Connector locking holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10044142-B1
Application number	US-201715582138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A connector locking holder includes an electrical connector having a first connector body with a first electrical contact, and a second connector body with a second electrical contact. The first connector body is configured to be coupled to the second connector body to provide the connector in a connected state in which the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to each other. A holder is configured to secure the connector to an assembly which includes the connector. An attachment is configured to attach the connector to the holder only when the connector is in said connected state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector locking holder comprising:
an electrical connector comprising a first connector body having a first electrical contact, and a second connector body having a second electrical contact, wherein the first connector body is configured to be coupled to the second connector body along a joining axis to provide the connector in a connected state in which the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to each other, the electrical connector further comprising a fastener coupled to at least one of the first connector body and the second connector body such that the fastener protrudes from the electrical connector along a holding axis which intersects the joining axis; and
a holder configured to secure the connector to an assembly which includes the connector wherein the holder comprising an engaging element configured to engage said fastener such that the fastener and the engaging element provide an attachment configured to attach the connector to the holder along said holding axis only when the connector is in said connected state; a hole is provided in the holder and configured to receive said fastener along said holding axis to attach the connector to the holder.

2. The connector locking holder of claim 1 , wherein the first connector body is a receptacle, and the second connector body is a plug configured to be mechanically connected to said receptacle.

3. The connector locking holder of claim 2 , wherein said first contact is a conductive pin embedded within the receptacle, and the second contact is a conductive tube embedded within the plug, wherein the conductive pin and conductive tube are positioned such that the pin is friction fitted within the tube when the receptacle is mechanically connected with the plug.

4. A method for assembling a module, comprising:
mechanically joining a first connector body of an electrical connector to a second connector body of the electrical connector along a connecting axis to provide the electrical connector in a connected state, wherein the electrical connector includes a fastener coupled to at least one of the first connector body and the second connector body such that the fastener protrudes from the electrical connector along a holding axis which intersects the joining axis; and
attaching the electrical connector in the connected state to a connector holder by engaging the connector with a hole in the holder along said holding axis that intersects the connecting axis such that the connector holder restricts relative movement of the first and second connector bodies along the connecting axis to impede disconnection of the connector.

5. The connector locking holder of claim 1 , wherein the holding axis intersects the joining axis at approximately 90°.

6. The connector locking holder of claim 1 , wherein the holder includes a pocket having a width less than or equal to a cumulative width of the connector bodies such that the connector can only be inserted into the pocket along said holding axis when the connector is in said connected state.

7. The connector locking holder of claim 6 , wherein the holder includes a bottom surface and a sidewall protruding from said bottom surface to form said pocket, said sidewall protruding from the bottom substantially along said holding axis.

8. The connection locking holder of claim 1 , wherein the holder is dimensioned to hold the connector only in said connected state such that attaching the connector to the holder verifies proper connection of the connector.

9. The connection locking holder of claim 1 , wherein the holder is an integral part of said assembly.

10. The connection locking holder of claim 9 , wherein the assembly is a vehicle lighting module, and the holder forms part of a housing of the vehicle lighting module.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the holding axis intersects the connecting axis at approximately 90°.

12. The connector locking holder of claim 1 , wherein said fastener and hole are offset from a centerline of the connector such that the holder can receive the connector only when the hole can receive the fastener, and when the connector is in the connected state and in a predetermined orientation with the holder.

13. The connector locking holder of claim 12 , wherein
a portion of the fastener is coupled to the first connector body, and another portion of the fastener is coupled to said second connector body, and
said portions of the fastener form a completed fastener when the first connector body is fully connected to the second connector body.

14. The connector locking holder of claim 13 , wherein the connector only fits within said holder when said portions of the fastener form said completed fastener.

15. The connector locking holder of claim 1 , wherein said electrical connector does not include a connector locking mechanism on the first or second connector body.

16. The connector locking holder of claim 1 , wherein said electrical connector further comprises a connector locking mechanism.

17. A vehicle lighting module comprising the connector locking holder of claim 1 .

18. The vehicle lighting module of claim 17 , wherein the holder is integrally formed with a housing of the vehicle lighting module.

Assignees

• Valeo North America Inc

Inventors

• Leon Emigdio

Classifications

• F21V23/06 Primary

  the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} · CPC title

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title

• H01R13/73

  Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall · CPC title

• H01R13/6272

  comprising a single latching arm · CPC title

• H01R13/04

  Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets · CPC title