Patent US5486118A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5486118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector with terminal position assurance device and guide means for a mating connector
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1994-10-03
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end. A plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extend between the ends. A plurality of terminals are received in the cavities. A TPA device is selectively engageable with the housing at the mating end thereof. The TPA device includes a guide structure for guiding a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Colleran
- 👤 Jeffrey J. Pawlicki
- 👤 John O. Higgins, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/436; H01R13/73
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending therebetween; a plurality of terminals received in said cavities; and a TPA device selectively engageable with the housing at said mating end thereof, the TPA device having guide means for guiding a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing; and wherein said guide means comprises a funnel-type structure defining a relatively wide mouth to receive and guide the complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending therebetween; a plurality of terminals received in said cavities; and a TPA device selectively engageable with the housing at said mating end thereof, the TPA device having guide means for guiding a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing; and wherein said guide means comprises a funnel-type structure defining a relatively wide mouth to receive and guide the complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said TPA device includes a plurality of spaced apart fingers for insertion into the cavities in locking engagement with the terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said TPA device has a terminal locking end and a connecting device guiding end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 3, including a plurality of spaced apart fingers at the terminal locking end of the TPA device for insertion into the cavities in locking engagement with the terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said fingers project generally transverse to said funnel-type structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said fingers project generally colinear of said funnel-type structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 3 wherein said guiding end of the TPA device projects generally transverse to said terminal locking end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 3 wherein said guiding end of the TPA device projects generally colinear of said terminal locking end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing also includes guide means cooperating with the guide means on the TPA device for guiding the complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing includes floating panel mount means for mounting the connector to a panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending therebetween; a plurality of terminals received in said cavities; and a TPA device selectively engageable with the housing at said mating end thereof, the TPA device having a terminal locking end and a connecting device guiding end, the terminal locking end including a plurality of spaced apart fingers for insertion into the cavities in locking engagement with the terminals, the guiding end including a funnel-type structure defining a relatively wide mouth to receive and guide a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing, said fingers projecting generally transverse to said funnel-type structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending therebetween; a plurality of terminals received in said cavities; and a TPA device selectively engageable with the housing at said mating end thereof, the TPA device having a terminal locking end and a connecting device guiding end, the terminal locking end including a plurality of spaced apart fingers for insertion into the cavities in locking engagement with the terminals, the guiding end including a funnel-type structure defining a relatively wide mouth to receive and guide a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing, said fingers projecting generally transverse to said funnel-type structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 11 wherein said funnel-type structure on the TPA device comprises one-half of a funnel and said housing includes the other one-half of the funnel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending therebetween; a plurality of terminals received in said cavities; and a TPA device selectively engageable with the housing at said mating end thereof, the TPA device having a terminal locking end and a connecting device guiding end, the terminal locking end including a plurality of spaced apart fingers for insertion into the cavities in locking engagement with the terminals, the guiding end including a funnel-type structure defining a relatively wide mouth to receive and guide a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing, said fingers projecting generally colinear of said funnel-type structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end and a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending therebetween; a plurality of terminals received in said cavities; and a TPA device selectively engageable with the housing at said mating end thereof, the TPA device having a terminal locking end and a connecting device guiding end, the terminal locking end including a plurality of spaced apart fingers for insertion into the cavities in locking engagement with the terminals, the guiding end including a funnel-type structure defining a relatively wide mouth to receive and guide a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing, said fingers projecting generally colinear of said funnel-type structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-22 | 1999-07-24 | 2000-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-22 | 2003-07-24 | 2004-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-22 | 2007-07-24 | 2008-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |