阅读说明：本技术 用于扁平柔性电缆的连接器 (Connector for flat flexible cable ) 是由 J.M.迈尔 H.C.莫尔 F.I.小金赛 于 2021-07-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于扁平柔性电缆(20)的连接器(10),包含：壳体部分(110,150),具有保留区段(120,160)和压接区段(130,170),保留区段(120,160)具有多个端子接收通路(122,162),并且多个端子(300)各自具有被保持在多个端子接收通路(122,162)之一中的接触部分(330)和暴露在压接区段(130,170)中的压接部分(350)。暴露在延伸通过扁平柔性电缆(20)的绝缘材料(22)的窗(26)中的多个导体(21)被各自压接在多个端子(300)之一的压接部分(350)中。(A connector (10) for a flat flexible cable (20), comprising: a housing portion (110, 150) having a retention section (120, 160) and a crimp section (130, 170), the retention section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162), and the plurality of terminals (300) each having a contact portion (330) retained in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimp portion (350) exposed in the crimp section (130, 170). A plurality of conductors (21) exposed in windows (26) extending through an insulating material (22) of a flat flexible cable (20) are each crimped in a crimping portion (350) of one of a plurality of terminals (300).)

1. A connector (10) for a flat flexible cable (20), comprising:

a housing portion (110, 150) having a retention section (120, 160) and a crimp section (130, 170), the retention section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162); and

a plurality of terminals (300) each having a contact portion (330) held in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimp portion (350) exposed in the crimp section (130, 170), a plurality of conductors (21) exposed in windows (26) extending through an insulating material (22) of the flat flexible cable (20) each being crimped in the crimp portion (350) of one of the plurality of terminals (300).

2. The connector (10) in accordance with claim 1 wherein the crimp section (130, 170) has a base (132, 172), the base (132, 172) having a plurality of voids (134, 174) extending through the base (132, 172), the crimp portion (350) of each of the terminals (300) being aligned with one of the voids (134, 174) in a height direction (H) perpendicular to a longitudinal direction (L) of the terminals (300).

3. The connector (10) of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of terminals (300) has a piercing portion (340), the piercing portion (340) extending through and secured to the insulating material (22) of the flat flexible cable (20), the piercing portion (340) of each of the terminals (300) being aligned with one of the voids (134, 174) in the height direction (H).

4. The connector (10) in accordance with claim 1 wherein the crimp section (130, 170) has a securing element (136, 176), the securing element (136, 176) extending beyond the window (26) through an opening (28) in the insulating material (22).

5. A connector (10) for a flat flexible cable (20), comprising:

an inner housing (100) comprising a first inner housing portion (110) and a pair of second inner housing portions (150) separate from the first inner housing portion (110), the first inner housing portion (110) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150) each having a crimp section (130, 170) and a retention section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162); and

a plurality of terminals (300) each having a contact portion (330) held in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimp portion (350) exposed in the crimp section (130, 170), a plurality of segments (23, 24) of the flat flexible cable (20) each having a plurality of conductors (21) exposed in windows (26) of insulating material (22) extending through the segments (23, 24), a plurality of conductors (21) of a first segment (23) of the plurality of segments (23, 24) are each crimped in a crimp portion (350) of one of the plurality of terminals (300) in the first inner housing portion (110), and the plurality of conductors (21) of a pair of second segments (24) of the plurality of segments (23, 24) are each crimped at the crimping portion (350) of one of the plurality of terminals (300) in the pair of second inner housing portions (150).

6. The connector (10) in accordance with claim 5 wherein the plurality of conductors (21) are crimped in a crimped position in which the plurality of terminals (300) in the first inner housing portion (110) and the plurality of terminals (300) in the pair of second inner housing portions (150) are positioned in a single row.

7. The connector (10) of claim 6, wherein the pair of second inner housing portions (150) are attached to the first inner housing portion (110) in an assembled position (A) of the inner housing (100) in which the plurality of terminals (300) are positioned in a pair of rows (R1, R2) spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction (L) of the plurality of terminals (300).

