Electrical connector assembly
First Claim
1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
- an electrically insulating connector body;
an electrically conductive first terminal engaged rigidly to the connector body;
an electrically insulating panel sub-assembly constructed and arranged to mate with the electrical connector body along a mating axis;
an electrically conductive second terminal engaged rigidly to the panel sub-assembly and constructed and arranged to mate with the first terminal along the mating axis;
a first cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body;
a second cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body;
a first cam lever attached rotatably to the panel sub-assembly about a first rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis, wherein the first cam lever is in sliding contact with the first cam stud and rotates clockwise to move the panel sub-assembly linearly along the mating axis toward the electrical connector body; and
a second cam lever attached rotatably to the panel sub-assembly about a second rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis and parallel to the first rotation axis, wherein the second cam lever is in sliding contact with the second cam stud and rotates counter-clockwise to move the panel sub-assembly linearly along the mating axis toward the electrical connector body and to counter a moment created by the generally simultaneous rotation of the first cam lever;
the first cam lever having a cam track for sliding contact with the first cam stud;
the cam track having;
a first portion extending gradually radially inward toward the first rotation axis from a receiving end for initial contact of the cam stud to a staging end; and
a second portion being in disconnected relationship to the first portion and extending gradually radially inward toward the first rotation axis from a catch end to a mated end;
wherein the first portion spirals radially inward toward the first rotation axis generally in a first circumferential direction and the second portion spirals radially inward toward the rotation axis generally in an opposite circumferential direction.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly and a method of mating the same. The electrical connector assembly includes a panel sub-assembly which mates to at least one electrical connector body. Preferably two cam leveraging devices which rotate in opposing directions are mounted rotatably to the panel sub-assembly for sliding engagement of respective cam studs engaged rigidly to the electrical connector body. Opposing rotations of the cam leveraging devices along respective and parallel rotation axes causes the panel sub-assembly to move linearly along a mating axis disposed orthogonally to the rotation axes and toward the electrical connector body to a staged position. During linear panel sub-assembly movement from the disconnected position to the staged position, the cam studs slide against a first portion of a track carried by respective cam levers and which generally spirals radially inward toward the rotation axis. Reversing rotation of both cam leveraging devices causes the panel sub-assembly to continue linear movement toward the electrical connector body from the staged position and to a mated position. During linear panel sub-assembly movement from the staged position to the mated position, the cam stud lifts off of the first portion, and is caught by and slides along a second portion of the track to a mated end.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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an electrically insulating connector body; an electrically conductive first terminal engaged rigidly to the connector body; an electrically insulating panel sub-assembly constructed and arranged to mate with the electrical connector body along a mating axis; an electrically conductive second terminal engaged rigidly to the panel sub-assembly and constructed and arranged to mate with the first terminal along the mating axis; a first cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body; a second cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body; a first cam lever attached rotatably to the panel sub-assembly about a first rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis, wherein the first cam lever is in sliding contact with the first cam stud and rotates clockwise to move the panel sub-assembly linearly along the mating axis toward the electrical connector body; and a second cam lever attached rotatably to the panel sub-assembly about a second rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis and parallel to the first rotation axis, wherein the second cam lever is in sliding contact with the second cam stud and rotates counter-clockwise to move the panel sub-assembly linearly along the mating axis toward the electrical connector body and to counter a moment created by the generally simultaneous rotation of the first cam lever; the first cam lever having a cam track for sliding contact with the first cam stud; the cam track having; a first portion extending gradually radially inward toward the first rotation axis from a receiving end for initial contact of the cam stud to a staging end; and a second portion being in disconnected relationship to the first portion and extending gradually radially inward toward the first rotation axis from a catch end to a mated end; wherein the first portion spirals radially inward toward the first rotation axis generally in a first circumferential direction and the second portion spirals radially inward toward the rotation axis generally in an opposite circumferential direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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an electrically insulating connector body; an electrically conductive first terminal engaged rigidly to the connector body; an electrically insulating panel sub-assembly constructed and arranged to mate with the electrical connector body along a mating axis; an electrically conductive second terminal engaged rigidly to the panel sub-assembly and constructed and arranged to mate with the first terminal along the mating axis; a first cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body; a second cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body; a first cam lever attached rotatably to the panel sub-assembly about a first rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis, wherein the first cam lever is in sliding contact with the first cam stud and rotates clockwise to move the panel sub-assembly linearly along the mating axis toward the electrical connector body; a second cam lever attached rotatably to the panel sub-assembly about a second rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis and parallel to the first rotation axis, wherein the second cam lever is in sliding contact with the second cam stud and rotates counter-clockwise to move the panel sub-assembly linearly along the mating axis toward the electrical connector body and to counter a moment created by the generally simultaneous rotation of the first cam lever; and a cam track carried by each of the first and second levers for sliding contact with the respective first and second cam studs; wherein the cam tracks generally spiral toward the respective first and second rotation axes; wherein the first and second studs each have a diameter and a centerline disposed substantially parallel to the respective first and second rotation axes; wherein a first portion of the cam tracks generally face the respective first and second rotation axes and have a radially outward receiving end for initial receipt of the respective first and second studs and an opposite, radially inward, staging end; wherein a second portion of the cam tracks are in disconnected relationship to the first portion and generally face the respective first and second rotation axes, the second portion having a radially outward catch end and an opposite, radially inward, mated end; and wherein the catch end generally faces the rotational center and faces the staging end, and is spaced from the staging end by a distance which is greater than the diameter of the respective first and second studs. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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an electrical connector body; an electrical panel sub-assembly matable with the electrical connector body along a mating axis, the electrical panel sub-assembly having a rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis; a cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body and extending along a centerline disposed parallel to the rotation axis, the cam stud having a diameter; and a cam lever attached rotatably to the electrical panel sub-assembly about the rotation axis, the cam lever having a cam track for sliding contact with the cam stud; the cam track having; a first portion extending gradually radially inward toward the rotation axis from a receiving end for initial contact of the cam stud, and to a staging end; a second portion being in disconnected relationship to the first portion and extending gradually radially inward toward the rotation axis from a catch end to a mated end; a third portion of the cam track extending gradually radially outward from the mated end and toward the staged end; and an inner blind slot communicating through the cam lever and defined laterally between the second and third portions; wherein the catch end generally faces the rotation axis and faces the staging end, and is spaced from the staging end by a distance which is greater than file stud diameter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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an electrical connector body; an electrical panel sub-assembly matable with the electrical connector body along a mating axis, the electrical panel sub-assembly having a rotation axis disposed orthogonally to the mating axis; a cam stud engaged to the electrical connector body and extending along a centerline disposed parallel to the rotation axis, the cam stud having a diameter; and a cam lever attached rotatably to the electrical panel sub-assembly about the rotation axis, the cam lever having a cam track for sliding contact with the cam stud; the cam track having; a first portion extending gradually radially inward toward the rotation axis from a receiving end for initial contact of the cam stud, and to a staging end; and a second portion being in disconnected relationship to the first portion and extending gradually radially inward toward the rotation axis from a catch end to a mated end; wherein the catch end generally faces the rotation axis and faces the staging end, and is spaced from the stage end by a distance which is greater than the stud diameter; and wherein the first portion spirals radially inward toward the rotation axis generally in a first circumferential direction and the second portion spirals radially inward toward the rotation axis generally in an opposite circumferential direction.
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22. A method for mating an electrical connector assembly comprising the steps of:
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placing an electrical panel sub-assembly over an electrical connector body; aligning a first cam stud to a disconnect end of a first portion of a track of a first cam lever engaged rotatably to the electrical panel sub-assembly; rotating the first cam lever in a clockwise direction about a first rotation axis causing the first cam stud to slide along the first portion as the electrical panel sub-assembly moves in a linear direction toward the electrical connector body; abutting the first cam stud to a staged end of the first portion placing the electrical panel sub-assembly in a staged position; rotating the first cam lever in a counter-clockwise direction about the first rotation axis causing the first cam stud to lift off of the staged end and slideably engage a radially outward catch end of a second portion of the track and causing the first cam stud to slide along the second portion, the second portion being in disconnected relationship to the first portion and generally facing the first rotation axis; and abutting the first cam stud against a radially inward mated end of the second portion placing the electrical connector assembly in a mated position. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification