latching members comprise at least one fixed latching member on the second housing and at least one rotatable latching member on the locking element, wherein upon rotation of the locking element, the rotatable latching member cooperates with the fixed latching member.

15. An electrical connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the fixed latching member is comprised of arms extending towards the cover and having shoulders providing an inner latching edge.

16. An electrical connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the locking element is comprised of a key member, and the rotatable latching member is receivable under the shoulders of the fixed latching member.

17. An electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the fixed latching member has radial openings adjacent the arms and the cover includes an alignment keyway aligning the key member with the radial opening adjacent the fixed latching member.

18. An electrical connector assembly of claim 17, wherein alignment keyway and the shoulders of the fixed latching member, overlap longitudinally.

19. An electrical connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the locking element may be secured to the plug connector to provide tampering evidence for the plug housing assembly.