US 12,476,422 B2
Electrical connector with comb-type terminal lock
Eduardo Daniel Alvarez Valdes, Saltillo (MX); Duane Brantingham, Cortland, OH (US); Arturo Casares Valdes, Saltillo (MX); and Roberto Carlos Narro Lara, Saltillo (MX)
Assigned to APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed by Aptiv Technologies AG, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/240,447.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/405,916, filed on Sep. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0088611 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. H01R 13/641 (2006.01); H01R 13/213 (2006.01); H01R 13/625 (2006.01); H01R 13/627 (2006.01); H01R 13/642 (2006.01); H01R 107/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/641 (2013.01) [H01R 13/213 (2013.01); H01R 13/625 (2013.01); H01R 13/6272 (2013.01); H01R 13/642 (2013.01); H01R 2107/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connector, comprising:
a connector housing having terminal cavities extending therethrough which are arranged in an array having at least two rows and at least two columns, each of the terminal cavities configured to receive one electrical terminal of a plurality of electrical terminals, wherein each terminal cavity defines a flexible primary locking mechanism integrally formed with the connector housing and configured to engage an edge of at least one electrical terminal of the plurality of electrical terminals, thereby inhibiting removal of the plurality of electrical terminals from the terminal cavities;
a secondary locking mechanism slidably attached to the connector housing and movable from a pre-staged position to a staged position and defining a plurality of members configured to extend into the terminal cavities and engage the edge of at least two electrical terminals of the plurality of electrical terminals when the secondary locking mechanism is in the staged position, thereby further inhibiting removal of the plurality of electrical terminals from the terminal cavities; and
wherein the secondary locking mechanism includes a connector locking mechanism configured to attach the electrical connector to a corresponding mating electrical connector and a terminal position assurance device.