Retractable handle for power connector

Details Retractable handle for power connector Retractable handle for power connector

2000-02-04

2001-05-08

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Coupling part with relatively pivotable concentric...

C439S483000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227891

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to a retractable handle for a rotatable electrical connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A rotatable electrical connector is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/350,988 filed Jul. 12, 1999 entitled “Handle Operated Power Connector”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this specification.
This large connector requires a relatively large force to couple and uncouple and requires a handle
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which provides a significant mechanical advantage. Disadvantageously, this large handle
42
can interfere with moving objects nearby, particularly when the connector is mounted on a moving apparatus such as a train, railroad car or truck.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a retractable handle which can be conveniently stowed away in a retracted position after the connector has been put into a coupled position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a retractable handle which can be moved from an extended rotatable position to a retracted stowed position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a retractable handle which can provide a large force or mechanical advantage when the handle is moved to an extended rotatable position from a retracted stowed position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a handle which is not easily moved from an extended rotatable position while in operation, coupling or de-coupling and also is secured when in a retracted stowed position.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a handle in which a detent mechanism provides sufficient force to retain the handle in an extended rotatable position so as to not easily move an operation and the same detent provides sufficient force to hold the handle fixed and resist shock and vibration when in a stowed retracted position.
The present invention is directed to a retractable handle which has an extended rotatable position and is movable to a retracted, stowed condition. The handle advantageously can be moved to an extended position in which a detent provides sufficient force so that the handle can be used in operation for coupling or de-coupling the connector from a mating connector. Advantageously, when in the stowed retracted position, the handle is unobtrusive and should not interfere with moving objects that are near by. The handle includes a detent mechanism which provides sufficient force to hold the handle in either the extended rotatable position or the stowed, retracted position.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a handle for a rotatable electrical connector including a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a handle, a handle holder and a detent mechanism. The handle has a first detent and a second detent. The handle holder has a fixed stop surface. The handle is pivotable relative to the handle holder wherein the handle is movable from an extended position in which the detent mechanism engages the first detent and the handle contacts the fixed stop surface and a stowed position in which the detent mechanism engages the second detent.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a rotatable electrical connector including a receptacle and a plug rotatably mateable with the receptacle. A handle assembly is located on one of the plug and the receptacle. The handle has a first detent and a second detent. The handle holder has a fixed stop surface. The handle is pivotable relative to the handle holder. The handle is movable from an extended position in which the detent mechanism engages the first detent and the handle contacts the fixed stop surface and a stowed position in which the detent mechanism engages the second detent.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description thereof are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2281739 (1942-05-01), Wright
patent: 5454731 (1995-10-01), Dickie
patent: 5931694 (1997-08-01), Kato et al.

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