Electrical connector
First Claim
1. An electrical connector, comprisinga squib connector of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of socket contacts;
- a squib assembly of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of pin contacts for insertion in the socket contacts when the squib connector and squib assembly are moved together in a mating direction and mated;
a retaining means for retaining the squib connector and squib assembly in a fully mated condition, the retaining means being self activated when the squib connector and squib assembly are fully mated;
a spring, acting in a direction opposite the mating direction, to provide a resisting force to oppose mating;
whereinduring the application of a mating force to overcome the resisting force of the spring and move the squib connector and squib assembly in the mating direction, and prior to the squib connector and squib assembly reaching the fully mated condition, removal of the resisting force of the spring is triggered and the mating force is instantly applied to moving the squib connector and squib assembly to the fully mated condition, whereat the retaining means is activated, andthe spring is formed of a plastic material to have;
a spring body having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having a central opening extending upwardly to an upper edge of the spring body to partially define first and second shoulders,first and second arms extending outwardly from the first and second shoulders respectively, andthe lower portion, shoulders and first arm disposed in a first plane and the second arm disposed in a second plane intersecting the first plane;
the spring is formed to provide a resistance force when ends of the arms are moved toward a lower edge of the spring;
the ends of the arms bear on the squib connector;
the squib assembly includes a ledge; and
the lower edge of the spring bears on the ledge.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector having a squib connector and a squib assembly for mating by moving them together in a mating direction. A retaining means is provided for retaining the squib connector and squib assembly in a fully mated condition. A spring, acting in a direction opposite the mating direction, provides a resisting force to oppose mating. During the application of a mating force to overcome the resisting force of the spring and move the squib connector and squib assembly in the mating direction, and prior to the squib connector and squib assembly reaching the fully mated condition, removal of the resisting force of the spring is triggered and the mating force is instantly applied to moving the squib connector and squib assembly to the fully mated condition, whereat the retaining means is activated. The spring is molded to have features that assure dependable operation of the connector.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electrical connector, comprising
a squib connector of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of socket contacts; -
a squib assembly of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of pin contacts for insertion in the socket contacts when the squib connector and squib assembly are moved together in a mating direction and mated; a retaining means for retaining the squib connector and squib assembly in a fully mated condition, the retaining means being self activated when the squib connector and squib assembly are fully mated; a spring, acting in a direction opposite the mating direction, to provide a resisting force to oppose mating;
whereinduring the application of a mating force to overcome the resisting force of the spring and move the squib connector and squib assembly in the mating direction, and prior to the squib connector and squib assembly reaching the fully mated condition, removal of the resisting force of the spring is triggered and the mating force is instantly applied to moving the squib connector and squib assembly to the fully mated condition, whereat the retaining means is activated, and the spring is formed of a plastic material to have; a spring body having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having a central opening extending upwardly to an upper edge of the spring body to partially define first and second shoulders, first and second arms extending outwardly from the first and second shoulders respectively, and the lower portion, shoulders and first arm disposed in a first plane and the second arm disposed in a second plane intersecting the first plane; the spring is formed to provide a resistance force when ends of the arms are moved toward a lower edge of the spring; the ends of the arms bear on the squib connector; the squib assembly includes a ledge; and the lower edge of the spring bears on the ledge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification