Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A connector assembly comprising: a male connector including an elongate male connector housing and a dependent housing shaft; an elongate first electrical contact supported in said housing having a first cable terminating end and an opposed interconnection end extending into said shaft; a latch rotatably supported by said housing about said shaft; a female connector including a female connector housing having a central cavity therein for insertable connection with said housing shaft; a second electrical contact supported in said cavity of said female connector housing for electrical engagement with said interconnection end of said first contact upon insertable engagement between said housing shaft of said male connector and said female connector housing; and a mating latch receiving element formed on said female connector housing for matingly receiving said latch of said male connector; wherein said latch is rotatably movable into locking engagement with said latch receiving element under the bias of a spring upon insertable engagement between said shaft and said female connector housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
A connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said latch receiving element comprises a pair of flag-shaped apertures, said female connector housing including a tab extending into each flag-shaped aperture, said tab being in flush end relationship with said female connector housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A connector assembly of claim 2, wherein said latch includes a pair of elongate prongs depending from said male connector housing, wherein each of said prongs includes: a locking surface for opposing the underside of said tab when said shaft is mated with said female connector housing; and a tapering underside from the free end of said latch to said locking surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A connector assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said elongate contact is shielded within said housing to prevent unintentional signal generation by exposure of the connector assembly to an electromagnetic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the shielding is provided by a ferrite assembly, wherein said elongate electrical contact is supported in spaced isolation through said ferrite assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said ferrite assembly comprises a top ferrite component and a bottom ferrite component, said top ferrite component being secured in said housing cover and said bottom ferrite component being secured in said housing base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A connector assembly of claim 4, wherein said contact includes a wound wire induction coil within said male connector housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A connector assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said connector shaft and said female connector housing are shaped to provide keying means to prevent malassembly of said shaft to said female connector housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said latch includes engaging means accessible through said housing for rotating said latch against the bias of said spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said latch includes a cantilever spring, wherein the free end of said cantilever spring engages said male connector housing.