Electrical connector
AssigneeCree, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Chobot, Paul Pickard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for a light source comprises a first cam having a contact surface that is mounted such that the contact surface is extended and retracted relative to the housing. An electrical contact is provided and positioned to contact an electrical terminal in the socket. A conductor is electrically coupled to the electrical contact where the conductor is connected to a light source. An actuator rotates the cam to the retracted position. The connector may be inserted linearly into the socket and the actuator released to mount the light source in the socket.
Claims20
A connector for a light source having a socket comprising:
- a first cam arm supporting a first contact surface and a second cam arm supporting a second contact surface connected to the first cam arm at a hinge for movement relative to the first cam arm such that the first contact surface and the second contact surface may be extended and retracted relative to one another;
- an electrical contact mounted on at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface positioned to contact an electrical terminal in the socket;
- a conductor electrically coupled to the electrical contact, the conductor being connected to a light source.
A method of mounting a light fixture in a socket comprising:
- providing a connector connected to a light fixture, the connector comprising a first cam arm supporting a first contact surface and a second cam arm supporting a second contact surface connected to the first cam arm at a hinge for movement relative to the first cam arm such that the first contact surface and the second contact surface may be moved to an extended position and a retracted position relative to one another, an actuator for rotating the first cam arm and the second cam arm to the retracted position and a biasing mechanism for biasing the first cam arm and the second cam arm to the extended position;
- manipulating the actuator to move the first contact surface and the second contact surface to the retracted position;
- inserting the connector linearly into the socket;
- and
- releasing the actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.