Electrical connector having visual and tactile indicators for proper independent secondary lock positioning

Abstract

The electrical connector has an independent secondary lock (ISL) and a male blade stabilizer within the outer housing. The ISL is movable from a pre-locked position to a locked position relative to the outer housing and the male blade stabilizer, and the male blade stabilizer is movable from a pre-locked position to a locked position relative to the outer housing and the independent secondary lock. An opening through the male blade stabilizer allows a user to visually determine whether the ISL is properly seated. Additionally, the ISL and male blade stabilizer include features that prevent the male blade stabilizer from moving to the locked position if the ISL is not properly seated, thereby providing tactile and visual indication during connector mating.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Related Applications) This application claims priority to Indian Application No. 202241065565 filed on November 16, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to the field of electrical connectors having an independent secondary lock. [Background technology]

[0003] In some applications, an independent secondary lock is used to increase the terminal retention force for retaining the terminals within the electrical connector housing of the electrical connector and must be properly seated within the electrical connector to avoid damage to the terminals during mating of the electrical connector with another connector.

[0004] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1] 1 depicts a rear perspective view of an electrical connector system having a male electrical connector and a female electrical connector. [Figure 2] 1 depicts a rear exploded perspective view of the electrical connector system. [Figure 3] 1 depicts a front view of the outer housing of a male electrical connector. [Figure 4] 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of the outer housing. [Figure 5] 1 depicts a front perspective view of an independent secondary lock of a male electrical connector; [Figure 6] 1 depicts a front view of an independent secondary lock; [Figure 7] 1 depicts a front perspective view of a terminal housing of a male electrical connector. [Figure 8]1 illustrates a front view of a terminal housing. [Figure 9] 1 depicts a front perspective view of a male blade stabilizer of a male electrical connector. [Figure 10] 1 illustrates a front view of a terminal housing. [Figure 11] 1 depicts a front view of a male electrical connector with an independent secondary lock in a pre-locked position; [Figure 12] 1 depicts a rear view of a male electrical connector with an independent secondary lock in a pre-locked position; [Figure 13] 1 depicts a front view of a male electrical connector with an independent secondary lock in a final locked position; [Figure 14] 1 depicts a rear view of a male electrical connector with an independent secondary lock in a final locked position; [Figure 15] 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of a male electrical connector with a male blade stabilizer in a pre-locked position; [Figure 16] 10 depicts a cross-sectional view showing the process of mating the male and female electrical connectors with the independent secondary lock moving to a final locking position; [Figure 17] 10 depicts a cross-sectional view showing the steps that occur when an independent secondary lock is not properly moved to a final locking position and an attempt to mate a male electrical connector with a female electrical connector; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and described in detail herein, with the understanding that while the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, the present disclosure should be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that illustrated and described herein. Thus, unless otherwise stated, features disclosed herein may be combined to form additional combinations not otherwise shown for purposes of brevity. It will be further understood that in some embodiments, one or more elements illustrated as examples in the drawings may be eliminated and / or substituted with alternative elements within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0007] Directional terms such as front, back, horizontal, vertical, etc. are used for ease of description and do not imply a required orientation during use.

[0008] The present disclosure is directed to a male electrical connector 20 of an electrical connector system 22 that also includes a female electrical connector 24 (see FIG. 1). A plurality of conductive terminals T1 are mounted within the male electrical connector 20, and a plurality of conductive terminals T2 are mounted within the female electrical connector 24 (see FIGS. 16 and 17). When the male electrical connector 20 and the female electrical connector 24 are mated to one another, the terminals mate to form the electrical connector system 22.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 2 , the male electrical connector 20 includes an insulating outer housing 26 in which are positioned an insulating mat seal cap 28, a mat seal 30, an insulating independent secondary lock (ISL) 32, an insulating terminal housing 34, and an insulating male blade stabilizer 36. The ISL 32 and male blade stabilizer 36 function to provide a visual indicator to a user that a terminal installed within the male electrical connector 20 is properly seated. The ISL 32 and male blade stabilizer 36 also function to prevent the male electrical connector 20 from finally mating with the female electrical connector 24 if the terminal is not properly seated. The outer housing 26, mat seal cap 28, and terminal housing 34 are preferably formed from a rigid material such as nylon (PA66). The ISL 32 and male blade stabilizer 36 are preferably formed from a rigid material such as polybutylene terephthalate. The mat seal 30 is preferably formed from an elastomeric material.

[0010] 3 and 4, outer housing 26 has a top wall 26a, a bottom wall 26b, and side walls 26c, 26d, and an interior central wall 38 extending between top wall 26a, bottom wall 26b, and side walls 26c, 26d to define a longitudinally extending rear cavity 40 extending from a rear end 42 of outer housing 26 to central wall 38, and a longitudinally extending forward cavity 44 extending from central wall 38 to a front end 46 of outer housing 26. Upper and lower rows of passages 48, 50 extend through central wall 38 from its rear end to its front end and provide communication between rear cavity 40 and forward cavity 44.

[0011] A pair of generally U-shaped upper walls forming pockets 52 extend from top wall 26a and central wall 38 into forward cavity 44, and a pair of generally U-shaped lower walls forming pockets 52 extend from bottom wall 26b and central wall 38 into forward cavity 44. Each U-shaped wall includes first and second vertical walls 54a, 54b extending from the respective top and bottom walls 26a, 26b, and a horizontal wall 54c closing the ends of the vertical walls 54a, 54b. In each pocket 52, a first protrusion 56 extends from wall 54a into pocket 52, and a second protrusion 58 extends from wall 54b into pocket 52. In each pocket 52, one protrusion, designated protrusion 56, is angled relative to a longitudinal axis 60 of the outer housing 26 and has a front face 56a facing the front end 46 and a rear face 56b perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 60 and facing the central wall 38, and the other protrusion, designated protrusion 58, has a front face 58a angled relative to the longitudinal axis 60 and facing the front end 46 and a rear face 58b angled relative to the longitudinal axis 60 and to the front face 58a and facing the central wall 38. The vertical walls 54b of the upper pocket 52 face each other and are spaced apart to form a cavity portion 62 therebetween that forms part of the forward cavity 44. The vertical walls 54b of the lower pocket 52 face each other and are spaced apart to form a cavity portion 64 therebetween that forms part of the forward cavity 44. The horizontal wall 54c of the upper pocket 52 is spaced from the horizontal wall 54c of the lower pocket 52 to form cavity portions 66, 68 therebetween, which form part of the forward cavity 44. The cavity portions 66, 68 and the portion of the forward cavity 44 therebetween form an area 70. A protrusion 72 extends from each side wall 26c, 26d into the respective cavity portions 64, 66 at a location spaced between the respective horizontal walls 54c. The protrusion 72 is between the upper pocket 52 and the lower pocket 52.

[0012] Mat seal cap 28 is positioned at rear end 42 of outer housing 26 and within rear cavity 40, and mat seal 30 is positioned within rear cavity 40 forward of mat seal cap 28 and rearward of center wall 38. ISL 32 is positioned within cavity portions 64, 66, 68, and terminal housing 34 is positioned partially within cavity portions 64, 66, 68 and partially within front cavity 44 of outer housing 26, forward of ISL 32 and rearward of male blade stabilizer 36. Male blade stabilizer 36 is within forward cavity 44 and positioned at forward end 46.

[0013] 2, mat seal cap 28 includes a body 74 having upper and lower rows of spaced-apart longitudinal passages 76, 78 extending from its rear end to its front end. Mat seal 30 includes a body 80 having upper and lower rows of spaced-apart longitudinal passages 82, 84 extending from its rear end to its front end. Respective passages 48, 76, 82 are aligned with one another, and respective passages 50, 78, 84 are aligned with one another.

[0014] The ISL 32 (see FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is assembled and shipped in a pre-locked position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , that allows insertion of terminals into the male electrical connector 20. After insertion of terminals into the male electrical connector 20, the ISL 32 is moved relative to the outer housing 26 and terminal housing 34 using a maintenance tool (not shown) to a final locked position, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 . The ISL 32 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer housing 26. The ISL 32 includes a body 86 having a lower portion 86 a that fits within the cavity 64 and an upper portion 86 b that fits within the cavity portions 66, 68, and an extension portion 88 that extends from the front end of the lower portion 86 a. The lower portion 86 a includes an opening 90 (see FIG. 6 ) that extends from its rear end to its front end and is elongated in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ISL 32. Extension portion 88 has a top wall 88a, a bottom wall 88b, and side walls 88c, 88d that form a longitudinally extending opening 92 that aligns with opening 90. Upper portion 86b includes upper and lower rows of spaced apart passages 94, 96 that extend from its rear end to its front end. Each passage 94, 96 has at least one finger 98 extending upwardly from its bottom end. The lower row of passages 96 overlies opening 90.

[0015] ISL 32 seats against central wall 38. In the pre-locked position of ISL 32, lower portion 86a of ISL 32 seats within cavity portion 64 and upper portion seats within region 70. ISL 32 can move upwardly and downwardly relative to central wall 38 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of outer housing 26.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the terminal housing 34 includes a body 100 having a rear portion 100a, a front portion 100b, and first and second spaced-apart extension portions 102a, 102b extending from the front end of the front portion 100b. The outer periphery of the rear portion 100a conforms to the front cavity 44 of the outer housing 26. The front portion 100b has a smaller outer periphery than the rear portion 100a. Upper and lower rows of spaced-apart longitudinal passages 104, 106 extend from the rear end of the rear portion 100a to the front end of the front portion 100b. An upper notch 108 is provided at the upper end of the rear portion 100a above the upper row of passages 104, and a lower notch 110 is provided at the lower end of the rear portion 100a below the lower row of passages 106. The extension portions 102a, 102b extend forward from the front portion 100b between the rows of channels 104, 106. Flexible latches 112 having barbed ends extend from opposite sides of the front portion 100b into notches in the sides of the rear portion 100a. Each barb on each flexible latch 112 is provided at the rear end of a flexible arm and faces outward.

[0017] Rear portion 100a of terminal housing 34 seats against the front end of ISL 32 and seats within region 70. Barbs on latch 112 engage protrusions 72 extending from side walls 26c, 26d of outer housing 26 to prevent terminal housing 34 from easily removing from outer housing 26. Extended portions 102a, 102b of terminal housing 34 extend into front cavity 44 of outer housing 26. Extended portion 88 of ISL 32 extends into lower notch 110 of terminal housing 34. Lower notch 110 has a vertical dimension that is greater than the vertical dimension of extended portion 88 of ISL 32.

[0018] The male blade stabilizer 36 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) is assembled and shipped in a pre-locked position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. After the ISL 32 is moved to its final locked position, the male blade stabilizer 36 is moved to its final locked position by engaging the female electrical connector 24, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The male blade stabilizer 36 is movable longitudinally of the outer housing 26, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the independent secondary lock 32. The male blade stabilizer 36 includes a body 114 having a top wall 114a, a bottom wall 114b, and side walls 114c, 114d, and a front wall 116 extending between the walls 114a-d to define a recess 118. The walls 114a-d form an outer periphery that generally corresponds to the shape of the forward cavity 44 of the outer housing 26. Upper and lower rows of spaced-apart longitudinal passages 120, 122 extend from the rear end of the front wall 116 to its front end. Respective passages 104, 120 are aligned with one another, and respective passages 106, 122 are aligned with one another. The front wall 116 extends from its rear end to its front end and has an elongated opening 124 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the male blade stabilizer 36. The lower row of passages 122 is vertically spaced above the openings 124. The openings 124 have dimensions greater than the dimensions of the extension portion 88 of the ISL 32. The openings 124 are separate from the passages 120, 122 and are aligned with the lower notches 110 of the terminal housing 34. A pair of openings 126a, 126b are provided through the front wall 116 between the rows of passages 120, 122 and are sized to receive the extension portions 102a, 102b of the terminal housing 34. The top wall 114a and the bottom wall include a pair of spaced-apart notches, each having a first flexible latch 128 and a second flexible latch 130 extending rearward from the front wall 116. Each latch 128, 130 includes a barb at the end of a flexible arm, with the barbs of the latches 128, 130 in each notch facing away from each other. The barbs extend rearward of the rear ends of the top wall 114a and the bottom wall 114b. The latch 128 is longer than the latch 130. A pair of flexible latches 132a, 132b extend forward from the sides of the front wall 116. Each latch 132a, 132b includes a barb at the end of a flexible arm.A central portion 134 of the bottom wall 114b extends rearward from the front wall 116 and is between the pair of latches 128, 130. The central portion 134 is below the opening 124.

