Positive lock connector

A connector comprising:

• a housing portion, first electrical terminals mounted in the housing portion for supplying electrical power, and a resilient locking member moveable between an outwardly disposed locked position and an inwardly disposed unlocked position, the locking member being an integrally formed part of the housing portion and being biased towards the locked position;
• the connector being arranged so as to be engagable with an appliance inlet comprising a cavity portion, second electrical terminals, and a recess disposed in the cavity such that the locking member engages with the recess thereby preventing removal of the connector from the appliance inlet when the connector is received in the appliance inlet;
• and
• the connector being arranged so as to be disengageable from the recess thereby allowing removal of the connector from the appliance inlet by application of a force in a direction inwardly of the connector;
• wherein the locking member includes a locking projection and the locking projection includes a stepped portion arranged to cooperate with the appliance inlet so as to provide multiple locking positions.

An appliance inlet comprising:

• a cavity portion, inlet electrical terminals for receiving power during use for an appliance associated with the appliance inlet, and a recess disposed in the cavity;
• the appliance inlet being arranged to receive a connector having connector electrical terminals for supplying electrical power, and a resilient locking member moveable between an outwardly disposed locked position and an inwardly disposed unlocked position;
• and
• the appliance inlet being arranged such that the locking member engages with the recess thereby preventing removal of the connector from the appliance inlet when the connector is received in the appliance inlet;
• wherein the locking member includes a locking projection and the locking projection includes a stepped portion arranged to cooperate with the appliance inlet so as to provide multiple locking positions.