US 11,721,929 B2
Electrical connector with modular housing for accommodating various contact layouts
William James DeWitt, Camarillo, CA (US)
Assigned to CARLISLE INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, Inc., Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/394,337.
Application 17/394,337 is a division of application No. 16/702,435, filed on Dec. 3, 2019, granted, now 11,114,796.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/775,050, filed on Dec. 4, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0384666 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01R 4/38 (2006.01); H01R 13/514 (2006.01); H01R 13/424 (2006.01); H01R 13/426 (2006.01); H01R 13/512 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/514 (2013.01) [H01R 13/424 (2013.01); H01R 13/426 (2013.01); H01R 13/512 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connector system comprising:
a first shell having a cavity; and
a first electrical contact assembly housed within the cavity of the first shell, the first electrical contact assembly including:
a first contact housing including a plurality of housing-receiving cavities;
a first housing structure having a first plurality of electrical contacts housed therein, the first housing structure seated within a first housing-receiving cavity of the plurality of housing-receiving cavities of the first contact housing; and
a second housing structure having a second plurality of electrical contacts housed therein, the second housing structure seated within a second housing-receiving cavity of the plurality of housing-receiving cavities of the first contact housing, wherein the first and second housing structures each includes a flange extending outwardly therefrom, the electrical connector further including a fastener extending into the first contact housing, the fastener engaging the flanges of the first and second housing structures to retain the first and second housing structures within the first contact housing;
a second shell having a cavity;
a second electrical contact assembly housed within the cavity of the second shell, the second electrical contact assembly including:
a first contact housing including a plurality of housing-receiving cavities;
a first housing structure having a third plurality of electrical contacts housed therein, the first housing structure seated within a first housing-receiving cavity of the plurality of housing-receiving cavities of the first contact housing; and
a second housing structure having a fourth plurality of electrical contacts housed therein, the second housing structure seated within a second housing-receiving cavity of the first contact housing,
wherein when the first and second shells are coupled with one another, the first plurality of electrical contacts of the first electrical contact assembly mates with the third plurality of electrical contacts of the second electrical contact assembly, and the second plurality of electrical contacts of the first electrical contact assembly mates with the fourth plurality of electrical contacts of the second electrical contact assembly.