Connector assembly with direct mount housing

• US 10,826,234 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2019
• Issued: 11/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Penn, Matthew L., Davila Aleman, Jose Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Leigh, Peter G
• Application Number:
  US16/391,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20190326706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 439357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/50 formed as an integral body H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/52 mounted in or to a panel or structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/545 Elbows
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629

Abstract

A connector assembly includes a housing. The housing defines a cavity configured to receive a coaxial electrical terminal. The housing has a first end an a second end opposite the first end. The housing also has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side and second side have opposed locking ribs. The coaxial electrical terminal has a wire end and a terminal end oriented orthogonal to the wire end. When the housing engages a corresponding mounting bracket, locking arms extending from the corresponding mounting bracket impart a retention force on the opposed locking ribs and inhibit a rotation of the housing about a mating axis of the coaxial electrical terminal.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a cavity configured to receive a coaxial electrical terminal, wherein the housing has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the housing has a first side and a second side opposite the first side having opposed locking ribs, wherein the coaxial electrical terminal has a wire end and a terminal end oriented orthogonally relative to the wire end, wherein locking arms extending from the corresponding mounting bracket impart a retention force on the opposed locking ribs and inhibit a rotation of the housing about a mating axis of the coaxial electrical terminal when the housing engages a corresponding mounting bracket, wherein the cavity defines an inner surface which defines relief slots configured to reduce strain on opposed flexible locks of the housing, and wherein the housing includes three tabs extending beyond the inner surface in a direction orthogonal to the mating axis.

2. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cavity receives the coaxial electrical terminal through the second end.

3. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least two of the three tabs are configured to engage lugs extending from an outer surface of the coaxial electrical terminal.

4. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of the three tabs include a protrusion extending from a surface of the three tabs toward the first end, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage the lugs of the coaxial electrical terminal when the coaxial electrical terminal is rotated about the mating axis.

5. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the relief slots on the inner surface extend from the first end to the second end.

6. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first end defines indexing features recessed into the first end proximate a top side of the housing, the indexing features configured to receive corresponding indexing features from a mating connector.

7. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the indexing features on the first end are compatible with a Fachkreis Automobil (FAKRA) standard.

8. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first end includes a first flange extending beyond a portion of both the first side and the second side.

9. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second end includes a second flange extending beyond a bottom side of the housing, and extending beyond a portion of the first side and a portion of the second side proximate the bottom side.

10. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a top side of the housing includes a connector lock configured to releasably lock a mating connector in a mated position.

11. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a bottom side of the housing has a continuous surface having a generally elliptically shaped profile configured to engage the corresponding mounting bracket.

12. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the opposed locking ribs extend beyond the first side and the second side from a first flange and terminate at the second end wherein the opposed locking ribs are in parallel alignment with the mating axis.

13. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the opposed locking ribs are positioned proximate a top side of the housing and are configured to receive the locking arms extending from the corresponding mounting bracket.

14. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first flange is positioned above a longitudinal plane defined by the housing, wherein the first flange is in orthogonal alignment with the longitudinal plane.

15. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a second flange is positioned below a longitudinal plane defined by the housing, wherein the second flange is in orthogonal alignment with the longitudinal plane.

16. A connector assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a cavity configured to receive a coaxial electrical terminal, wherein the housing has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the housing has a first side and a second side opposite the first side having opposed locking ribs, wherein the coaxial electrical terminal has a wire end and a terminal end oriented orthogonally relative to the wire end, and wherein locking arms extending from the corresponding mounting bracket impart a retention force on the opposed locking ribs and inhibit a rotation of the housing about a mating axis of the coaxial electrical terminal when the housing engages a corresponding mounting bracket, wherein the first side and the second side include opposed flexible locks extending from a middle section of the first side and the second side parallel to the mating axis and terminate at the second end, wherein the opposed flexible locks are configured to retain the coaxial electrical terminal within the cavity, and wherein the first side and the second side include stiffening ribs extending from the first end to the second end wherein the stiffening ribs are aligned parallel to the mating axis and overlay the opposed flexible locks.

17. A method comprising:

installing a housing of a connector assembly in a corresponding mounting bracket, wherein the housing defines a cavity configured to receive a coaxial electrical terminal, wherein the housing has a first end an a second end opposite the first end, wherein the housing has a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

having opposed locking ribs, wherein the coaxial electrical terminal has a wire end and a terminal end oriented orthogonally relative to the wire end;

wherein locking arms extending from the corresponding mounting bracket impart a retention force on the opposed locking ribs of the housing and inhibit a rotation of the housing about a mating axis of the coaxial electrical terminal when the housing engages the corresponding mounting bracket, wherein the cavity defines an inner surface which defines relief slots configured to reduce strain on opposed flexible locks of the housing, and wherein the housing includes three tabs extending beyond the inner surface in a direction orthogonal to the mating axis.