Connector assembly and terminal retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9352708-B2
Application number	US-201414329411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2014
Priority date	Aug 22, 2011
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A receptacle assembly is provided with an electrically conductive terminal received within a receptacle. A longitudinal guide body is received within the receptacle in engagement with the terminal. The guide body has an aperture formed therethrough, which is sized to receive a pin through the aperture. At least one fastener extends from the guide body to provide an interference fit with a housing of the receptacle. A retainer is also provided with at least one fastener extending from a guide body to fasten the retainer to the receptacle. A charge assembly is also provided with a handle housing. A shoulder extends transversely from the guide body to engage a distal end of the receptacle and to position the guide body relative to the receptacle. A sleeve extends from the shoulder at least partially over the receptacle housing. The sleeve is formed integrally with the handle housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A receptacle assembly comprising:
a longitudinal housing with at least one receptacle formed therein with an opening at a distal end of the housing;
an electrically conductive terminal received within the receptacle;
a longitudinal guide body received within the receptacle in engagement with the terminal, the guide body having an aperture formed therethrough, sized to receive a pin through the aperture; and
at least one fastener extending from the guide body to provide an interference fit with the housing;
wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least two extensions extending into the at least one receptacle that are collectively oversized relative to the receptacle to provide the interference fit with the housing and are spaced apart a distance greater than the aperture.

2. The receptacle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a shoulder extending transversely from the guide body to engage a distal end of the receptacle and to position the guide body relative to the receptacle, wherein the at least two extensions extend from the shoulder.

3. The receptacle assembly of claim 2 wherein the guide body further comprises at least two guide body extensions extending from the shoulder into the at least one receptacle.

4. The receptacle assembly of claim 2 wherein a groove is formed in the housing to cooperate with the fastener.

5. A receptacle assembly comprising:
a longitudinal housing with at least one receptacle formed therein with an opening at a distal end of the housing;
an electrically conductive terminal received within the receptacle;
a longitudinal guide body received within the receptacle in engagement with the terminal, the guide body having an aperture formed therethrough, sized to receive a pin through the aperture; and
at least one fastener extending from the guide body to provide an interference fit with the housing;
wherein a groove is formed in the housing to cooperate with the fastener.

6. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one lug extending into the groove.

7. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one rib extending across the groove.

8. The receptacle assembly of claim 7 wherein the groove provides a barbed edge to engage the at least one rib.

9. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one snap finger.

10. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of snap fingers.

11. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one snap finger with a distal end shaped into a finger to be received in a groove.

12. The receptacle assembly of claim 11 wherein a recess is provided rearward of a tip of the finger.

13. The receptacle assembly of claim 12 wherein the recess is sized approximate to a height of the tip for lateral removal from a molding tool.

14. A receptacle assembly comprising:
a longitudinal housing with at least one receptacle formed therein with an opening at a distal end of the housing and a groove formed in the housing;
an electrically conductive terminal received within the receptacle; and
a retainer to retain the electrically conductive terminal within the receptacle, the retainer comprising:
a longitudinal guide body sized to be received within the receptacle and engage the terminal to retain the terminal within the receptacle, the guide body having an aperture formed therethrough sized to receive a pin through the aperture to contact the terminal, and
at least one fastener extending from the guide body to fasten the retainer to the receptacle, wherein the guide body is received within the receptacle, and the at least one fastener is received within the groove;

wherein the groove is formed within the receptacle; and
wherein the at least one fastener is oriented external of the guide body.

15. The receptacle assembly of claim 14 wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one lug.

16. The receptacle assembly of claim 14 wherein the guide body is formed from a first material; and
wherein the fastener is formed from a second material that is more flexible than the first material.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Mott Allen Leo
• Glick Michael

Classifications

• H01R13/6275

  Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60L2270/32

  of electricity · CPC title

• H01R13/187

  with spring member in the socket · CPC title

• H01R13/629

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title