US 12,034,245 B2
Hinged connector feature for terminal retainment and position assurance for high mating cycle applications
Brian Keith Weaver, Middletown, PA (US); and Andrew B. Fortier, Middletown, PA (US)
Assigned to TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed by TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/838,422.
Prior Publication US 2023/0402786 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 13/50 (2006.01); H01R 13/426 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/501 (2013.01) [H01R 13/426 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connector comprising:
housing having a mating end and an oppositely facing conductor receiving end, the housing having a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, positioning projections extend from the first surface;
a terminal receiving cavity extending from the conductor receiving end to the mating end;
an opening provided in the first surface, the opening extending to the terminal receiving cavity;
a terminal positioned in the terminal receiving cavity, the terminal having a mating portion and a conductor terminating portion, the mating portion having a mating face and an oppositely facing securing face;
a terminal retainer movably mounted to the first surface of the housing, the terminal retainer having a terminal retention projection and retainer positioning projections;
the terminal receiving cavity has a terminal positioning portion proximate the mating end, a conductor receiving portion proximate the terminal positioning portion of the conductor receiving end, and a transition portion provided between the terminal positioning portion and the conductor receiving portion;
the opening in the first surface extends from proximate the transition portion of the terminal receiving cavity to the conductor receiving end of the housing;
wherein as the terminal retainer is moved to a second position, the terminal retention projection cooperates with the securing face of the terminal to prevent movement of the terminal;
wherein as the terminal retainer is moved to the second position, the retainer positioning projections of the terminal retainer cooperate with the positioning projections of the housing to prevent the movement of the terminal retainer in a direction which is in line with a longitudinal axis of the housing.