TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present patent application relates to electrical connection technology, and in
particular to an integrated terminal position assurance device supporting both male
end locking and female end locking, such integrated terminal position assurance device
being capable of being installed into a first connector housing, and when the first
connector housing and another mating connector housing are mated in place, being capable
of simultaneously acting as a terminal position assurance device for the terminals
in both connector housings.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
[0002] The on-board electronics of modern automobiles rely on the automotive electronic
and electrical architecture (EEA) to realize the transmission of data signals and
electrical energy. An EEA system typically consists of wire harness products which
include various connectors.
[0003] Electric connector products used in the wire harness products typically include a
male connector and a female connector that are to be used in pair, the male connector
and the female connector each includes an insulated outer plastic housing, and, according
to the design requirements, may or may not include an insulated inner housing. Metal
terminals for electrical conduction are mounted and positioned in the male and female
connectors. When a male connector and a female connector are connected together, the
terminals contained in each are also connected together to establish an electrical
connection between them.
[0004] Typically, unless otherwise indicated, a female connector refers to a connector loaded
with female terminals in the form of, for example, a cable end plug connector, and
a male connector refers to a connector loaded with male terminals in the form of,
for example, a socket connector, or another cable end plug connector.
[0005] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an inner housing 100 in a commercially delivered male electrical
connector, wherein FIG. 1A shows the mating end of the inner housing 100 and FIG.
1B shows the cable inlet tail of the inner housing 100. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,
the inner housing 100 is an insulating housing that includes a plurality of terminal
channels, each of which may have a terminal mounted therein accordingly.
[0006] After these terminals are mounted in place as described above, it is often necessary
to take further steps to enhance the stability of the terminals. One approach to enhance
terminal stability is to use a device called Terminal Position Assurance (TPA). Fig.1A
illustrates the spatial dimension relationship of three unloaded TPA devices 120 and
the inner housing 100, and FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of a single TPA device
120. As shown in FIG. 1C, the TPA device 120 includes a base plate 121, baffles 122
and 123 vertically extending from both sides of the base plate 121, and also a latching
plate 124 extending therefrom that is perpendicular to and connected to the two baffles.
A latching beam 125 is provided at the top of the latching plate 124. As shown in
FIG. 1A, the three TPA devices 120 are to be loaded from the mating end of the inner
housing 100 (i.e., an end opposite to the cable inlet tail shown in FIG. 1B).
[0007] FIG. 1D shows a cross-sectional view of a male connector 10 consisting of an inner
housing 110 and a corresponding outer housing 130. As shown in FIG. 1D, the inner
housing 110 is provided with terminal channels 114 at both the upper potion and lower
portion thereof, and the TPA device 120 is mounted in a TPA containing cavity 115
which is in the middle of the inner housing 100and between the terminal channels,
wherein the latching beam 125 of the TPA device 120 and the latching protrusion 1151
on the inner wall of the TPA containing cavity 115 form a latching and positioning
relationship to prevent accidental withdrawal of the TPA device 120. A part of the
sidewall 1142 (the upper and lower sidewalls in FIG. 1D) of the TPA containing cavity
115 form a locking wall of the terminal channel 114. The TPA component 120 mounted
in place will press the locking walls 1142 of the terminal channel 114 on both its
upper and lower sides, thereby causing the locking walls 1142 of the terminal channel
114 to deform toward the inside of the terminal channels, and the latching protrusion
1146 disposed on the inner side of the locking walls 1142 (on the side toward the
terminal) will sufficiently enter into the latching notch of the terminals 800 after
deformation of the locking walls 1142, with the effect of preventing accidental withdrawal
of the terminals 800.
[0008] FIG. 1E shows a cross-sectional view of the male connector 10 shown in FIG. 1D and
another mating female connector 70 when they are in a mated state. Wherein the inner
housing 110 is mounted in the outer housing 130 and a male terminal 800 is loaded
into the inner housing 110, constituting a male connector 10, and the inner housing
710 is mounted in the outer housing 730 and a female terminal 900 is loaded into the
inner housing 710, constituting a female connector 70 in a form of a plug. This figure
enables a better understanding of the position relationship of the inner housing,
terminals, TPA device and other components in the final state of use. The mounted
male and female terminals in FIG. 1E may be, for example, APEX terminals which can
be commercially ordered from APTIV PLC.
