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Magnetic repulsion-based coupling in an electrical connector

  • US 8,936,472 B1
  • Filed: 03/11/2013
  • Issued: 01/20/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A connector for conducting electricity, said connector comprising,(a) two universal couplers, a first universal coupler and a spaced-apart second universal coupler, each universal coupler of said two universal couplers including(i) a housing having a first passage and a spaced-apart second passage formed therein, and(ii) one male terminal and one female terminal, said first passage being formed to receive said one male terminal but not said one female terminal, said second passage being formed to receive said one female terminal but not said one male terminal, wherein said one male terminal has a male top made of a magnetic material, said one male terminal having an outer surface oriented so that only one pole of said magnetic material is permanently facing away from said housing when said one male terminal is in said first passage, and said one female terminal has a female top made of a material attracted to a magnet, said female top of said one female terminal having an outer surface facing away from said housing when said one female terminal is in said second passage, and wherein said one male terminal has a first tube electrically connected to said male top of said one male terminal, and said one female terminal has a second tube electrically connected to said female top of said one female terminal, wherein said first universal coupler of said two universal couplers is identical to and interchangeable with said second universal coupler of said two universal couplers;

  • and(b) two conductors running between said two couplers, a first conductor of said two conductors running from said one male terminal of said first universal coupler to said one male terminal of said second universal coupler, and a second conductor of said two conductors running from said one female terminal of said first universal coupler to said one female terminal of said second universal coupler;

    wherein said top surfaces have a pitch at an angle with respect to the plane of the interface between said universal coupler and any second universal coupler engaged therewith, and wherein said angled top surfaces each include a brake formed by said pitch not being angled all the way to the edges of said top surfaces, said brakes causing the angled top surfaces of said male terminals to be fully engaged with the angled top surfaces of said female terminals, and said fully engaged angled surfaces providing an interference with the bodies of said couplers that locks the engaged first and second terminals, respectively, in place against lateral movement.

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