Connector
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsVictor RUIZ RIVAS, Maria MARTINEZ HEREDIA, Francesc MELIA SUNE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A connector comprises a first housing having a connection end to be inserted into an opening of a second connector, the first housing containing a first electrical contact, wherein the connection end comprises a first opening. The connector further comprises a first cover biased towards a closed position in which the first electrical contact is inaccessible via the first opening, wherein the first cover is moved from the closed position to an open position exposing the first electrical contact during insertion of the connection end into the opening of the second connector.
Claims15
A system comprising:
- a first connector, wherein the first connector comprises:
- a first housing having a connection end to be inserted into an opening of a second connector, the first housing containing a first electrical contact, wherein the connection end comprises a first opening;
- and
- a first cover biased towards a closed position in which the first electrical contact is inaccessible via the first opening, wherein the first cover is movable from the closed position to an open position exposing the first electrical contact during insertion of the connection end into the opening of the second connector.
A method comprising:
- connecting a first connector, comprising:
- a first housing having a connection end to be inserted into an opening of a second connector, the first housing containing a first electrical contact, wherein the connection end comprises a first opening;
- and
- a first cover biased towards a closed position in which the first electrical contact is inaccessible via the first opening, wherein the first cover is moved from the closed position to an open position exposing the first electrical contact during insertion of the connection end into the opening of the second connector,
- with a second connector comprising:
- a second housing containing a second electrical contact, the second housing comprising a second opening;
- and
- a second cover biased towards a closed position in which the second electrical contact is inaccessible via the second opening and openable during insertion of the connection end into the second opening in response to an applied force, to couple the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact;
- wherein the connecting comprises:
- moving the first electrical contact towards the second electrical contact thereby causing the first cover to move from the closed position to the open position and causing the second cover to move from the closed position to the open position at a different time to the moving of the first cover;
- and
- coupling the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact.
An additive manufacturing system comprising a first component having a first connector, wherein the first connector comprises:
- a first housing having a connection end to be inserted into an opening of a receiving connector, the connection end containing a first electrical contact, wherein the connection end comprises a first opening;
- and
- a first cover biased towards a closed position in which the first electrical contact is inaccessible via the first opening, wherein the first cover is moveable between the closed position and an open position exposing the first electrical contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.