[0009] In the solution shown in FIGS. 1A-1D above, the TPA device 120 needs to be installed
into the inner housing 110 of the male electric connector at the customer end (e.g.,
in an assembly plant of an OEM), which requires the use of a specialized installation
tool due to the small shape of the TPA device 120 and the deep installation location.
This would result in a bad experience of use at the customer end. In addition, as
shown in FIG. 1E, the TPA device 120 only achieves terminal position assurance for
the male terminal 800 in the male connector 10, while the female terminal 900 in the
mating female connector 70 requires an additional TPA device to get locked.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with an aspect of the present application, a terminal position assurance
device is provided, which comprises one or more Terminal Position Assurance (TPA)
components, wherein each TPA component comprises a male terminal lock structure on
one side and a female terminal lock structure on another side.
[0011] In the above solution of terminal position assurance device, as an option, the TPA
component comprise a transverse substrate, the male terminal lock structure and the
female terminal lock structure extend from each end of the transverse substrate.
[0012] In the above solution of terminal position assurance device, as an option, the TPA
components further comprise a positioning arm extending from the male terminal lock
structure or the female terminal lock structure.
[0013] In the above solution of terminal position assurance device, as an option, the positioning
arm comprises two forwardly extending axial beams (2151) and a locking crossbeam (2152)
located at the end of the axial beams and connecting said two axial beams.
[0014] In the above solution of terminal position assurance device, as an option, the male
terminal lock structure comprises a male baffle, and the female terminal lock structure
comprises a female baffle.
[0015] In the above solution of terminal position assurance device, as an option, the number
of the TPA components is two or more, and the terminal position assurance device further
comprises a transverse connection part (221, 222) connecting respective TPA components.
[0016] In accordance with an aspect of the present application, an electric connector is
provided, which comprises: a first connector housing comprising a plurality of first
terminal channels; and a terminal position assurance device comprising one or more
Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) components, wherein each TPA component comprises
a male terminal lock structure on one side and a female terminal lock structure on
another side, the terminal position assurance device being capable of being installed
in a terminal position assurance cavity of the first connector housing.
[0017] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, wherein the terminal position
assurance cavity has an opening facing a mating end of the first connector housing.
[0018] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the first connector housing
is a male connector housing for receiving a male terminal, and the male terminal lock
structure of the terminal position assurance device is capable of being installed
in the terminal position assurance cavity of the male connector housing.
[0019] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the male terminal lock
structure comprises a male baffle (2125), and the male baffle is to press a side wall
of the adjacent terminal position assurance cavity, and the side wall to be pressed
forms a locking wall of the first terminal channel, and a latching protrusion is provided
on a side of the locking wall facing the interior of the terminal channel.
[0020] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the TPA components further
comprises a positioning arm extending from the male terminal lock structure, and the
positioning arm is to position the terminal position assurance device in the terminal
position assurance cavity of the male connector housing.
[0021] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, wherein the female terminal
lock structure comprises a female baffle.
[0022] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the terminal channels
of the first connector housing are arranged in two rows and multiple columns, and
each TPA component is to be installed between the terminal channels of a corresponding
column.
[0023] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the first connector housing
comprises two or more columns of terminal channels, the number of the TPA components
is correspondingly two or more, and the two or more TPA components are integrally
connected to each other by means of a transverse connection part.
[0024] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the transverse connection
part is a connection crossbeam structure.
[0025] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the transverse connection
part comprises a connection block structure.
[0026] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the first connector housing
comprises a high-voltage interlocking (HVIL) cavity between two adjacent columns of
terminal channels, and the connection block structure has a width matching the width
of the HVIL cavity.
[0027] In the above solution of electric connector, as an option, the first connector housing
is an inner housing.
