Electrical connector latching apparatus
First Claim
1. An electrical connector latching apparatus for use with a connector for engaging and operating a locking member of a mated connector, the mated connectors defining a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking member being slidable between the two positions, the apparatus comprising:
- a key, the key including;
lock engaging means for engaging and sliding the locking member between the locked and the unlocked positions; and
support means for slidably disposing the lock engaging means relative to at least one of the connectors.
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Abstract
A latching apparatus for interlocking electrical connectors such as the Ethernet® compliant 15-pin D-shell AUI connector. The latching apparatus is made a part of the male AUI connector, and includes a key for engaging and operating the locking member of the female AUI connector. The key can be incorporated into any device or mating connector which attaches to the AUI connector of an Ethernet® LAN adapter. The key is operated by hand and in one embodiment is coupled to a switch for modifying an Ethernet® signal to indicate whether the lock is in the locked or in the unlocked position.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electrical connector latching apparatus for use with a connector for engaging and operating a locking member of a mated connector, the mated connectors defining a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking member being slidable between the two positions, the apparatus comprising:
a key, the key including; lock engaging means for engaging and sliding the locking member between the locked and the unlocked positions; and support means for slidably disposing the lock engaging means relative to at least one of the connectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrical connector latching apparatus for use with a pair of mating electrical connectors, the connectors including an interlock, the interlock having a locked position for preventing separation of the connectors when mated and having an unlocked position for allowing separation and mating, the interlock being operable between the locked and the unlocked positions, the apparatus comprising:
a key, the key including; operation means for engaging the interlock and for operating the interlock between the locked and the unlocked positions; and support means for supporting the operation means relative to at least one of the connectors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A key for use with an Ethernet®
- AUI compliant male connector for engaging and operating the lock of a mating female AUI connector, the lock having locked and unlocked positions, and the lock being slidable along a lock sliding line between the two positions, the key comprising;
a lock engaging member, the member being adapted to compatibly engage the lock, the member being disposed at the male connector for sliding along a line parallel to the lock sliding line; and operation means connected to the lock engaging member for sliding the lock engaging member, whereby, the lock may be slid to the unlocked position, the operation means being operated to slide the lock engaging member into a corresponding position, and the male and the female connectors may then be mated and the lock engaging member engage the lock, the operation means may then be operated to slide the lock engaging member and the engaged lock from the unlocked into the locked position, locking the connectors.
- AUI compliant male connector for engaging and operating the lock of a mating female AUI connector, the lock having locked and unlocked positions, and the lock being slidable along a lock sliding line between the two positions, the key comprising;
Specification