Short-circuit connector

Claim 2

A short-circuit connector comprising: a dielectric housing having at least two contact cavities located therein and at least one short-circuit cavity located therein adjacent to said contact cavities; at least two electrical contacts in said contact cavities; and at least one short-circuit contact in said short-circuit cavity including a base, a pair of contact arms extending from said base with free ends extending into said contact cavity making electrical contact with and short-circuiting the electrical contacts, and primary restriction members formed under said pair of short-circuit contact arms for engagement by said contact arms to prevent deformation of said contact arms when said contact arms are moved toward said base.

Claim 3

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein said primary restriction members extend lengthwise underneath said contact arms.

Claim 4

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein a plurality of contact cavities are located in an upper row and located below said upper row is the short-circuitcavity with at least one opening in a partition located between the contact cavities and the short-circuit cavity for allowing said contact arms to extend into the contact cavities.

Claim 5

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein a latch member is located on said base which engages a retainer located in said short-circuit cavity latching said short-circuit contact in the short-circuit cavity.

Claim 6

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein resilient latches are located on upper walls of the contact cavities for latching the electrical contacts in the contact cavities.

Claim 7

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein a secondary restriction member is provided on said base under said free ends to further prevent deformation of said contact arms when said free ends engage said secondary restriction member.

Claim 8

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein an opening is provided in said dielectric housing in which a double lock device is disposed, said double lock device including stop members for engaging said electrical contacts and locking them in place, a hollow cavity for the receipt of part of said short-circuit contact which allows for displacement of said contact arms therein, and lugs that engage the dielectric housing for locking said double lock device in a temporary locked position for the insertion of the electrical contacts in the contact cavities and in a fully locked position for securing the electrical contacts in position in the contact cavities.

Claim 9

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein said free ends have an arcuate shape facing upwards to make electrical contact between the short-circuit contact and the electrical contacts.

Claim 10

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein a latching member is provided on an upper surface of said dielectric housing for latching said short-circuit connector to a mating connector.

Claim 11

A short-circuit connector of claim 9, wherein said latching member has an operating end and latching steps for engaging mating lugs of the mating connector which can be released by pushing the operating end downward.

Claim 12

A short-circuit connector of claim 1, wherein a connection indicator is provided on the dielectric housing comprising a base section and spring-loaded connection indicator arms for indicating the connection of the short-circuit connector and a mating connector.

Claim 13

A short-circuit connector of claim 11, wherein said spring-loaded connection indicator arms engage a latching member on said dielectric housing to provide spring forces thereto.

Claim 14

A short-circuit connector of claim 12, wherein protrusions are located on said dielectric housing under said spring-loaded connection indicator arms to prevent deformation thereof when pressed downward.

Claim 15

A short-circuit connector of claim 11, wherein contact members are located on said spring-loaded connection indicator arms to make electrical contact between the connection indicator and a mating connection indicator contact located on the mating connector.

Claim 16

A short-circuit connector assembly comprising: a short-circuit connector including a first dielectric housing having at least two contact cavities located therein and at least one short -circuit cavity located therein adjacent to said contact cavities, at least two electrical contacts in said contact cavities, and at least one short-circuit contact in said short-circuit cavity including a base, a pair of contact arms extending from said base with free ends extending into said contact cavities making electrical contact and short-circuiting the electrical contacts, and primary restriction members formed under said pair of short-circuit contact arms for engagement by said contact arms to prevent deformation of said contact arms when said contact arms are moved toward said base; and a mating connector including a second dielectric housing to connect to said first dielectric housing, at least two mating contacts to connect with said electrical contacts and at least one short-circuit release member to displace said contact arms away from the electrical contacts thereby electrically disconnecting the contact arms from the electrical contacts.

Claim 17

A short-circuit connector assembly comprising: a short-circuit connector including a first dielectric housing having at least two contact cavities located therein and at least one short -circuit cavity located therein adjacent to said contact cavities, at least two electrical contacts in said contact cavities, and at least one short-circuit contact in said short-circuit cavity including a base, a pair of contact arms extending from said base with free ends extending into said contact cavities making electrical contact and short-circuiting the electrical contacts, and primary restriction members formed under said pair of short-circuit contact arms for engagement by said contact arms to prevent deformation of said contact arms when said contact arms are moved toward said base; and a mating connector including a second dielectric housing to connect to said first dielectric housing, at least two mating contacts to connect with said electrical contacts and at least one short-circuit release member to displace said contact arms away from the electrical contacts thereby electrically disconnecting the contact arms from the electrical contacts.

Claim 18

A short-circuit connector assembly of claim 15, wherein an opening is provided in said dielectric housing in which a double lock device is disposed, said double lock device including stop members for engaging said electrical contacts and locking them in place, a hollow cavity for the receipt of part of said short-circuit contact which allows for displacement of said contact arms therein, and lugs that engage the dielectric housing for locking said double lock device in a temporary locked position for the insertion of the electrical contacts in the contact cavities and in a fully locked position for securing the electrical contacts in position in the contact cavities.

Claim 19

A short-circuit connector assembly of claim 15, wherein a connection indicator is provided on the first dielectric housing and an indicator contact is provided on the second dielectric housing that engages said connection indicator for indicating the short-circuit connector and the mating connector are fully connected.

Claim 20

An electrical contact for use in a dielectric housing of an electrical connector and for electrical connection with adjacent electrical contacts in the dielectric housing, the electrical contact being securable in the dielectric housing and comprises a base member; a pair of contact arms extending upwardly from said base member at an angle thereto and having free ends electrically connectable respectively with the adjacent electrical contacts; and primary restriction members located under said pair of contact arms for engagement by said contact arms to prevent deformation thereof when said contact arms are moved toward said base.

Claim 21

An electrical contact for use in a dielectric housing of an electrical connector and for electrical connection with adjacent electrical contacts in the dielectric housing, the electrical contact being securable in the dielectric housing and comprises a base member; a pair of contact arms extending upwardly from said base member at an angle thereto and having free ends electrically connectable respectively with the adjacent electrical contacts; and primary restriction members located under said pair of contact arms for engagement by said contact arms to prevent deformation thereof when said contact arms are moved toward said base.

Claim 22

An electrical contact as claimed in claim 18, wherein a secondary restriction member is provided on said base member under the free ends to prevent further deformation of said pair of contact arms when said free ends engage said secondary restriction member.

Claim 23

An electric contact as claimed in claim 18, wherein said primary restriction members are located on said base member and extend therealong in the same direction as said pair of contact arms.