Electrical connector with integral contact retention and terminal position assurance elements

摘要

An electrical connector includes an upper block (20), a lower block (30), and a terminal position assurance (TPA) element provided with at least one of the upper and lower blocks. The upper block (20) is snappably joined to the lower block (30) along a first direction when aligned in a pre-latched relation with one another. The upper and lower blocks are moveable in a second direction transverse to the first direction from a pre-latched position to a final seated position. The upper block (20) includes a side latch (38) that engages a rib (44) on the lower block (30) when the upper and lower blocks are joined. A shroud (48) on the lower block (30) engages the upper block and a boss (39) at the forward end (32) of the upper block (20) is received in a retention slot (46) on the lower block to inhibit disengagement of the upper block (20) from the lower block (30) when the upper and lower blocks are in the final seated position. The lower block (30) includes a contact cavity that has a terminal retention beam. The terminal retention beam is deflectable from an initial position to a second position, elevated from the initial position to receive an electrical contact. The terminal retention beam returns to the initial position when the contact is fully inserted in the cavity. <IMAGE>