8. The connector (10) of claim 7, wherein the first inner housing portion (110) has a plurality of staple recesses (129) on an interior surface (116) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150) each have a staple (169) on an interior surface (156), the staple (169) on each of the pair of second inner housing portions (150) engaging one of the plurality of staple recesses (129) to attach the pair of second inner housing portions (150) to the first inner housing portion (110).

9. The connector (10) of claim 7, further comprising an outer housing (200), the outer housing (200) having an inner housing receiving passage (210) that receives the inner housing (100) in the assembled position (A).

10. The connector (10) in accordance with claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of terminals (300) has a locking feature (332), the locking feature (332) engaging a locking recess (126, 166) of the retention section (120, 160) to retain the plurality of terminals (300) in a locked position in each of the first inner housing portion (110) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150).

11. The connector (10) of claim 9, wherein the first inner housing portion (110) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150) each have a retention projection (124, 164), the retention projection (124, 164) being positioned on an exterior surface (118, 158) of the retention section (120, 160) in the assembled position (a).

12. The connector (10) of claim 11, wherein the retention tabs (124, 164) on each of the first inner housing portion (110) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150) engage a grapple recess (242, 252) of the outer housing (200) to retain the inner housing (100) in the assembled position (a) in the outer housing (200).

13. The connector (10) of claim 12, wherein the outer housing (200) has a plurality of secondary locking mechanisms (260), the plurality of secondary locking mechanisms (260) being pivotable with respect to the outer housing (200) between an open position (O) and a secondary locking position (P2).

14. The connector (10) of claim 13, wherein the wedge portion (264) of each of the secondary locking mechanisms (260) is positioned adjacent the plurality of terminals (300) in the first inner housing portion (110) or in one of the pair of second inner housing portions (150) in the secondary locking position (P2) and prevents the plurality of terminals (300) from retracting in the longitudinal direction (L).

15. Connector assembly (1) comprising:

a flat flexible cable (20) having an insulating material (22) and a plurality of conductors (21) embedded in the insulating material (22), the plurality of conductors (21) being exposed in a window (26) extending through a portion of the insulating material (22); and

a connector (10) including a housing portion (110, 150) and a plurality of terminals (300), the housing portion (110, 150) having a retention section (120, 160) and a crimp section (130, 170), the retention section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162), the plurality of terminals (300) each having a contact portion (330) held in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimp portion (350) exposed in the crimp section (130, 170), the plurality of conductors (21) exposed in the window (26) each being crimped in the crimp portion (350) of one of the plurality of terminals (300).

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a connector for a flat flexible cable.

Background

As understood by those skilled in the art, a Flat Flexible Cable (FFC) or flat flexible circuit is an electrical component that is made up of at least one conductor (e.g., a metal foil conductor) embedded within a thin, flexible strip of insulator. Flat flexible cables are gaining popularity in many industries because of their advantages over their traditional "round wire" cables. In particular, in addition to having a lower profile and lighter weight, FFC allows for significantly easier implementation of large circuit paths compared to circular wire based architectures. Accordingly, FFCs are being considered for use in many complex and/or high volume applications, including wire harnesses, such as those used in automotive manufacturing.

The implementation of FFCs or integration of implementations into existing wiring environments is not without challenges. In automotive applications, by way of example only, an FFC-based wiring harness would need to mate with potentially hundreds of existing components, including beamlets and various electronic devices (e.g., lamps, sensors, etc.), each having an established and in some cases standardized connector or interface type. Accordingly, key obstacles preventing the implementation of FFCs into these applications include the need to develop fast, robust, and low resistance termination techniques that allow FFC connections to mate with these existing connections.

A typical FFC can be implemented by: an insulating material is applied to either side of the pre-patterned thin foil conductor and the sides are bonded together via an adhesive to enclose the conductor therein. Current FFC terminals include stab type crimp terminals wherein the sharp tines of the terminal are used to pierce the insulation and adhesive material of the FFC in an attempt to establish a secure electrical connection with the embedded conductor.

Due in part to the fragile nature of the thin foil conductor material, these types of terminals have several drawbacks, including much higher electrical resistance than conventional round wire F-crimps, inconsistent electrical connectivity between the conductor and the terminal, and mechanical unreliability over time in harsh environments. In addition, the connector to which the FFC is terminated includes a plurality of terminals that each must be crimped to establish electrical connection with the embedded conductor. Current FFC terminal connectors require complex equipment to terminate the crimp and are inefficient due to the requirement for individualized crimping of the terminals.

Disclosure of Invention

A connector for a flat flexible cable includes a housing portion and a plurality of terminals. The housing portion has a retention section and a crimp section. The retention section has a plurality of terminal-receiving passages. The plurality of terminals each have a contact portion retained in one of the plurality of terminal-receiving passages and a crimp portion exposed in the crimp section. A plurality of conductors exposed in windows extending through the insulation of the flat flexible cable are each crimped in a crimping portion of one of the plurality of terminals.

Drawings

The invention will now be described without difficulty by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flat flexible cable of the connector assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first inner housing portion of an inner housing of the connector assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of terminals of the connector assembly in the first inner housing section;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an inner housing of the connector assembly with a plurality of terminals and a flat flexible cable in a crimped position;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an inner housing having a plurality of terminals and a flat flexible cable;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an outer housing of the connector assembly with the inner housing in an assembled position;

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly having an inner housing disposed in an outer housing;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector assembly with the inner housing in a retained position within the outer housing; and

fig. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector assembly with the inner housing in the secondary locked position in the outer housing.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1, the connector assembly 1 according to the embodiment includes a connector 10 and a flat flexible cable 20 connected to the connector 10. The connector 10 includes an inner housing 100 insertable into an outer housing 200 and a plurality of terminals 300 (visible in fig. 7-10, for example) held in the inner housing 100. The connector assembly 1 is shown in a fully assembled state in fig. 1, as will be described in more detail below.

A Flat Flexible Cable (FFC)20 is shown in fig. 2. The FFC 20 comprises a plurality of conductors 21 embedded within an insulating material 22. In an embodiment, conductors 21 are each a metal foil, such as a copper foil, which is patterned in any desired configuration, by way of example only. An insulating material 22, such as a polymer insulating material, may be applied to either or both sides of the conductor 21 via an adhesive material.

As shown in fig. 2, the FFC 20 includes a plurality of segments 23, 24, including a first segment 23 and a pair of second segments 24. Each of the segments 23, 24 has a plurality of conductors 21 embedded in an insulating material 22. The insulating material 22 of each of the pair of second segments 24 is connected to the insulating material 22 of the first segment 23 by a carrier strip 25.

The FFC 20 has a plurality of windows 26 and a plurality of openings 28 extending through the insulating material 22 of the segments 23, 24, as shown in fig. 2. The window 26 and the opening 28 are devoid of the insulating material 22. The conductor 21 of each of the segments 23, 24 is exposed in the window 26. The opening 28 of the FFC 20 is formed in the insulating material 22 of the segments 23, 24, outside the window 26 and not connected to the window 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductor 21 is not exposed in the window 26.

Inner housing 100 includes a first inner housing section 110, shown in FIG. 3. The first inner housing section 110 has a mating end 112 and a rear end 114 opposite the mating end 112 in the longitudinal direction L. First inner housing section 110 has an inner surface 116 and an outer surface 118 opposite to inner surface 116 perpendicular to longitudinal direction L in height direction H.

As shown in fig. 3, first inner housing section 110 has a retention section 120 beginning from mating end 112 and a crimp section 130 extending in longitudinal direction L from retention section 120 to rear end 114. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, first inner housing portion 110 is monolithically formed from an insulating material as a single piece.