[0019] A forward portion 100b of the terminal housing 34 is partially positioned within the recess 118 of the male blade stabilizer 36, extension portions 102a, 102b of the terminal housing 34 extend through elongated openings 126a, 126b of the male blade stabilizer 36, the latch 112 of the terminal housing 34 engages with the protrusion 72 on the outer housing 26, and the barb on the latch 128 of the male blade stabilizer 36 is inserted into the pocket 52 and passed by the protrusion 56 on the outer housing 26, as shown in FIG. 15 . The barb on the latch 130 of the male blade stabilizer 36 is partially within the pocket 52 but is not passed by the protrusion 58 on the outer housing 26 (see FIG. 15 ) prior to mating with the female electrical connector 24. The male blade stabilizer 36 is able to move longitudinally relative to the terminal housing 34 and the outer housing 26.

[0020] In the pre-locked state of the ISL 32, when the male electrical connector 20 is not mated with the female electrical connector 24 (as the male electrical connector 20 is shipped for use), the ISL 32 is in the pre-locked position and the male blade stabilizer 36 is in the pre-locked position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. When the ISL 32 is in the pre-locked position, the bottom end of the lower portion 86a of the ISL 32 abuts against the upper surface of the bottom wall 26b of the outer housing 26. The passage 94 is partially aligned with the passages 104 and 120, and the passage 96 is partially aligned with the passages 106 and 122. The extension portion 88 of the ISL 32 passes through the notch 110 in the terminal housing 34. The opening 92 in the extension portion 88 of the ISL 32 is partially aligned with the opening 124 in the male blade stabilizer 36. When a user views male electrical connector 20 through front end 46, the user sees only top wall 88a and portions of side walls 88c, 88d of extension portion 88 of ISL 32 and a portion of opening 92; the user does not see bottom wall 88b of extension portion 88 because bottom wall 88b is blocked by central portion 134 of male blade stabilizer 36 (see FIG. 11 ). This visually indicates to the user that ISL 32 of male electrical connector 20 is in the pre-locked position.

[0021] The terminal is then inserted through rear end 42 of outer housing 26, through the row of passages 76, 78 in mat seal cap 28, the row of passages 82, 84 in mat seal 30, and the row of passages 48, 50 in center wall 38. The terminal is then inserted through the row of passages 94, 96 in ISL 32, through the row of passages 104, 106 in terminal housing 34, and through the row of passages 120, 122 in male blade stabilizer 36. After the terminal is inserted, the user inserts a maintenance tool into the portion of opening 92 in ISL 32 that is visible through opening 124 in male blade stabilizer 36. The user then manipulates the maintenance tool to move ISL 32 upward relative to terminal housing 34 in a direction transverse to the terminal insertion direction (see FIGS. 13 and 14 ) until fingers 98 on ISL 32 engage the terminal in a known manner, moving ISL 32 to a final, locked position. The extension portion 88 of the ISL 32 moves upward in the notch 110 of the terminal housing 34. The lower portion 86a remains within the cavity portion 64 in the final locked position. The ISL 32 provides an additional securing function for the terminal, independent of the primary locking mechanism. After removing the service tool, the user can tell whether the ISL 32 is properly engaged with the terminal by again viewing the male electrical connector 20 through the front end 46. If the user can see the bottom wall 88b of the extension portion 88 of the ISL 32 through the opening 124 of the male blade stabilizer 36, then the user knows that the ISL 32 is properly locked in the final locked position. Similarly, if the user cannot see the bottom wall 88b of the extension portion 88 of the ISL 32 through the opening 124 of the male blade stabilizer 36, then the user knows that the ISL 32 is not properly locked in the final locked position, which indicates to the user that further action must be taken before mating with the female electrical connector 24.

[0022] After the ISL 32 has been moved to the final locked position, the male electrical connector 20 is ready to be mated with the female electrical connector 24, as shown in FIG. 16 . As the male electrical connector 20 is inserted into the female electrical connector 24, the front end of the female electrical connector 24 engages the front end of the male blade stabilizer 36. As the male electrical connector 20 is inserted further into the female electrical connector 24, the male blade stabilizer 36 moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing 26 from its pre-locked position. The central portion 134 of the bottom wall 114b of the male blade stabilizer 36 passes below the bottom wall 88b of the extension portion 88 of the ISL 32. The latch 130 of the male blade stabilizer 36 flexes and passes over the protrusion 58 on the outer housing 26, and the latch 128 moves further into the pocket 52. Additionally, latches 132a, 132b on male blade stabilizer 36 latch with protrusions (not shown) on female electrical connector 24. Male blade stabilizer 36 stabilizes the terminals on male electrical connector 20 during connection with the terminals on female electrical connector 24. Male blade stabilizer 36 also protects the blades of the terminals from inadvertently being butted and bent, which could cause the blades of the terminals to become misaligned and interrupt the electrical continuity of the mated assembly.

[0023] In situations where the ISL 32 is not properly moved to its final locked position, the extension portion 88 of the ISL 32 prevents longitudinal movement of the male blade stabilizer 36 toward its final locked position, as shown in FIG. 17 . In this situation, the forward end of the female electrical connector 24 engages the forward end of the male blade stabilizer 36, and as the male electrical connector 20 is further inserted into the female electrical connector 24, the male blade stabilizer 36 moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing 26 until the central portion 134 of the male blade stabilizer 36 abuts against the bottom wall 88 b of the extension portion 88 of the ISL 32. This prevents further longitudinal movement of the male blade stabilizer 36 toward the rear end 42, providing a tactile feel for the user during mating, as well as a visual indicator that the user can see that the male electrical connector 20 is not fully inserted into the female electrical connector 24. This will prompt the user to unplug the male electrical connector 20 from the female electrical connector 24 and inspect the position of the ISL 32.

[0024] In the context of describing the invention (particularly in the context of the claims below), the use of the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as "at least one," and similar referents, should be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term "at least one" followed by a list of one or more items (e.g., "at least one of A and B") should be construed to mean one item selected from the listed item (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" should be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to"), unless otherwise stated. The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein, unless otherwise indicated herein, is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually set forth herein. All processes described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein is intended merely to better clarify the invention and does not impose limitations on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of these preferred embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors anticipate that skilled artisans will employ such variations as necessary, and the inventors intend that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. 1. An electrical connector comprising: An outer housing; an independent secondary lock mounted within the outer housing, the independent secondary lock having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; a terminal housing mounted within the outer housing, the terminal housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; a male blade stabilizer mounted within the outer housing, the male blade stabilizer having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough, the male blade stabilizer having an opening therethrough that allows a user to visually view the independent secondary lock, the opening being separated from the terminal-receiving passages therethrough; the independent secondary lock is movable relative to the outer housing, the terminal housing, and the male blade stabilizer from a pre-locked position to a locked position, and the terminal-receiving passages in the independent secondary lock are partially aligned with the terminal-receiving passages in the terminal housing and the male blade stabilizer when the independent secondary lock is in the pre-locked position, and are capable of receiving terminals therein.

2. 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the male blade stabilizer is movable relative to the outer housing, the independent secondary lock, and the terminal housing from a pre-locked position to a locked position.

3. 3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the male blade stabilizer is movable longitudinally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the independent secondary lock.

4. 3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the independent secondary lock includes an extension that passes through the terminal housing.

5. 5. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the male blade stabilizer includes a front wall having an opening therethrough and a bottom wall extending from the front wall, the bottom wall aligning with the extension portion when the independent secondary lock and male blade stabilizer are in a pre-locked position, and the bottom wall configured to pass over the extension portion when the independent secondary lock and male blade stabilizer are in a locked position.

6. 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein each terminal-receiving passage in said independent secondary lock includes at least one finger configured to engage a terminal positioned therein.

7. the outer housing has a central wall dividing the outer housing into a front cavity and a rear cavity, the central wall having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; the independent secondary lock, terminal housing, and male blade stabilizer are mounted within the forward cavity, the independent secondary lock engaging the center wall; 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the terminal-receiving passages in the central wall are partially aligned with the terminal-receiving passages in the independent secondary lock when the independent secondary lock is in a pre-locked position.

8. a mat cap seal mounted within a rear cavity of the outer housing, the mat cap seal having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; 8. The electrical connector of claim 7, further comprising a mat seal mounted within a rear cavity of said outer housing, said mat seal having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough.

