Dual gender electrical plug

Abstract

A dual gender electrical connector is made up of a "male" member, a "female" member, and a positioning means. The positioning means may be integral with either the male or female member, and/or a part of any shielding used. The male member is made up of a non-conductive support material of predetermined thickness in which electrically conductive electrical contacts are embedded in parallel. Short lengths of the electrical contacts are exposed on the rear end for connection to electrical conductors. Longer lengths of electrical contacts are exposed on the front end. The female member is made up of an electrically non-conductive support material of the basic form and often the same material as the male member, though not the same depth as the male member. Tubes having a length equal to approximately the depth of the female member support material are positioned within the support material so as to be capable of sliding over and in contact with the electrical contacts of the male member. When the female member is drawn forward by the positioning means, electrical contacts of the male member penetrate only a small portion of the tubes of the female member and provide a female plug. When the female member is positioned adjacent to the male member, the male electrical contacts extend through and beyond the tubes of the female member to create a male plug.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.