Terminal assembly with fixed and flexible tab receptacle retainers

Claim 2

In an electrical terminal assembly, a hollow body having at least one cavity adapted to enclose a tab receptacle terminal; said body including a movable wall portion on one side of said cavity; said movable wall portion having a retention shoulder thereon and being movable between a retain position for retaining a tab receptacle terminal in said cavity and a release position for releasing said terminal for withdrawal from said cavity, said movable portion being biased toward said retain position; said body having a non-movable wall portion on the opposite side of said cavity; and a retention shoulder on said non-movable wall portion for retaining said terminal within said cavity when said movable wall portion is in said retain position so that said terminal member can be retained within said cavity by said retention shoulders and is removable from said cavity on movement of said movable wall portion in a direction away from said non-movable wall portion to said release position.

Claim 3

The terminal assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said movable wall portion is comprised of a finger member integrally mounted at one end on said body.

Claim 4

The terminal assembly according to Claim 2 wherein said first retaining means has an inclined surface for engagement with a terminal entering said cavity so that the entering terminal can move said first wall portion to one side for subsequent biasing movement into retaining engagement with said terminal.

Claim 5

An electrical terminal assembly comprising a hollow body having at least one cavity having a pair of opposite sides, a tab receptacle terminal having a pair of sides and positioned in said cavity, said body including a stationary wall on one side of said cavity adjacent one side of said terminal, retention means on said wall portion engaged with said one side of terminal so as to retain said terminal in said cavity, said body including a movable wall portion on the opposite side of said cavity adjacent the other side of said terminal, retention means on said movable wall portion engagable with said terminal on movement toward said stationary wall portion so as to retain said terminal in said cavity, said movable wall portion being selectively movable in a direction away from said terminal to disengage the retention means thereon from said terminal and enable said terminal to be moved in a direction away from said stationary wall and out of engagement with the retention means thereon to thereby enable withdrawal of said terminal from said cavity.

Claim 6

An electrical terminal assembly comprising a hollow body having at least one cavity having a pair of opposite sides, a tab receptacle terminal having a pair of sides and positioned in said cavity, said body including a stationary wall on one side of said cavity adjacent one side of said terminal, retention means on said wall portion engaged with said one side of terminal so as to retain said terminal in said cavity, said body including a movable wall portion on the opposite side of said cavity adjacent the other side of said terminal, retention means on said movable wall portion engagable with said terminal on movement toward said stationary wall portion so as to retain said terminal in said cavity, said movable wall portion being selectively movable in a direction away from said terminal to disengage the retention means thereon from said terminal and enable said terminal to be moved in a direction away from said stationary wall and out of engagement with the retention means thereon to thereby enable withdrawal of said terminal from said cavity.

Claim 7

An electrical terminal assembly according to Claim 4 wherein said retention means comprises shoulders on said wall and said wall portions, said shoulders extending toward each other into retaining engagement with opposite sides of said terminal.

Claim 8

An electrical terminal assembly comprising: a hollow body having at least one cavity bounded by at least one interior wall; a receptacle terminal insertable within said cavity; said hollow body having inwardly projecting first shoulders at one end of said body; said wall having two longitudinal slits extending from said end having first shoulders forming a resilient finger between said slits in said wall, said finger being biased in a direction inwardly of said cavity; said finger having a first raised inner portion forming a second shoulder having an edge for engaging said receptacle terminal when said receptacle terminal is fully inserted against said first shoulders; and said wall having a second raised inner portion forming a third shoulder having an edge for engaging said receptacle terminal when said receptacle is fully inserted against said first shoulder whereby said receptacle terminal is restrained from withdrawal by said second and third shoulders and restrained against further insertion by said first shoulders, and said finger being deflectable outwardly of said cavity to allow withdrawal of said receptacle terminal from said cavity.

Claim 9

An electrical terminal assembly comprising: a hollow body having at least one cavity bounded by at least one interior wall; a receptacle terminal insertable within said cavity; said hollow body having inwardly projecting first shoulders at one end of said body; said wall having two longitudinal slits extending from said end having first shoulders forming a resilient finger between said slits in said wall, said finger being biased in a direction inwardly of said cavity; said finger having a first raised inner portion forming a second shoulder having an edge for engaging said receptacle terminal when said receptacle terminal is fully inserted against said first shoulders; and said wall having a second raised inner portion forming a third shoulder having an edge for engaging said receptacle terminal when said receptacle is fully inserted against said first shoulder whereby said receptacle terminal is restrained from withdrawal by said second and third shoulders and restrained against further insertion by said first shoulders, and said finger being deflectable outwardly of said cavity to allow withdrawal of said receptacle terminal from said cavity.

Claim 10

An electrical terminal assembly accord to Claim 6 wherein said finger has a first inclined ramp from said wall to the edge of said second shoulder on said finger and said wall has a second inclined ramp from said wall to the edge of said third shoulder.

Claim 11

In an electrical connector assembly which includes a tab receptacle and an enclosing body having a cavity with opposing walls and into which said tab receptacle is inserted, retention means on said walls engagable with said receptacle terminal, one of said walls having at least a part thereof moveable to enable movement of said retention means thereon away from the other one of said walls to allow withdrawal of said tab receptacle from said cavity.

Claim 12

In an electrical connector assembly which includes a tab receptacle and an enclosing body having a cavity with opposing walls and into which said tab receptacle is inserted, retention means on said walls engagable with said receptacle terminal, one of said walls having at least a part thereof moveable to enable movement of said retention means thereon away from the other one of said walls to allow withdrawal of said tab receptacle from said cavity.