Electrical connector with improved safety latching for a fluorescent-lighting ballast
First Claim
1. In combination, for use in a fluorescent-lamp fixture having lamp sockets:
- a ballast;
electrical equipment mounted within the ballast;
a first half connector mounted to the ballast and connected electrically to the electrical equipment;
electrical leads for extension through said fixture substantially outside the ballast;
a second half-connector, terminating said electrical leads, for mating with the first half-connector to complete electrical interconnections between the electrical equipment and the electrical leads;
a hook extending from the first half-connector, the hook having a beam portion;
a catch, formed in the second half connector, for engaging the hook to hold the first and second half-connectors together; and
a hook retaining surface, also formed in the second half-connector, for holding the hook engaged with the catch so that during insertion or removal of the hook the hook retaining surface contacts a top surface of the hook near a tip of the hook and deflects the top surface of the hook near the tin of the hook downward with respect to the beam portion of the hook.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One half-connector terminates leads in the ballast, carrying electricity to and from the ballast coils. Another half-connector terminates leads outside the ballast, connected e. g. to carry power to lamp sockets. A hook extended from a first of the half-connectors engages a catch formed in a second. A retaining surface, preferably associated with the second half-connector, keeps the hook engaged with the catch. Preferably the space between the retaining surface and the catch is smaller than the unstressed dimension of the hook barb--but during the act of engagement the barb deforms to pass between the catch and surface; then the barb springs back into shape and is held behind the catch. In this process also preferably the retaining surface cooperates with the first half-connector to support the shaft or beam of the hook at both ends--as in a classical double-ended beam spring structure, contrasted with a cantilevered spring in a conventional hook and catch. A ramp guides the hook between the catch and surface even if the hook has been warped before assembly, at least in commonly occurring modes of warping.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In combination, for use in a fluorescent-lamp fixture having lamp sockets:
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a ballast; electrical equipment mounted within the ballast; a first half connector mounted to the ballast and connected electrically to the electrical equipment; electrical leads for extension through said fixture substantially outside the ballast; a second half-connector, terminating said electrical leads, for mating with the first half-connector to complete electrical interconnections between the electrical equipment and the electrical leads; a hook extending from the first half-connector, the hook having a beam portion; a catch, formed in the second half connector, for engaging the hook to hold the first and second half-connectors together; and a hook retaining surface, also formed in the second half-connector, for holding the hook engaged with the catch so that during insertion or removal of the hook the hook retaining surface contacts a top surface of the hook near a tip of the hook and deflects the top surface of the hook near the tin of the hook downward with respect to the beam portion of the hook. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In combination, for use in a fluorescent-lamp fixture having lamp sockets:
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a ballast; electrical equipment mounted within the ballast; a first half connector mounted to the ballast and connected electrically to the electrical equipment; electrical leads for extension through said fixture substantially outside the ballast; a second half-connector, terminating said electrical leads, for mating with the first half-connector to complete electrical interconnections between the electrical equipment and the electrical leads; a hook extending from the first half-connector, along a longitudinal direction between the first and second half-connectors; a catch, formed in the second half connector, for engaging the hook to hold the first and second half-connectors together; and a hook retaining surface, also formed in the second half-connector, for cooperating with said first half-connector to support the hook as a double-supported deflecting beam, against lateral forces applied to the hook by the catch during engagement of the hook and catch, and said hook retaining surface, during insertion and removal of the hook, contacts a top surface of the hook near a tip of the hook and deflects the top surface of the hook near the tip of the hook downward with respect to the beam portion of the hook. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification