EP0599362A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for positively preventing misengagement of multipoint connector elements
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus ( 10 ) for positively preventing misengagement of multipoint connector elements includes a mounting rack ( 26 ) having a pivot slot ( 18 ) and a stepped guide surface ( 32 ), along with an associated receptacle element ( 34 ) of a multipoint connector. The apparatus ( 10 ) also includes a housing ( 44 ) having a pivot pin ( 20 ) and a stepped guide surface ( 50 ), along with an associated plug element ( 54 ) of multipoint connector. Only when the pivot pin ( 20 ) is fully seated in the pivot slot ( 18 ) will the receptacle ( 34 ) and plug ( 54 ) elements be able to engage. Otherwise, the stepped guide surfaces ( 32, 50 ) act to positively prevent such engagement. Also, the stepped guide surfaces ( 32, 50 ) are concentrically mated to provide angular engagement and disengagement paths that result in a plurality of plug pin contacts ( 68 ) and receptacle socket contacts ( 70 ) engaging and disengaging in a sequential order, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. St. Germain
- 👤 Lawrence Pardo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/631
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for positively preventing misengagement of multipoint connector elements, said apparatus comprising: a plug element of a multipoint connector: a receptacle element of a multipoint connector, wherein said plug element and said receptacle element may be engaged when properly aligned; first alignment means associated with said multipoint connector elements for providing engagement alignment between said plug element and said receptacle element, wherein said first alignment means includes at least one pivot pin having an associated stepped guide surface; and second alignment means associated with said multipoint connector elements for providing engagement alignment between said plug element and said receptacle element, wherein said second alignment means includes at least one pivot slot having an associated stepped guide surface, such that each said pivot pin associated stepped guide surface is concentrically mated with a corresponding pivot slot associated stepped guide surface so as to positively prevent misengagement of said multipoint connector elements unless said pivot pin is fully seated in said pivot slot thus insuring said multipoint connector elements are properly aligned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein each said pivot pin associated stepped guide surface has an associated step, wherein each said pivot slot associated stepped guide surface has an associated step, and wherein said concentrically mated stepped guide surfaces act to positively prevent misengagement of said multipoint connector elements by having said steps abut against each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein said concentrically mated stepped guide surfaces provide said multipoint connector elements with an angular engagement path when said pivot pin is fully seated in said pivot slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 3, wherein said plug element has a plurality of pin contacts, wherein said receptacle element has a like plurality of socket contacts, and wherein said angular engagement path allows electrical contact between said pin contacts and said socket contacts in a sequential order.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein said concentrically mated stepped guide surfaces provide said multipoint connector elements with an angular disengagement path when said pivot pin is fully seated in said pivot slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 5, wherein said plug element has a plurality of pin contacts, wherein said receptacle element has a like plurality of socket contacts, and wherein said angular disengagement path allows electrical contact to be broken between said pin contacts and said socket contacts in a sequential order.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein said first alignment means comprises a housing dimensioned for mounting one of said multipoint connector elements, wherein said housing provides two pivot pins for the first alignment means and two associated stepped guide surfaces for two pivot slots of the second alignment means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 7, wherein said housing is supported by said second alignment means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 8, wherein said housing dimensioned for mounting said plug element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 8, wherein said housing is dimensioned for mounting said receptacle element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein said second alignment means comprises a mounting assembly that maintains one of said multipoint connector elements, wherein said mounting assembly provides two pivot slots for the first alignment means and two associated stepped guide surfaces for two pivot slots of the second alignment means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 11, wherein said mounting assembly supports said first alignment means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said mounting assembly maintains said receptacle element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein said mounting assembly maintains said plug element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A modular programmable logic controller (PLC) system having a mounting assembly and a PLC module, wherein said mounting assembly has an associated receptacle element of a multipoint connector and said PLC module has an associated plug element of a multipoint connector, and wherein said mounting assembly and said PLC module are formed to interact in a manner that positively prevents misengagement of said multipoint connector elements, said PLC system comprising: a mounting assembly having a pivot slot with an associated stepped guide surface, said mounting assembly also having an associated receptacle element of a multipoint connector; and the PLC module having a pivot pin with an associated stepped guide surface, said PLC module also having an associated plug element of a multipoint connector, such that said pivot slot and said stepped guide surface of said mounting assembly correspond with said pivot pin and said stepped guide surface of said PLC module so as to positively prevent misengagement of said multipoint connector elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system as defined in claim 15, wherein each said pivot pin associated stepped guide surface has an associated step, wherein each said pivot slot associated stepped guide surface has an associated step, and wherein said pivot slot and said stepped guide surface of said mounting assembly correspond with said pivot pin and said stepped guide surface of said PLC module by having said steps abut against each other prior to engagement of said multipoint connector elements unless said pivot pin is fully seated in said pivot slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as defined in claim 16, wherein said stepped guide surfaces are concentrically mated to provide said multipoint connector elements with an angular engagement path when said pivot pin is fully seated in said pivot slot.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system as defined in claim 17, wherein said plug element has a plurality of pin contacts, wherein said receptacle element has a like plurality of socket contacts, and wherein said angular engagement path allows electrical contact between said pin contacts and said socket contacts in a sequential order.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as defined in claim 16, wherein said stepped guide surfaces are concentrically mated to provide said multipoint connector elements with an angular disengagement path when said pivot pin is fully seated in said pivot slot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said plug element has a plurality of pin contacts, wherein said receptacle element has a like plurality of socket contacts, and wherein said angular disengagement path allows electrical contact to be broken between said pin contacts and said socket contacts in a sequential order.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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