[0028] In accordance with an aspect of the present application, an electric connector assembly
is provided, which comprises: a first electric connector comprising a first connector
housing, the first connector housing having a plurality of first terminal channels,
the first electric connector further comprising a terminal position assurance device,
the terminal position assurance device comprising one or more Terminal Position Assurance
(TPA) components, wherein each TPA component comprises a first terminal lock structure
on one side and a second terminal lock structure on another side, and the terminal
position assurance device is capable of being installed in a terminal position assurance
cavity of the first connector housing, thus pressing a locking wall of the first terminal
channel by the first terminal lock structure; a mating second electric connector comprising
a second connector housing, the second connector housing having a plurality of second
terminal channels, the second connector housing being capable of be mated and connected
with the first connector housing, and the terminal position assurance device presses
a locking wall of the second terminal channel by means of a second terminal locking
structure when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are mated
and connected.
[0029] In the above solution of electric connector assembly, as an option, the first electric
connector is a male connector, the first connector housing is a male inner housing,
the second electric connector is a female connector and the second connector housing
is a female inner housing.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0030] Figures are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention,
which are embodied and form a part of the present invention, showing embodiments of
the present invention, and serving to, in connection with the description, explain
the principles of the present application. In the figures:
FIGS. 1A and 1B show an inner housing in a commercially delivered male electric connector,
wherein FIG. 1A shows a mating end of the inner housing and FIG. 1B shows a cable
inlet tail of the inner housing.
FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of a single TPA device.
FIG. 1D shows a cross-sectional view of a male connector consisting of an inner housing
and a corresponding outer housing.
FIG. 1E shows a cross-sectional view of the male connector shown in FIG. 1D and another
mating female connector when they are in a mated state.
FIG. 2 is an integrated terminal position assurance device and an inner housing used
in conjunction therewith, according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are perspective views of the integrated terminal position assurance
device from different perspectives.
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a receptacle connector comprising a male inner
housing and a male outer housing.
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the male connector shown in FIG. 4 and another
corresponding female connector when they are in a mated state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] In the following description, the present patent application will be described with
reference to various embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize
that various embodiments may be implemented without one or more specific details or
with other alternative and/or additional methods, materials, or components. In other
cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described
in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the present patent
application. Similarly, for the purpose of explanation, specific quantities, materials,
and configurations are set forth in order to provide a full understanding of embodiments
of the present patent application. However, the present patent application may be
implemented without specific details. In addition, it should be understood that various
embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings are illustrative representations
and are not necessarily drawn to scale.
[0032] Various embodiments and variations of the present patent application are further
described below in conjunction with the drawings.
[0033] FIG. 2 is an integrated terminal position assurance device 200 and an inner housing
300 used in conjunction therewith, according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are perspective views of the integrated terminal position assurance
device 200 from different perspectives.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, similar to the connector inner housing 100 shown in FIGS. 1A
and 1B, the connector inner housing 300 is a six-position (6P) connector inner housing
300 with an upper row and a lower row, which is designed to allow a terminal positioning
device to be loaded from mating side. In the embodiment, three TPA components 210A,
210B, and 210C are connected together by transverse connection parts 221 and 222,
thereby constituting a single-piece terminal position assurance device 200. Thus for
the connector inner housing 300 with six positions in two rows, only one part needs
to be assembled to accomplish additional locking of all terminals.
[0035] Since it is intended to lock all three columns of terminals with the single-piece
terminal position assurance device 200, the front end of the connector inner housing
300 is accordingly constructed to receive the single-piece terminal position assurance
device 200. Specifically, the front end of the connector inner housing 300 is constructed
to receive the three TPA components 210A, 210B, and 210C, as well as the transverse
connecting parts 221 and 222 therebetween, without inducing physical interference
to them.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, TPA components 210A, 210B, and 210C (collectively TPA component
210) each include a male terminal lock structure 212 and a female terminal lock structure
214, wherein the male terminal lock structure 212 is disposed at the front end of
the TPA component 210, i.e., the end that is to be inserted towards the inner housing
300, and the female terminal lock structure 214 is disposed at the rear end of the
TPA component 210, i.e., an end opposite the direction of insertion. The male terminal
lock structure 212 and the female terminal lock structure 214 are connected by a middle
transverse substrate 213.
