FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector receptacle. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an electrical connector receptacle for use in vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connector receptacles are known in the art. One such electrical connector receptacle is a cartridge fuse box as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,209 to Lin et al. This cartridge fuse box includes a bottom shell, a cover shell, a holder frame, a plurality of terminal blocks, a fuse connector, a plurality of cartridge fuses and a plurality of clamps. The bottom shell is covered with the cover shell and includes the holder frame. The plurality of terminal blocks are mounted in respective horizontal holes on the holder frame to hold a respective conductor by a respective fastener and a respective metal socket by a respective screw for permitting the conductors to be connected to the metal sockets. The fuse connector is fixedly secured to the bottom shell remote from the holder frame in order to hold a plurality of metal sockets by a respective screw. The plurality of cartridge fuses is connected between the metal sockets of the fuse connector and the metal sockets of the terminal blocks. The plurality of clamps is respectively mounted in the holder frame to hold down the conductors of the terminal blocks.
There are several drawbacks regarding the prior art electrical connector receptacles such as the one described above. The prior art electrical connector receptacles are generally used for a low-voltage applications. Also, prior art electrical connector receptacles are often large and sometimes contain many components parts. Many prior art electrical connector receptacles are not shielded and therefore do not reduce the effects of electromagnetic interference. And, sometimes, there is no ground between an outer shield of the prior art electrical connector receptacle and a wire shield of the wiring connected to the prior art electrical connector receptacle.
It would be beneficial to provide an electrical connector receptacle that can be used for a low-voltage applications as well as high-voltage applications. It would also be advantageous to provide an electrical connector receptacle that is relatively small and contains relatively few components parts. It would also be beneficial to provide an electrical connector receptacle that is shielded in order to reduce the effects of electromagnetic interference. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide an electrical connector receptacle that can be grounded between its outer shield and the wire shield of the wiring connected to the electrical connector receptacle. The present invention provides these advantages and benefits.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector receptacle that can be used for a low-voltage applications as well as high-voltage applications.
It is another object of the invention to provide an electrical connector receptacle that is relatively small and contains relatively few components parts.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an electrical connector receptacle this is shielded in order to reduce the effects of electromagnetic interference.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector receptacle that can be grounded between its outer shield and the wire shield of the wiring connected to the electrical connector receptacle.
Accordingly, an electrical connector receptacle of the present invention is hereinafter described. An electrical connector receptacle includes a shield cover, a terminal unit and a fastener structure. The shield cover is fabricated from an electrically-conductive material and has a base panel, a first pair of opposing side walls connected to and depending from the base panel and a second pair of opposing side walls connected to and depending from the base panel and connected to the first pair of opposing side walls to define a cavity into the shield cover. The base panel has a base panel hole formed therethrough. The first and second pairs of opposing side walls are connected together to provide a peripheral side wall edge portion that forms an opening into the cavity.
The terminal unit has a first terminal unit mounting block, a second terminal unit mounting block, a first terminal assembly and a second terminal assembly. The first terminal unit mounting block is formed with a first terminal unit mounting block hole extending therethrough and the second terminal unit mounting block is formed with a second terminal unit mounting block hole extending therethough. The first and second terminal unit mounting blocks are releasably connected together in a stacked manner. The first terminal assembly and the second terminal assembly are mounted to the first terminal unit mounting block. And, the fastener structure has a fastener head and an elongated shaft.
With the first terminal unit mounting block hole and the second terminal unit mounting block hole being in registration with each other, the stacked, releasably-connected first and second terminal unit mounting blocks are disposed in the cavity and, with the first terminal unit mounting block hole, the second terminal unit mounting block hole and the base panel hole being in registration with one another, the fastener structure is operative in association with the shield cover and the terminal unit such that the fastener head is disposed exteriorly of the shield cover and facially opposes the base panel while the elongated shaft extends through the base panel hole, the first terminal unit mounting block hole and the second terminal unit mounting block hole and projects outwardly from the opening.
These objects and other advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top-down perspective view of one embodiment of an electrical connector receptacle of the present invention shown disposed above blade terminals of a power supply and disconnected, for illustration purposes only, from an assemblage of circuit wires.
FIG. 2 is a bottom-up perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top-down perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIG. 1 electrically connected to the blade terminals of the power supply and connected to the assemblage of circuit wires.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle.
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle illustrating a shield cover, a fastening structure and a shield cover O-ring.
FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle illustrating the shield cover and a fastening structure connected to the shield cover with the assemblage of circuit wires disconnected therefrom and a grounding assembly exploded from the shield cover.
FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle illustrating the shield cover and a fastening structure connected to the shield cover with the assemblage of circuit wires disposed in a cavity of the shield cover and the grounding assembly exploded from the shield cover.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a terminal unit of the electrical connector receptacle.
FIG. 12 is a bottom-up perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle with the terminal unit and a fuse assembly disposed in a cavity formed by the shield cover with the grounding assembly exploded from the shield cover.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged bottom-up perspective view, partially broken away, of the electrical connector receptacle with the terminal unit and the fuse assembly disposed in the cavity formed by the shield cover with the grounding assembly exploded from the shield cover.
FIG. 14 is a bottom-up perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle with the terminal unit, the fuse assembly and the grounding assembly disposed in the cavity formed by the shield cover with a pair of fuses and grounding assembly panel cover exploded therefrom.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the electrical connector receptacle of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a bottom-up exploded perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIG. 15.
FIG. 18 is a top-down perspective view of yet another embodiment of an electrical connector receptacle of the present invention shown disposed above blade terminals of the power supply and disconnected, for illustration purposes only, from the assemblage of circuit wires.
FIG. 19 is a bottom-up perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle shown in FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a terminal unit of the electrical connector receptacle in FIGS. 18 and 19.
FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector receptacle in FIGS. 18 and 19.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. The structural components common to those of the prior art and the structural components common to respective embodiments of the present invention will be represented by the same symbols and repeated description thereof will be omitted. Also, the present invention is described using terms such as “upper” and “lower” rather than using non-descriptive terms such as “first” and “second” for ease of reading and understanding the invention. These descriptive terms should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art could easily substitute the non-descriptive terms for the chosen terms that are used for simplification purposes only.
A first exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector receptacle 10 of the present invention is hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 1-14. As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, the electrical connector receptacle 10 is used in conjunction with a wiring assembly 12 and a support surface 14 having a pair of electrically-hot terminals 16 mounted thereto and electrically connected to a power source 18 such as a battery A barrier wall 20 surrounds the pair of electrically-hot terminals 16 as well as a fastening hole 22 and a key structure 24. The electrical connector receptacle 10 is adapted to connect to the power source 18 by receiving the electrically-hot terminals 16 and the key structure 24 and surround, at least in part, the barrier wall 20 as best shown in FIG. 3. The electrical connector receptacle 10 is then releasably connected to the support surface 14 via the fastening hole 22
With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the electrical connector receptacle 10 includes a shield cover 26, a terminal unit 28 and a fastening structure 29. The shield cover 26 fabricated from an electrically-conductive material such as copper or aluminum and has a base panel 26a, a first pair of opposing side walls 26b connected to and depending from the base panel 26a and a second pair of opposing side walls 26c connected to and depending from the base panel 26a and connected to the first pair of opposing side walls 26b to define a cavity 30 formed into the shield cover 26. The base panel 26a has a base panel hole 26d that is formed through the base panel 26a as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. A skilled artisan would appreciate that the first pair of side walls 26b and the second pair of side walls 26c are connected together to provide a peripheral side wall edge portion 26e. The peripheral side wall edge portion 26e forms an opening 32 into the cavity 30.
In FIGS. 7 and 11, the terminal unit 28 has a first terminal unit mounting block 34, a second terminal unit mounting block 36, a first terminal assembly 38 and a second terminal assembly 40. The first terminal unit mounting block 34 is formed with a first terminal unit mounting block hole 34a that extends through the first terminal unit mounting block 34. The second terminal unit mounting block 36 is formed with a second terminal unit mounting block hole 36a that extends though the second terminal unit mounting block 36. The first and second terminal unit mounting blocks 34 and 36 respectively are releasably connected together in a stacked manner as that shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. The first terminal assembly 38 and the second terminal assembly 40 are mounted to the first terminal unit mounting block 38. As shown in FIG. 8, the fastener structure 29 is a bolt that has a fastener head 42 and an elongated shaft 44.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 12-14, the first terminal unit mounting block hole 34a and the second terminal unit mounting block hole 36 are in registration with each other and the stacked, releasably-connected first and second terminal unit mounting blocks 34 and 36 are disposed in the cavity 30. And, with the first terminal unit mounting block hole 34a, the second terminal unit mounting block hole 36a and the base panel hole 26a being in registration with one another, the fastener structure 29 is operative in association with the shield cover 26 and the terminal unit 28 such that the fastener head 42 is disposed exteriorly of the shield cover 26 and facially opposes the base panel 26a while the elongated shaft 44 extends through the base panel hole 26d, the first terminal unit mounting block hole 34a and the second terminal unit mounting block hole 36. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the elongated shaft 44 projects outwardly from the opening 32.
As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9-14, the electrical connector receptacle 10 also includes a grounding assembly 46. The grounding assembly 46 is sized to be received and releasably retained in the cavity 30. The grounding assembly 46 has a resiliently-biased grounding element 48 that projects outwardly from the opening 32 when the grounding assembly 46 is received and releasably retained in the cavity 30 as particularly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The grounding assembly 46 includes a ground bar member 50, a yoke member 52 and a pair of grounding assembly fasteners 54. For the first exemplary embodiment of the electrical connector receptacle 10 of the present invention, the ground bar member 50 is fabricated from an electrically-conductive material such as copper, aluminum or other electrically-conductive metal known in the art. The yoke member 52 fabricated from an electrically-conductive sheet material such as copper, aluminum or other electrically-conductive sheet metal known in the art and is bent in a manner such that the yoke member is resiliently-biased. The pair of grounding assembly fasteners 54 are conventional bolts.
In FIGS. 9-13, the grounding bar member 50 has a pair of grounding bar member holes 50a that extend through the grounding bar member 50. As that shown in FIG. 13, the yoke member 52 has a pair of leg portions 52a and a contact portion 52b that interconnects the pair of leg portions 52a. Each leg portion 52a has a leg portion hole 52c formed therethrough. Further, the contact portion 52b includes a pair of outwardly-projecting U-shaped sections 52b1 and an inwardly-projecting U-shaped section 52b2. The pair of outwardly-projecting U-shaped sections 52b1 are interconnected by the inwardly-projecting U-shaped section 52b2. Respective ones of the pair of leg portions 52a are connected to respective ones of the outwardly-projecting U-shaped sections 52b1 to form a generally Omega-shaped configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the electrical connector receptacle 10 also includes a grounding assembly mounting block 56. The grounding assembly mounting block 56 is disposed in the cavity 30 and is integrally connected to the base panel 26a of the shield cover 26. In FIG. 9, the grounding assembly mounting block 56 has a pair of threaded grounding assembly mounting block holes 56a that are disposed apart from one another. Particularly with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the grounding assembly mounting block 56 and the grounding bar member 50 are associated with one another in a manner that respective ones of the pair of grounding bar member holes 50a, the pair of threaded grounding assembly mounting block holes 56a and the leg portion holes 52c register with one another in order to receive the respective ones of the grounding assembly fasteners 54 for releasably connecting the grounding assembly 46 and the shield cover 26 to each other.
As best shown in FIG. 11, the first terminal unit mounting block 34 includes a pair of eyelets 58. The pair of eyelets 58 are disposed apart from one another and integrally formed with and project from the first terminal unit mounting block 34. As best reflected in FIG. 13, respective ones of the pair of eyelets 58 register with respective ones of the pair of grounding bar member holes 50a, the pair of threaded grounding assembly mounting block holes 56a and the leg portion holes 52c register with one another to receive respective ones of the grounding assembly fasteners 54 for releasably connecting the grounding assembly 46, the first terminal unit mounting block 34 and the shield cover 26 to each other. The pair of eyelets 58 are disposed between the grounding bar member 50 and the grounding assembly mounting block 56.
As reflected in FIG. 14, when the grounding assembly 46 and the shield cover 26 are releasably connected to each other, at least portions of the outwardly-projecting U-shaped sections 50b1a project outwardly from the opening (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) while the inwardly-projecting U-shaped section 50b2 and the pair of leg portions 52a are disposed interiorly of the cavity 30 (as reflected in FIG. 14).
As shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the electrical connector receptacle 10 includes a grounding assembly panel cover 60. The grounding assembly panel cover 60 is releasably connected to the shield cover 26 within the cavity 30 as is commonly known in the art. The grounding assembly panel cover 60 has a pair of grounding assembly panel cover holes 60a that are formed therethrough in order to permit the portions 50b1a of the outwardly-projecting U-shaped sections 50b1 to project outwardly from the opening 32 as that shown in FIGS. 4-6. Simultaneously therewith, the grounding assembly panel cover 60 covers the inwardly-projecting U-shaped section 52b2 and the pair of leg portions 52c.
