US7128595B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector with positive lock
Assignee: Amphenol Corp
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Filing: 2005-03-23
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Granted: 2006-10-31
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Expires: 2025-03-23
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector including a shell having a inner area supporting a contact member adapted to mate with a contact of another connector. The shell includes a wall having at least one locking opening and a flexible extension. A locking member includes first and second ends, the first end including at least one locking tab received in the locking opening and extending into the inner area of the shell in a locked position, and the second end being coupled to the extension of the shell. The locking member is moveable to an unlocked position in a first direction away from the wall of the shell and the extension is moveable in a second direction opposite the first direction, so that no portion of the locking tab extends into the inner area of the shell.
Inventors
- 👤 Kamal S. Boutros
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R13/6275; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6582; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a shell having an inner area supporting a contact adapted to mate with a contact of another connector, said shell including a wall having at least one locking opening and an integral flexible extension; and a locking member with first and second ends, said first end including at least one locking tab received in said locking opening and extending into said inner area of said shell in a locked position, and said second end being coupled to said extension of said shell, with said second end of said locking member including pins press fit into corresponding holes of said extension of said shell to couple said locking member to said shell, whereby said locking member is moveable to an unlocked position in a first direction away from said wall of said shell and said extension is moveable in a second direction opposite said first direction, so that no portion of said locking tab extends into said inner area of said shell in said unlocked position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a shell having an inner area supporting a contact adapted to mate with a contact of another connector, said shell including a wall having at least one locking opening and an integral flexible extension; and a locking member with first and second ends, said first end including at least one locking tab received in said locking opening and extending into said inner area of said shell in a locked position, and said second end being coupled to said extension of said shell, with said second end of said locking member including pins press fit into corresponding holes of said extension of said shell to couple said locking member to said shell, whereby said locking member is moveable to an unlocked position in a first direction away from said wall of said shell and said extension is moveable in a second direction opposite said first direction, so that no portion of said locking tab extends into said inner area of said shell in said unlocked position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said wall of said shell includes a second locking opening; and said first end of said locking member including a second locking tab received in said second locking opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of said locking member rests on said wall of said shell when said locking member is in the locked position; and said bottom surface of said locking member is spaced from said wall of said shell when said locking member is in the unlocked position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said locking member includes a gripping surface at said first end to facilitate movement of said locking member in said first direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said locking member is biased to the locked position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said second end of said locking member includes a weakened area to facilitate movement of said locking member in said first direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said locking member is flexible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a shell having an inner area supporting a contact mateable with a contact of another connector, said shell including a wall having at least one locking opening and an integral flexible extension; and a locking member moveable between locked and unlocked positions and having first and second ends, said first end including at least one locking tab, and said second end being coupled to said extension of said shell, with said second end of said locking member including pins press fit into corresponding holes of said extension of said shell to couple said locking member to said shell, whereby in the locked position said locking tab is received in said locking opening of said shell and in a corresponding locking opening of the other connector, and said locking member is moveable to the unlocked position in a first direction away from said wall of said shell and said extension of said shell is moveable in a second direction opposite said first direction, so that no portion of said locking tab extends into said locking opening of said second connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a shell having an inner area supporting a contact mateable with a contact of another connector, said shell including a wall having at least one locking opening and an integral flexible extension; and a locking member moveable between locked and unlocked positions and having first and second ends, said first end including at least one locking tab, and said second end being coupled to said extension of said shell, with said second end of said locking member including pins press fit into corresponding holes of said extension of said shell to couple said locking member to said shell, whereby in the locked position said locking tab is received in said locking opening of said shell and in a corresponding locking opening of the other connector, and said locking member is moveable to the unlocked position in a first direction away from said wall of said shell and said extension of said shell is moveable in a second direction opposite said first direction, so that no portion of said locking tab extends into said locking opening of said second connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 , wherein a bottom surface of said locking member rests on said wall of said shell when said locking member is in the locked position; and said bottom surface of said locking member is spaced from said wall of said shell when said locking member is in the unlocked position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 , wherein said locking opening and said locking tab are axially aligned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 , wherein said locking member is flexible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 , wherein said shell includes a second locking opening; and said locking member includes a second locking tab receivable in said second locking opening of said shell and a second opening of the other connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 , wherein said locking member includes a gripping surface at said first end to facilitate movement of said locking member in said first direction.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for mating first and second electrical connectors, the first electrical connector including a locking member having a locking tab received in an opening of a shell of the electrical connector and a flexible extension extending from the shell, comprising the steps of: press fitting pins of the locking member into corresponding openings in the extension of the first connector to couple the locking member to the first connector slideably inserting a terminal end of the second connector into an inner area of the first connector; engaging the terminal end of the second connector with the locking tab of the locking member of the first connector to move the locking tab in a first direction out of the inner area of the first connector and substantially simultaneously moving the flexible extension in a second direction opposite the first direction; and dropping the locking tab in an opening in the second connector that aligns with the opening of the first connector, thereby releaseably locking the first and second connectors together.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for mating first and second electrical connectors, the first electrical connector including a locking member having a locking tab received in an opening of a shell of the electrical connector and a flexible extension extending from the shell, comprising the steps of: press fitting pins of the locking member into corresponding openings in the extension of the first connector to couple the locking member to the first connector slideably inserting a terminal end of the second connector into an inner area of the first connector; engaging the terminal end of the second connector with the locking tab of the locking member of the first connector to move the locking tab in a first direction out of the inner area of the first connector and substantially simultaneously moving the flexible extension in a second direction opposite the first direction; and dropping the locking tab in an opening in the second connector that aligns with the opening of the first connector, thereby releaseably locking the first and second connectors together.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of: moving the locking member in the first direction until the locking tab is no longer received in the opening of the second connector; and slideably remove the second connector from the inner area of the shell of the first connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 15 , wherein the locking member includes a gripping surface to facilitate movement of the locking member in the first direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the locking member is made of plastic; and the shell of the first connector is made of thin metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a shell having an inner area supporting a contact adapted to mate with a contact of another connector, said shell including a wall having at least one locking opening and a flexible extension; and a locking member with first and second ends, said first end including at least one locking tab received in said locking opening and extending into said inner area of said shell in a locked position, and said second end being coupled to said extension of said shell, wherein said second end of said locking member includes pins press fit into corresponding holes of said extension of said shell to couple said locking member to said shell; whereby said locking member is moveable to an unlocked position in a first direction away from said wall of said shell and said extension is moveable in a second direction opposite said first direction, so that no portion of said locking tab extends into said inner area of said shell in said unlocked position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a shell having an inner area supporting a contact adapted to mate with a contact of another connector, said shell including a wall having at least one locking opening and a flexible extension; and a locking member with first and second ends, said first end including at least one locking tab received in said locking opening and extending into said inner area of said shell in a locked position, and said second end being coupled to said extension of said shell, wherein said second end of said locking member includes pins press fit into corresponding holes of said extension of said shell to couple said locking member to said shell; whereby said locking member is moveable to an unlocked position in a first direction away from said wall of said shell and said extension is moveable in a second direction opposite said first direction, so that no portion of said locking tab extends into said inner area of said shell in said unlocked position.
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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) | 2009-10-30 | 2010-05-01 | 2010-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | 2014-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-10-30 | 2018-05-01 | 2018-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |