IP Library Granted Patent US 12712317
Granted Patent B2
US 12712317 · App. 18/463,669 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Multi-click anti-backout electrical connector assembly

Inventors: Richard Moore (Fenton, MI); Scott Robert Lirette (Royal Oak, MI); David Lloyd Nutt (Monroe, MI); Joel Allen Pittenger (Rochester Hills, MI); John Paul Modzel (Farmington Hills, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
H01R13/639H01R13/6277H01R13/6683
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12712317
App. No.
18/463,669
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical receptacle, that receives an electrical plug having a male terminal or a female terminal, includes the other of the male terminal or female terminal and a latch that, responsive to movement of the electrical plug toward the electrical receptacle resulting in movement of the male terminal into the female terminal, rides along serrations of the serrated insert such that the latch and one of the serrations cooperate to resist disengagement of the electrical plug from the electrical receptacle.

Claims (25)

1 . An electrical connection assembly comprising:

an electrical plug defining a serrated insert and including a terminal; and

an electrical receptacle configured to receive the electrical plug, and including a second terminal and latches configured to, responsive to movement of the electrical plug toward the electrical receptacle resulting in movement of the terminal toward the second terminal, ride along serrations of the serrated insert such that (i) at least one of the latches and one of the serrations cooperate to resist disengagement of the electrical plug from the electrical receptacle and (ii) an extent to which the latches have ridden along the serrated insert corresponds to an extent to which the terminal and second terminal are engaged with each other.

2 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical plug further includes a detection terminal, and wherein the electrical receptacle further includes a second detection terminal, and wherein the terminal and detection terminal are configured such that, responsive to the movement of the electrical plug toward the electrical receptacle, the terminal engages the second terminal before the detection terminal engages the second detection terminal.

3 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 2 , wherein the detection terminal has a length less than the terminal.

4 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the serrated insert is cantilevered from a body of the electrical plug.

5 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein an end of the serrated insert extends beyond an end of the electrical plug.

6 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the serrations are formed around the serrated insert.

7 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latches are circumferentially disposed about an axis of the electrical receptacle.

8 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 7 , wherein the electrical plug and electrical receptacle are cylindrically shaped and wherein the axis is a center axis of the electrical receptacle.

9 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the latches are disposed within a recess defined by a body of the electrical receptacle.

10 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the serrated insert is disposed within a recess defined by a body of the electrical plug.

11 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the latches further includes a tab configured such that movement of the tab away from the serrated insert releases the at least one of the latches from the one of the serrations.

12 . An electrical connection assembly comprising:

an electrical plug including a male terminal or a female terminal, and defining a plug body and a serrated insert cantilevered from the plug body; and

an electrical receptacle including a second female terminal or a second male terminal, and defining a receptacle body configured to receive the plug body and a latch configured to, responsive to movement of the plug body into the receptacle body, ride along serrations of the serrated insert such that an extent to which the latch has ridden along the serrated insert corresponds to an extent to which the male terminal or female terminal is disposed within the second female terminal or second male terminal.

13 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 12 , wherein the latch is further configured such that the latch and one of the serrations cooperate to resist disengagement of the plug body from the receptacle body.

14 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 12 , wherein an end of the serrated insert extends beyond an end of the electrical plug.

15 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plug body and receptacle body are rectangularly shaped.

16 . An electrical connection assembly comprising:

an electrical plug associated with a male terminal or a female terminal, and defining a recessed portion and a serrated insert disposed within and extending away from the recessed portion; and

an electrical receptacle associated with a second female terminal or a second male terminal, and defining a plurality of latches disposed circumferentially about a center axis of the electrical receptacle such that, when the electrical plug is inserted into the electrical receptacle resulting in connection between (i) the male terminal or female terminal and (ii) the second female terminal or second male terminal, the latches surround and engage the serrated insert.

17 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 16 , wherein the electrical receptacle defines a recessed portion and the latches are disposed within the recessed portion of the electrical receptacle.

18 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 16 , wherein the latches and serrated insert are further configured such that the latches and serrated insert cooperate to resist disengagement of the electrical plug from the electrical receptacle.

19 . The electrical connection assembly of claim 16 , wherein the electrical plug and electrical receptacle are cylindrically shaped.