Shunted airbag connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector having a suppression device electrically connected between terminals in a housing, the connector being characterized in that the housing has a receiving section for a suppression device, and in that the terminals each include an additional wire receiving slot, where leads of the suppression device are terminated in the additional wire receiving slots, said housing is T-shaped in cross section and is comprised of arm members and a perpendicular member, wherein terminal receiving passageways are located in the perpendicular member.

Claim 3

The electrical connector of claim 1, characterized in that the terminals are formed at a right angle, being bent behind the additional wire receiving slot.

Claim 4

The electrical connector of claim 2, characterized in that the additional wire receiving slot faces a front end of said terminal receiving passageway.

Claim 5

The electrical connector of claim 3, characterized in that the additional wire receiving slot is formed in a box-shaped section of the terminal, rearward of a front contact section of the terminal.

Claim 6

The electrical connector of claim 1, characterized in that the terminals include wire contacting sections formed at a right angle behind said additional wire receiving slot, said wire contacting sections being positioned on a base of one of said arm members.

Claim 7

The electrical connector of claim 5, characterized in that the opposite arm member of the housing includes a suppression device receiving nest.

Claim 8

An electrical connector for electrical connection to electrical leads of an electrical component, comprising; a dielectric housing having a central section and arm members disposed substantially normal thereto; electrical terminals having contact section disposed in said central section and wire terminating sections positioned in one of said arm members; and component terminating sections on said electrical terminals between said contact sections and said wire terminating sections including an opening for receiving the electrical lead therein for terminating the electrical leads of the electrical component thereto.

Claim 9

An electrical connector for electrical connection to electrical leads of an electrical component, comprising; a dielectric housing having a central section and arm members disposed substantially normal thereto; electrical terminals having contact section disposed in said central section and wire terminating sections positioned in one of said arm members; and component terminating sections on said electrical terminals between said contact sections and said wire terminating sections including an opening for receiving the electrical lead therein for terminating the electrical leads of the electrical component thereto.

Claim 10

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein a component-receiving area is located in the other of said arm members in which the electrical component is to be disposed.

Claim 11

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said component-terminating sections are directed toward a front end of said central section.

Claim 12

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein a cover member is securable onto said housing and includes retention members for engagement with the electrical component.

Claim 13

The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein a component receiving area is located in the housing, said component receiving area being open opposite the front end of said central section.

Claim 14

An electrical connector for interconnecting with terminals of a mating device, comprising: a housing having a mating portion complementary to the mating device and an arm portion for receiving a plurality of conductive leads therein; a suppression device having a pair of leads extending therefrom, said suppression device seated within the housing; a first electrical terminal having a receiving section electrically engaging one of the leads of the suppression device and a contact section for engaging the terminal of the mating device, said first electrical terminal seated in the housing with the contact section disposed in the mating portion; a second electrical terminal having a lead termination section for electrically engaging one of the conductive leads and a contact section for engaging one of the other terminals of the mating device, said second electrical terminal seated in the housing with the contact section disposed in the mating portion; and a third electrical terminal having a lead termination section for electrically engaging another of the leads and a receiving section electrically engaging the other lead of the suppression device, where said third electrical terminal is seated in the housing and the receiving section thereof engages the respective lead of the suppression device in a solderless manner.

Claim 15

An electrical connector for interconnecting with terminals of a mating device, comprising: a housing having a mating portion complementary to the mating device and an arm portion for receiving a plurality of conductive leads therein; a suppression device having a pair of leads extending therefrom, said suppression device seated within the housing; a first electrical terminal having a receiving section electrically engaging one of the leads of the suppression device and a contact section for engaging the terminal of the mating device, said first electrical terminal seated in the housing with the contact section disposed in the mating portion; a second electrical terminal having a lead termination section for electrically engaging one of the conductive leads and a contact section for engaging one of the other terminals of the mating device, said second electrical terminal seated in the housing with the contact section disposed in the mating portion; and a third electrical terminal having a lead termination section for electrically engaging another of the leads and a receiving section electrically engaging the other lead of the suppression device, where said third electrical terminal is seated in the housing and the receiving section thereof engages the respective lead of the suppression device in a solderless manner.

Claim 16

The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the lead termination sections form a solderless interconnection with the respective conductive leads.

Claim 17

The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the lead termination sections are of insulation displacement contact construction.

Claim 18

The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the lead termination sections are open for receiving the conductive lead from thereabove.

Claim 19

The electrical connector of anyone of claims 12-15, wherein the receiving section is a wire engaging slot.

Claim 20

The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the wire engaging slot is open in a direction corresponding to the insertion direction of the corresponding terminal into the housing.

Claim 21

The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the housing supports the leads of the suppression device in a nest while the wire engaging slot engages therewith upon insertion of the terminal.

Claim 22

The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the housing includes a pair of opposing arms from which the mating portion extends downwardly therefrom, thereby forming a T-shaped cross-section.

Claim 23

The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the lead termination sections and the wire engaging slot are open in opposite directions.

Claim 24

The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein all the electrical interconnections are solderless.

Claim 25

The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the housing is open in the upward direction and the suppression device, contacts and conductors are sequentially received therein, the connector further comprising a cover thereover.

Claim 26

The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the lead termination sections of the second and third electrical terminals are disposed in the arm portion of the housing.

Claim 27

The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein the suppression device is disposed in the second arm.