FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2016
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
TITLE “CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”
APPLICANT
(a) Name : DHOOT TRANSMISSIONS PVT LTD
(b) Nationality : Indian
(c) Address : 15km Stone, Gut No 102, Farola, Paithan Road, Aurangabad,
Maharashtra – 431137
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present disclosure generally relates to an electrical connector assembly. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a connector assembly comprising a first housing coupled to a second housing, each receiving power connectors and each having a lock member to hold the power connectors from back out.
BACKGROUND
Electrical connector systems are used for joining electric terminations of an electric circuit. Some applications where electrical connector systems are used are in automotive Wiring Harnesses, battery holders, barrier strips, and power connectors. Electric connector systems include a male connector, which is a plug and a female connector, which is a jack. The two connectors are then joined and held together, by a locking mechanism. The purpose of locking the two connectors together is for preventing disconnection problems that may degrade the system performance, due to loose connections.
However, terminal back out occurs when the locking mechanism is not susceptible enough to hold the male connector and female connector together. To overcome terminal back out, there is a need for a connector assembly comprising a secondary lock.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a connector assembly comprising a first housing coupled to a second housing, each receiving power connectors and each having a lock member to hold the power connectors from back out and the concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the disclosed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a connector assembly facilitating prevention of power connectors from backing out is disclosed. The connector assembly comprises a first housing having a first opening. The first housing comprises a cut section. The first housing comprises a first lock member operatively coupled to the first opening. The connector assembly comprises a second housing removably coupled to the first housing. The second housing comprises a second opening. The second housing comprises an elongated structure and a second lock member operatively coupled to the second opening. The first lock member is received in the first opening and the second lock member is received in the second opening. The second housing is removably coupled to the first housing by inserting the elongated structure in the cut section. Each of the first housing and the second housing is provided with power connectors. The connection between the first housing and the second housing, and the first lock member and the second lock member ensures that the power connectors are firmly gripped and prevented from backing out.
The above summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, example embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, example embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the example embodiments will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate an exploded view, a top view and a side view a connector assembly, respectively for eliminating back out of terminal or power connectors, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate a side view of the connector assembly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 illustrates the connector assembly comprising a first housing and a second housing, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first housing and the second housing comprising the first power connectors and the second power connectors, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8 and 9 illustrate cross-sectional side view of the first lock member and the second lock member, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 10 illustrates a top cross-section view of the first lock member and the second lock member, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 11 illustrates the first lock member provided with a step section, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 12 illustrates the second lock member, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
In addition to the illustrative aspects, exemplary embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
The present disclosure discloses a connector assembly facilitating prevention of power connectors from backing out. The connector assembly comprises a first housing having a first opening. The first housing comprises a cut section. The first housing comprises a first lock member operatively coupled to the first opening. The connector assembly comprises a second housing removably coupled to the first housing. The second housing comprises a second opening. The second housing comprises an elongated structure and a second lock member operatively coupled to the second opening. The first lock member is received in the first opening and the second lock member is received in the second opening. The second housing is removably coupled to the first housing by inserting the elongated structure in the cut section. Each of the first housing and the second housing is provided with power connectors. The connection between the first housing and the second housing, and the first lock member and the second lock member ensures that the power connectors are firmly gripped and prevented from backing out.

Various features and embodiments of the connector assembly are explained with the help of FIGs 1-12.
Referring to FIG. 1A, an exploded view of a connector assembly 100 is shown, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The connector assembly 100 comprises a first housing or first receptacle 110 and a second housing or second receptacle 130. The first housing 110 is provided in an elongated structure as can be seen in FIG. 1A. The second housing 130 is provided in a hollow structure. The first housing 110 comprises a hollow section 112 at one end. Further, the first housing 110 comprises a first protrusion 114 at top of the first housing 110. Further, the first housing 110 comprises a first cut section 116 adjacent to the first protrusion 114.
In one embodiment, the first housing 110 comprises first openings 118 facing each other at its structure. The first openings 118 are provided to receive a first lock member 120. The first lock member 120 is provided in substantial rectangular or square or cylindrical shape.
The second housing 130 comprises a head section 132 having a diameter equal to more than the diameter of the first housing 130 at the end having the first protrusion 114. The head section 132 is comprises a plurality of headers 133. The plurality of headers 133 is provided to receive power connectors such as wires. Further, the head section 132 is provided with an elongated structure 134 extending parallel to body of the second housing 130. The elongated structure 134 is provided with a hook 136 at its free end. Further, the second housing 130 is provided with second openings 138 facing each other at its structure. The second openings 138 are provided to receive a second lock member 140. The second lock member 140 is provided in substantial rectangular or square or cylindrical shape.
Referring to FIG. 2 and 3, a top view and a side view of the connector assembly 100 is shown, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen from Fig. 3, the first opening 118 on the first housing 110 is provided towards the top surface of the first housing 110. Further, the second opening 138 on the second housing 130 is provided at bottom portion of the second housing 130. The first opening 118 and the second opening 138 are not

provided in the same axis such that each of the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 can be operated independently.
The position of the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 when inserted into the first opening 118 and the second opening 138, respectively is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a side view of the connector assembly 100 from front and rear view of the first housing 110 and the second housing 130, respectively.
The connector assembly 100 may be used to provide multiple headers 133 with the same circuit size on one PCB to avoid mis-mating of a receptacle to the wrong header. In one example, the headers (not shown) are also provided in the first housing 110. In order to lock multiple headers in the first housing 110, at first, the first lock member 120 is inserted in the first opening 118.
Further, the second lock member 140 is inserted in the second opening 138. After inserting the first lock member 120 in the first opening 118 and the second lock member 140 in the second opening 138, the second housing 130 is inserted through the hollow section 112 provided in the first housing 110. When the second housing 130 is inserted in the first housing 110, the elongated structure 134 is received in the first cut section 116. Subsequently, the tip 136 is made to come out through the first cut section 116 such that the tip 136 is locked with help of the first protrusion 114. In one example, the tip 136 locks with the first cut section 116 and the first protrusion 114 as a snap-on mechanism to positively lock the first cut section 116 and the second housing 130. After locking the tip 136 locks with the first cut section 116 and the first protrusion 114, the first housing 110 and the second housing 130 are used as connectors.
Referring to FIG. 6, the connector assembly 100 comprising the first housing 110 and the second housing 130 is shown. As can be seen, the first housing 110 is provided with a plurality of first power connectors or wires or terminals 125 drawn through the hollow section 112. Similarly, the second housing 130 is provided with a plurality of second power connectors or wires or terminals 145 drawn through the headers 133 as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of the first housing 110 and the second housing 130 comprising the first power connectors 125 and the second power connectors 145, respectively is shown. Specifically, FIG. 7 shows the cross-sectional view of the first housing 110 and the second housing 130 in which the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 are positioned in axis with the first opening 118 and the second opening 138, respectively. The first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 are provided to secure or lock the first power connectors 125 and the second power connectors 145 in the first housing 110 and the second housing 130, respectively. Further, the elongated structure 134 is locked with the help of the first cut section 116 and the first protrusion 114. As the first housing 110 and the second housing 130 are properly secures, inadvertent terminal back out of the first power connectors 125 and the second power connectors 145 is prevented. Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, cross-sectional side view of the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 in which the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 are inserted into the first opening 118 and the second opening 138, respectively are shown. FIG. 10 shows a top cross-section view of the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 in which the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 are inserted into the first opening 118 and the second opening 138, respectively. It should be noted that the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 are inserted into the first opening 118 and the second opening 138, respectively in the direction similar or normal to the direction in which the first power connectors 125 and the second power connectors 145 are inserted. Further, it must be noted that the first lock member 120 and the second lock member 140 are placed between the terminal locking location and wire crimping location to prevent wire back out.
In one implementation, the first lock member 120 is provided with a step section 122 as shown in FIG. 11. The step section 122 is provided to reduce the gap between first lock member 120 and the first power connectors 125. The step section 122 facilitates in improving the first power connectors 125 and the second power connectors 145 and arcing could not happen in the first power connectors 125 and the second power connectors 145 even though the first housing 110 or the second housing 130 damage or the primary lock damages or the first power connectors 125 and the second power connectors 145 comes out from the first housing 110 or the second housing 130, respectively.

Similarly, the thickness of the second lock member 140 is increased as shown in FIG. 12. The thickness of the second lock member 140 is increased for improving the interference with the second power connectors 145 to maximum. As a result, the second power connectors or terminals 145 back out is eliminated.
It should be understood that the connector assembly is used to prevent the back out of the power connectors or terminals. Each of the first housing and the second housing may be provided with at two or more threads to receive the power connectors. The lock members are used to hold the power connectors in the housing and the elongated member is provided on the second housing to lock with the first housing.
As explained above, the connector assembly may include two or more headers to receive terminals or power connectors. In one example, a three pole electrical connector assembly comprises a male housing and a female housing. A secondary male lock is inserted into a bottom portion of the male housing and a secondary female lock is inserted inside into the bottom portion of the female housing. The secondary male lock is inserted normal to the direction of terminal insertion and removal of the male housing. The secondary female lock is inserted normal to the direction of terminal insertion and removal of the female housing. In other words, the first lock member and the second lock member are inserted into the first opening and the second opening, respectively in the direction similar or normal to the direction in which the first power connectors and the second power connectors are inserted. Further, the first lock member and the second lock member are placed between the terminal locking location and wire crimping location to prevent wire back out.
The secondary male lock is provided from the side of the male housing in order to prevent inadvertent terminal back out. The secondary male lock shape is unique and is locked inside the male housing itself, which prevents terminal back out. The secondary female lock is provided from the side of the female housing in order to prevent inadvertent terminal back out. The secondary female lock shape is unique and is locked inside the female housing that prevents terminal back out. The three pole connector assembly has the secondary male lock in a single

row of the terminal in the male housing, and the secondary female lock in a single row of the terminal in the female housing.
While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein.
The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible.

WE CLAIM:
1. A connector assembly (100), comprising:
a first housing (110) comprising a first opening (118), wherein the first housing (110) comprises a cut section (116);
a first lock member (120) operatively coupled to the first opening (118);
a second housing (130) removably coupled to the first housing (110), wherein the second housing (130) comprising a second opening (138), wherein the second housing (130) comprises an elongated structure (134); and
a second lock member (140) operatively coupled to the second opening (138),
wherein the first lock member (120) is received in the first opening (118), wherein the second lock member (140) is received in the second opening (138), and wherein the second housing (130) is removably coupled to the first housing (110) by inserting the elongated structure (134) in the cut section (116).
2. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing (110) and the second housing (130) comprises power connectors (125, 145).
3. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing (110) comprises a hollow section (112) to receive the second housing (130).
4. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing (110) comprises a first protrusion (114) to hold the elongated structure (134) of the second housing (130).
5. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elongated structure (134) comprises a hook (136) to hold the elongated structure (134) against the first protrusion (114).
6. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elongated structure (134) is provided in parallel to the second housing (130)

7. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second housing (130) comprises a head section (132).
8. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the head section (132) comprises a plurality of headers (133) provided to receive power connectors (145).
9. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing (110) comprises plurality of headers provided to receive power connectors (125).
10. The connector assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first lock member (120) is provided with a step section (122) to provide grip with the power connectors (125)

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