Obstruction feature for ensuring proper connectivity in a cable assembly
An elbow connector receives a cable assembly having a lug with a lug aperture. The elbow connector comprises a receiving cavity for the lug of the cable assembly and a fastener assembly. The fastener assembly has a connecting rod, a fastener tube, and a fastener. The fastener is configured for movement within the fastener tube. The connecting rod has a bumper for engaging the lug and an obstruction element for engaging the fastener. The connecting rod is moveable between (i) a blocking position in which the obstruction element indicates the fastener is unaligned with the lug aperture, and (ii) a non-blocking position in which the fastener is free of the obstruction element and aligned with the lug aperture. The connecting rod transitions to the non-blocking position in response to the lug moving the bumper to a point where the fastener and the lug aperture are aligned.
1 . An elbow connector for receiving a cable assembly having a lug with a lug aperture, comprising:
a receiving cavity for the lug of the cable assembly; and
a fastener assembly having a connecting rod, a fastener tube, and a fastener, the fastener configured for movement within the fastener tube, the connecting rod having a bumper for engaging the lug and an obstruction element for engaging the fastener, the connecting rod being moveable between (i) a blocking position in which the obstruction element indicates the fastener is unaligned with the lug aperture, and (ii) a non-blocking position in which the fastener is aligned with the lug aperture; and
wherein the connecting rod transitions to the non-blocking position in response to the lug moving the bumper of the connecting rod.
2 . The elbow connector of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a male fastener that moves through the lug aperture.
3 . The elbow connector of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a female fastener that receives a stud that moves through the lug aperture and is threadably received by internal threads of the female fastener.
4 . The elbow connector of claim 1 , wherein the connecting rod is metallic and exhibits spring-like action.
5 . The elbow connector of claim 4 , wherein the spring-like action of the connecting rod biases the connecting rod toward the blocking position.
6 . The elbow connector of claim 5 , wherein the bumper extends across and engages an uppermost surface of the lug.
7 . The elbow connector of claim 1 , wherein the bumper extends across and engages an uppermost surface of the lug.
8 . The elbow connector of claim 1 , wherein the connecting rod laterally moves in a direction generally parallel to a central axis of the fastener when transitioning to the non-blocking position.
9 . The elbow connector of claim 8 , wherein the bumper includes an inclined surface for engaging the lug.
10 . An elbow connector for receiving a cable assembly having a lug with a lug aperture, comprising:
a receiving cavity for the lug of the cable assembly; and
a fastener assembly having a connecting rod, a fastener tube, and a fastener, the fastener configured for movement within the fastener tube, the connecting rod having a bumper for engaging the lug and an obstruction element for engaging the fastener, the connecting rod being moveable between (i) a blocking position in which the obstruction element resists a certain movement of the fastener within the fastener tube, and (ii) a non-blocking position in which the fastener is movable within the fastener tube to allow the fastener to be fastened to the lug; and
wherein the connecting rod transitions to the non-blocking position in response to the lug moving the bumper to a position at which the lug aperture of the lug is aligned with the fastener.
11 . The elbow connector of claim 10 , wherein the fastener is a male fastener that moves through the lug aperture.
12 . The elbow connector of claim 10 , wherein the fastener is a female fastener that receives a stud that moves through the lug aperture and is threadably received by internal threads of the female fastener.
13 . The elbow connector of claim 12 , wherein the certain movement is rotational movement.
14 . The elbow connector of claim 12 , wherein the certain movement is linear movement toward the lug.
15 . The elbow connector of claim 10 , wherein the connecting rod is metallic and exhibits spring-like action.
16 . The elbow connector of claim 15 , wherein the spring-like action of the connecting rod biases the connecting rod toward the blocking position.
17 . The elbow connector of claim 10 , wherein the bumper extends across and engages an uppermost surface of the lug.
18 . The elbow connector of claim 10 , wherein the bumper includes an inclined surface for engaging the lug.
19 . An elbow connector for receiving a cable assembly having a lug with a lug aperture, comprising:
a receiving cavity for the lug of the cable assembly; and
a fastener assembly having a connecting rod and a fastener, the fastener configured for movement toward the lug, the connecting rod having a bumper for engaging the lug and an obstruction element for engaging the fastener, the connecting rod being moveable between (i) a blocking position in which the obstruction element indicates the fastener is unaligned with the lug aperture, and (ii) a non-blocking position in which the fastener is aligned with the lug aperture; and
wherein the connecting rod transitions to the non-blocking position in response to the lug moving the bumper to a position at which the lug aperture is aligned with the fastener such that the fastener can be fastened to the lug.
20 . The elbow connector of claim 19 , wherein the fastener is a female fastener that receives a stud that moves through the lug aperture and is threadably received by internal threads of the female fastener.