US Patent 7955104 Shorting clip terminal connector assembly including protrusion shield

A shorting clip terminal connector assembly electrically shorts together terminals in a first connector body dependent on connection status of a first and a second connector body. A shorting clip terminal disposed in a shorting clip terminal cavity in the first connector body receives a protrusion disposed on the second connector body. When the second connector body is mated with the first connector body, the protrusion engages a lift element of the shorting clip terminal in the shorting clip terminal cavity thereon and urges the lift element to lift contact elements of the shorting clip terminal away from the terminals in the shorting clip terminal cavity enabling insertion of protrusion side walls intermediate the contact elements and the terminals in the shorting clip terminal cavity. The contact elements of the shorting clip terminal do not make electrical contact with the terminals and the protrusion side walls further shield the contact elements from making electrical contact with the terminals.