[0037] The female terminal lock structure 214 includes a pair of female baffles 2145, which
may be two baffles (i.e., two cantilever plates) that extend from the transverse substrate
213 and being separate from each other. An opening is formed between the two female
baffles 2145. This opening design helps to achieve positioning of the female baffles
2145 in the corresponding connector inner housing. When the female terminal lock structure
214 of the TPA component 210 is in a terminal locking position, the two female baffles
2145 press the walls of the female terminal channel on both sides.
[0038] The male terminal lock structure 212 includes a pair of male baffles 2125 which extend
from the transverse substrate 213 and can be connected with the side baffles 2126
at upper and lower side thereof. This is conducive to enhancing its mechanical strength
and thus its terminal locking force. When the male terminal lock structure 212 of
the TPA component 210 is in a terminal locking position, the two male baffles 2125
press the walls of the male terminal channel on both sides.
[0039] The male terminal lock structure 212 may further include a positioning arm 215 extending
toward the front end. The positioning arm 215 includes two forwardly extending axial
beams 2151, and a locking crossbeam 2152 located at the end of the axial beams and
connecting the two axial beams. With the help of the positioning arm 215, the mounting
positioning of the TPA component 210 in the male inner housing 300 can be achieved.
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a receptacle connector 30 comprising a male
inner housing 300 and a male outer housing 330, wherein a terminal position assurance
device 200 as shown in FIG. 3A has been disposed in a TPA containing cavity 350 of
the male inner housing 300, and whereby a portion of a sidewall 345 of the TPA containing
cavity 350 (the upper sidewall and the lower sidewall in FIG. 4) constitutes a locking
wall of the terminal channel 340. Male baffles 214 of the TPA component 210 mounted
in place will press the locking wall 345 of the terminal channel on both the upper
and lower sides, thereby causing the locking wall 345 of the terminal channel to deform
toward the inside of the terminal channel, and the latching protrusion 352 disposed
on the inner side of the locking wall 345 (on the side toward the terminal channel)
will sufficiently enter into the latching notch of the male terminal 800 after deformation
of the locking wall 345, with the effect of preventing accidental withdrawal of the
male terminal 800.
[0041] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the male connector 30 shown in FIG. 4 and
another corresponding female connector 40 when they are in a mated state. As shown
in FIG. 5, the female connector 40 includes a female inner housing 500 and a female
outer housing 600 assembled together, with female terminals 900 being disposed in
terminal channels of the female inner housing 500. The female outer housing 600 is
capable of forming a mating connection relationship with the male outer housing 400.
The female inner housing 500 is also capable of forming a mating connection relationship
with the male inner housing 300, wherein the front end cavity of the female inner
housing 400 is received by the front end cavity of the male inner housing 300 so that
the terminal apertures at the front of them are aligned. Pins of the male terminal
800 pass through the front terminal apertures of the male inner housing 300 and through
the front terminal apertures of the female inner housing 400 so as to enter and be
gripped by the terminal acceptance frame of the female terminal 900. A TPA containing
cavity 450 is provided in the middle of the female inner housing 400, and female baffles
of the TPA component 210 press on a side wall 445 of the TPA containing cavity 450
(which forms a portion of a terminal channel), thereby causing the side wall 445 to
deform inwardly toward the terminal channel, and a latching protrusion 452 disposed
on the inner side of the side wall 445 (on the side facing the terminal channel) sufficiently
enters into a latching notch of the female terminal 900 after the deformation of the
side wall 445, which has the effect of preventing the accidental withdrawal of the
female terminal 900.
[0042] Accordingly, with the use of the TPA component 210 having both a male terminal lock
structure and a female terminal lock structure, the need to develop, produce, and
assemble separate TPA devices for the male inner housing 300 and the female inner
housing 500 is eliminated.
