US6056581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Latch detent/stop mechanism for electrical connectors
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
•
Filing: 1997-07-22
•
Granted: 2000-05-02
•
Expires: 2017-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A locking mechanism (10) for use with an electrical connector assembly (80). The locking mechanism (10) includes a latch support (60) having a D-slot washer (52) therein which is installed on a rotatable shaft (20). The rotatable shaft (20) is operable to engage a camming plate on a further electrical connector and thereby draw the assembly (80) into electrical engagement therewith. A stop flange (52b) of D-slot washer (52) is operable to limit the amount of rotational movement of the shaft (20) thereby preventing over-travel of the shaft. Additionally, the locking mechanism includes a ball plunger (56) for interfacing with the stop flange (52b) thereby providing a detent for the D-slot washer (52) and shaft (20). Over torque and over-travel of the shaft (20) are prevented, and the ball plunger (56) prevents inadvertent rotation of the shaft (20).
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Ellis Rothenberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/621; H01R12/82; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a stop mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said stop mechanism limits rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis, said stop mechanism comprises a washer with a tab extending therefrom, and said locking mechanism further comprises a spring member biasingly supporting the shaft to the assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a stop mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said stop mechanism limits rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis, said stop mechanism comprises a washer with a tab extending therefrom, and said locking mechanism further comprises a spring member biasingly supporting the shaft to the assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the stop member comprises a disc-shaped member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the disc-shaped member comprises a D-slot washer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a portion of the stop mechanism is engageable with a portion of the locking mechanism thereby limiting the rotation of the shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein said portion of the stop mechanism which engages a portion of the locking mechanism comprises an extension of said stop mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein said extension comprises a camming surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein said extension comprises a detent receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein said portion of the stop mechanism which engages a portion of the locking mechanism comprises a rigid member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said shaft includes a tool receiving section, and said stop mechanism is located adjacent to said tool receiving section along a portion of said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said shaft includes a stop mechanism receiving section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein said receiving section passes through a portion of said stop mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein said receiving section is interlocked with a portion of said stop mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein said shaft receiving section comprises a solid portion of said shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism is supported by a latch support having stop edges formed thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein said stop edges are engageable with a portion of said stop mechanism thereby limiting the range of rotation of the shaft about its axis, which range is defined by an angle β about said axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a detent mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said detent mechanism retains the shaft in a position about the shaft axis, said detent mechanism comprises a washer with a tab extending therefrom, and said locking mechanism further comprises a spring member biasingly supporting the shaft to the assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a detent mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said detent mechanism retains the shaft in a position about the shaft axis, said detent mechanism comprises a washer with a tab extending therefrom, and said locking mechanism further comprises a spring member biasingly supporting the shaft to the assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the detent mechanism comprises a disc-shaped member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the disc-shaped member comprises a D-slot washer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein a rotatable portion of the detent mechanism is engageable with a detent member of said detent mechanism.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein said rotatable portion of the detent mechanism comprises an extension.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector of claim 20, wherein said extension comprises a camming surface for camming engagement with said detent member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical connector of claim 20, wherein said extension comprises a detent member receptacle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein said rotatable portion of the detent mechanism comprises a rigid member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein said shaft includes a tool receiving section and said detent mechanism is located adjacent to said tool receiving section along a portion of said shaft.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein said shaft includes a detent mechanism receiving section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 25, wherein said shaft detent mechanism receiving section passes through a portion of said detent mechanism.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector of claim 25, wherein said shaft receiving section is interlocked with a portion of said detent mechanism.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical connector of claim 25, wherein said shaft receiving section comprises a solid shaft portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein said locking mechanism is supported by a latch support having a detent member receiving chamber formed therein.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electrical connector of claim 29, wherein said chamber has a detent member disposed therein which is engageable with a rotatable portion of said detent mechanism thereby retaining the shaft in a position about the shaft axis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; said locking mechanism comprises a combination detent/stop mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, said detent/stop mechanism is operable to retain the shaft in a position about the shaft axis and to limit rotation of the shaft about its axis, said detent/stop mechanism comprises a washer, and said locking mechanism further comprises a spring member biasingly supporting the shaft to the assembly.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; said locking mechanism comprises a combination detent/stop mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, said detent/stop mechanism is operable to retain the shaft in a position about the shaft axis and to limit rotation of the shaft about its axis, said detent/stop mechanism comprises a washer, and said locking mechanism further comprises a spring member biasingly supporting the shaft to the assembly.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector of claim 31, wherein said detent/stop mechanism comprises a detent member located radially away from said shaft.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 31, wherein said detent/stop mechanism comprises a rotatable actuation member.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 33, wherein said actuation member comprises a camming surface for engaging a detent member.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 33, wherein said actuation member comprises a rotatable stop surface for engaging a relatively stationary stop surface.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical connector of claim 33, wherein said actuation member comprises a flange.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector of claim 33, wherein said actuation member comprises interlocking surfaces which interlock with surfaces on said shaft.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 33, wherein said actuation member comprises a generally disc-shaped member.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a stop mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said stop mechanism limits rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis, the stop mechanism comprises a D-slot washer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a stop mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said stop mechanism limits rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis, the stop mechanism comprises a D-slot washer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
83 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a detent mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said detent mechanism retains the shaft in a position about the shaft axis, the detent mechanism comprises a D-slot washer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
83 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an assembly with at least one electrical contact therein, and a locking mechanism operatively attached to said assembly; said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft for locking said electrical connector to a further electrical connector, and said shaft has a longitudinal shaft axis; and said locking mechanism further comprises a detent mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, and said detent mechanism retains the shaft in a position about the shaft axis, the detent mechanism comprises a D-slot washer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-02 | 2003-11-01 | 2004-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-02 | 2007-11-01 | 2008-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-02 | 2011-11-01 | 2012-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |