Coupling mechanism for male and female connectors

Claim 1

A coupling mechanism for a male connector and a female connector, said mechanism comprising: a male connector having: a base portion; a plurality of male terminals extending upward from said base portion; a pair of vertical spaced end plates symmetrically positioned at each end of said base; a female connector having a plurality of female terminals removably positioned over said male terminals on said base between said pairs of vertical, spaced end plates and having indentations on the upper surface thereof adjacent said end plates; a lever means rotatably mounted between each pair of end plates engagable with said indentations on said female connector for locking said female connector to said male connector and for lifting said female connector away from said male connector, said lever means comprised of: a pair of levers opposite each other pivotably mounted between said end plates and rotatable in opposite directions, engaging latches at the upper inner surface of each lever engagable with said indentations in the top surface of said female connector when said lever is rotated toward said female connector, whereby said female and male connector are locked together, and lifting fingers at the bottom end of each lever beneath said female connector when said female and male connectors are locked together, whereby rotating said lever causes said engaging latches to move away from the top surface of said female connector, thereby unlocking said connectors, and whereby the rotation of said lever causes said lifting fingers beneath said female connector to force said female connector away from said male connector.