9. 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the terminal housing has a body having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough and an extension portion extending from the body, the extension portion of the terminal housing passing through the opening in the male blade stabilizer.

10. 1. An electrical connector comprising: An outer housing; an independent secondary lock mounted within the outer housing, the independent secondary lock having a body and an extension portion extending forwardly from the body, the body having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; a terminal housing mounted within the outer housing, the terminal housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough, the extension portion passing through the terminal housing; a male blade stabilizer mounted to the outer housing, the male blade stabilizer having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough, the male blade stabilizer being movable relative to the outer housing, an independent secondary lock, and a terminal housing from a pre-locked position to a locked position, an extension of the independent secondary lock engaging a body of the male blade stabilizer when a terminal is not properly seated in the electrical connector and the male blade stabilizer is moved relative to the independent secondary lock.

11. 11. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the male blade stabilizer has a body through which the plurality of terminal-receiving passages extend and a bottom wall extending rearwardly from the body, wherein an extension of the independent secondary lock engages the bottom wall of the male blade stabilizer when a terminal is not properly seated in the electrical connector and the male blade stabilizer is moved relative to the independent secondary lock, and wherein the bottom wall passes through the extension when the independent secondary lock and male blade stabilizer are in a locked position.

12. 12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the independent secondary lock is movable relative to the outer housing, terminal housing, and male blade stabilizer from a pre-locked position to a locked position.

13. 13. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the independent secondary lock is movable in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the outer housing and the male blade stabilizer is movable in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer housing.

14. 12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the male blade stabilizer includes a front wall having an opening therethrough that is separate from the terminal-receiving passage, the extending portion of the independent secondary lock being visible through the opening.

15. 12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein each terminal-receiving passage in the independent secondary lock includes at least one finger configured to engage a terminal positioned therein.

16. the outer housing has a central wall dividing the outer housing into a front cavity and a rear cavity, the central wall having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; the independent secondary lock, terminal housing, and male blade stabilizer are mounted within the forward cavity, the independent secondary lock engaging the center wall; 12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the terminal-receiving passages in the central wall are partially aligned with the terminal-receiving passages in the independent secondary lock when the independent secondary lock is in a pre-locked position.

17. a mat cap seal mounted within a rear cavity of the outer housing, the mat cap seal having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; 17. The electrical connector of claim 16, further comprising a mat seal mounted within a rear cavity of said outer housing, said mat seal having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough.

18. 1. An electrical connector comprising: An outer housing; an independent secondary lock mounted within the outer housing, the independent secondary lock having a body having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough and an extension portion extending from the body; a terminal housing mounted within the outer housing, the terminal housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough, the independent secondary lock extending portion passing through the terminal housing; a male blade stabilizer mounted within the outer housing, the male blade stabilizer having a front wall with a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough and an opening therethrough that allows a user to visually view the independent secondary lock, the opening being separated from the terminal-receiving passages therethrough, the male blade stabilizer further including a bottom wall extending from the front wall; the independent secondary lock is movable relative to the outer housing, the terminal housing, and the male blade stabilizer from a pre-locked position to a locked position, and the terminal-receiving passages in the independent secondary lock are partially aligned with the terminal-receiving passages in the terminal housing and the male blade stabilizer when the independent secondary lock is in the pre-locked position and are capable of receiving terminals therein; the male blade stabilizer is movable from a pre-locked position to a locked position relative to the outer housing, the independent secondary lock, and the terminal housing, the bottom wall aligns with the extension portion when the independent secondary lock and male blade stabilizer are in the pre-locked position, the bottom wall is configured to pass through the extension portion when the independent secondary lock and male blade stabilizer are in the locked position, and the extension portion of the independent secondary lock engages with the bottom wall of the male blade stabilizer when a terminal is not properly seated in the electrical connector and the male blade stabilizer is moved relative to the independent secondary lock.

19. 20. The electrical connector of claim 18, wherein each terminal-receiving passage in the independent secondary lock includes at least one finger configured to engage a terminal positioned therein.

20. a mat cap seal mounted within the outer housing, the mat cap seal having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough; 20. The electrical connector of claim 19, further comprising a mat seal mounted within said outer housing, said mat seal having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages therethrough.

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