Break-away electrical connector

• US 20040002243A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lacy, Graham Keith, Logan, James Randall, Zatezalo, Douglas Mark, Davis, Michael, Zoschg, Ryan Anthony, McLellan, Steven, Heseltine, Ian, Mellott, Mark Bradford
• Granted Patent: US 6,910,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/180
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/56 Means for preventing chafing or fracture of flexible leads at outlet from coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid

Abstract

An electrical connector has a plug portion and a terminal portion. The plug portion is couplable to the terminal portion to provide an electrical connection between a device and a peripheral item which is securely coupled to the device during normal operation of the device. Advantageously, the plug portion will break-away from the terminal portion when a force applied to the plug portion reaches a specified magnitude to thereby prevent damage to the connector and to prevent hindering operation of the device.

Claims

1. A connector for engaging a terminal portion of a terminal comprising:

a plug portion;

a lever arm pivotally mounted on said plug portion and movable between a first position for coupling said connector to the terminal portion and a second position for uncoupling said connector from the terminal portion, said lever arm including an engagement claw configured to engage another part of the terminal portion when said lever arm is in said first position; and

a biasing member disposed between said plug portion and said lever arm for biasing said lever arm toward said first position.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said engagement claw is configured to mate with a corresponding engagement lip of a terminal portion.

3. The connector of claim 2, said engagement claw has an angled surface configured for engaging a corresponding angled surface on a terminal portion.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein said plug portion includes an engagement claw having an angled surface inclined approximately 46°

from a plug portion mating surface, said lever arm engagement claw has an angled surface inclined approximately 24°

from said plug mating surface when said lever arm is in the first position, and said biasing member has a spring constant of about 81.5 lb/in.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said lever arm is operable for moving toward said second position when a break-away force of a specific magnitude is applied to said connector, thereby permitting said connector to uncouple from a terminal portion.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein said engagement claw cooperates with said lever arm for defining a break-away force of a specific magnitude.

7. The connector of claim 5, wherein said connector is configured to uncouple from a terminal portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is at least ¼

of the value of a rated damage force of a cord coupled with said plug portion.

8. The connector of claim 5, wherein said connector is configured to uncouple from a terminal portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is between about 3 pounds and about 15 pounds.

9. The connector of claim 5, wherein said connector is configured to uncouple from a terminal portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is between about 8 pounds and about 12 pounds.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein a leading edge of said lever arm has an angled surface that slidingly contacts a corresponding angled surface on a terminal portion when said plug portion is coupled with a terminal portion, the sliding contact between the corresponding angled surfaces facilitating movement of said lever arm from said first position to said second position when coupling said plug portion with a terminal portion.

11. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral device and a cord electrically coupling said plug portion with said peripheral device.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein said peripheral device includes a headset electrically coupled with said cord.

13. A break-away electrical connector, comprising:

a terminal connector portion, said terminal connector portion comprising;

a terminal housing having first and second engagement lips and a first mating surface, and

at least one terminal-side electrical contact disposed proximate said first mating surface; and

a plug connector portion adapted to be removably coupled with said terminal connector portion, said plug connector portion comprising;

a plug housing having a first engagement claw configured to engage said first engagement lip and a second mating surface configured to interface with said first mating surface,

at least one plug-side electrical contact disposed proximate said second mating surface,

a lever arm pivotally mounted to said plug housing and movable between a first position for coupling said plug connector portion to said terminal connector portion and a second position for uncoupling said plug connector portion from said terminal connector portion, said lever arm including a second engagement claw configured to engage said second engagement lip when said lever arm is in said first position, and

a biasing member disposed between said plug housing and said lever arm for biasing said lever arm toward said first position.

14. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein said lever arm is operable for moving toward said second position when a certain break-away force is applied to said plug connector portion, thereby permitting said plug connector portion to uncouple from said terminal connector portion.

15. The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein said first and second engagement claws cooperate with said lever arm to permit said plug connector portion to uncouple from said terminal connector potion when a break-away force of a sufficient magnitude is applied to said plug connector portion.

16. The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein said plug connector portion is configured to uncouple from said terminal connector portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is approximately ¼

of the value of a rated damage force of a cord coupled with said plug housing.

17. The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein said plug connector portion is configured to break away from said terminal connector portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is between about 3 pounds and about 15 pounds.

18. The connector of claim 14, wherein said plug connector portion is configured to break away from said terminal connector portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is between about 8 pounds and about 12 pounds.

19. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein each of said first and second engagement claws has an angled surface which engages a corresponding angled surface on one of said first and second lips of said terminal housing, and said biasing member has a spring constant which permits said lever arm to move toward said second position when a break-away force of a sufficient magnitude is applied to said plug connector portion, the engagement between said angled surfaces acting in conjunction with the movement of said lever arm toward said second position to uncouple said plug connector portion from said terminal connector portion.

20. The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein said spring constant is approximately 81.5 lb/in.

21. The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein said first engagement claw has an angled surface inclined approximately 46°

from said second mating surface.

22. The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein said first engagement lip has an angled surface inclined approximately 46°

from said first mating surface.

23. The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein said second engagement claw has an angled surface inclined approximately 240 from said second mating surface when said lever arm is in said first position.

24. The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein said second engagement lip has an angled surface inclined approximately 24°

from said first mating surface.

25. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein said plug-side electrical contact is a spring-biased pin and said terminal-side electrical contact is a flat pad against which said spring-biased pin is compressively contacting when said terminal and plug connector portions are coupled.

26. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein a leading edge of said lever arm has an angled surface that contacts a corresponding angled surface on said terminal housing when said plug housing is coupled with said terminal housing, the contact between said corresponding angled surfaces moving said lever arm from said first position to said second position as said plug connector portion is coupled with said terminal connector portion.

27. An electrical device comprising:

a terminal with a terminal connector portion, said terminal connector portion having an engagement lip, a first mating surface, and at least one terminal-side electrical contact proximate said first mating surface; and

a plug connector portion adapted to couple with said terminal connector portion, said plug connector portion including;

a plug housing having a second mating surface configured to interface with said first mating surface, and at least one plug-side electrical contact proximate said second mating surface;

a lever arm pivotally mounted to said plug housing and movable between a first position in which said plug connector portion is coupled to said terminal connector portion and a second position in which said plug connector portion is uncoupled from said terminal connector portion, said lever arm including an engagement claw configured to engage said engagement lip when said lever arm is in said first position, and

a biasing member disposed between said plug housing and said lever arm for biasing said lever arm toward said first position.

28. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein said lever arm is movable toward said second position when a break-away force of a sufficient magnitude is applied to said plug connector portion, to uncouple the plug connector portion from said terminal connector portion.

29. The electrical device of claim 28, wherein said lever arm engagement claw cooperates with said lever arm to uncouple the plug connector portion from said terminal connector portion when a break-away force of a sufficient magnitude is applied to said plug connector portion.

30. The electrical device of claim 28, wherein said plug connector portion is configured to uncouple from said terminal connector portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is approximately ¼

of the value of a rated damage force of a cord coupled with said plug housing.

31. The electrical device of claim 28, wherein said plug connector portion is configured to uncouple from said terminal connector portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is between about 3 pounds and about 15 pounds.

32. The electrical device of claim 28, wherein said plug connector portion is configured to uncouple from said terminal connector portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is between about 8 pounds and about 12 pounds.

33. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein the lever arm engagement claw has an angled surface which engages a corresponding angled surface on the engagement lip of said terminal housing, and said spring has a spring constant which permits said lever arm to move toward said second position when a break-away force of a sufficient magnitude is applied to said plug connector portion, the angled surface acting in conjunction with the movement of said lever arm toward said second position to uncouple said plug connector portion from said terminal connector portion.

34. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein said biasing member is a spring having a spring constant of approximately 81.5 lb/in.

35. The electrical device of claim 27, further comprising an engagement claw on the plug housing which has an angled surface inclined oriented approximately 46°

from said second mating surface.

36. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein said engagement lip of said terminal connector has an angled surface inclined approximately 46°

from said first mating surface.

37. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein said lever arm engagement claw has an angled surface inclined approximately 24°

from said second mating surface when said lever arm is in said first position.

38. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein said engagement lip has an angled surface inclined approximately 24°

from said first mating surface.

39. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein said plug-side electrical contact is a spring biased pin for contacting a contact on said terminal connector portion.

40. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein a leading edge of said lever arm has an angled surface that contacts a corresponding angled surface on said terminal housing when said plug housing is moved to couple with said terminal housing, the contact between said angled surfaces causing said lever arm to move from said first position to said second position.

41. The electrical device of claim 27, further comprising a peripheral device and a cord electrically coupling said plug connector portion with said peripheral device.

42. The electrical device of claim 41, wherein said peripheral device includes a headset electrically coupled with said cord.

43. A wearable/portable terminal with a cord connector for coupling to the terminal, the cord connector being adapted to uncouple from the terminal when subjected to a break-away force of between about 3 pounds and about 15 pounds.

44. The wearable/portable terminal of claim 43, further comprising a peripheral device coupled to said cord connector.

45. The wearable/portable terminal of claim 44, wherein said peripheral device is a headset.

46. A wearable/portable terminal comprising:

a terminal housing having a first connector portion; and

a peripheral device having a second connector portion capable of being removably coupled with said first connector portion and a cord electrically coupled with said second connector portion, said second connector portion being configured to uncouple from said first connector portion when a breakaway force having a magnitude of between about 3 pounds and about 15 pounds is applied to the cord.

47. The terminal of claim 46, wherein said second connector portion is configured to uncouple from said first connector portion when the magnitude of the break-away force is between about 8 pounds and about 12 pounds.

48. The terminal of claim 46, further comprising a securing device adapted to make said terminal housing wearable.

49. The terminal of claim 46, wherein said peripheral device further includes a headset electrically coupled with said cord.

50. A wearable/portable terminal for use with a peripheral device having a cord and a plug connector portion with a pair of spaced, angled engagement surfaces, comprising:

a terminal housing having a terminal connector portion with a pair of spaced, angled engagement surfaces each configured for engaging a corresponding one of the angled surfaces of the plug connector portion, said angled surfaces of said terminal connector portion cooperating with the angled surfaces of the plug connector portion to facilitate detachment when a breakaway force having a magnitude of between about 3 pounds and about 15 pounds is applied to the cord.

51. The wearable/portable terminal of claim 50, wherein said terminal connector portion is configured to cooperate with the plug connector portion for uncoupling from the plug connector portion when the magnitude of the breakaway applied to the cord force is between about 8 pounds and about 12 pounds.

52. A peripheral for use with a wearable/portable terminal, the peripheral comprising:

a cord;

a connector coupled to the cord and configured for interfacing with a wearable/portable terminal, the connector adapted to uncouple from the terminal when subjected to a break-away force of between about 3 pounds and about 15 pounds.

53. The peripheral of claim 52, further comprising a headset coupled to the cord.