EP0349125A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wiring harness connector retainer
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1989-05-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A wiring harness assembly (12) includes an electrical connector (48) terminated to a cable (50) including several electrical conductors. The connector (48) is mounted in a cavity (82) defined between front, rear and side walls of a retainer (14) including snap mounting structure (102, 104) for securing the retainer in a panel opening (96). A connector doorway (84) (see Fig. 3) in the retainer wall permits the connector to be loaded into the retainer in a direction transverse to the connector mating direction, and the retainer cavity rear wall (74) prevents contact mating forces from pushing the connector (48) from the retainer. The connector (48) is releasably retained in the cavity (82), and can be removed in the transverse direction for repair or replacement. The connector (48) has freedom of movement within the retainer (14) to facilitate automated assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Colleran
- 👤 Lawrence E. Geib
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R9/00; H01R13/00; H01R13/73; H01R13/74; H01R13/741; H01R13/743
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A panel mount retainer for a wiring harness interconnect system of the type including a multiple circuit electrical connector having a connector housing, a plurality of electrical terminals in the connector housing, a plurality of conductors connected to the terminals and extending from the connector housing, a panel, an opening in the panel and a plurality of mating contacts movable in a mating direction relative to the connector for engagement with the terminals, said retainer comprising: a retainer housing to be received in the opening in the mounting panel, the retainer housing having a forward end, a rear end and side walls extending between said ends in a direction generally parallel to said mating direction; said side walls defining a cavity within said retainer housing for receiving the connector housing; panel mounting means on the exterior of said retainer housing engageable with the panel for securing the retainer upon said panel with the forward end of the retainer housing accessible at one side of the panel and the rear end of the retainer housing extending from the opposite side of the panel; a contact receiving opening defined in said forward end of said retainer housing for permitting the contacts to engage the terminals of the connector upon movement of the contacts in the mating direction relative to the panel; said retainer being characterized by: a connector doorway permitting the connector to move into and out of said cavity in a direction generally transverse to the mating direction; and a rear stop defined by the retainer housing adjacent said rear end of said retainer housing for limiting rearward movement of the connector in said cavity in the mating direction when the contacts are engaged with the terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
A panel mount retainer for a wiring harness interconnect system of the type including a multiple circuit electrical connector having a connector housing, a plurality of electrical terminals in the connector housing, a plurality of conductors connected to the terminals and extending from the connector housing, a panel, an opening in the panel and a plurality of mating contacts movable in a mating direction relative to the connector for engagement with the terminals, said retainer comprising: a retainer housing to be received in the opening in the mounting panel, the retainer housing having a forward end, a rear end and side walls extending between said ends in a direction generally parallel to said mating direction; said side walls defining a cavity within said retainer housing for receiving the connector housing; panel mounting means on the exterior of said retainer housing engageable with the panel for securing the retainer upon said panel with the forward end of the retainer housing accessible at one side of the panel and the rear end of the retainer housing extending from the opposite side of the panel; a contact receiving opening defined in said forward end of said retainer housing for permitting the contacts to engage the terminals of the connector upon movement of the contacts in the mating direction relative to the panel; said retainer being characterized by: a connector doorway permitting the connector to move into and out of said cavity in a direction generally transverse to the mating direction; and a rear stop defined by the retainer housing adjacent said rear end of said retainer housing for limiting rearward movement of the connector in said cavity in the mating direction when the contacts are engaged with the terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A panel mount retainer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising latch means on said retainer housing adjacent said doorway for releasably retaining the connector in said cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A panel mount retainer as claimed in claim 2, said latch means comprising at least one projection for frictionally interfering with the connector in said doorway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A panel mount retainer as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising connector polarizing means for permitting the connecetor to enter said doorway in only a single predetermined orientation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A panel mount retainer as claimed in claim 4, said connector polarizing means including a slot in said retainer housing for receiving the plurality of conductors as the connector enters said doorway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A panel mount retainer as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising retainer polarizing means on said retainer housing for permitting said retainer housing to be secured to the panel in only a single orientation of said retainer housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A panel mount retainer as claimed in any preceding claim, said panel mounting means including lock means engageable with both sides of the panel for securing the retainer in a fixed position upon the panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A panel mount retainer as claimed in any preceding claim, said rear stop comprising a rear wall located at said rear end of said retainer housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A wiring harness assembly comprising: an electrical connector including a connector housing, a plurality of electrical terminals in said housing and mating recess means in a first end of said connector housing communicating with said electrical terminals; a cable including a plurality of conductors terminated to said electrical terminals and extending away from a second end of said connector housing; and a panel mount retainer as claimed in any preceding claim, said connector being disposed within said cavity of said retainer with said contact receiving opening of the retainer housing adjacent said mating recess means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A wiring harness assembly as claimed in claim 9, said cavity being oversize relative to the connector housing and holding the connector housing loosely in said cavity to provide limited freedom of movement during engagement of the contacts with the terminals of the connector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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