Lever type electrical connector

Details Lever type electrical connector Lever type electrical connector

2000-03-20

2001-04-17

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With coupling separator

Including retainer or joiner

C439S347000, C439S372000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06217354

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector having a lever whereby mating and unmating of the connector with a second connector is effected by rotation of the lever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector which has an actuating lever rotatably mounted thereon for connecting and disconnecting the connector with a complementary mating second connector. The actuating lever and the second connector typically have a cam groove/cam follower arrangement for drawing the second connector into mating condition with the first connector in response to rotation of the lever.
A common structure for a lever type electrical connector of the character described above is to provide a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of lever arms which are disposed on opposite sides of the first (“actuator”) connector. The lever arms may have cam grooves for engaging cam follower projections or posts on opposite sides of the second (“mating”) connector.
Such lever type connectors often are used where large forces are required to mate and unmate a pair of connectors. For instance, terminal and housing frictional forces encountered during connecting and disconnecting the connectors may make the process difficult to perform by hand. The present invention is directed to solving various problems with such connectors, including providing a system for increasing the forces available for mating and unmating the connectors. In addition, the system of the invention solves the problem of the connectors rocking or skewing during mating and unmating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved lever type electrical connector assembly.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a first connector pivotally mounts an actuating lever which includes a first cam groove formed therein. A slide member is linearly movably mounted on the first connector and includes a second cam groove formed therein. The slide member has a first cam follower projection engaged in the first cam groove of the actuating lever. Therefore, pivotal movement of the actuating lever relative to the first connector effects linear movement of the slide member relative to the first connector. A second connector has a second cam follower projection to be engaged in the second cam groove of the slide member, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the actuating lever and resulting translation of the slide member.
As disclosed herein, the actuating lever comprises one actuating arm of a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of actuating arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the first connector. Correspondingly, a pair of the slide members are provided on opposite sides of the first connector. Each slide member includes a pair of the second cam grooves spaced laterally of the mating direction of the connectors and engageable by a pair of the second cam follower projections on the second connector. The first connector includes a housing and a support wall spaced outwardly of each side of the housing, with the actuating arms and slide members disposed therebetween.
Another feature of the invention includes complementary interengaging polarizing means between the slide members and the first connector to ensure that the proper slide member is mounted on the proper side of the first connector. In the preferred embodiment, the polarizing means comprise tongue -and-groove means of different sizes.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5681175 (1997-10-01), Busse et al.
patent: 5938458 (1999-08-01), Krehbiel et al.

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