Connector with integrated pin protection mechanism

A connector structure comprising:

• a housing including a plurality of side walls, the plurality of side walls including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, the first side wall including a first guide having a first set of tracks and the second side wall including a second guide having a second set of tracks;
• at least one pin located within the housing, wherein the plurality of side walls surround the at least one pin;
• a moveable protection plate located within the housing, moveably connected to the housing, and including at least one opening through which each of the at least one pin extends therethrough, the moveable protection plate configured to translate within the housing along the first set of tracks and the second set of tracks between a raised position and a lowered position, the moveable protection plate including a first lateral portion captured in the first set of tracks and a second lateral portion captured in the second set of tracks;
• and
• at least one spring located within the housing and in direct contact with an underside of the moveable protection plate,
• wherein the moveable protection plate is configured to protect the at least one pin before the connector structure is connected with a receptacle, the at least one spring is configured to bias the moveable protection plate to a position to protect the at least one pin, and the moveable protection plate is configured to be moved within the housing to allow the at least one pin to be exposed when the connector structure is mated with the receptacle.

A method of using a connector structure, the method comprising:

• providing the connector structure comprising:
• a housing including
• a plurality of side walls, the plurality of side walls including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, and
• a first guide and a second guide that are attached to inner surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, the first guide including a first set of tracks and the second guide including a second set of tracks;
• at least one pin located within the housing, wherein the plurality of side walls surround the at least one pin;
• and
• a moveable protection plate located within the housing, moveably connected to the housing, including at least one opening through which the at least one pin extends therethrough, including a first lateral portion captured in the first set of tracks and a second lateral portion captured in the second set of tracks such that the moveable protection plate translates within the housing along the first set of tracks and the second set of tracks between a raised position and a lowered position, and including a first retractable protrusion on the first lateral portion and a second retractable protrusion on the second lateral portion, the first retractable protrusion and the second retractable protrusion are biased outward and configured to extend through, respectively, a first upper opening in the first side wall and a second upper opening in the second side wall to lock the moveable protection plate in the raised position, and the first retractable protrusion and the second retractable protrusion are configured to be pressed inward from outside the housing to unlock the moveable protection plate from the raised position;
• and
• connecting the connector structure with a receptacle, wherein the moveable protection plate is configured to be moved within the housing to the lowered position to allow the at least one pin to be exposed when the connector structure is connected with the receptacle.