By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the grounding assembly mounting block 56 is disposed adjacent a selected one of the first pair of sidewalls 26b or the second pair of side walls 26c as that shown in FIG. 13. In FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 7, the shield cover 26 includes a shield cover conduit 62. The shield cover conduit 62 defines a shield cover passageway 62a (FIG. 1) that extends through the shield cover conduit 62. The shield cover conduit 62 is integrally connected to a selected one of the first pair of sidewalls 26b and second pair of side walls 26c. Note that the shield cover passageway 62a is in communication with the cavity 30 as shown in FIG. 8. In FIGS. 9, 10 and 12, the ground bar member 50 has a flat surface 50b and an opposite scalloped surface 50c. The pair of grounding bar member holes 50a extend through and between the flat surface 50b and the scalloped surface 50c.
In FIGS. 7 and 11, the first terminal assembly 38 includes a first terminal member 38a and a first terminal member connector extension 38b that is electrically connected to the first terminal member 38a. Also, a fuse assembly 64 is disposed in the cavity 30 as that shown in FIG. 13. The fuse assembly 64 is connected to the first terminal unit mounting block 34 and includes a pair of fuses 66, two pairs of fuse holders 68a and 68b and a fuse clip bus bar 70. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, each fuse holder 68 has a live-side fuse clip 68a and a dead-sided fuse clip 68b. For each fuse holder 68, the live-side fuse clip 68a and the dead-side fuse clip 68b are disposed apart from one another at a distance sufficient to receive opposing electrically-conductive fuse end portions 66a of one fuse 66 as illustrated in FIG. 11. The fuse clip bus bar 70 electrically interconnects the live-side fuse clips 68a and the first terminal member connector extension 38b.
In FIGS. 7 and 11, the first terminal unit mounting block 34 has a first terminal unit upper mounting surface 34u and an opposite first terminal unit lower mounting surface 34s. The first terminal unit upper mounting surface 34u has a fuse assembly recess 34f formed thereinto. The fuse assembly recess 34f is sized to matably receive and retain the pair of fuse holders 68 therein. The second terminal assembly 40 includes a second terminal member 40a, a second terminal member connector extension 40b that is electrically connected to the second terminal member 40a and a second terminal assembly bus bar 40c that is electrically connected to the second terminal member connector extension 40b.
Again, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 11 the first terminal unit mounting block 34 has a terminal member passageway 34p that extends through and between the first terminal unit upper mounting surface 34u and the first terminal unit lower mounting surface 34l. The first terminal unit lower mounting surface 34l has a second terminal assembly bus bar recess 34r that is formed into the first terminal unit lower mounting surface 34l. The second terminal assembly bus bar recess 34r sized to matably receive and retain the second terminal assembly bus bar 40c therein. The terminal member passageway 34p is sized to slidably receive the second terminal member 40a from the first terminal unit lower mounting surface 34l. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, each one of the first and second terminal members 38a and 40a respectively is a female blade-receiving terminal having a female-blade receiving opening 38ao and 40ao respectively.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 11, the second terminal unit mounting block 36 has a second terminal unit upper mounting surface 36u and an opposite second terminal unit lower mounting surface 36l. The second terminal unit mounting block 36 includes a pair of terminal slots 36s that are disposed apart from one another and extend to and between the second terminal unit upper mounting surface 36u and the second terminal unit lower mounting surface 36l. Respective ones of the female-blade receiving openings 38ao and 40ao are in registration and communication with respective ones the pair of terminal slots 36s.
In FIG. 11, the second terminal unit mounting block 36 has a first key hole 36fky and a second key hole 36skh. The second keyhole 36skh is configured differently from the first key hole 36fkh. The first and second key holes 36fkh and 36sky respectively extend to and between the second terminal unit upper mounting surface 36u and the second terminal unit lower mounting surface 36l. Also, the second terminal unit mounting block 36 has a third key hole 36tkh that extends to and between the second terminal unit upper mounting surface 36u and the second terminal unit lower mounting surface 36l. The third key hole 36tky is configured differently from the first key hole 36fkh and second key hole 36skh. The third key hole 36tky is disposed between the pair of terminal slots 36s and the third key hole 36tkh and the pair of terminal slots 36s are disposed between the first key hole 36fkh and the second key hole 36skh.
