Electrical connector having a mechanical mating cycle limitation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical connector having a mechanical mating cycle limitation for providing an electrical connection to a receptacle assembly, comprising:
- a plug housing comprising an insertion portion, a shell, and inner ramps disposed therewithin;
contacts disposed within the plug housing;
a midpiece comprising outer ramps disposed therewithin, the midpiece securely assembled to the plug housing; and
a plunger component, a rotating component, and a spring disposed within the securely assembled midpiece and plug housing;
wherein the rotating component is configured to rotate within the electrical connector when mating and unmating the electrical connector to the receptacle assembly for a predetermined number of mating cycles until the rotating component is prohibited from further rotation during a mating cycle, thereby rendering the electrical connector inoperable.
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Abstract
An electrical connector having a mechanical mating cycle limitation that renders the connector inoperable after a predetermined number of mating cycles is disclosed. The electrical connector includes a rotating component that rotates within the connector for the predetermined number of mating cycles until the rotating component is prohibited from further rotation, which prevents the connector from further mating, thereby rendering the connector inoperable.
43 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electrical connector having a mechanical mating cycle limitation for providing an electrical connection to a receptacle assembly, comprising:
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a plug housing comprising an insertion portion, a shell, and inner ramps disposed therewithin; contacts disposed within the plug housing; a midpiece comprising outer ramps disposed therewithin, the midpiece securely assembled to the plug housing; and a plunger component, a rotating component, and a spring disposed within the securely assembled midpiece and plug housing; wherein the rotating component is configured to rotate within the electrical connector when mating and unmating the electrical connector to the receptacle assembly for a predetermined number of mating cycles until the rotating component is prohibited from further rotation during a mating cycle, thereby rendering the electrical connector inoperable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of preventing the mating of an electrical connector after a predetermined number of mating cycles, thereby rendering the electrical connector inoperable, comprising:
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providing an electrical connector comprising; a plug housing comprising an insertion portion, a shell, and inner ramps disposed therewithin; contacts disposed within the plug housing; a midpiece comprising outer ramps disposed therewithin, the midpiece securely assembled to the plug housing; and a plunger, a rotating component, and a spring disposed within the securely assembled plug housing and midpiece; wherein the rotating component is configured to rotate within the electrical connector when mating and unmating the electrical connector to the receptacle assembly for a predetermined number of mating cycles until the rotating component is prohibited from further rotation during a mating cycle, thereby preventing the electrical connector from further mating to the receptacle assembly, thereby rendering the electrical connector inoperable; and mating and unmating the electrical connector to the receptacle assembly for the predetermined number of mating cycles until the electrical connector is rendered inoperable. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification