Two-part electrical connector

Details Two-part electrical connector Two-part electrical connector

1999-01-27

2001-01-02

Stephan, Steven L. (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With coupling separator

Including retainer or joiner

Utility Patent

active

06168445

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a two-part electrical connector in which a lever to used for mating and unmating of the two parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A two-part electrical connector with a lever for mating and unmating of the two parts is disclosed in EP-A-0722203. The lever is substantially U-shaped and is pivotally mounted on the housing of one part of the connector. A pair of sliders are also mounted on the same housing and slide on pivoting of the lever. The sliders have cam surfaces which engage corresponding cam followers on the housing of the other part of the connector. Pivoting of the lever causes the sliders to slide to mate or unmate the two parts of the connector. The pivot connection between the lever and the housing of the one part of the connector requires an arcuate slot in each arm of the lever.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a two-part electrical connector which is an improvement of the above mentioned arrangement.
An electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a first part mateable with a second part along an axis, the first part including a housing having opposed side walls and opposed end walls, each side wall having an upper wall and a lower wall defining opposed slide surfaces extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mating axis, first and second spaced apertures in the upper wall of each side wall, a pair of spaced apertures in the lower wall of each side wall, and a longitudinally extending slot in the upper wall of each side wall; a slider positioned adjacent each side wall, each slider having an upper edge and a lower edge making a sliding engagement with the slide surfaces of the upper wall and the lower wall, respectively, of the side walls, a pair of inclined cam surfaces having openings in the lower edge alignable with the apertures in the lower wall of the side walls, and a resilient tab in the upper edge for making a snap fit in the first aperture or the second aperture in the upper wall of the side wall; a substantially U-shaped lever having a pair of arms, each arm extending through the slot in the side wall to be positioned between the side wall and the adjacent slider; pivot means on each arm and each side wall to allow the lever to pivot relative to the housing of the first part; and drive means on each arm and each slider to slide each slider relative to the adjacent side wall on pivoting of the lever relative to the housing of the first part; the second part including a housing having side walls and end walls positionable inside the side wall and end walls of the housing of the first part, each side wall of the housing of the second part having a pair of spaced cam followers which can pass through the apertures in the lower walls and the openings in the inclined cam surfaces for sliding movement along the cam surfaces; pivoting movement of the lever moving the second part relative to the first part along the mating axis between a fully unmated position in which the tabs on each slider make a snap fit in the first aperture in the upper walls and a fully mated position in which the tabs make a snap fit in the second aperture in the upper walls.
Relative to the above mentioned prior known arrangement, the sliders are protected by the side walls, means are provided for holding the sliders in the fully mated and fully unmated positions, and there is no requirement for an arcuate slot in each arm of the lever.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5672067 (1997-09-01), Ryll et al.
patent: 5681175 (1997-10-01), Busse et al.
patent: 5876226 (1999-03-01), Tsukakoshi et al.
patent: 5899762 (1999-05-01), Ainceri
patent: 0 669 680 A1 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 2300767 (1996-11-01), None

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