# US 10,122,121 B2 · Locking connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,121 B2 - Document ID: US10122121B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/685,599 - Filed: 2017-08-24 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-05 - Assignees: Volex PLC - Applicants: Volex PLC - Inventors: Mui Lian Jessica Toh; Kar Boon Chua - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122121B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6335: {comprising a handle} - H01R 13/635: by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force - H01R 24/22: with additional earth or shield contacts - H01R 13/08: Resiliently-mounted rigid pins or blades - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connector is configured to be removably engaged with and locked to an inlet. The connector comprises a locking member and a release member. The locking member is configured to impose a force on an inlet blade so as to lock the connector to the inlet when the connector is fully inserted into the inlet. The locking member comprises a compressible portion having an opening that is sufficiently large to allow the inlet blade to slide through under pressure but sufficiently small to form at least one contact point between the inlet blade and the compressible portion in its uncompressed state so as to impose the force on the inlet blade. The release member is configured to release the force imposed by the locking member on the inlet blade so as to disengage the connector from the inlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector, comprising: a locking member configured to lock the connector within an inlet including an inlet blade, wherein the locking member includes a compressible portion having walls forming an opening within the compressible portion, the opening being sufficiently sized to allow the inlet blade to slide through the opening under pressure and to form at least one contact point between the inlet blade and the walls of the compressible portion, the at least one contact point imposing sufficient force on the inlet blade when the compressible portion is in its uncompressed state to lock the inlet blade within the connector; and a release member configured to compress the compressible portion so the walls of the compressible portion reduce the force on the inlet blade sufficient to release the inlet blade so as to disengage the connector from the inlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the compressible portion comprises a first piece and a second piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connector of claim 2, wherein the first piece is coupled to the second piece by spot-welding. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the release member comprises a resilient structure capable of being preloaded to retain the compressible portion of the locking member in its uncompressed state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connector of claim 4, wherein the resilient structure is a bow spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the release member comprises a handle configured to protrude from an outer surface of the connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, further comprising: a pull member capable of engaging the release member to facilitate a disengagement of the connector from the inlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connector of claim 7, wherein the pull member is capable of sliding along an outer housing of the connector, a sliding of the pull member is guided by at least one guiding member. ### Claim 9 A connector, comprising: a locking member configured to lock the connector within an inlet including an inlet blade, wherein the locking member includes a compressible portion having walls forming an opening within the compressible portion, the opening being sufficiently sized to allow the inlet blade to slide through the opening under pressure and to form at least one contact point between the inlet blade and the walls of the compressible portion, the at least one contact point imposing sufficient force on the inlet blade when the compressible portion is in its uncompressed state to lock the inlet blade within the connector; a release member configured to compress the compressible portion so the walls of the compressible portion reduce the force on the inlet blade sufficient to release the inlet blade so as to disengage the connector from the inlet; and a pull member configured to engage the release member to release the inlet blade, the pull member surrounding at least a portion of an outer housing of the connector, the pull member including a wavy structure configured to allow the pull member to expand sideways around the outer housing of the connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The connector of claim 9, wherein the pull member is further configured to slide along the outer housing of the connector, further comprising: at least one stopper configured to stop the sliding of the pull member along the outer housing of the connector. ### Claim 11 A connector system, comprising: an inlet comprising a blade; and a connector configured to be removably engaged with and locked to the inlet, the connector including: a locking member configured to lock the connector within the inlet, wherein the locking member includes a compressible portion having walls forming an opening within the compressible portion that is sized to allow the blade to slide through the opening under pressure while forming at least one contact point between the blade and the wall of the compressible portion, the at least one contact point imposing sufficient force on the blade when the compressible portion is in its uncompressed state to lock the blade within the connector, and a release member configured to engage the locking member to compress the compressible portion so the walls of the compressible portion release the force imposed by the locking member on the blade so as to disengage the connector from the inlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connector system of claim 11, wherein the compressible portion comprises a first piece and a second piece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The connector system of claim 12, wherein the first piece is coupled to the second piece by spot-welding. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The connector system of claim 11, wherein the release member comprises a resilient structure capable of being preloaded to retain the compressible portion of the locking member in its uncompressed state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The connector system of claim 14, wherein the resilient structure is a bow spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The connector system of claim 11, wherein the release member comprises a handle configured to protrude from an outer surface of the connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The connector system of claim 11, further comprising: a pull member capable of engaging the release member to facilitate a disengagement of the connector from the inlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The connector system of claim 17, wherein the pull member is capable of sliding along an outer housing of the connector, a sliding of the pull member guided by at least one guiding member. ### Claim 19 A connector system, comprising: an inlet comprising a blade; and a connector configured to be removably engaged with and locked to the inlet, the connector including: a locking member configured to lock the connector within the inlet, wherein the locking member includes a compressible portion having walls forming an opening within the compressible portion that is sized to allow the blade to slide through the opening under pressure while forming at least one contact point between the blade and the wall of the compressible portion, the at least one contact point imposing sufficient force on the blade when the compressible portion is in its uncompressed state to lock the blade within the connector, a release member configured to engage the locking member to compress the compressible portion so the walls of the compressible portion release the force imposed by the locking member on the blade so as to disengage the connector from the inlet, and a pull member configured to engage the release member to release the blade, the pull member surrounding at least a portion of an outer housing of the connector, the pull member including a wavy structure configured to allow the pull member to expand sideways around the outer housing of the connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The connector system of claim 19, wherein the pull member is further configured to slide along the outer housing of the connector and wherein the connector further comprises at least one stopper configured to stop the sliding of the pull member along the outer housing of the connector.