Patent Application
20090004900
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical connector and, more particularly, to a shorting bar for an electrical connector.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Electrical connectors having shorting members are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,276,953 and 6,234,814 disclose electrical connectors having various shorting member configurations. The shorting members are configured to contact male electrical contacts of the electrical connector until the connector is mated with a female electrical connector. Electrical connectors having shorting members may be used in various applications, such as automobile air bag safety systems for example. The shorting members help prevent the air bag system from inadvertent actuation when the mating electrical connectors are disconnected from each other.
The use of air bags in automobiles has significantly increased in recent years. Additionally, more and more automobiles have multiple air bag safety systems. Accordingly, there is a need to provide improved connectors comprising shorting members having a robust configuration and increased reliability. Also, these electrical connectors are becoming increasingly small. Therefore, there is a need to provide an electrical connector having a shorting member, but without significantly increasing the size of the connector. Additionally, there is a continued desire to reduce the manufacturing costs for these connectors.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector includes a housing, at least two male contacts, and a shorting member. The at least two male contacts are mounted within the housing. The shorting member is connected to the housing. The shorting member includes a single loop section and an aperture. The single loop section is adapted to contact the at least two male contacts when the electrical connector is disengaged from a mating electrical connector. The single loop section is adapted to be spaced from the at least two male contacts when the electrical connector is engaged with the mating electrical connector. The at least two male contacts extend through the aperture.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an electrical connector assembly is disclosed. The electrical connector assembly includes a housing, at least one male contact, a terminal position assurance (TPA) member, and a shorting member. The at least one male contact is mounted within the housing. The TPA member is connected to the housing. The shorting member is attached to the TPA member. The shorting member includes a deflectable shorting bar. The deflectable shorting bar is configured to contact the at least one male contact.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling an electrical connector assembly is disclosed. At least two male contacts are mounted within a housing. A shorting member is connected to the housing. The at least two male contacts are contacted with a single loop section of the shorting member. The at least two male contacts extend through an aperture of the shorting member.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling an electrical connector assembly is disclosed. A terminal position assurance (TPA) member is provided. A shorting member is attached to the TPA member. At least one male contact is mounted within a housing. The TPA member and the attached shorting member are inserted into the housing. The at least one male contact is contacted with a deflectable shorting bar of the shorting member.
The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
As shown in
The electrical terminals 14 are mounted within the housing 12. When the terminals 14 are inserted into the housing 12, the latching arms 24 deflect to allow passage of the electrical terminals 14. When the electrical terminals 14 are fully inserted, the latching arms 24 return to their initial position and latch or contact surfaces of the electrical terminals 14 thereby securing the terminals 14 within the housing 12. Each of the electrical terminals 14 are generally configured to have a male contact or blade 26 extend from front ends 28 of the electrical terminals 14. Additionally, rear ends 30 of the electrical terminals 14 are adapted to each receive at least one electrical conductor (not shown). In the embodiment shown, two electrical terminals 14 are mounted within the housing 12. However, in alternate embodiments, more or less terminals 14 could be provided.
The TPA member 16 comprises a base section 32, projecting arms 34, and a plurality openings 36. The projecting arms 34 extend from the base section 32. The openings 36 extend through the base section 32 and are sized and shaped to allow the male contacts 26 to extend therethrough. When the TPA member 16 is inserted into the housing 12, openings within the housing 12 proximate the deflectable latching arms 24 receive the projecting arms 34. When the TPA member 16 is in place, the projecting arms 34 prevent the latching arms 24 from deflecting and thereby secure the electrical terminal 14 within the housing 12.
In the embodiment shown, the TPA member 16 comprises two projecting arms 34. However, in alternate embodiments, more or less projecting arms could be provided. It should also be noted that although the figures illustrate two openings 36 within the TPA member 16, any number of openings suitable to receive the male contact may be provided. Additionally, it should be noted that alternate embodiments may not have openings at all, such as wherein the TPA member is provided between rows or columns of male contacts for example.
Referring now also to
The shorting member 18 is attached to a front face 60 of the TPA member 16. The shorting member 18 comprises attachment holes 50 suitably sized and shaped to receive protrusions 52 extending from the TPA member 16. The attachment holes 50 are press-fitted over the protrusions 52 to secure the shorting member 18 to the TPA member 16. However, it should be noted that the attachment holes 50 and protrusions 52 are not required, as any suitable method of attaching the shorting member 18 to the TPA member 16 may be provided, such as riveting or bonding for example.
The attachment of the shorting member 18 to the TPA member 16 is preferably performed before the TPA member 16 is inserted into the housing 12. After the shorting member 18 is attached to the TPA member, the shorting member 18 and the TPA member 16 are inserted into the housing. The shorting member 18 and the TPA member 16 are inserted into the housing through the open end of the receiving area 20 and moved towards the terminals 14 until the openings within the housing 12 proximate the deflectable latching arms 24 receive the projecting arms 34 of the TPA member 16.
The deflectable portion 40 is deflectable between a first position and a second position. The deflectable portion 40 is aligned at an angle with respect to the base portion 38 when the deflectable portion 40 is in the first position (shown in
The deflectable portion 40 is moved from the first position to the second position when the electrical connector or male connector 10 is engaged with the second connector or mating female connector 22 (as illustrated in
When the female connector 22 is removed, or disengaged, from the male connector 10, the deflectable portion 40 returns to the first position (or default position). Therefore, as the female connector 22 no longer forces the deflectable portion 40 to be flush with the base portion 38, the resilient shorting bar 44 engages the terminals 14 at the male contacts 26.
The disclosed shorting member 18 provides many advantages over conventional configurations. The shorting member 18 may be integrally formed as a one-piece member which allows for simplified manufacturing and reduced manufacturing costs. The shorting member 18 is also easy to install and, therefore, reduces assembly times and costs. Additionally, the compact size allows the shorting member 18 to be compatible with many different connector configurations (as the small overall thickness of the shorting member can be sandwiched between many different existing male contact lengths). Furthermore, the disclosed shorting member 18 provides a robust configuration which increases the reliability and life cycle of the connector.
It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
