CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A connector assembly comprising a first connector part and a second connector part, at least one of the first connector part and the second connector part comprising at least one magnet for providing an attractive force between the first connector part and the second connector part to align the first connector part and the second connector part in a connected state,wherein the first connector part comprises a guide track and the second connector part comprises a follower, the guide track being shaped to guide movement of the follower, under the influence of said attractive force, to a retaining position in which the follower engages an abutment surface on the first connector part to provide a retaining mechanism for retaining the first connector part and the second connector part in the connected state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a connector assembly having a first connector part and a second connector part. At least one of the first connector part and the second connector part comprises at least one magnet for providing an attractive force between the first connector part and the second connector part to align the first connector part and the second connector part in a connected state. The first connector part comprises a guide track and the second connector part comprises a follower, the guide track being shaped to guide movement of the follower, under the influence of said attractive force, to a retaining position in which the follower engages an abutment surface on the first connector part to provide a retaining mechanism for retaining the first connector part and the second connector part in the connected state.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A connector assembly comprising a first connector part and a second connector part, at least one of the first connector part and the second connector part comprising at least one magnet for providing an attractive force between the first connector part and the second connector part to align the first connector part and the second connector part in a connected state,
wherein the first connector part comprises a guide track and the second connector part comprises a follower, the guide track being shaped to guide movement of the follower, under the influence of said attractive force, to a retaining position in which the follower engages an abutment surface on the first connector part to provide a retaining mechanism for retaining the first connector part and the second connector part in the connected state.
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12. A connector assembly comprising a first connector part and a second connector part,
the first connector part having a first planar connection surface and the second connector part having a second planar connection surface, wherein the first connector part has a first magnet having a first magnetic axis aligned parallel to the plane of the first planar connection surface and the second connector part has a second magnet having a second magnetic axis aligned parallel to the second planar connection surface, wherein when the first magnetic axis and the second magnetic axis are aligned in the same direction the first magnet and the second magnet produce an attractive force to attract the first connector part and the second connector part to each other and wherein when the first magnetic axis and the second magnetic axis are aligned in opposite directions the first magnet and the second magnet produce a repulsive force to repel the first connector part and the second connector part from each other, whereby misalignment of the first connector part and the second connector part is inhibited.
Specification