Electrical connectors – Jumper
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-11
2003-12-16
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Jumper
C439S188000, C200S051100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06663421
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a shorting contact used in an electrical connector.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
It is known to protect a vehicle occupant by inflating an air bag with inflation fluid from an air bag inflator. The inflation fluid is released from a container in the inflator and/or generated by ignition of combustible gas generating material in the inflator.
The inflator may use an electrically actuatable initiator to open the container and/or to ignite the gas generating material. A typical initiator has two terminals. The terminals are in electrical contact with an electrical connector which is part of vehicle electric circuitry. To actuate the inflator, the vehicle electric circuitry sends an electric signal through the electrical connector and the terminals to the initiator. The electric signal actuates the initiator, resulting in actuation of the inflator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,135 describes an inflator having an initiator that includes a metal retainer onto which a shorting clip is crimped. Prior to connection of an electrical connector with terminals of the initiator, the shorting clip has electrically conductive portions connected between the terminals to prevent accidental actuation of the initiator. The shorting clip has an opening to receive the electrical connector when the inflator is connected with vehicle electric circuitry. The shorting clip physically maintains the electrical connector in electrical contact with the terminals of the initiator.
There is a need for an initiator to dissipate static electricity. Dissipating static electricity prevents the initiator from accidentally discharging because of static electricity. In the past, one solution for preventing static electricity from accidentally discharging the initiator was to dissipating static electricity by making the housing partially conductive. An electrically conductive carbon filler was added to plastic of the initiator housing. However, the housing still needs to be electrically insulating in order to housing the electrical terminals of the initiator. A disadvantage with this type of solution was that it resulted in a relatively expensive manufacturing process.
Another solution used in the past it dissipate static electricity was the use of an electrically conductive ring which was used to connect a shorting contact to the outer metal can. However, this increased the cost of manufacture because of the assembly process and cost of an addition piece for the initiator.
There is a need to provide an initiator which can dissipate static electricity, but which is less expensive to manufacture than a plastic housing having electrically conductive carbon filler. There is also a need to provide an initiator which can dissipate static electricity, but which is less expensive to manufacture than an initiator having an additional metal ring connecting the shorting contact to the outer metal can.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an igniter shorting contact for an igniter connector is provided including a base, at least one deflectable contact arm, and a contact leg. The base is adapted to be mounted to an insulating housing member of a housing of the igniter connector. The deflectable contact arm(s) extending from the base and are adapted to contact electrical terminals of the igniter connector. The contact leg extends from the base. The contact leg is adapted to extend radially outward on the insulating housing and contact an outer electrically conductive housing member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a gas generator igniter connector is provided comprising a housing having an inner electrically insulating member and an outer electrically conductive member; electrical terminals mounted to the insulating member; and a shorting contact connected to the housing. The shorting contact comprises a first deflectable contact section adapted to contact the electrical terminals and a second contact section directly electrically connected to the outer electrically conductive member of the housing. The shorting contact directly connects the terminals to each other and to the outer electrically conductive member.
In accordance with one method of the present invention, a method of assembling a gas generator igniter connector is provided comprising steps of inserting a shorting contact into an insulating housing member of the connector; contacting electrical terminals of the connector with first deflectable contact sections of the shorting contact; and contacting an electrically conductive housing member of the connector with a second contact section of the shorting contact, wherein the shorting contact electrically connects the terminals to each other and to the electrically conductive housing member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5733135 (1998-03-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 6203342 (2001-03-01), Gauker et al.
patent: 6257910 (2001-07-01), Mramor
patent: 6358084 (2002-03-01), Rieger et al.
patent: 6422897 (2002-07-01), Odorfer
patent: 6544060 (2003-04-01), Wakui et al.
patent: 2743624 (1997-07-01), None
Glick Michael
Lyons William R.
FCI Americas Technology Inc.
Harrington & Smith ,LLP
Ta Tho D.
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