[0043] In addition, optionally, by connecting a plurality of TPA components 210 with a transverse
connecting part so as to constitute a single-piece terminal position assurance device
200 comprising the plurality of TPA components 210, both the manufacturing cost and
the assembly cost are further reduced.
[0044] Transverse connecting parts 221 and 222 may be simple connection crossbeam structure,
or be a connection block structure that better conforms with the inner wall of the
inner housing 300 to enhance the structural strength and mounting stability of the
single-piece terminal position assurance device 200. For example, as shown in FIG.
2, since the inner housing 300 is provided with a high-voltage interlocking (HVIL)
cavity 3101 of HVIL terminals, the height of which occupies about half of the overall
height of the inner housing 300, the transverse connection part 222 is designed to
be a connection block that has a width matching the width of the HVIL cavity 3101
and a height occupying the other half of the height of the inner housing 300. The
inner housing 300 is further provided with an idle cavity 3102 that is symmetrical
to the HVIL cavity, and the transverse connection part 221 thus has a similar symmetrical
design.
[0045] In the foregoing embodiments, a single-piece terminal position assurance device 200
including three TPA components 210 is illustrated, but it is to be understood that,
the number of TPA components 210 is not to be limited in the present application.
Accordingly, the terminal position assurance device of the present application shall
cover implementations in which there is only one integrated TPA component 210 and
hence no transverse connection part is required.
[0046] In the foregoing embodiments, a positioning arm 215 is provided at the end of the
male terminal lock structure 212, so that the TPA component 210 is to be loaded into
the male inner housing, and then with the aid of the engagement of the male inner
housing and the female inner housing, the female terminal lock structure of the TPA
member 210 enters into a terminal locking position. In other implementations, a positioning
arm 215 of suitable form may be provided at the end of the female terminal lock structure
214, so that the TPA component is to be loaded into the female inner housing, and
then with the aid of the engagement of the female inner housing and the male inner
housing, the male terminal lock structure of the TPA component enters a terminal locking
position.
[0047] In the present application, the specific constructions of the male inner housing
and the female inner housing are only examples. It is to be understood that the present
application shall cover combinations of male and female inner housings of various
types, wherein the integrated terminal position assurance device is adapted to be
mounted into one of the male and female inner housings, and wherein a pressing action
is to be applied to the walls of the terminal channels in both the male and female
inner housings to lock the terminals when the male and female inner housings are mated
in place.
[0048] In the present application, the specific constructions of the male outer housing
and the female outer housing are only examples as well. In possible embodiments, only
one connector housing is provided, and it is not divided into an outer housing and
an inner housing.
[0049] In the present application, one TPA component is used to press two terminal channels,
and it is to be understood that the number of terminal channels may be one, or some
other number, as long as they are capable of being pressed simultaneously by a single
TPA component.
[0050] It should also be understood that, in the drawings of this application, some of the
structures on the TPA component 210 are to meet a particular requirement of product
development design, but are not yet directly related to the claimed idea of the invention,
and the fact that these structures are graphically or literally represented in the
present application does not mean that these structures are essential features for
implementing the invention.
[0051] The present application utilizes specific phraseology to describe embodiments thereof.
For example, "one embodiment", "an embodiment", and/or "some embodiments" means a
feature, structure, or characteristic associated with at least one embodiment of the
present application. Accordingly, it should be emphasized and noted that "an embodiment"
or "one embodiment" or "an alternative embodiment" mentioned two or more times in
different places in the description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, certain features, structures, or characteristics of one or more embodiments
of the present application may be appropriately combined.
[0052] In the context of the present application, the words "a", "an" and/or "the" and the
like do not necessarily refer to the singular, but may also include the plural, unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Generally, the terms "including" and "comprising"
suggest only the inclusion of clearly identified steps and elements, which do not
constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also contains other
steps or elements.
