Electrical connector with terminal housing and terminal positions assurance

Inventors: Jiayun Chen (Shanghai, CN); Jianwei Guo (Shanghai, CN); Chao Fang (Shanghai, CN)

Assignee: Lear Corporation

H01R13/428 H01R13/46

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12706409
App. No.: 18/383,659
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An electrical connector includes a terminal housing with one or more terminal cavities and a slot. The electrical connector also includes a terminal position assurance. The terminal position assurance includes a base, two sliders that extend from the base in an assurance direction, and a lock arm that extends from the base in the assurance direction. The terminal position assurance is supported on slot by the sliders for movement relative to the terminal housing.

Claims (31)

1 . An electrical connector, comprising:

a terminal housing comprising one or more terminal cavities and a slot; and

a terminal position assurance comprising a base, a first slider, and a second slider that extend from the base in an assurance direction, and a lock arm that extends from the base in the assurance direction;

wherein the terminal position assurance is supported on the slot by the first slider and the second slider for movement relative to the terminal housing, and wherein the terminal housing comprises a pre-lock stop adapted to engage the lock arm to retain the terminal position assurance in a pre-lock position and a lock stop adapted to engage the lock arm to retain the terminal position assurance in a locked position relative to the terminal housing.

2 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the lock arm is located between the first slider and the second slider.

3 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the terminal position assurance comprises a terminal stop on one of the first slider or the second slider, wherein the terminal stop is located in the terminal cavity when the terminal position assurance is in the locked position relative to the terminal housing.

4 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the lock arm comprises a pre-lock catch that is adapted to engage the terminal housing to retain the terminal position assurance in the pre-lock position and a lock catch that is adapted to engage the terminal housing to retain the terminal position assurance in the locked position relative to the terminal housing.

5 . The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein the pre-lock catch comprises a wedge-shape and the lock catch comprises a block-shape.

6 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the lock arm comprises a pre-lock catch that is adapted to engage the pre-lock stop to retain the terminal position assurance in the pre-lock position and a lock catch that is adapted to engage the lock stop to retain the terminal position assurance in the locked position relative to the terminal housing.

7 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the terminal position assurance comprises one or more secondary locks adapted to be arranged on one of the first slider or the second slider, and wherein the one or more secondary locks are adapted to be located in the terminal cavity when the terminal position assurance is in the locked position relative to the terminal housing.

8 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the pre-lock stop is a molded projection extending into the slot of the terminal housing and wherein the pre-lock stop is located between the one or more terminal cavities.

9 . An electrical connector, comprising:

a connector housing comprising a connector seat; and

a terminal housing comprising one or more terminal cavities, wherein the terminal housing comprises a peripheral seal seat defined on an outer surface of the terminal housing, wherein the terminal housing comprises a retained portion that extends from an insertion end of the terminal housing to the seal seat, and wherein the retained portion comprises a uniform outer surface from the insertion end to the seal seat;

wherein the retained portion of the terminal housing is held in the connector seat.

10 . The electrical connector of claim 9 , comprising a seal located on the seal seat, wherein an end of the connector seat is located adjacent to the seal.

11 . The electrical connector of claim 9 , wherein an end of the connector seat is located adjacent to the seal seat.

12 . The electrical connector of claim 9 , wherein the retained portion comprises a consistent outer geometry between the insertion end and the seal seat.

13 . An electrical connector, comprising:

a connector housing comprising a connector seat;

a terminal housing comprising one or more terminal cavities and a slot, wherein the terminal housing comprises a peripheral seal seat defined on an outer surface of the terminal housing, wherein the terminal housing comprises a retained portion that extends from an insertion end of the terminal housing to the seal seat, and wherein the retained portion comprises a uniform outer surface from the insertion end to the seal seat; and

a terminal position assurance comprising a base, at least two sliders that extend from the base in an assurance direction, and a lock arm that extends from the base in the assurance direction;

wherein the terminal position assurance is supported on the slot by the at least two sliders for movement relative to the terminal housing; and

wherein the retained portion of the terminal housing is held in the connector seat.

14 . The electrical connector of claim 13 , wherein the lock arm comprises at least two catches that are adapted to engage the terminal housing to retain the terminal position assurance in a pre-lock position and a locked position relative to the terminal housing.

15 . The electrical connector of claim 13 , wherein the terminal housing comprises two stops that are adapted to engage the lock arm to retain the terminal position assurance in a pre-lock position and a locked position relative to the terminal housing.

16 . The electrical connector of claim 15 , wherein the lock arm comprises two catches that are adapted to engage the two stops to retain the terminal position assurance in the pre-lock position and the locked position relative to the terminal housing.

17 . The electrical connector of claim 16 , wherein the terminal position assurance comprises a terminal stop on one of the two sliders, wherein the terminal stop is located in the terminal cavity when the terminal position assurance is in the locked position relative to the terminal housing.

18 . The electrical connector of claim 13 , comprising a seal located on the seal seat, wherein an end of the connector seat is located adjacent to the seal.

19 . The electrical connector of claim 13 , wherein an end of the connector seat is located adjacent to the seal seat.

20 . The electrical connector of claim 13 , wherein the retained portion comprises a consistent outer geometry between the insertion end and the seal seat.