US6066008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector with terminal lock
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1998-08-03
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Granted: 2000-05-23
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Expires: 2018-08-03
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector includes a molded plastic connector body that is equipped with a moveable terminal lock member. The lock member includes flexible terminal latches and rigid terminal locks. The lock member is attached to the connector body in a pre-stage position where the flexible terminal latches are positioned to hold terminals in terminal cavities as the terminals are loaded into the plastic connector body. After the terminals are loaded, the lock member is moved to a lock position where the terminals are held by the rigid terminal locks.
Inventors
- 👤 Duane Lee Brantingham
- 👤 Marco Rollero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/436; H01R13/4361; H01R13/4362
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
An electrical connector comprising: a molded plastic connector body having a plurality of terminal cavities arranged in several vertical and horizontal rows, terminals attached to the ends of electric cables and disposed in the terminal cavities a forward portion of the connector body, and a lock member that is disposed in an intermediate hollow portion of the connector body for holding the terminals in the terminal cavities, the lock member being moveably attached to the connector body and having a pre-stage position and a lock position with respect to the connector body, the lock member having a plurality of flexible latch tangs engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the pre-stage position, the lock member having a plurality of rigid terminal locks engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the lock position, the connector body having a rearward portion that has a grid that defines a plurality of rectangular openings that are aligned with respective ones of the terminal cavities, and wherein the terminal cavities are aligned in a number of vertical rows and wherein the lock member has a corresponding number of vertical channels that are aligned with respective ones of the vertical rows of terminal cavities and the plurality of rigid terminal locks guide the terminals from the grid into the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the pre-stage position, the rigid terminal locks locking the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the lock position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
An electrical connector comprising: a molded plastic connector body having a plurality of terminal cavities arranged in several vertical and horizontal rows, terminals attached to the ends of electric cables and disposed in the terminal cavities a forward portion of the connector body, and a lock member that is disposed in an intermediate hollow portion of the connector body for holding the terminals in the terminal cavities, the lock member being moveably attached to the connector body and having a pre-stage position and a lock position with respect to the connector body, the lock member having a plurality of flexible latch tangs engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the pre-stage position, the lock member having a plurality of rigid terminal locks engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the lock position, the connector body having a rearward portion that has a grid that defines a plurality of rectangular openings that are aligned with respective ones of the terminal cavities, and wherein the terminal cavities are aligned in a number of vertical rows and wherein the lock member has a corresponding number of vertical channels that are aligned with respective ones of the vertical rows of terminal cavities and the plurality of rigid terminal locks guide the terminals from the grid into the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the pre-stage position, the rigid terminal locks locking the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the lock position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electrical connector comprising: a molded plastic connector body having a plurality of terminal cavities arranged in several vertical and horizontal rows, terminals attached to the ends of electric cables and disposed in the terminal cavities that are in a forward portion of the connector body, and a lock member that is disposed in an intermediate hollow portion of the connector body for holding the terminals in the terminal cavities, the lock member being moveably attached to the connector body and having a pre-stage position and a lock position with respect to the connector body, the lock member having a plurality of flexible latch tangs engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the pre-stage position, the lock member having a plurality of rigid terminal locks engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the lock position, and the lock member having a forward shroud that embraces the forward portion of the connector body to hold the lock member in the pre-stage position or in the lock position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electrical connector comprising: a molded plastic connector body having a plurality of terminal cavities arranged in several vertical and horizontal rows, terminals attached to the ends of electric cables and disposed in the terminal cavities that are in a forward portion of the connector body, and a lock member that is disposed in an intermediate hollow portion of the connector body for holding the terminals in the terminal cavities, the lock member being moveably attached to the connector body and having a pre-stage position and a lock position with respect to the connector body, the lock member having a plurality of flexible latch tangs engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the pre-stage position, the lock member having a plurality of rigid terminal locks engaging the terminals to hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the lock position, and the lock member having a forward shroud that embraces the forward portion of the connector body to hold the lock member in the pre-stage position or in the lock position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The electrical connector as defined in claim 2 wherein the lock member has a plurality of rigid locks that are vertically spaced and guide the terminals from the grid into the terminal cavities and a plurality of flexible latch tangs that are vertically spaced from the rigid locks and hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the pre-stage position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector as defined in claim 3 wherein the rigid locks hold the terminals in the terminal cavities when the lock member is in the lock position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
The electrical connector as defined in claim 2 wherein the shroud has two side wall, each of which has upper, intermediate and lower lock shoulders, wherein the forward portion of the connector body has two side walls, each of which has upper and lower lock nibs, wherein the intermediate lock shoulders engage upper surfaces of the upper lock nibs and the lower lock shoulders snap over the lower lock nibs to hold the shroud in the pre-stage position, and wherein the upper lock shoulders snap over and engage lower surfaces of the upper lock nibs to hold the shroud in the lock position.
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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) | 2003-05-23 | 2003-11-22 | 2004-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-23 | 2007-11-22 | 2008-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-23 | 2011-11-22 | 2012-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |