US4941838A — Electric plug and socket connector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 316 words

In a lockable electric plug and socket connector with a plug enclosure with compartments for several plug contact elements and a mating plug enclosure with compartments for several mating plug contact elements as well as a snap action locking device for locking the two enclosures with catch noses on the plug enclosure and a U-shaped spring clip mounted on the plug enclosure for cooperation with the catch noses, and a catch edge on the mating plug enclosure so the catch noses can lock behind the catch edge, and with an unlocking tab that acts on the spring clip to unlock the enclosures, the improvement comprising: two toggle levers provided and formed in one piece on the front sides of the plug enclosure; the spring clip is a sheet metal part punched from sheet metal and placed on its edge so the spring clip acts on a toggle lever to urge the toggle levers to a locked position, and the catch noses are located on the toggle lever; the plug enclosure having front sides and the plug having a front characterized in that the width of each toggle lever corresponds approximately to the width of the front sides; each toggle lever is somewhat longer than the front sides and has a catch noise projecting over the plug front so that the end of the toggle lever opposite the catch noses ends just above a base bulge formed on the plug enclosure opposite the front thereof; and the toggle levers are positioned a distance away from the front sides of the plug enclosure and are each connected to the plug enclosure by a crosspiece which forms the mount of the toggle lever and is located approximately in the middle of the toggle lever in the longitudinal direction, so the toggle lever is subdivided into a catch lever arm and an unlocking lever arm which forms the unlocking tab.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 316 words

In a lockable electric plug and socket connector with a plug enclosure with compartments for several plug contact elements and a mating plug enclosure with compartments for several mating plug contact elements as well as a snap action locking device for locking the two enclosures with catch noses on the plug enclosure and a U-shaped spring clip mounted on the plug enclosure for cooperation with the catch noses, and a catch edge on the mating plug enclosure so the catch noses can lock behind the catch edge, and with an unlocking tab that acts on the spring clip to unlock the enclosures, the improvement comprising: two toggle levers provided and formed in one piece on the front sides of the plug enclosure; the spring clip is a sheet metal part punched from sheet metal and placed on its edge so the spring clip acts on a toggle lever to urge the toggle levers to a locked position, and the catch noses are located on the toggle lever; the plug enclosure having front sides and the plug having a front characterized in that the width of each toggle lever corresponds approximately to the width of the front sides; each toggle lever is somewhat longer than the front sides and has a catch noise projecting over the plug front so that the end of the toggle lever opposite the catch noses ends just above a base bulge formed on the plug enclosure opposite the front thereof; and the toggle levers are positioned a distance away from the front sides of the plug enclosure and are each connected to the plug enclosure by a crosspiece which forms the mount of the toggle lever and is located approximately in the middle of the toggle lever in the longitudinal direction, so the toggle lever is subdivided into a catch lever arm and an unlocking lever arm which forms the unlocking tab.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 1 characterized in that the unlocking tab has transverse grooves providing gripping surfaces to increase the ease with which the unlocking tab may be gripped.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 2, characterized in that longitudinal grooves 15 are provided in the toggle lever.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the catch lever arm ends with a catch nose which is aligned with a catch edge in the direction of the plug enclosure and projects over the plug front so that the catch edge locks behind the catch edge of a bulge associated with the mating plug.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 123 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 4, characterized in that each toggle lever is loaded with two U-shaped spring clips, where each spring clip is mounted on edge, has spring arms and a base piece, and a bearing nose that projects toward the interior of the U is provided in the middle of the base piece longitudinally for mounting the base piece, and the bearing nose is under a bearing edge that extends across the plug direction and is located on the longitudinal side of the plug enclosure and is preferably in contact with the longitudinal side, and the bearing edge is located in a plane between the plane in which the crosspieces are located and a bottom of the plug enclosure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring arms are mounted in the catch lever arms.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 85 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the catch lever arms have longitudinal grooves cut from the outside and have a groove bottom, the longitudinal grooves extend from the area of the crosspieces up to the catch noses and end with a catch step in a catch recess facing toward the catch edge, and the spring arms have a catch nose facing the inside of the U on the free end so the catch nose can lock behind the catch step.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the spring arms sit snugly in bearing grooves with a form fit and/or a press and rest on the groove bottom.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 5, characterized in that a catch edge is formed by an end area of the spring arms, and the catch lever arms end before the catch noses so the catch edge projects above upper edges of the catch lever arms.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

Plug and socket connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the catch edge ends in an edge piece that is bent at a right angle toward the opposite spring clip.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-07-16	1994-01-15	1994-07-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-07-16	1998-01-15	1998-07-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-07-16	2002-01-15	2002-07-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electric plug and socket connector

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