Cam lever operated connector

• US 5,823,808 A
• Filed: 08/20/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Hartwig, Kenneth, Hansen, David B., Zielinski, Thomas E., Neblett, Larry L., Clark, Dean B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US08/699,837
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 439/157, 439/153, 439/155, 439/159, 439/310, 439/372, 439/271, 439/283, 439/160
• US Class Current: 439/157
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical connector comprising a male member, a female member, a cam lever for engaging the male and female members, and a lock portion including a sliding member slidable on a track and engaging the cam lever for holding said cam lever in a closed position.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising a male connector member and a female connector member, pivotal cam lever means on one of said male or female connector members for causing said male connector member and said female connector member to engage each other, and locking means on the same one of said male or female connector members for holding said cam lever means in a closed position, said locking means including a sliding member slidable on a track, said sliding member engaging said cam lever means for locking said cam lever means in said closed position.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said cam lever means comprises:

a cam lever, said cam lever comprising two substantially parallel legs and a handle, said handle connecting said legs to form a U-shaped member, each said leg defining an arcuate slot with first and second ends further comprising a first shoulder at said first end and a second shoulder at said second end, first and second mounting pins connected to either side of said female connector member for rotatably mounting said cam lever, engagement pins connected to either side of said male member whereby said engagement pins engage said arcuate slots upon insertion of said male member into said female member and whereby said cam lever must be rotated to fully insert said male member into said female member.

3. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a male connector member;

a female connector member, said female member capable of slidably receiving said male member;

said female connector member further comprising a connector body having first and second sides, a plurality of power sockets for receiving a power source, said power sockets connected to said first side of said body, and a female connector member cavity defined by said second side of said connector body, said connector cavity further comprising a plurality of pin receptacles for receiving said male connector member, said pin receptacles connecting to said power sockets through said body, pivotal cam lever means on said female connector member for causing said male connector member and said female connector member to engage each other, and locking means on said female connector member for holding said cam lever means in place in a closed position, said locking means including a sliding member slidable on a track on said female connector member, said sliding member engaging said cam lever means for locking said cam lever means in said closed position.

4. The connector of claim 3 further comprising cam lever means for connecting and disconnecting said male and female members, said cam lever means further comprising a cam lever, said cam lever comprising two substantially parallel legs and a handle, said handle connecting said legs to form a U-shaped member, each said leg defining an arcuate slot with first and second ends further comprising a first shoulder at said first end and a second shoulder at said second end, first and second mounting pins connected to either side of said female connector member for rotatably mounting said cam lever, engagement pins connected to either side of said male member whereby said engagement pins engage said arcuate slots upon insertion of said males member into said female member and said cam lever must be rotated to fully connect said male member to said female member.

5. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a male connector member;

a female connector member, said female connector member capable of slidably receiving said male connector member;

said female connector member further comprising a connector body having a first and second side, a plurality of power sockets for receiving a power source, said power sockets connected to said first side of said body, a female cavity defined by said second side of said connector body, said connector cavity further comprising a plurality of pin receptacles for receiving said male connector member, said pin receptacles connecting to said power sockets through said body, cam lever means on said female connector member for connecting and disconnecting said male and female members, said cam lever means comprising a cam lever, said cam lever comprising two substantially parallel legs and a handle, said handle connecting said legs to form a U-shaped member, each said leg defining an arcuate slot with first and second ends further comprising a first shoulder at said first end and a second shoulder at said second end, first and second mounting pins connected to either side of said female connector member for rotatably mounting said cam lever, engagement pins connected to either side of said male connector member whereby said engagement pins engage said arcuate slots upon insertion of said male connector member into said female connector member and said cam lever must be rotated to fully connect said male connector member to said female connector member, locking means on said female connector member for holding said cam lever means in place in a closed position, said locking means including a sliding member slidable on a track on female connector member, said sliding member engaging said cam lever means for locking said cam lever means in said closed position.

6. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a male connector member;

a female connector member, said female connector member capable of slidably receiving said male connector member;

said female connector member further comprising a connector body having a first and second side, a plurality of power sockets for receiving a power source, said power sockets connected to said first side of said body, a female cavity defined by said second side of said connector body, said connector cavity further comprising a plurality of pin receptacles for receiving said male connector member, said pin receptacles connecting to said power sockets, and a cam lever means on said female connector member positioned for connecting and disconnecting said male and female members;

said cam lever means comprising a cam lever, said cam lever comprising two substantially parallel legs and a handle, said handle connecting said legs to form a U-shaped member, each said leg defining an arcuate slot with first and second ends further comprising a first shoulder at said first end and a second shoulder at said second end, first and second mounting pins connected to either side of said female connector member for rotatably mounting said cam lever, engagement pins connected to either side of said male connector member whereby said engagement pins engage said arcuate slots upon insertion of said male connector member into said female connector member and said cam lever must be rotated to fully connect said male connector member to said female connector member, locking means on said female connector member for holding said cam lever means in place in a closed position, said locking means including a sliding member slidable on a track on said female connector member, said sliding member engaging said cam lever means for locking said cam lever means in said closed position.