Electrical connectors – Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-17
2004-09-14
Nguyen, Truc (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector
C439S285000, C439S680000, C439S681000, C439S682000, C439S683000, C439S595000, C439S603000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06790067
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a power connector configured to block foreign objects from being inserted into the mating area of the connector.
In the past, genderless or hermaphroditic power connectors have been proposed, wherein mating connector halves have a common shape, yet are matable with one another. To mate genderless connector halves, they are simply inverted 180 degrees with respect to one another before being joined. Exemplary genderless connectors are shown in
FIG. 1
at reference numerals
10
and
12
. The connectors
10
,
12
receive a pair of cables
18
and
18
′ in the rear ends, respectively. Connecting ends
14
and
14
′ are formed to define a lower pocket portion including close ended cable terminal receiving pockets
20
,
20
′ and
22
,
22
′ and an upper socket portion including open ended inverted U-shaped sockets
24
,
24
′ and
26
,
26
′. The sockets
24
,
24
′ and
26
,
26
′ are adapted to snugly receive pockets
20
′,
20
and
22
′,
22
, respectively. Central partition walls
28
,
28
′ extend from the periphery of the connectors
10
,
12
to define and separate the sockets
24
,
24
′ and
26
,
26
′. A complimentary slot
30
,
30
′ is formed between the pockets
20
,
20
′ and
22
,
22
′. The slot
30
,
30
′ receives the central wall
28
,
28
′ when connectors
10
,
12
are longitudinally engaged with one another.
Conventional hermaphroditic power connectors have also been proposed with keying ribs and strengthening ribs formed in the sockets
24
,
24
′ and
26
,
26
′ and/or on the outside of the pockets
20
,
20
′ and
22
,
22
′. The keying ribs ensure that only connectors of similar power and intended for similar applications are joined with one another. The strengthening ribs add support to the sockets
24
,
24
′ and
26
,
26
′.
However, conventional genderless power connectors have experienced certain limitations. In particular, the open sockets
24
,
24
′ and
26
,
26
′ permit foreign objects, such as a finger, tools and the like, to be inserted. The foreign objects may contact the cable terminals
16
which may in turn deliver a high current or high voltage shock to a person or create a large arc with a metallic foreign object.
A need remains for an improved genderless or hermaphroditic connector that prevents foreign objects from being inserted into open sockets of the connector.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hermaphroditic connector is provided having a housing with a rear end configured to receive a cable. A socket is provided on the front end of the housing and extends forwardly from the housing. The socket includes a shroud and a socket tongue formed separate or integral with one another. The connector includes a pocket that opens onto a front face of the socket. The shroud and socket tongue are configured to mate with another hermaphroditic or genderless connector having a similar shape. The socket includes at least one blocking member, such as a beveled corner insert or rib extending at least partially along a length of an interior surface of the pocket. The blocking member interferes with foreign objects that may inadvertently come into contact with the open face of the socket. A contact is held within the pocket and is configured to join a power, signal or ground cable. The socket tongue includes one or more grooves or chamfers configured to interpose with respective ribs or beveled corner inserts on a mating connector.
In accordance with at least one embodiment, the length of the shroud is greater than the length of the socket tongue in order that the front face of the shroud projects beyond a lead end of the socket tongue to exclude foreign objects without interfering with mating of connectors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3654586 (1972-04-01), Winkler
patent: 4405192 (1983-09-01), Eaby et al.
patent: 4764129 (1988-08-01), Jones et al.
patent: 4946399 (1990-08-01), Kawashima
patent: 4990099 (1991-02-01), Marin et al.
patent: 5308258 (1994-05-01), Hatsios
patent: 5575674 (1996-11-01), Davis et al.
“SBE 80 Housing and Spring Assembly Outline Drawing”, Anderson Power Products, Mar. 16, 1999.
Douty George H.
Walter Richard P.
Weber Ronald M.
Nguyen Truc
Tyco Electronics Corporation
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