Again, in FIG. 11, the first terminal unit mounting block 34 has a fourth key hole 34rkh and a fifth key hole 34fkh that is configured differently from the fourth key hole 34rkh. The fourth key hole 34rkh and the fifth key hole 34fkh extend to and between the first terminal unit upper mounting surface 34u and the first terminal unit lower mounting surface 34l. The fourth key hole 34rkh is configured identically to and aligns in registration with the first key hole 36fkh and the fifth key hole 34fkh is configured identically to and aligns in registration with the second key hole 36skh. Furthermore, the first terminal unit mounting block 34 has a sixth key hole 34skh that extends to and between the first terminal unit upper mounting surface 34u and the first terminal unit lower mounting surface 34l. The sixth key hole 34skh is configured differently from the fourth key hole 34rkh and the fifth key hole 34fkh. The sixth key hole 34skh is disposed between the fourth key hole 34rkh and the fifth key hole 34fkh. The sixth key hole 34skh is configured identically to and aligns in registration with the third key hole 36tkh.
By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the first terminal unit mounting block 34 and the second terminal unit mounting block 36 include a pair of latch elements 72. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that at least one of the first terminal unit mounting block 34 or the second terminal unit mounting block 36 includes a pair of latch elements 72. Again, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the first terminal unit mounting block 34 and the second terminal unit mounting block 36 include a pair of latch receiving holes 74 (only one of each pair being shown in FIG. 11) that are sized and adapted to release ably receive the respective ones of the pair of latch elements 72. Again, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that at least a remaining one of the first terminal unit mounting block 34 and a second terminal unit mounting block 36 includes a pair of latch receiving holes 74 that are sized and adapted to releasably receive respective ones of the pair of latch elements 72 in order to releasably connect the first terminal unit mounting block 34 and the second terminal unit mounting block 36 together. When the first terminal unit mounting block 34 and the second terminal unit mounting block 36 are releasably connected together, the first terminal unit upper mounting surface 34u and the second terminal unit lower mounting surface 36l are in facial contact with each other. With this orientation, the first terminal unit upper mounting surface 34u and the second terminal unit upper mounting surface 36u are disposed in the cavity 30 and face the opening 32 as that shown in FIG. 13.
As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the peripheral side wall edge portion 26e of the shield cover 26 includes an inner peripheral side wall 26e1 that extends circumferentially about the shield cover 26 and an outer peripheral side wall 26e2 that is connected to and is disposed apart and outwardly from the inner peripheral side wall 26e1 to define a shield cover O-ring receiving channel 26o therebetween. By example only for the exemplary embodiment of the electrical connector receptacle 10, the outer peripheral side wall 26e2 extends along at least the second first pair of side walls 26c and one of the pair of first side walls 26b. However, the outer peripheral side wall 26e2 extends partially along a remaining one of the pair of first side walls 26b. More specifically, the outer peripheral side wall 26e2 essentially extends around the opposing corners and only partially along the remaining one of the pair of first side walls 26b as best illustrated in FIG. 8. Again, with reference to FIG. 8, a shield cover O-ring 76 is sized and adapted to be received by the O-ring receiving channel 26o.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the fastener structure 29 includes a fastener O-ring 78 and a fastener retainer clip 80. A skilled artisan would appreciate that the fastener structure 29 might include more than one fastener O-ring 78. The elongated shaft has a groove 82 formed circumferentially thereabout. The fastener O-ring 78 is disposed in the groove 82 and surrounds the elongated shaft 44 adjacent the fastener head 42. The fastener retainer clip 80 is connected to the elongated shaft 44 adjacent the fastener O-ring 78. The fastener O-ring 78 is disposed between the fastener head 42 and the fastener retainer clip 80, particularly, when the fastener structure 29 is operative in association with the shield cover 26 and the terminal unit 28. The fastener O-ring 78 is disposed exteriorly of the shield cover 26 and the fastener retainer clip 80 is disposed in the cavity 30 between the shield cover 26 and the terminal unit 28.
Another exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector receptacle 210 of the present invention is introduced in FIGS. 15-17. The electrical connector receptacle 210 is similar to the electrical connector receptacle 10 discussed above except for the differences discussed hereinbelow.
