US4453793A — Locking mechanism for rectangular electrical conn…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 146 words

An electrical connector comprising: mating plug and receptacle members; said plug member having an inner shell of generally rectangular configuration telescopically mounted within an outer shell of the receptacle member of complementary rectangular configuration; each of said shells having a pair of elongated sides and opposed, relative shorter ends; a groove formed in the outer surface of each side of said inner shell extending lengthwise of said side; a matching groove formed in the inner surface of each side of said outer shell, said grooves in said inner shell being aligned with said grooves in said outer shell when said plug and receptacle members are fully mated; an elongated wire positioned in each of said inner shell grooves; and actuating means for shifting each of said wires outwardly to become partially lodged into the outer shell grooves to thereby lock said plug and receptacle members together.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 146 words

An electrical connector comprising: mating plug and receptacle members; said plug member having an inner shell of generally rectangular configuration telescopically mounted within an outer shell of the receptacle member of complementary rectangular configuration; each of said shells having a pair of elongated sides and opposed, relative shorter ends; a groove formed in the outer surface of each side of said inner shell extending lengthwise of said side; a matching groove formed in the inner surface of each side of said outer shell, said grooves in said inner shell being aligned with said grooves in said outer shell when said plug and receptacle members are fully mated; an elongated wire positioned in each of said inner shell grooves; and actuating means for shifting each of said wires outwardly to become partially lodged into the outer shell grooves to thereby lock said plug and receptacle members together.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said actuating means is located at least at one of said ends of said shells.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 2 wherein: each of said wires has a pair of legs at its opposite ends extending over the ends of said inner shell; and said actuating means comprises actuating devices positioned between the ends of the legs of said wires at each end of said shells.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 3 wherein: each said actuating device comprises a plunger axially movable on said plug shell between a forward locking position and a rear release position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 including: means biasing said plungers toward said locking position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 including: means for selectively retracting said plungers to said release position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 65 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 including: cam surface means between said wires and said grooves in said inner surfaces of said outer shell for forcing said wires out of said grooves into the grooves in said inner shell in a release position upon application of an axially directed force to one of said members relative to the other of said members.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said grooves in said inner shell have a depth at least as great as the cross-section of said wires.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein: each said plunger embodies cam means for forcing said legs away from each other when said plunger is shifted from said rear position to said forward locking position by said biasing means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 133 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 wherein: each said plunger has a forward narrow portion, a wider portion spaced behind said narrow portion, and a tapered transition region between said narrow and wider portions; when said plungers are located in their rear release position said narrow portions of said plungers are positioned between the ends of said legs, said wires being releasable from said grooves in said outer shell with said plungers in said rear position; and said legs are urged apart to shift the wires into said outer shell grooves when said plungers are shifted forwardly toward their locking positions, said wider portions of said plungers being seated between said legs to retain said wires in said outer shell grooves when said plungers are in said forward locking position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 10 including: spring means biasing said plungers toward said locking position; and means for selectively retracting said plungers to said release position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 including: means for retaining said wires in said inner shell grooves when said plug and receptacle members are disengaged.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 107 words

A plug connector member adapted to mate with a receptacle connector member comprising: a plug shell of generally rectangular configuration adapted to be telescopically mounted within a rectangular shell of a receptacle connector member; said plug shell having a pair of elongated sides and opposed, relative shorter ends; a groove formed in the outer surface of each side of said plug shell extending lengthwise of said side; an elongated wire positioned in each of said grooves; means retaining said wires on said plug shell; and actuating means for shifting each of said wires outwardly to a locking position for interlocking said plug shell to the receptacle shell.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 107 words

A plug connector member adapted to mate with a receptacle connector member comprising: a plug shell of generally rectangular configuration adapted to be telescopically mounted within a rectangular shell of a receptacle connector member; said plug shell having a pair of elongated sides and opposed, relative shorter ends; a groove formed in the outer surface of each side of said plug shell extending lengthwise of said side; an elongated wire positioned in each of said grooves; means retaining said wires on said plug shell; and actuating means for shifting each of said wires outwardly to a locking position for interlocking said plug shell to the receptacle shell.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 101 words

An electrical connector comprising: a pair of mating electrical connector members having telescoping inner and outer shells of generally rectangular configuration providing relatively long sides and short ends; each said shell having an open front and open rear; each said shell surrounding an insulator containing electrical contacts, each said insulator being exposed at the front and rear of its respective shell; releasable locking means for said shells extending along said long sides thereof for interlocking said shells when said connector members are mated; and means located at least at one of said short ends for actuating and releasing said locking means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 101 words

An electrical connector comprising: a pair of mating electrical connector members having telescoping inner and outer shells of generally rectangular configuration providing relatively long sides and short ends; each said shell having an open front and open rear; each said shell surrounding an insulator containing electrical contacts, each said insulator being exposed at the front and rear of its respective shell; releasable locking means for said shells extending along said long sides thereof for interlocking said shells when said connector members are mated; and means located at least at one of said short ends for actuating and releasing said locking means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 14 wherein: said locking means comprises elongated wires extending lengthwise of said sides.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 14 including: cam means on the inside of said outer shell cooperating with said locking means to release said locking means when said shells are pulled apart to disengage said connector members.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 14 wherein: said actuating and releasing means are located at both of said short ends.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-06-12	1987-12-12	1988-06-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-06-12	1991-12-12	1992-06-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-06-12	1995-12-12	1996-06-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Locking mechanism for rectangular electrical connector

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag