Patent Application
20230327374
This disclosure is directed to a vibration resistant connector system with a mating assistance feature, e.g., automotive electrical connector assemblies.
Conventional lever-based connector mating assist systems provide a means to meet connector mating ergonomic requirements without the need for special tools or assembly fixtures. However, these conventional lever-based connector mating assist systems are not well suited for applications in which higher levels of vibration are experienced by the connector system due to relative motion between the male and female connectors of the connector system. Therefore, a connector mating system that does not require special tools or fixtures and that is suited for use in higher vibration applications remains desired.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a connector assembly includes a connector header configured to be attached to a mounting substrate by a first mounting stud extending through a first aperture defined by the connector header, a connector configured to mate and unmate with the connector header and having a mating assist lever configured to attach and detach the connector to and from the connector header, and a mounting tab defined by the connector and configured to attach the connector to the first mounting stud extending through a second aperture defined by the mounting tab.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to the previous paragraph, the mounting tab is integrally formed with the connector.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the first mounting stud is threaded. The connector header is secured to the first mounting stud by a first threaded nut and the mounting tab is secured to the first nut by a second threaded nut.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the first nut is integrally formed with the first stud.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the mounting tab is a first mounting tab. The connector header is configured to be attached to the mounting substrate by a second mounting stud that extends through a third aperture defined by the connector header. The mating assist lever defines a second mounting tab that is configured to attach the mating assist lever to the second mounting stud which extends through a fourth aperture defined by the second mounting tab.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the second mounting stud is threaded. The connector header is secured to the second mounting stud by a third threaded nut and the second mounting tab is secured to the second mounting stud by a fourth threaded nut.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the third nut is integrally formed with the second stud.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the first mounting stud is arranged diagonally with the second mounting stud.
In some aspects of the connector assembly according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the mounting tab is integrally formed with the mating assist lever.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method of assembling an electrical connector includes the steps of: inserting a first mounting stud extending from a mounting substrate through a first aperture defined by a connector header, placing a first nut on the first mounting stud and securing the connector header to the mounting substrate, inserting the first mounting stud through a second aperture of a mounting tab defined by a connector configured to mate and unmate with the connector header which has a mating assist lever configured to attach and detach the connector to and from the connector header, activating the mating assist lever to attach the connector to the connector header, and placing a second nut on the first mounting stud and securing the mounting tab to the first nut.
In some aspects of the method according to the previous paragraph, the mounting tab is integrally formed with the connector.
In some aspects of the method according to the previous paragraph, the first mounting stud is threaded.
In some aspects of the method according to the previous paragraph, the first nut is integrally formed with the first stud.
In some aspects of the method according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the mounting tab is a first mounting tab. The method includes the additional steps of: inserting a second mounting stud extending from the mounting substrate through a third aperture defined by a connector header, placing a third nut on the second mounting stud and further securing the connector header to the mounting substrate, inserting the second mounting stud through a fourth aperture of a second mounting tab defined by the mating assist lever, and placing a fourth nut on the second mounting stud and securing the second mounting tab to the third nut.
In some aspects of the method according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the second mounting stud is threaded.
In some aspects of the method according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the third nut is integrally formed with the first stud.
In some aspects of the method according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the first mounting stud is arranged diagonally with the second mounting stud.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method of assembling an electrical connector includes the steps of: inserting a first mounting stud extending from a mounting substrate through a first aperture defined by a connector header, placing a first nut on the first mounting stud and securing the connector header to the mounting substrate, inserting the first mounting stud through a second aperture of a mounting tab defined by a mating assist lever configured to attach and detach a connector to and from the connector header, activating the mating assist lever to attach the connector to the connector header, and placing a second nut on the first mounting stud and securing the mounting tab to the first nut.
In some aspects of the method according to the previous paragraph, the mounting tab is integrally formed with the mating assist lever.
In some aspects of the method according to any one of the previous paragraphs, the first mounting stud is threaded, and the first nut is integrally formed with the mounting stud.
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following description, similar features of the various embodiments share the last two digits of the reference numbers shown in the figures.
Conventional electrical connectors 10 having a connection assist lever 12, such as the example shown in
The non-limiting example of an electrical connector assembly 100 with a lever-based connector mating assist system that is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In another embodiment of the electrical connector, hereafter referred to as electrical connector 210, that is illustrated in
Other embodiments of the electrical connector may be envisioned that include the mounting tab shown in
While the assemblies 110, 210 shown herein are configured for use in higher vibration applications, the same assemblies 110, 210 may also be used in lower vibration applications using a single ended bolt rather than a double ended bolt and omitting the second nut. This provides an economical solution since one type of electrical connector 110, 210 and connector header 118, 218 may be used in both low and high vibration applications, thereby reducing the number of different connector designs that need to be manufactured and inventoried. The additional cost of having an unused mounting tab in lower vibration applications is negligible, since the cost involves only a small amount of additional housing or lever material.
While the examples presented herein is directed to electrical connector assemblies, alternative embodiments of the connector assembly may be envisioned that are configured to interconnect fiber optic cables, pneumatic tubes, hydraulic tubes, or a hybrid connector assembly having a combination of any of these types of conductors.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s), but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
As used herein, ‘one or more’ includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context cltably indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.
Additionally, while terms of ordinance or orientation may be used herein these elements should not be limited by these terms. All terms of ordinance or orientation, unless stated otherwise, are used for purposes distinguishing one element from another, and do not denote any particular order, order of operations, direction or orientation unless stated otherwise.
This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/328,219 filed on Apr. 6, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63328219 | Apr 2022 | US |
