Hermaphroditic self-shorting electrical connector

Abstract

A hermaphroditic self shorting electrical connector including a housing, a plurality of electrical terminals supported within the housing and electrical shunt apparatus including at least one resilient conductive member, positioned and configured such that when the connector is in an unmated condition the resilient conductive member is in electrical contact with at least two electrical terminals and such that mating engagement of the connector with a corresponding connector deflects the resilient conductive member such that it is no longer in electrical contact with at least one of the at least two electrical terminals. A latch mechanism which is resistant to unwanted decoupling and an arrangement for providing a shield grounding connection to a mounting panel are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.