US6183299B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive cellular phone connector assembly
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
•
Filing: 1999-04-22
•
Granted: 2001-02-06
•
Expires: 2019-04-22
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly ( 20 ) is primarily intended for use in connecting portable electronic devices ( 22 ), such as cellular telephones, to the electrical system of a motor vehicle. The electrical connector assembly ( 20 ) includes a plug connector ( 30 ) that can be attached to a cord ( 24 ) for connection to the portable electronic device. A mating receptacle connector ( 60 ) is permanently mounted in the motor vehicle and is attached to an automotive wiring harness. The receptacle connector ( 60 ) includes a secondary lock or terminal position assurance member ( 110 ) that forms the front cover of the receptacle connector ( 60 ) when properly positioned. Primary terminal latches ( 100 ) securing receptacle terminals ( 62 ) in a housing ( 74 ) are exposed on the top and bottom surfaces and the secondary lock ( 110 ) surrounds these primary latches ( 100 ) when properly positioned on the connector. Terminals ( 62 ) can therefore be positioned on the relatively close centerlines characteristic of electrical connectors used with portable electronic devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Bobby Gene Ward
- 👤 Wolfgang Hoelscher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/422; H01R13/4223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An electrical connector for connecting an electronic device to a wiring harness in a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing with receptacle terminals secured in the housing by terminal latches comprising extensions of the housing, the terminals being located in two parallel rows in at least one housing section, the terminal latches being exposed on top and bottom surfaces of each housing section; a terminal position assurance member on the front of the housing and shiftable into a fully assembled position on the outside of the terminal latches only when receptacle terminals are fully inserted into the housing, the terminal position assurance member comprising support ribs extending from a top and a bottom panels forming top and bottom surfaces of each housing section and a front panel forming a portion of a mating face of the electrical connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An electrical connector for connecting an electronic device to a wiring harness in a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing with receptacle terminals secured in the housing by terminal latches comprising extensions of the housing, the terminals being located in two parallel rows in at least one housing section, the terminal latches being exposed on top and bottom surfaces of each housing section; a terminal position assurance member on the front of the housing and shiftable into a fully assembled position on the outside of the terminal latches only when receptacle terminals are fully inserted into the housing, the terminal position assurance member comprising support ribs extending from a top and a bottom panels forming top and bottom surfaces of each housing section and a front panel forming a portion of a mating face of the electrical connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the top, bottom and front panels comprises thin flat plates with the ribs extending from an interior surface of flat top and bottom panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the terminal position assurance member comprises a top panel and a bottom panel with a front panel joining the top panel and bottom panel, the top and bottom panels extending between front and rear ends of the housing sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein the front panel and the housing form openings for receipt of pin terminals in a mating connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein the terminal position assurance member comprises multiple top and bottom panels, adjacent top panels and adjacent bottom panels being separated by a slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the terminal position assurance member includes multiple front panels, each front panel joining top and bottom panels separated by aligned slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein rear ends of the top and bottom panels are joined to a rectangular open frame including means for attaching the terminal position assurance member to the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein ribs are located on the interior surfaces of the top panels and the bottom panels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the terminal position assurance member is open on the sides thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein a shroud surrounds the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein a shroud surrounds the terminal position assurance member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrical connector assembly for use by an occupant to connect and disconnect an electronic apparatus to an electrical system in a motor vehicle, comprising: a first electrical connector attached to the electronic apparatus, the first electrical connector including male terminals located in multiple groups of male terminals; and a second electrical connector, matable with the first electrical connector, mounted on the motor vehicle in a position accessible by an occupant of the motor vehicle, the second electrical connector including female terminals, the second electrical connector including primary locks securing the female terminals in the second electrical connector and a secondary lock providing an additional means for securing the female terminals in the second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is attached to a cord extending between the first electrical connector and the electronic apparatus and wherein the female terminals are located in second groups corresponding to the groups of male terminals, the second groups of female terminals being separated by slots dimensioned to receive the internal walls separating groups of male terminals when the male and female terminals are mated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrical connector assembly for use by an occupant to connect and disconnect an electronic apparatus to an electrical system in a motor vehicle, comprising: a first electrical connector attached to the electronic apparatus, the first electrical connector including male terminals located in multiple groups of male terminals; and a second electrical connector, matable with the first electrical connector, mounted on the motor vehicle in a position accessible by an occupant of the motor vehicle, the second electrical connector including female terminals, the second electrical connector including primary locks securing the female terminals in the second electrical connector and a secondary lock providing an additional means for securing the female terminals in the second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is attached to a cord extending between the first electrical connector and the electronic apparatus and wherein the female terminals are located in second groups corresponding to the groups of male terminals, the second groups of female terminals being separated by slots dimensioned to receive the internal walls separating groups of male terminals when the male and female terminals are mated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
179 words
An electrical connector assembly for connecting an electronic component to an apparatus including an electrical system comprising: a first electrical connector attached to wires extending from the electronic component including a plurality of pin terminals, in at least one row, positioned in multiple groups of multiple pin terminals, adjacent groups of pin terminals being separated by an internal wall extending perpendicular to the row of pin terminals the internal wall separating groups of pin terminals having a shape different from a space between individual pin terminals in the group of pin terminals; and a second electrical connector attached to the apparatus comprising a plurality of receptacle terminals, also in at least one row, positioned in multiple groups of receptacle terminals, adjacent groups of receptacle terminals being separated by a slot extending perpendicular to the row of receptacle terminals, the slot separating groups of receptacle terminals having a shape different from a space between individual receptacle terminals in group of receptacle terminal, the slot being configured to receive the internal wall when the first and second electrical connectors are mated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
An electrical connector assembly for connecting an electronic component to an apparatus including an electrical system comprising: a first electrical connector attached to wires extending from the electronic component including a plurality of pin terminals, in at least one row, positioned in multiple groups of multiple pin terminals, adjacent groups of pin terminals being separated by an internal wall extending perpendicular to the row of pin terminals the internal wall separating groups of pin terminals having a shape different from a space between individual pin terminals in the group of pin terminals; and a second electrical connector attached to the apparatus comprising a plurality of receptacle terminals, also in at least one row, positioned in multiple groups of receptacle terminals, adjacent groups of receptacle terminals being separated by a slot extending perpendicular to the row of receptacle terminals, the slot separating groups of receptacle terminals having a shape different from a space between individual receptacle terminals in group of receptacle terminal, the slot being configured to receive the internal wall when the first and second electrical connectors are mated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the pin terminals and the receptacle terminals are each positioned in two parallel rows.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein groups of pin terminals and groups of receptacles do not include more than six terminals in the same group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the second connector includes a terminal position assurance member including a terminal position assurance slot aligned with the slot in the second connector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1262664A
Cited
US4557542A
Cited
US4891021A
Cited
US4806123A
Cited
US4806123B1
Cited
US4825217A
Cited
US4915641A
Cited
USD315543S
Cited
US5239700A
Cited
US4979912A
Cited
JPH0320880A
Cited
US4944688A
Cited
US4979913A
Cited
US4984998A
Cited
US5071369A
Cited
US5181862A
Cited
US5234353A
Cited
US5314357A
Cited
FR2702889A1
Cited
US5724663A
Cited
US5622521A
Cited
US5941718A
Cited
EP0772257A1
Cited
EP0827236A1
Cited
US5964621A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |