Claims
- 1. An electrical connector matable with a mating electrical connector, the electrical connector comprising terminals in a housing, the connector also including a member deformable only when the terminal of the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector are in a partially mated position; said member being deformable to impart a greater velocity through the partially mated position than during remaining travel during mating and unmating of the electrical connector with the mating electrical connector.
- 2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the deformable member comprises an inertial member.
- 3. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein the inertial member comprises a portion of the housing.
- 4. An electrical connector assembly comprising a receptacle connector and a mating plug connector shiftable toward each other through a mating travel distance to fully mate the receptacle connector to the plug connector, the receptacle connector including a plurality of receptacle terminals mounted in a receptacle housing and the plug connector including a plurality of plug terminals mounted in a plug housing, the receptacle connector and the mating plug connector being engagable to generate a first spring force opposing mating before receptacle terminals and plug terminals reach an intermediate, partially mated, position and upon further movement toward a fully mated position, the receptacle connector and plug connector being engagable to generate a second spring force acting in a mating direction so that the first and second spring forces act to urge the receptacle connector and the plug connector away from the intermediate, partially mated, position, the first and second mating forces together acting over only a portion of the mating travel distance of the receptacle connector and plug connector adjacent to and in the intermediate partially mated, position.
- 5. An electrical connector assembly comprising first and second matable electrical connectors, each electrical connector containing a plurality of terminals with corresponding terminals in each electrical connector mating when the electrical connectors are mated, wherein:the first electrical connector includes a mechanical assist member for use in mating and unmating the first and second electrical connectors and the terminals therein, and wherein, one of the electrical connectors is deformable, only when the terminal of the two electrical connectors are in a partially mated position when deformation of the one electrical connector exerting a force on the other connector to move the terminal of the electrical connectors away from the partially mated position, the force being generated when the terminal of the two electrical connectors are in the partially mated position so as not to otherwise increase mating and unmating forces overcome by the mechanical assist member; whereby arcing between corresponding terminals is avoided because the terminals do not remain in the partially mated position.
- 6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 wherein the first electrical connector is deformable when the two electrical connectors are in the partially mated position.
- 7. The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 wherein each electrical connector includes a housing in which respective terminals are positioned, the housing of one of the connectors being deformable when the electrical connectors are in the partially mated position.
- 8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7 wherein an arm on which the mechanical assist member is mounted is deformable when the electrical connectors are in the partially mated, arc susceptible, position.
- 9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7 wherein a portion of a housing wall is deflectable when the connectors are in the partially mated position.
- 10. The electrical connector assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing wall in one of the electrical connectors includes a protrusion engagable with the other electrical connector to deflect the housing wall of one of the electrical connectors.
- 11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein each electrical connector includes a protrusion on a housing wall, the protrusions on the two housing walls engage to deform one of the housing walls.
- 12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 wherein the mechanical assist member comprises a lever.
- 13. An electrical connector assembly comprising first and second matable electrical connectors with first and second matable electrical terminals positioned respectively in first and second housings;the first and second electrical connectors being partially mutually restrained in a pre-stage position in which the first and second terminals are spaced apart and the first and second housings are engaged, the first and second electrical connectors being shiftable from the pre-stage position to a fully mated position in which the first and second terminals are in conductive engagement; at least one of the first and second housings being deflectable as the first and second connectors move between the pre-stage and the fully mated positions, maximum deflection occurring when the first and second terminals are in sufficiently close proximity for arcing to occur between the first and second terminals, but not in sufficient mutual engagement for electrical conduction to occur without arcing, deflection of the one housing exerting a spring force on the other housing to cause the first and second electrical connectors to move either toward the pre-stage or the fully mated position by a sufficient distance to eliminate arcing between first and second terminals but not by a sufficient distance to return the first and second electrical connectors to the pre-stage or fully mated positions, whereby the first and second electrical connectors cannot be left in a partially mated configuration where arcing could occur.
- 14. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 wherein the first connector includes a shroud and the second connector is partially positioned in the shroud in the per-stage position and in the fully mated position and during movement between the pre-stage and fully mated positions.
- 15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 14 wherein an inertial protrusion on the shroud causes deflection of the shroud as the first and second connectors are moved between the pre-stage and fully mated positions.
- 16. The electrical connector assembly of claim 15 wherein a sliding pin protection plate is located in the shroud, the inertial protrusions being located between the sliding pin protection plate and an open mating face of the shroud.
- 17. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 wherein inertial protrusions are located on the first and second connector housings, the inertial protrusions engaging as the first and second connectors move between the pre-stage and fully mated positions.
- 18. The electrical connector assembly of claim 17 wherein engagement of the inertial protrusions accelerate movement of the first and second connectors away from a position in which arcing could occur as the first and second connectors mover between the pre-stage and the fully mated positions.
- 19. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 wherein an over-center lever is connected to the first and second connectors.
- 20. The electrical connector assembly of claim 19 wherein the over-center lever is mounted on a deflectable beam extending from the first connector housing.
- 21. The electrical connector assembly of claim 20 wherein deflection of the deflectable beam exerts a force on the second connector accelerating movement of the second connector toward either the pre-stage or fully mated position and away from a partially mated position in which arcing could occur.
- 22. The electrical connector assembly of claim 20 wherein the deflectable beam comprises a cantilever beam molded as part of the first connector housing.
Parent Case Info
This application claims benefit of provisional 60/225,905 filed Aug. 17, 2000.
US Referenced Citations (19)
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/225905 |
Aug 2000 |
US |