Breakaway connector

Claim 2

A breakaway multicircuit connector comprising: A. a pair of separable members having corresponding circuit segments which it is desired electrically to interconnect and to disconnect when said members are moved relatively from each other; and B. conductors individually interconnecting the corresponding circuit segments, said conductors being severable when subjected to tension and of graduated length whereby they are severed as the members are moved apart.

Claim 3

means for establishing a plurality of sequentially interruptable electrical circuits between said first plurality of terminals and said second plurality of terminals including a plurality of uninterrupted connector leads extending between and connecting the plurality of bar-shaped terminals with the first plurality of terminals.

Claim 4

means for establishing a plurality of sequentially interruptable electrical circuits between said first plurality of terminals and said second plurality of terminals including a plurality of uninterrupted connector leads extending between and connecting the plurality of bar-shaped terminals with the first plurality of terminals.

Claim 5

A connector for a multiwire cable comprising: A. a first connector unit including therein a first plurality of laterally aligned terminals; B. a second connector unit seated in coaxial juxtaposition with said first connector unit including therein a second plurality of laterally aligned terminals arranged in a coaxially spaced relationship with said first terminals; C. support means supporting said units for mutual displacement whereby connector-separating displacement may be imparted to said units; and D. circuit means including a plurality of flexible connector leads of mutually unique lengths interconnecting the terminals of the first plurality of terminals with the terminals of said second plurality of terminals in a paired relationship, whereby as displacement of the first units is effected tensioning of the flexible connectors is achieved in a sequence dictated by the lengths of the flexible connectors.

Claim 6

A connector for a multiwire cable comprising: A. a first connector unit including therein a first plurality of laterally aligned terminals; B. a second connector unit seated in coaxial juxtaposition with said first connector unit including therein a second plurality of laterally aligned terminals arranged in a coaxially spaced relationship with said first terminals; C. support means supporting said units for mutual displacement whereby connector-separating displacement may be imparted to said units; and D. circuit means including a plurality of flexible connector leads of mutually unique lengths interconnecting the terminals of the first plurality of terminals with the terminals of said second plurality of terminals in a paired relationship, whereby as displacement of the first units is effected tensioning of the flexible connectors is achieved in a sequence dictated by the lengths of the flexible connectors.

Claim 7

The connector of claim 2 wherein each terminal of the first plurality of terminals comprises a rigid connector bar having one end thereof fixedly secured to he first connector unit and the distal portion thereof extended toward the second connector unit, and each terminal of the second plurality of terminals comprises a rigid connector bar having one end thereof rigidly coupled with he second connector unit and the distal portion thereof extended toward the first plurality of terminals.

Claim 8

The connector of claim 3 wherein the distal ends of the first plurality of terminals are disposed in a first transverse plane, and the distal ends of the second plurality of terminals are disposed in a second transverse plane paralleling said first transverse plane.

Claim 9

The connector of claim 4 wherein the support means includes means defining a plurality of parallel slots adapted to receive and slidingly support the terminals of said second plurality of terminals as the second connector unit is displaced relative to the first connector unit.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 5 wherein said circuit means further includes a plurality of connector bars seated in said slots and connected at the opposite ends thereof with said plurality of flexible connectors and said second plurality of terminals.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 6 further including first coupling means electrically coupling said first plurality of terminals with a first plurality of electrical leads, and a second coupling means electrically coupling the second plurality of terminals with a second plurality of electrical leads.

Claim 12

A breakaway connector for a multiwire electrical cable comprising: A. a female connector unit; B. a male connector unit displaceably disposed in juxtaposition with said female unit; C. coupling means adapted to releasably support the units in a mated relationship; D. a plurality of female terminals fixedly mounted within said female unit; E. a plurality of male terminals fixedly mounted within said male unit adapted to be displaced from said female terminal as the male connector unit is displaced from juxtaposition with said female unit; F. a plurality of elongated connector terminals coupled with the male terminals and slidingly supported within said female unit adapted to be displaced relative to the female terminals as said male unit is displaced; and G. a plurality of flexible connector leads, each of a unique length, interconnecting said female and male terminals and having a predetermined resiliency adapted to separate under predetermined stress, whereby as the male element is displaced from juxtaposition with the female element, each of the connector leads is stressed independently of the other connector leads, whereby said connector leads may be sequentially stressed beyond their elastic limits for sequentially separating the plurality of leads.

Claim 13

A breakaway connector for a multiwire electrical cable comprising: A. a female connector unit; B. a male connector unit displaceably disposed in juxtaposition with said female unit; C. coupling means adapted to releasably support the units in a mated relationship; D. a plurality of female terminals fixedly mounted within said female unit; E. a plurality of male terminals fixedly mounted within said male unit adapted to be displaced from said female terminal as the male connector unit is displaced from juxtaposition with said female unit; F. a plurality of elongated connector terminals coupled with the male terminals and slidingly supported within said female unit adapted to be displaced relative to the female terminals as said male unit is displaced; and G. a plurality of flexible connector leads, each of a unique length, interconnecting said female and male terminals and having a predetermined resiliency adapted to separate under predetermined stress, whereby as the male element is displaced from juxtaposition with the female element, each of the connector leads is stressed independently of the other connector leads, whereby said connector leads may be sequentially stressed beyond their elastic limits for sequentially separating the plurality of leads.

Claim 14

The connector of claim 8 further comprising coupling means coupling adjacent ends of electrical cables with the male and female connector units.

Claim 15

A connector for a pair of multiwire cables comprising: A. a first connector unit and a second connector unit seated in juxtaposition with said first connector unit and supported to be displaced from juxtaposition for mutually separating said units; B. first coupling means mounted in said first connector unit including a first plurality of terminals fixedly secured to said first connector unit and electrically connected with individual wires of a first multiwire cable; C. second coupling means mounted in said second connector unit including a second plurality of terminals fixedly secured to said second connector unit and electrically connected with individual wires of a second multiwire cable; and D. third coupling means comprising,

Claim 16

A connector for a pair of multiwire cables comprising: A. a first connector unit and a second connector unit seated in juxtaposition with said first connector unit and supported to be displaced from juxtaposition for mutually separating said units; B. first coupling means mounted in said first connector unit including a first plurality of terminals fixedly secured to said first connector unit and electrically connected with individual wires of a first multiwire cable; C. second coupling means mounted in said second connector unit including a second plurality of terminals fixedly secured to said second connector unit and electrically connected with individual wires of a second multiwire cable; and D. third coupling means comprising,