Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-23
2001-08-21
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S675000, C439S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276953
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Supplemental inflatable restraints or air bag assemblies are becoming increasingly common as a safety device in vehicles throughout the world. The assembly comprises an inflatable canister located in the steering column, the passenger-side dashboard, the side door panel, or seat. Upon a sufficiently great deceleration, the canister is inflated by an explosive device known as a squib which contains a gun powder-based material. The squib is fired electronically upon a signal sent via wires from a deceleration or other sensor in the vehicle. The wires are attached to the squib via a squib connector which plugs into the squib socket.
A common form of squib assembly has two pins which extend within the socket, and an associated connector has two terminals which are in electrical contact with the pins when the connector is plugged into the socket. When the connector is removed from the socket, typically for servicing the inflation canister, a shorting clip or shunt is biassed into electrical contact with the two pins to form an electrical connection therebetween to reduce the risk of misfiring, for example, by static electricity. The connector urges the shorting clip out of electrical contact with the pins when the connector is plugged into the socket.
During manufacture of a two-pin squib assembly, two rotational orientation concerns must be addressed. The pins must located at the correct clocking position relative to the connector and the squib. Also, the pins must be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the socket floor, or the entire assembly must be discarded. Also, during assembly of the vehicle, the vehicle manufacturer must be concerned about routing of the wires. A keying feature must be provided to ensure proper orientation of the assembly.
Other prior art air bag connectors are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,334,025 and 5,401,180.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a single-pin squib connector assembly which has no required rotational orientation. An orientationless squib connector for an automotive air bag assembly comprises a connector body having a cylindrical portion, defining a central axis, configured to fit in mating engagement within a squib socket. A first electrically conductive terminal is symmetrically located about the central axis within the cylindrical portion. A second electrically conductive terminal is radially offset from the electrically conductive terminal with respect to the central axis and comprises a depending beam having a contacting surface at a free end thereof. A cover is fixed to the connector body.
A connector position assurance member (CPA) is mounted on the connector body for movement between an open position and a closed position. The CPA includes an abutment member positioned to abut against a portion of the connector body to prevent movement of the connector position assurance member out of the open position. The CPA also includes a flexural member configured to abut against the socket to deflect the flexural member and the abutment member out of abutment with the portion of the connector body, whereby the connector position assurance member is movable to the closed position.
The connector body includes one or more latching arms having a catch thereon which fits within a groove on the socket. In one embodiment, the groove is located externally of the socket. In another embodiment the groove is located internally in the socket. To remove the connector from the socket, the latching arm is flexed to move the catch out of the groove. In the closed position, the CPA includes one or more depending arms that fit between the latching arm or arms and the rest of the connector body, preventing flexure of the latching arms and removal of the connector from the socket.
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Gauker Bradford K.
Rhein David J.
Nguyen Son V.
Sircus Brian
Thoma & Betts International, Inc.
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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