Adaptable universal electrical connector system particularly adapted for use in repair or replacement of electrical components such as relays, solenoids and the like

• US 7,731,519 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trans-A-Matic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trans-A-Matic, Inc.
• Inventors: Swenson, Roger M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US11/057,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/357, 439/358, 439/144, 439/521, 439/741, 439/701, 439/283, 439/282, 439/352, 439/595
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence

Abstract

A first electrical connector part is adapted to be universally applicable to a wide variety of many different types of electrical connectors. In order to assure that the electrical connection is maintained, a complemental latching member is provided which is designed to fit a variety of existing electrical connectors. The complemental latching member has an internal cavity and telescopes over the universal electrical connector to coact with a given existing connector having guide keyways or orientation key elements in particular locations and latch the universally applicable electrical part in mating relation with the existing electrical connector. Thus, a discrete complementary part is provided which telescopes over the universal connector part and shields any exposed O.E.M. conductive parts from the environment and has a latching or locking member which shields a locking abutment on the universal part to maintain the electrical connection.

Claims

1. An electrical connector system comprising a universal electrical connector part adapted to be universally applicable to a wide variety of many different types of electrical connectors, and a discrete complementary latching member adapted to fit over and maintain an electrical connection, said complementary latching member having a locking abutment and adapted to telescope over said universal electrical connector to coact with a given existing connector having orientation key elements in selected locations and latch said universal electrical connector part in mating relation with said existing electrical connector, such that said discrete complementary latching member telescopes over said universal electrical connector part and has a latching or locking wall which coact with a locking abutment on the universal part to maintain the electrical connection.

2. An adaptable universal electric connector system comprising a first electrical connector part, said first electrical connector part being adapted to be universally applicable to a wide variety of original equipment manufacturer (O.E.M.) electrical connectors having a variety of latch element shapes and locations thereon, a complementary latching member having a hollow body member and an end which telescopes over said first electrical connector part and coacts with the said O.E.M. electrical connector part, said complementary latching member having one or more latch elements with shapes and orientations in particular locations to thereby maintain said electrical connector part in mating relation with said O.E.M. electrical connector.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the complementary latching member has an internal cavity designed to fit male O.E.M. electrical connector so as to not allow any conductive male connector element of the O.E.M. electrical connector to contact any part of the environment that it is not supposed to thereby removing the chance of shorting the electrical system.

4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the complementary latching member has an internal cavity designed to fit male O.E.M. electrical connector so as to not allow rotation of the connection thereby avoiding possible disconnection of the first connector part by twisting of the connection.

5. An adaptable universal electric connector system comprising a first electrical connector part, said first electrical connector part being adapted to be universally applicable to a wide variety of existing electrical connectors having a variety of latch element shapes and locations thereon, a complementary latching member having a hollow body and an end which telescopes over said first electrical connector part and coacts with the said existing electrical connector part, one or more latch elements on said complementary latching member having a shape and orientation in particular locations to thereby maintain said first electrical connector part in mating relation with said existing electrical connector.