[0053] Similarly, it should be noted that in order to simplify the presentation of the disclosure
of the present application, and thereby aid in the understanding of one or more embodiments
of the invention, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments of the present application
sometimes combine a variety of features into a single embodiment, figure or the description
thereof. However, such a method of disclosure does not imply that the subject of the
present application requires more features than those mentioned in the claims. In
fact, embodiments are to have fewer features than all features of a foregoing disclosed
single embodiment.
[0054] The basic concepts have been described above, and it will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that the foregoing disclosure is intended to be exemplary only and does
not constitute a limitation of the present application. Although not expressly stated
herein, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, improvements, and
amendments to this application. Such modifications, improvements, and amendments are
suggested in this application, so such modifications, improvements, and amendments
remain within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of this application.
1. An electric connector, comprising:
a first connector housing, comprising a plurality of first terminal channels; and
a terminal position assurance device (200), comprising one or more Terminal Position
Assurance (TPA) components (210), wherein each TPA component comprises a male terminal
lock structure (212) on one side and a female terminal lock structure (214) on another
side,
the terminal position assurance device being capable of being installed in a terminal
position assurance cavity of the first connector housing.
2. The electric connector of claim 1, wherein the terminal position assurance cavity
has an opening facing a mating end of the first connector housing.
3. The electric connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first connector housing is a male
connector housing for receiving a male terminal, and the male terminal lock structure
of the terminal position assurance device is capable of being installed in the terminal
position assurance cavity (350) of the male connector housing.
4. The electric connector of claim 3, wherein the male terminal lock structure comprises
a male baffle (2125), and the male baffle is to press a side wall of the adjacent
terminal position assurance cavity, and the side wall to be pressed forms a locking
wall (345) of the first terminal channel, and a latching protrusion (352) is provided
on a side of the locking wall facing the interior of the terminal channel.
5. The electric connector of claim 3, wherein the TPA components further comprises a
positioning arm extending from the male terminal lock structure, and the positioning
arm is to position the terminal position assurance device in the terminal position
assurance cavity (350) of the male connector housing.
6. The electric connector of claim 3, wherein the female terminal lock structure comprises
a female baffle (2145).
7. The electric connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the terminal channels
of the first connector housing are arranged in two rows and multiple columns, and
each TPA component is to be installed between the terminal channels of a corresponding
column.
8. The electric connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first connector
housing comprises two or more columns of terminal channels, the number of the TPA
components is correspondingly two or more, and the two or more TPA components are
integrally connected to each other by means of a transverse connection part (221,
222).
9. The electric connector of claim 8, wherein the transverse connection part (221, 222)
is a connection crossbeam structure.
10. The electric connector of claim 8 or 9, wherein the transverse connection part (221,
222) comprises a connection block structure.
11. The electric connector of claim 10, wherein the first connector housing comprises
a high-voltage interlocking (HVIL) cavity (3101) between two adjacent columns of terminal
channels, and the connection block structure has a width matching the width of the
HVIL cavity.
12. The electric connector of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first connector
housing is an inner housing.
13. An electric connector assembly, comprising:
a first electric connector comprising a first connector housing, the first connector
housing having a plurality of first terminal channels, the first electric connector
further comprising a terminal position assurance device (200), the terminal position
assurance device comprising one or more Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) components
(210), wherein each TPA component comprises a first terminal lock structure (212)
on one side and a second terminal lock structure (214) on another side, and the terminal
position assurance device is capable of being installed in a terminal position assurance
cavity of the first connector housing, thus pressing a locking wall of the first terminal
channel by the first terminal lock structure,
a mating second electric connector comprising a second connector housing, the second
connector housing having a plurality of second terminal channels, the second connector
housing being capable of be mated and connected with the first connector housing,
and the terminal position assurance device presses a locking wall of the second terminal
channel by means of a second terminal locking structure when the first connector housing
and the second connector housing are mated and connected.
14. The electric connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the first electric connector
is a male connector, the first connector housing is a male inner housing, the second
electric connector is a female connector and the second connector housing is a female
inner housing.
15. A terminal position assurance device, comprising:
one or more Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) components (210), wherein each TPA component
comprises a male terminal lock structure (212) on one side and a female terminal lock
structure (214) on another side.