This invention relates generally to electrical connectors and more particularly to a sealed electrical connector.
Sealed electrical connectors are used in many areas, such as in the automotive industry and in outdoors commercial fields, to protect electrical connections from moisture or other contaminants. In today's vehicles, there are many systems, particularly vehicle safety and control systems, such as brake or wheel speed sensors, exterior lighting assemblies, fuel injector connections, and other engine compartment applications that utilize electrical connectors in environments where it is desirable to protect the internal contacts of the connector from contamination.
Typically, conventional sealed connectors require several component parts to form a completed connector, particularly when the connector is combined with other features, such as terminal position assurance (TPA) and terminal retention. This is both inconvenient and costly as the seals, retainers, TPA members, and other components may be lost or damaged during initial assembly or when service operations are performed.
A need exists for a sealed connector that, among other things, is less complex, more reliable and less costly to produce.