Self docking electrical connector

• US 6,244,884 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Cable Industries Incorporated (General Cable Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Prestolite Wire LLC (General Cable Corporation)
• Inventors: Kerul, Joseph Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Truc
• Application Number:
  US09/505,308
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 439/817, 439/260, 439/261, 439/262, 439/263, 439/264, 439/34, 439/660, 200/51.09, 200/51.1, 200/51.12
• US Class Current: 439/262
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7033 making use of elastic extensions of the terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

Abstract

A self-docking connector includes first and third fixed contacts and an intermediate fixed contact. The first and third contacts are mounted on male and female connectors, respectively, and the intermediate contacts are mounted on a slideable plate. The plate is mounted on an upper tray surface of the female connector and is capable of sliding movement between a connected and a disconnected position. In the disconnected position, the intermediate contacts are resiliently biased by a biasing member away from contacting the third contacts, therefore creating an open circuit between the intermediate and third contacts. However, in the connected position, the intermediate contacts are forced into positive contact with the third contacts, thereby creating a readily disconnectable electrical connection therebetween.

Claims

1. A self-docking electrical connector, comprising:

first and third fixed contacts respectively mounted on male and female bodies, said female body including a recess for receiving at least a portion of said male body; and

a slidable plate including intermediate contacts fixed thereto, said plate sliding in response to insertion of said male body into said female body from a disconnected position, wherein said third and intermediate contacts are spaced apart in said disconnected position, and wherein said third and intermediate contacts positively engage each other in a connected position.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said plate is resiliently biased to said disconnected position when said male body is not inserted into said female body.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein said plate is mounted on an upper surface of said female body.

4. A self-docking electrical connector, comprising:

first and third fixed contacts respectively mounted on male and female bodies, said female body including a recess for receiving at least a portion of said male body; and

a slidable plate mounted on an upper surface of said female body, said plate including intermediate contacts fixed thereto, said plate sliding in response to insertion of said male body into said female body from a disconnected position, wherein said third and intermediate contacts are spaced apart in said disconnected position, and wherein said third and intermediate contacts positively engage each other in a connected position.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein said male body includes at least one actuator post for insertion into said recess, said at least one actuator post including at least one projection, a distal end of said projection including a first cam surface for interacting with an upper surface of said plate to force said plate to slide from said disconnected to said connected position.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein said plate upper surface includes a second cam surface adapted to mate with said first cam surface to exert a lateral force on said plate.

7. The connector of claim 5, wherein said post extends generally normal to said male body such that the angle of incidence of said post onto said plate upper surface is approximately normal to the upper surface of the plate.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein said plate is resiliently biased to said disconnected position when said post is not inserted into said female body.

9. The connector of claim 4, wherein said female body further includes a socket for coupling said third contacts to an electrical system.

10. A self-docking electrical connector, comprising:

first and third fixed contacts respectively mounted on male and female bodies, said female body including a recess for receiving at least a portion of said male body;

a slidable plate mounted on an upper surface of said female body, said plate including intermediate contacts fixed thereto, said plate sliding in response to insertion of said male body into said female body from a disconnected position, wherein said third and intermediate contacts are spaced apart in said disconnected position, wherein said third and intermediate contacts positively engage each other in a connected position; and

a spring attached between a side edge of said plate and said female body upper surface wherein said spring resiliently biases said plate to said disconnected position when said post is not inserted into said female body.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein said spring is a leaf spring.

12. The connector of claim 10, wherein said spring is a coil spring.