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AssigneeSociete d'Exploitation des Procedes Marechal (SEPM)
InventorJoseph Crestin
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An apparatus and method for preventing a reversal in the relative displacement of male and female components when these components reach a particular position. One component is adapted to be displaced by hand relative to the other component in a first direction to couple the components and in a second direction opposite from the first direction to disengage the components. A support is rigidly attached to one of the components. A stud is mounted in the support to be displaceable away from an initial position in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. A guide ramp extending parallel to the first and second directions is positioned on the other component. The ramp has an abutment surface extending perpendicular to the first direction. One of the components is first displaced in the first direction, which causes a first surface of the ramp to displace the stud perpendicular to the first direction. Further displacement in the first direction disengages the stud from the first surface of the ramp and returns the stud to its initial position. Next, one of the components is displaced in the second direction causes the stud to move over a second surface of the ramp. Further displacement in the second direction causes the stud to abut the abutment surface, thereby preventing a reverse displacement of the components in the first direction.
An apparatus for preventing a reversal in the relative displacement of two components when said two components are positioned at a position beyond which a reversal in the relative displacement of said two components is undesirable, wherein said two components comprise a male component and a female component, wherein one of said components is adapted to be displaced by hand relative to the other of said components in a first direction and then in a second, reverse direction opposite from said first direction, wherein said apparatus comprises:
The apparatus defined by 20 wherein said stud guiding ramp comprises spaced apart first and second ribs, wherein said stud engages said first rib before engaging said second rib in response to relative displacement of said components in said first direction, wherein said first rib is slightly inclined with respect to said first and second directions, wherein said first rib is sufficiently inclined with respect to said first and second directions so as to displace said stud away from said second rib in response to relative displacement of said components in said first direction, wherein said second rib extends substantially in the direction of said first and second directions, wherein said second rib comprises an end closest to said first rib, wherein said end of said second rib comprises said abutment surface, wherein the spacing of said first and second ribs at their nearest point is greater than the diameter of said stud.
A method of connecting and disconneting two components comprising the steps of:
A method of connecting and disconnecting a male plug component and a female socket component of an electric current supply connector, wherein said components comprise electrical contacts adapted to engage ech other when said components are displaced in a first direction and adapted to disengage from each other when said components are displaced by a sufficient distance in a second direction, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.