US 4,900,261 AGranted

Electrical connector system

AssigneePositronic Industries, Inc.

InventorsJohn T. Gentry, Mark R. Martin

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Abstract

An electrical connector system with a discriminating latching feature comprising a first electrical connector having female contacts and a first latching member, a second electrical connector having male contacts and a second latching member, a third electrical connector having female contacts and a third latching member, and a fourth electrical connector having male contacts and a fourth latching member. The second and fourth connectors may be plugged into either of the first and third connectors so that respective male and female contact make electrical contact with one another. The latching members are cooperable with one another to latch together the first and second connectors to one another when plugged together, to latch the first and fourth connectors to one another when plugged together, to latch the second and third connectors to one another when plugged together, but not to latch the third and fourth connectors to one another when plugged together.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An electrical connector system with a discriminating latching feature, said system comprising:

a first electrical connector having female contacts and first latching means;
a second electrical connector having male contacts and second latching means;
a third electrical connector having female contacts and third latching means;
and
a fourth electrical connector having male contacts and fourth latching means;
said second and fourth connectors with male contacts each being adapted to plug into either of said first and third connectors with female contacts so that respective male and female contacts make electrical contact with one another,
said latching means of each said connector being cooperable with the latching means of other of said connectors to latch said first and second connectors to one another when plugged together, to latch said first and fourth connectors to one another when plugged together, and to latch said second and third connectors to one another when plugged together, but not to latch said third and fourth connectors to one another when plugged together.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.