Multi-axis microprocess or docking mechanism

Claim 2

A module for insertion into a receptacle of an electrical assembly, the module comprising: a carrier having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis which extends from the first end to the second end and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; an electrical component mounted to the first end of the carrier such that the component has an exposed portion for engaging the electrical assembly, the component having a disengaged position wherein the component is adapted to be disengaged from the electrical assembly, and an engaged position wherein the component is adapted to be engaged with the electrical assembly; a base mounted to the second end of the carrier such that the carrier is movable relative to the base along the transverse axis; a manually movable actuator located between the base and the second end of the carrier and having an independent mechanism which is movable relative to the chassis and the base, the actuator being movable between a first position and a second position; and wherein the module is adapted to insert into the receptacle along the longitudinal axis such that it longitudinally aligns the electrical component and, when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position, the independent mechanism of the actuator converts the motion of the actuator into motion along the transverse axis to move the carrier and the component from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

Claim 3

The module of claim 1 wherein the second end of the carrier comprises a chassis with planar body which is perpendicular to the transverse axis, and the first end of the chassis comprises a plurality of legs which depend from the body toward the component, such that the carrier is mounted to the legs opposite the body.

Claim 4

The module of claim 1 wherein the independent mechanism of the actuator comprises a yoke connected to the actuator, and a stationary member, the yoke being slidably coupled to the stationary member and movable along the longitudinal axis; and wherein when the actuator moves to the second position, the yoke moves toward the stationary member such that the carrier moves the component to the engaged position, and when the actuator returns to the first position, the yoke moves away from the stationary member such that the carrier moves the component to the disengaged position.

Claim 5

The module of claim 3 wherein the stationary member comprises a wedge plate which abuts the base and has an inclined surface, and the yoke abuts the second end of the carrier and has an actuation wedge with an inclined surface which slidingly engages the inclined surface of the wedge plate.

Claim 6

The module of claim 4 , further comprising a second wedge plate mounted to the second end of the carrier and inverted relative to said wedge plate, the second wedge plate also having an inclined surface which is adjacent but inverted relative to the inclined surface of said wedge plate, and wherein the actuation wedge slidingly engages the inclined surfaces of the wedge plates simultaneously to move the carrier and component between the disengaged and engaged positions.

Claim 7

The module of claim 4 wherein the yoke has a pair of actuation wedges, each of which moves between a pair of wedge plates that are inverted relative to one another.

Claim 8

The module of claim 1 wherein the actuation wedges are retained in the wedge plates with a friction lock.

Claim 9

The module of claim 3 , further comprising a bracket connected to the actuator and compliantly coupled to the yoke for moving the yoke relative to the carrier.

Claim 10

The module of claim 8 , further comprising a bias member located between the bracket and the yoke for biasing the actuator to the first position.

Claim 11

The module of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a lever having a pivot end which is pivotally mounted to the carrier and a pusher end which is connected to the independent mechanism.

Claim 12

The module of claim 1 , further comprising a bias member mounted between the base and the carrier for biasing the carrier and component to the disengaged position.

Claim 13

The module of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier cover detachably coupled to the first end of the carrier for protecting the exposed portion of the electrical connector.

Claim 14

A module for insertion into a receptacle of an electrical assembly, the module comprising: a chassis having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis which extends from the first end to the second end and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; an electrical component mounted to the first end of the chassis such that the component has an exposed portion for engaging the electrical assembly, the component having a disengaged position wherein the component is adapted to be disengaged from the electrical assembly, and an engaged position wherein the component is adapted to be engaged with the electrical assembly; a base mounted to the second end of the chassis such that the chassis is movable relative to the base along the transverse axis; a manually movable actuator located between the base and the second end of the chassis, the actuator being movable between a first position and a second position; a wedge plate mounted to the second end of the chassis, the wedge plate being adjacent to and abutting the base and having an inclined surface; a yoke located between the base and the second end of the chassis, the yoke being connected to the actuator and slidably coupled to the wedge plate such that it is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the chassis and the base; an actuation wedge mounted to the yoke and having an inclined surface which slidingly engages the inclined surface of the wedge plate; and wherein the module is adapted to insert into the receptacle along the longitudinal axis such that it longitudinally aligns the electrical component with the electrical socket and, when the actuator moves from the first position to the second position, the yoke moves the actuation wedge into further engagement with the wedge plate such that the chassis moves the component along the transverse axis to the engaged position, and when the actuator returns to the first position, the yoke moves the actuation wedge into lesser engagement with the wedge plate such that the chassis moves the component in the opposite direction along the transverse axis to the disengaged position.

Claim 15

A module for insertion into a receptacle of an electrical assembly, the module comprising: a chassis having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis which extends from the first end to the second end and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; an electrical component mounted to the first end of the chassis such that the component has an exposed portion for engaging the electrical assembly, the component having a disengaged position wherein the component is adapted to be disengaged from the electrical assembly, and an engaged position wherein the component is adapted to be engaged with the electrical assembly; a base mounted to the second end of the chassis such that the chassis is movable relative to the base along the transverse axis; a manually movable actuator located between the base and the second end of the chassis, the actuator being movable between a first position and a second position; a wedge plate mounted to the second end of the chassis, the wedge plate being adjacent to and abutting the base and having an inclined surface; a yoke located between the base and the second end of the chassis, the yoke being connected to the actuator and slidably coupled to the wedge plate such that it is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the chassis and the base; an actuation wedge mounted to the yoke and having an inclined surface which slidingly engages the inclined surface of the wedge plate; and wherein the module is adapted to insert into the receptacle along the longitudinal axis such that it longitudinally aligns the electrical component with the electrical socket and, when the actuator moves from the first position to the second position, the yoke moves the actuation wedge into further engagement with the wedge plate such that the chassis moves the component along the transverse axis to the engaged position, and when the actuator returns to the first position, the yoke moves the actuation wedge into lesser engagement with the wedge plate such that the chassis moves the component in the opposite direction along the transverse axis to the disengaged position.

Claim 16

The module of claim 13 wherein the actuation wedge engages the wedge plate with a friction lock.

Claim 17

The module of claim 13 wherein the second end of the chassis comprises a planar body which is perpendicular to the transverse axis and a plurality of legs protruding from the body to the first end, and the first end of the chassis comprises a carrier mounted to the legs, such that the component is mounted to the carrier opposite the body.

Claim 18

The module of clam 15 , further comprising an opening in the body through which a bracket of the actuator extends, the independent mechanism of the actuator being connected to the bracket.

Claim 19

The module of clam 15 , further comprising an opening in the body through which a bracket of the actuator extends, the independent mechanism of the actuator being connected to the bracket.

Claim 20

The module of clam 13 , further comprising a guide bearing mounted to the module for facilitating alignment with the receptacle of the electrical assembly.

Claim 21

The module of clam 13 , further comprising a guide bearing mounted to the module for facilitating alignment with the receptacle of the electrical assembly.

Claim 22

The module of claim 13 , further comprising a second wedge plate mounted to the second end of the chassis and inverted relative to said wedge plate, the second wedge plate also having an inclined surface which is adjacent but inverted relative to the inclined surface of said wedge plate, and wherein the actuation wedge slidingly engages the inclined surfaces of the wedge plates simultaneously to move the chassis and component between the disengaged and engaged positions.

Claim 23

The module of claim 13 wherein the yoke has a pair of actuation wedges, each of which moves between a pair of wedge plates that are inverted relative to one another.

Claim 24

The module of claim 13 , further comprising a bracket connected to the actuator and compliantly coupled to the yoke for moving the yoke relative to the chassis.

Claim 25

The module of claim 20 , further comprising a bias member located between the bracket and the yoke for biasing the actuator to the first position.

Claim 26

The module of claim 21 wherein the bias member comprises a spring having an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Claim 27

The module of claim 13 wherein the actuator comprises a lever having a pivot end which is pivotally mounted to the chassis and a pusher end which is connected to the yoke.

Claim 28

The module of claim 23 wherein the lever has an elongated handle extending from the pivot end which is manually operable between the first and second positions, a pivot arm extending from the pivot end and spaced apart from the handle, and a linkage joining the pivot arm and the yoke.

Claim 29

The module of claim 13 , further comprising a bias member mounted between the base and the chassis for biasing the chassis and component to the disengaged position.

Claim 30

The module of claim 25 wherein the bias member comprises a spring having an axis which is parallel to the transverse axis.

Claim 31

The module of claim 25 wherein the chassis has four corners and wherein the bias member comprises a spring located adjacent to each of the corners, each of the springs being captured by a fastener between the base and the chassis.

Claim 32

The module of claim 27 wherein the fasteners are mounted to and extend from the base through the chassis such that the springs are captured on an opposite side of the chassis relative to the base.

Claim 33

The module of claim 13 , further comprising a chassis cover detachably coupled to the first end of the chassis for protecting the exposed portion of the electrical connector.

Claim 36

The method of claim 30 , further comprising the step of moving the actuator from the second position to the first position such that the carrier and the component move along the transverse axis from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

Claim 37

The method of claim 30 wherein, after the actuator is returned to the second position, the module is removed from the receptacle along the longitudinal axis.

Claim 38

The method of claim 30 , further comprising the step of biasing the actuator to the first position.

Claim 39

The method of claim 30 wherein step (e) comprises pivoting the actuator relative to the carrier.

Claim 40

The method of claim 30 wherein step (b) comprises biasing the carrier and component to the disengaged position.

Claim 41

The method of claim 30 wherein step (e) further comprises frictionally locking the actuator at the second position to prevent it from inadvertently returning to the first position.