As shown in fig. 3, the retention section 120 has a plurality of terminal-receiving passages 122 extending through the retention section 120 in the longitudinal direction L. The retention section 120 has a plurality of retention protrusions 124 and a plurality of locking recesses 126 positioned on the exterior surface 118. The retaining protrusion 124 extends from the outer surface 118 in the height direction H, and the locking recess 126 extends through the outer surface 118 of the retaining section 120 in the height direction H. Each of the locking recesses 126 is aligned with one of the terminal receiving passages 122 in the height direction H. A plurality of partition walls 128 separate the terminal receiving passages 122 from one another. On the interior surface 116, as shown in fig. 6, the retention section 120 has a plurality of staple recesses 129 extending into the retention section 120 in the height direction H.

As shown in fig. 3, the crimp section 130 has a base 132 and a plurality of voids 134 extending through the base 132 from the outer surface 118 to the inner surface 116 in the height direction H. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of voids 134 in the base 132 that are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction L are aligned with each of the terminal-receiving passages 122 in the longitudinal direction L. The crimp section 130 has a plurality of securing elements 136 extending from the outer surface 118 in the height direction H. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing element 136 is positioned at the rear end 114. In other embodiments, the securing element 136 may be positioned elsewhere on the base 132 along the longitudinal direction L.

The terminal 300 is shown in fig. 4 as being disposed in the first inner housing portion 110. As shown in fig. 4, the terminals 300 each have a mating end 310 and a rear end 320 opposite the mating end 310 in the longitudinal direction L. The terminals 300 each have a contact portion 330 at the mating end 310, a piercing portion 340 at the rear end 320, and a crimp portion 350 between the contact portion 330 and the piercing portion 340. The contact portion 330 is adapted to electrically connect with a mating contact portion. In the embodiment shown, the contact portion 330 is a female contact portion, but may be a male contact portion in another embodiment. The contact portion 330 has a locking feature 332. In the illustrated embodiment, the piercing portion 340 has a pair of piercing tines 342 and the crimping portion 350 has a pair of crimping wings 352. In other embodiments, the piercing portion 340 and the crimping portion 350 can have other types of piercing elements and crimping elements, respectively, used in electrical terminals.

As shown in fig. 4, in the locking position of the terminals 300 in the first inner housing part 110, the contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 is held in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages 122, and the crimp portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is exposed in the crimp section 130. The locking feature 332 of each terminal 300 engages one of the locking recesses 126 of the retention section 120 to retain the terminal 300 in the locked position in the first inner housing portion 110. When terminals 300 are in the locked position, contact portion 330 of each of terminals 300 projects beyond mating end 112 of first inner housing portion 110 in longitudinal direction L. The piercing portion 340 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the voids 134 in the height direction H, and the crimping portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the voids 134 in the height direction H.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 and 6, inner housing 100 comprises a first inner housing section 110 and a pair of second inner housing sections 150 separated from first inner housing section 110, described in detail above. Each of the second inner housing portions 150 (as described in more detail below) is structurally similar to the first inner housing portion 110 and similarly receives a terminal 300. In fig. 5 and 6, for clarity of illustration, elements of only one of the second inner housing portions 150 are labeled with reference numerals, however, the second inner housing portions 150 are identical and the labeled reference numerals and corresponding description apply to both second inner housing portions 150.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, each of the second inner housing sections 150 has a mating end 152 and a rear end 154 opposite the mating end 152 in the longitudinal direction L. Each second inner housing section 150 has an inner surface 156 and an outer surface 158 opposite to the inner surface 156 in a height direction H perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, each second inner housing section 150 has a retention section 160 beginning from the mating end 152 and a crimp section 170 extending in the longitudinal direction L from the retention section 160 to the rear end 154. In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 and 6, each of the second inner housing parts 150 is formed as a single piece from a single piece of insulating material.

As shown in fig. 5, the retention section 160 has a plurality of terminal-receiving passages 162 extending through the retention section 160 in the longitudinal direction L. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the second inner housing sections 150 has a width in a width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H that is less than the width of the first inner housing section 110. The number of terminal receiving passages 162 of each of the second inner housing portions 150 is less than the number of terminal receiving passages 122 in the first inner housing portion 110. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the second inner housing portions 152 has three terminal receiving passages 162, and the first inner housing portion 110 has ten terminal receiving passages 122. In other embodiments, the second inner housing portion 150 can have any other number of terminal receiving passages 162 relative to the number of terminal receiving passages 122 of the first inner housing portion 110.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the retention section 160 has a plurality of retention protrusions 164 and a plurality of locking recesses 166 positioned on the exterior surface 158. The retaining protrusion 164 extends from the outer surface 158 in the height direction H, and the locking recess 166 extends through the outer surface 158 of the retaining section 160 in the height direction H. Each of the locking recesses 166 is aligned with one of the terminal receiving passages 162 in the height direction H. A plurality of partition walls 168 separate the terminal receiving passages 162 from each other. As shown in fig. 6, on the interior surface 156, the retention section 160 has a plurality of pegs 169 extending from the retention section 160 in the height direction H.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the crimp section 170 of each of the second inner housing sections 150 has a base 172 and a plurality of voids 174 extending in the height direction H from the outer surface 158 through the base 172 to the inner surface 156. In the embodiment shown, a pair of voids 174 in the base 172 that are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction L are aligned in the longitudinal direction L with each of the terminal-receiving passageways 162. The crimping section 170 has a plurality of securing elements 176 extending from the outer surface 158 in the height direction H. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing element 176 is positioned at the rear end 154. In other embodiments, the securing element 176 may be positioned elsewhere on the base 172 along the longitudinal direction L.

The terminal 300 is shown in fig. 5 and 6 as being set in a locked position in the second inner housing part 150. In the locked position, the contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 is held in one of the plurality of terminal-receiving passageways 162 and the crimp portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is exposed in the crimp zone 170. The locking feature 332 of each terminal 300 engages one of the locking recesses 166 of the retention section 160 to retain the terminal 300 in the locked position in the second inner housing portion 150. The contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 projects beyond the mating end 152 of the second inner housing portion 150 in the longitudinal direction L when the terminals 300 are in the locked position. The piercing portion 340 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the voids 174 in the height direction H, and the crimping portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the voids 174 in the height direction H.

The FFC 20 is shown in fig. 5 and 6 as being positioned on the inner housing 100 at the crimping position C. First inner housing portion 110 and second inner housing portion 150 are positioned with exterior surfaces 118, 158 facing in the same direction. The conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the first section 23 is positioned within the crimp section 350 of the terminal 300 in the crimp section 130 of the first inner housing portion 110. The conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the second section 24 is positioned within the crimp portion 350 of the terminal 300 in the crimp section 170 of the second inner housing section 150.

As shown in fig. 5, with the FFC 20 positioned on the inner housing 100, the piercing portion 340 of each of the terminals 300 extends through and is secured to the insulating material 22. In the illustrated embodiment, piercing tines 342 are bent over insulating material 22 to secure to insulating material 22. A tool may be disposed in voids 134, 174 below piercing portion 340 to support piercing portion 340 during flexing of piercing tines 342. The securing elements 136, 176 extend through the opening 28 of the insulating material 22. The piercing portion 340 and the securing elements 136, 176 provide a form of stress relief for the resulting connection, mechanically securing the position of the FFC 20 relative to the terminal 300 and the inner housing 100.

From the crimping position C shown in fig. 5 and 6, the conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the first section 23 is crimped in the crimping portion 350 of the terminal 300 in the first inner housing part 110. The conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the second section 24 is crimped in the crimp portion 350 of the terminal 300 in the second inner housing part 150. The terminals 300 in the first and second inner housing portions 110 and 150 are positioned in a single row in the crimping position C and crimped to the conductors 21 simultaneously. Portions of the crimping tool are disposed in the voids 134, 174 below the crimp portion 350 to support the crimp portion 350 during crimping.

From the crimping position C shown in fig. 5 and 6, the inner housing 100 crimped to the FFC 20 is moved to the assembling position a shown in fig. 7. For ease of understanding of clarity and correspondence of elements with respect to the orientation shown in fig. 5 and 6, the piercing portion 340 and the crimping portion 350 are shown in fig. 7 as being non-crimped. However, in the assembled position a, the piercing portion 340 and the crimping portion 350 are crimped as described above and are shown crimped in fig. 8-10 described below.

