초록 ▼

An electrical connector system including a terminal retainer having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein and aligned in a rectilinear pattern of rows and columns. The terminal retainer includes a front face, an opposite rear face and a plurality of terminal cavities extending fr

An electrical connector system including a terminal retainer having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein and aligned in a rectilinear pattern of rows and columns. The terminal retainer includes a front face, an opposite rear face and a plurality of terminal cavities extending from the rear to the front face. Each terminal cavity receives a portion of a terminal, wherein the terminal has an annular abutment. A plurality of flexible locking fingers are provided which extend from the front face, each being positioned to straddle two adjacent terminal cavities. Each flexible locking finger includes a pair of spaced apart locking shoulders, one for each straddled terminal cavity, each locking shoulder having a terminus. When the female terminal is passed into a terminal cavity from the rear face, the terminus of the locking shoulder thereat interferingly abuts the terminal abutment, thereby preventing rearward withdrawal of the female terminal through the rear face. A secondary lock system is provided wherein at least one arm is positioned on at least one groove of the terminal retainer so as to abut the terminal abutment of any terminals received into the terminal retainer. A repair method according to the present invention provides for removal and replacement of the female terminals after prior assembly, wherein the flexible locking fingers provide enough surface between each adjacent pair of terminals for an elongated, thin shafted repair tool to flex the locking finger to release the female terminals held thereby when desired.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An electrical connector system comprising:a terminal retainer comprising a body having a front face and an opposite rear face, said body having a plurality of terminal cavities formed therethrough between said front and rear faces, said body further having a plurality of

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An electrical connector system comprising:a terminal retainer comprising a body having a front face and an opposite rear face, said body having a plurality of terminal cavities formed therethrough between said front and rear faces, said body further having a plurality of resilient locking fingers integrally connected with said front face and extending therefrom in an orientation generally parallel to said plurality of terminal cavities, wherein said plurality of terminal cavities are arranged in a predetermined pattern of pairs of adjacent terminal cavities, and wherein each locking finger of said plurality of locking fingers straddles a respective pair of adjacent terminal cavities; anda connector half comprising a housing including a main body having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of access ports, and means for holding said terminal retainer to said main body, wherein the plurality of terminal cavities is aligned with the plurality of cavities, and wherein each access port respectively straddles a pair of cavities aligned with a pair of adjacent terminal cavities that are straddled by a respective locking finger;wherein each locking finger of said plurality of locking fingers comprises a pair of mutually spaced apart locking shoulders and a ramp medially disposed therebetween, wherein each locking shoulder of each locking finger is resiliently disposed into a respective terminal cavity of the adjacent terminal cavity pair straddled by the respective locking finger, wherein each locking shoulder terminates at a terminus, wherein each terminus is located at a common plane, and wherein each ramp is aligned with a respective access port; andwherein each access port provides line-of-sight access to the ramp of its respective locking finger.