In FIG. 16, a fuse assembly 264 is connected to a first terminal unit mounting block 234 and includes the pair of fuses 66, the pair of fuse holders 68 and a fuse clip bus bar 70. Each dead-side fuse clip 68b has a fuse clip terminal 84 extending from the dead-side fuse clip 68b. The first terminal unit mounting block 234 has a first terminal unit upper mounting surface 234u and an opposite first terminal unit lower mounting surface 234l. The first terminal unit upper mounting surface 234u has terminal receiving cavity 234c that is formed thereinto. A pair of terminal slots 86 are disposed between the first terminal unit upper mounting surface 234u and the first terminal unit lower mounting surface 234l and are in communication with the terminal receiving cavity 234c. The fuse assembly recess 34f is sized to matably receive and retain the pair of fuse holders 68 therein. The second terminal assembly 40 includes the second terminal member 40a and a pair of elongated second terminal assembly bus bars 240a electrically connected to the second terminal member 40a and extending parallel to the fuse clip terminals 84. Respective ones of the pair of second terminal assembly bus bars 240a are received in respective ones of the pair of terminal slots 86. Note that distal second terminal assembly bus bar ends 240a1 project from the first terminal unit mounting block 234 as shown in FIG. 17.
Again, in FIG. 16, a second terminal unit mounting block 236 has a second terminal unit upper mounting surface 236u and an opposite second terminal unit lower mounting surface 236l, a pair of terminal receiving passageways 236p that extend parallel to each other though and between the second terminal unit upper mounting surface 236u and the second terminal unit lower mounting surface 236l. The second terminal unit mounting block 236 also has a fuse receiving passageway 236f that extends though and between the second terminal unit upper mounting surface 236u and the second terminal unit lower mounting surface 236l. The fuse receiving passageway 236f is sized to receive the pair of fuse holders 68. Furthermore, the second terminal unit mounting block 236 has a pair of fuse clip terminal receiving holes 88 that are disposed between the second terminal unit upper mounting surface 236u and the second terminal unit lower mounting surface 236l. The pair of fuse clip terminal receiving holes 88 are in communication with the fuse receiving passageway 236f. Further, respective ones of the pair of fuse clip terminal receiving holes 88 are sized to slidably receive respective ones of the fuse clip terminals 84 so that the fuse clip terminals 84 project from the second terminal unit mounting block 236 as best shown in FIG. 17.
With reference to FIGS. 15-17, the shield cover 26 includes a pair of shield cover conduits 262. Each one of the pair of shield cover conduits 262 defines shield cover passageway 262a extending therethrough. The pair of shield cover conduits 262 are integrally connected to one of the first pair of side walls 26b. However, a skilled artisan would appreciate that any selected one of the first pair of side walls 26b and the second pair of side walls 26c could be chosen. Each one of the pair of shield cover passageways 262a is in communication with the cavity 30 as shown in FIG. 17 and is sized to receive one fuse clip terminal 84 and one distal second terminal assembly bus bar end 240a1 as best shown in FIG. 15.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector receptacle 310 of the present invention is hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 18-21. The electrical connector receptacle 310 of the present invention is similar to the electrical connector receptacle 10 described above.
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 21, a grounding assembly panel cover 360 has a grounding assembly panel cover hole 360a that is formed through the grounding assembly panel cover 360 in order to permit the portions 50b1a of the outwardly-projecting U-shaped sections 50b1 to project outwardly from the opening 32.
In FIGS. 20 and 21, a terminal unit 328 has a first terminal unit mounting lock 334, a second terminal unit mounting block 336, a first terminal assembly 338 and a second terminal assembly 340. Although by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the first and second terminal unit mounting blocks 334 and 336 respectively are ultrasonically welded together.
As shown in FIG. 20, a fuse assembly 364 is disposed between the first terminal unit mounting block 334 and the second terminal mounting block 336 and includes the pair of fuses 66, the two pairs of fuse holders 68a and 68b and the fuse clip bus bar 70. The fuse clip bus bar 70 electrically interconnects the fuse clips 68b and the first terminal assembly 338. A skilled artisan would appreciate that the fuse assembly 364 is disposed between the first and second terminal unit mounting blocks 334 and 336 and are nestled therein and connected therebetween when the first and second terminal unit mounting blocks 334 and 336 are ultrasonically welded together. Note in FIGS. 20 and 21, the second terminal unit mounting block 336 has a plurality of latch elements 336a that enable the assembled terminal unit 328 to be releasably connected to the shield cover 26, as is commonly known in the art.
The present invention, may, however, be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein; rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.
Patent Grant
8052481
