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US 2010/0075516 A1Published application
Hermaphroditic Electrical Connector
AssigneeFCI Americas Technology, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Horchler, Mark R. Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector assembly is provided having first and second electrical connectors configured for mating. Each connector includes a housing that supports a plurality of electrical contacts. The contacts are arranged in first and second rows, and define a first terminal end extending from the housing and configured to connect with an electrical component, and a second hermaphroditic terminal end extending from the housing.
Claims17
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a first and second connector configured for mating, each connector including:
- a housing extending along substantially perpendicular lateral and longitudinal directions, the housing defining an engagement tab that is longer in the lateral direction than in the longitudinal direction, the engagement tab presenting an engagement surface;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts secured in the housing and arranged in first and second longitudinally elongate rows, the first and second rows being spaced apart in the lateral direction, the contacts defining first terminal ends extending from the housing and configured to connect with an electrical component, and gender-neutral second terminal ends extending from the housing,
- wherein the housings of the connectors are configured to engage each other such that the second terminal ends of the each connector mate, and the engagement surfaces of each connector engage at a location between the rows of contacts so as to restrict relative movement of the housings.
2 more elements
An electrical connector, comprising:
- a housing extending along a longitudinal and a lateral direction, such that the housing is elongate along the longitudinal direction;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts secured in the housing and arranged in first and second rows that are elongate in the longitudinal direction, the contacts defining first terminal ends extending from the housing and configured to connect with an electrical component, and gender-neutral second terminal ends extending from the housing and configured to connect with electrical contacts of a second housing;
- wherein the housing includes an engagement surface disposed at a location that is 1) laterally between the rows of contacts, and 2) disposed entirely longitudinally outward of the first and second rows, the engagement surface configured to engage a corresponding engagement surface of the second housing so as to restrict relative movement between the housings.
1 more element
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a first and second connector configured for mating, each connector including:
- a housing extending along substantially perpendicular lateral and longitudinal directions so as to define opposing longitudinally outer ends, the housing defining an engagement tab presenting an engagement surface;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts secured in the housing and arranged in first and second longitudinally elongate rows, the first and second rows being spaced apart in the lateral direction, the contacts defining first terminal ends extending from the housing and configured to connect with an electrical component, and gender-neutral second terminal ends extending from the housing,
- wherein the housings of the connectors are configured to engage each other such that the second terminal ends of the each connector mate, the engagement surfaces of each connector engage so as to restrict relative movement of the housings, and the engagement surface is fully contained at a location longitudinally between the rows of contacts and one of the longitudinally outer ends of the housing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.