Active quick connecting/disconnecting connector
First Claim
1. A connector apparatus comprising:
- a plug component having a housing with a plug base at one end;
a central pin extending from the plug base of the housing;
a plurality of lamellae interconnected with the plug base and positioned about the central pin, the lamellae having angled faces at the upper free ends and shoulders;
a receptacle component having a housing with a receptacle base;
a plurality of receptacle pins extending from the receptacle base, positioned to coact with the central pin;
a plurality of lamellae extending from the receptacle base and positioned about the receptacle pins, the lamellae having upper free ends with faces and shoulders;
a receptacle actuator band positioned proximate to the receptacle lamellae;
a fulcrum positioned proximate the receptacle lamellae between the actuator band and the free ends of receptacle lamellae;
a plug actuator band extending about the plug lamnellae for moving the plug lamellae away from the receptacle lamellae to allow for disengagement of the connector;
wherein, when the plug and receptacle are positioned together, the faces of the plug and receptacle lamellae coact to urge the shoulders of the plug and receptacle lamellae into engagement to connect the plug and the receptacle; and
when the plug actuator band is actuated, the plug lamellae are moved away from the receptacle lamellae and when the receptacle actuator band is actuated, the receptacle lamellae are urged against the fulcrum to move the free ends of the receptacle lamellae away from the plus lamellae to allow for disengagement of the connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector is provided for the electrical and mechanical connection of components of a system. The connector includes plug and receptacle components. The plug has a central pin surrounded by a plurality of lamellae. An actuator is positioned about the lamellae for controlling the movement thereof. The receptacle has a pin housing corresponding to the central pin of the plug. Additionally, the receptacle includes a plurality of lamellae for mating with the plug lamellae. Like the plug, the receptacle includes an actuator for controlling movement of the receptacle lamellae. The plug lamellae and the receptacle lamellae have corresponding shoulders at the free ends thereof for engagement for interconnecting the plug and the receptacle. The actuators about the plug lamellae and receptacle lamellae control movement thereof and can be engaged to allow for the disconnection of the plug and the receptacle. The central trail pin of the plug and the pin housing of the receptacle can include conductive material for transmitting electrical signals. Similarly, the lamellae can include conductive materials for engagement and transmission of electric signals. In another embodiment, the plug and receptacle are positioned side by side to provide a universal connector.
84 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A connector apparatus comprising:
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a plug component having a housing with a plug base at one end;
a central pin extending from the plug base of the housing;
a plurality of lamellae interconnected with the plug base and positioned about the central pin, the lamellae having angled faces at the upper free ends and shoulders;
a receptacle component having a housing with a receptacle base;
a plurality of receptacle pins extending from the receptacle base, positioned to coact with the central pin;
a plurality of lamellae extending from the receptacle base and positioned about the receptacle pins, the lamellae having upper free ends with faces and shoulders;
a receptacle actuator band positioned proximate to the receptacle lamellae;
a fulcrum positioned proximate the receptacle lamellae between the actuator band and the free ends of receptacle lamellae;
a plug actuator band extending about the plug lamnellae for moving the plug lamellae away from the receptacle lamellae to allow for disengagement of the connector;
wherein, when the plug and receptacle are positioned together, the faces of the plug and receptacle lamellae coact to urge the shoulders of the plug and receptacle lamellae into engagement to connect the plug and the receptacle; and
when the plug actuator band is actuated, the plug lamellae are moved away from the receptacle lamellae and when the receptacle actuator band is actuated, the receptacle lamellae are urged against the fulcrum to move the free ends of the receptacle lamellae away from the plus lamellae to allow for disengagement of the connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of connecting objects comprising:
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providing a plug on one object, the plug including a central pin, a plug connecting ring positioned thereabout, and a plug housing positioned thereabout, the plug connecting ring comprising a plurality of plus fingers extending from a base of the plug receptacle to a free end, the free end including outwardly angled faces and outwardly facing shoulders thereunder, the central pin including a rounded forward surface to self align the central pin of the plus with the central pin receptacle of the receptacle;
providing a receptacle on another object, the receptacle including a central pin receptacle, a receptacle connector ring and a receptacle housing thereabout, the receptacle connector ring comprising a plurality of receptacle fingers extending from a receptacle base to a free end, the free ends including inwardly angled faces and inwardly facing shoulders;
moving the plug and receptacle together;
allowing the central pin to enter the central pin receptacle;
allowing the plug connector ring and the receptacle connector ring to engage; and
allowing the plug and receptacle housings to engage;
wherein exact alignment of the plug and receptacle are not necessary for engagement as the central pin seats itself in the central pin receptacle as the plug and receptacle are moved together and the angled faces of the plug fingers and receptacle fingers bear against each other to move the fingers away from each other to allow the shoulders to move past each other and engage. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification