Importance

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Abstract

An electrical connector system including a terminal retainer having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein and aligned in a rectilinear pattern of rows and columns. The terminal retainer includes a front face, an opposite rear face and a plurality of terminal cavities extending from the rear to the front face. Each terminal cavity receives a portion of a terminal, wherein the terminal has an annular abutment. A plurality of flexible locking fingers are provided which extend from the front face, each being positioned to straddle two adjacent terminal cavities. Each flexible locking finger includes a pair of spaced apart locking shoulders, one for each straddled terminal cavity, each locking shoulder having a terminus. When the female terminal is passed into a terminal cavity from the rear face, the terminus of the locking shoulder thereat interferingly abuts the terminal abutment, thereby preventing rearward withdrawal of the female terminal through the rear face. A secondary lock system is provided wherein at least one arm is positioned on at least one groove of the terminal retainer so as to abut the terminal abutment of any terminals received into the terminal retainer. A repair method according to the present invention provides for removal and replacement of the female terminals after prior assembly, wherein the flexible locking fingers provide enough surface between each adjacent pair of terminals for an elongated, thin shafted repair tool to flex the locking finger to release the female terminals held thereby when desired.

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First Claim