Connector with TPA

• US 9,954,301 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luthy, John, Sousek, Steven, Gregori, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgos-Guntin, Nelson R
• Application Number:
  US15/204,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20160322734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 439751, 439596, 439752, 4397525, 439467
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4361 Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4364 Insertion of locking piece from the front

Abstract

A connector has a housing and a TPA member. The housing has a base which includes a first and second sides and a top surface that extends between the sides. The base further includes a channel. The TPA member is operatively associated with the housing and has at least one hinge which extends from the top surface. The at least one hinge has top and bottom portions. The bottom portion is provided proximate to the base and the top portion has a portion thereof cutout to provide a weakened portion of the at least one hinge. The TPA member further includes a rearwardly extending L-shaped feature. Upon a force being applied to the TPA member, the at least one hinge is configured to first rotate about the weakened portion and, thereafter, is configured to rotate about the bottom portion, thereby allowing the L-shaped feature to be inserted into the channel.

Claims

1. A connector, the connector comprising:

a housing with a base, the base including a first side and a second side and having a top surface that extends between the first and second side, the base including a channel; and

a terminal position assurance (TPA) member which is operatively associated with the housing, the TPA member having at least one hinge which extends from the top surface of the base, the at least one hinge having top and bottom portions, the bottom portion being provided proximate to the base, the top portion having a portion thereof cutout to provide a weakened portion of the at least one hinge, the TPA member including a rearwardly extending L-shaped feature,

wherein upon a force being applied to the TPA member which causes the TPA member to move in a rearward direction, the at least one hinge is configured to first rotate about the weakened portion and, thereafter, is configured to rotate about the bottom portion, thereby allowing the L-shaped feature to be inserted into the channel.

2. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge is configured to rotate approximately ninety (90) degrees about the weakened portion, the at least one hinge is configured to rotate approximately ninety (90) degrees about the bottom portion, and the L-shaped feature is configured to rotate approximately one-hundred eighty (180) degrees.

3. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge substantially extends from the first side to the second side of the base.

4. The connector as defined in claim 3, wherein the TPA member has only one hinge.

5. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge comprises a plurality of hinges, with adjacent hinges being separated from one another by a gap.

6. The connector as defined in claim 5, wherein first and second hinges are provided, the first hinge being positioned proximate to the first side of the base, the second hinge being positioned proximate to the second side of the base.

7. The connector as defined in claim 5, wherein first, second and third hinges are provided, the first hinge being positioned proximate to the first side of the base, the second hinge being positioned proximate to the second side of the base, and the third hinge is positioned generally equidistantly between the first and second sides of the base.

8. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutout portion of the at least one hinge is provided on a rear side of the at least one hinge.

9. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutout portion of the at least one hinge is crescent-shaped.

10. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the L-shaped feature includes a rear edge of the TPA member and a pushing flange that extends past the rear edge in the rearward direction.

11. The connector as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least one hinge extends a first distance from the top surface to the base, and wherein the pushing flange extends past the rear edge in the rearward direction a second distance, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

12. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the first side of the base includes an angled retention flange with a sloped surface, and wherein the TPA member includes a locking tab with an angled surface, wherein when the TPA member is moved to be secured to the housing and at least partially positioned within the channel, the locking tab engages the angled retention flange and the sloped surface and the angled surface aid in allowing the TPA member to move into the desired secured position.

13. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sides of the base include an angled retention flange with a sloped surface, and wherein the TPA member includes a pair of locking tabs with angled surfaces, wherein when the TPA member is moved to be secured to the housing and at least partially positioned within the channel, each locking tab engages a respective one of the angled retention flanges and the sloped surfaces and the angled surfaces aid in allowing the TPA member to move into the desired secured position.

14. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes a pair of channels which are separated from one another by a wall, and wherein the TPA member includes a pair of fingers, wherein when the TPA member is moved to be secured to the housing, the pair of fingers engage the wall.

15. The connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the pair of fingers is curved.

16. The connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the wall has an enlarged end.

17. The connector as defined in claim 16, wherein the pair of fingers snap over the enlarged end of the wall.

18. The connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the L-shaped feature of the TPA member includes first and second pushing flanges which are positioned rearward of the pair of fingers, the pair of fingers being offset from the first and second pushing flanges such that the first pushing flange is positioned on one side of the pair of fingers and such that the second pushing flange is positioned on an opposite side of the pair of fingers.

19. The connector as defined in claim 14, wherein the wall is positioned generally equidistantly between the first and second sides.

20. The connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes a plurality of channels, wherein adjacent channels are separated from one another by a wall, the base including a forward top surface that extends between the first and second sides which covers a forward portion of each channel such that a rearward portion of each channel is open both upwardly and rearwardly, and wherein when the TPA member is moved to be secured to the housing, the TPA member covers the rearward portion of each channel such that each channel is only open rearwardly.

22. The connector as defined in claim 10, wherein the pushing flange is configured to be inserted into the channel and to extend to a position below the top surface of the base of the housing.

21. A connector, the connector comprising:

a housing with a base, the base having a generally planar top surface, the base including a channel; and

a terminal position assurance (TPA) member which is configured to be secured within the channel of the base, the TPA member having at least one hinge which extends from the top surface of the base,

wherein when the TPA member is secured within the channel of the base, the at least one hinge has a middle portion which is generally planar and which is generally parallel to the top surface of the base of the housing.

23. A connector, the connector comprising:

a housing with a base, the base including a first side and a second side and having a top surface that extends between the first and second side, the base including a channel; and

a terminal position assurance (TPA) member which is operatively associated with the housing, the TPA member having at least one hinge which extends from the top surface of the base, the at least one hinge having top and bottom portions, the bottom portion being provided proximate to the base, the top portion having a portion thereof cutout to provide a weakened portion of the at least one hinge, the TPA member including a rearwardly extending L-shaped feature,

wherein upon a force being applied to the TPA member, the at least one hinge is configured to first rotate about the weakened portion and, thereafter, is configured to rotate about the bottom portion, thereby allowing the L-shaped feature to be inserted into the channel, and

wherein the first side of the base includes an angled retention flange with a sloped surface, and wherein the TPA member includes a locking tab with an angled surface, wherein when the TPA member is moved to be secured to the housing and at least partially positioned within the channel, the locking tab engages the angled retention flange and the sloped surface and the angled surface aid in allowing the TPA member to move into the desired secured position.

24. A connector, the connector comprising:

a housing with a base, the base including a first side and a second side and having a top surface that extends between the first and second side, the base including a channel; and

a terminal position assurance (TPA) member which is operatively associated with the housing, the TPA member having at least one hinge which extends from the top surface of the base, the at least one hinge having top and bottom portions, the bottom portion being provided proximate to the base, the top portion having a portion thereof cutout to provide a weakened portion of the at least one hinge, the TPA member including a rearwardly extending L-shaped feature,

wherein upon a force being applied to the TPA member, the at least one hinge is configured to first rotate about the weakened portion and, thereafter, is configured to rotate about the bottom portion, thereby allowing the L-shaped feature to be inserted into the channel, and

wherein each of the first and second sides of the base include an angled retention flange with a sloped surface, and wherein the TPA member includes a pair of locking tabs with angled surfaces, wherein when the TPA member is moved to be secured to the housing and at least partially positioned within the channel, each locking tab engages a respective one of the angled retention flanges and the sloped surfaces and the angled surfaces aid in allowing the TPA member to move into the desired secured position.