As shown in fig. 7, second inner housing section 150 is rotated 180 ° with respect to first inner housing section 110 from crimp position C to assembly position a and attached to first inner housing section 110. In the assembled position a, the carrier strip 25 has been removed, separating the segments 23, 24 of the FFC 20. In assembly position A, interior surface 116 of first inner housing section 110 faces and abuts interior surface 156 of each of second inner housing sections 150.

As shown in fig. 9, each of the pegs 169 engages one of the peg recesses 129 to attach the pair of second inner housing portions 150 to the first inner housing portion 110. The terminals 300 are shown in fig. 7 as being positioned in a pair of rows R1, R2 spaced from each other in the height direction H in the assembled position a, with the terminals 300 in the first inner housing portion 110 positioned in a first row R1 and the terminals 300 of the second inner housing portion 150 positioned in a second row R2.

In the embodiment shown and described above in fig. 5-7, the inner housing 100 includes the first inner housing portion 110 and the pair of second inner housing portions 150 to position the terminals in the pair of rows R1, R2. In another embodiment, where only one row R1 of terminals 300 is desired in connector 10, inner housing 100 may contain only first inner housing portion 110. In such embodiments, first inner housing portion 110 may alternatively be referred to merely as a "housing portion" or "inner housing portion".

As shown in fig. 7, the outer housing 200 has an inner housing receiving passage 210 that receives the inner housing 100 in the assembly position a. The outer housing 200 extends along a longitudinal direction L from a mating end 220 to a housing receiving end 230.

As shown in fig. 8, at the mating end 220, the outer housing 200 has a plurality of terminal openings 222, the plurality of terminal openings 222 extending through the outer housing 200 and into the inner housing receiving passage 210 along the longitudinal direction L. Each of the terminal openings 222 has a guide ramp 224 facing the inner housing receiving passage 210.

The outer housing 200 has a flange 232 at the housing receiving end 230 and a plurality of secondary locking mechanisms 260 extending from the flange 232, as shown in fig. 7 and 8. As shown in fig. 8, each of the secondary locking mechanisms 260 has a cantilever 262 that extends from the flange 232 to a wedge portion 264 at the opposite end of the flange 232. The secondary locking mechanisms 260 are each pivotable with respect to the outer housing 200 between an open position O shown in fig. 8 and a secondary locking position P2 shown in fig. 10.

The outer case 200 has an upper surface 240 and a lower surface 250 opposite to the upper surface 240 in the height direction H, as shown in fig. 7 and 9. The upper surface 240 has a plurality of upper grapple recesses 242 extending through the upper surface 240 in the height direction H, and the lower surface 250 has a plurality of lower grapple recesses 252 extending through the lower surface 250 in the height direction H.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, with the inner housing 100 in the assembled position a, the inner housing 100 is inserted into the inner housing receiving passage 210. The contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 abuts the guide ramp 224 of one of the plurality of terminal openings 222 to align the contact portion 330 with one of the plurality of terminal openings 222 in the longitudinal direction L.

With the secondary locking mechanism 260 in the open position O, as shown in fig. 8 and 9, the inner housing 100 reaches the retaining position P1 shown in fig. 9. In the retention position P1, the retention tabs 124 of the first inner housing part 110 each engage one of the lower grapple recesses 252 and the retention tabs 164 of the second inner housing part 150 each engage one of the upper grapple recesses 242. The inner case 100 is thus retained in the outer case 200 in the retaining position P1.

With the inner housing 100 in the retained position P1, the secondary locking mechanism 260 pivots from the open position O shown in fig. 9 to the secondary locking position P2 shown in fig. 10. In the secondary locking position P2, the wedge portion 264 of each of the secondary locking mechanisms 260 is positioned adjacent the terminal 300 in the first or second inner housing portions 110, 150. The secondary locking mechanism 260 in the secondary locking position P2 prevents the terminal 300 from retracting in the longitudinal direction L, completing the assembly of the connector assembly 1. A fully assembled connector assembly 1 is shown in fig. 1 and 10.