Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
462 words
An electrical connector (10) comprising a first part (12)
mateable with a second part (14) along an axis (X), the first part including a
housing (16) having opposed side walls (18,20) and opposed end walls (22),
each side wall having an upper wall (26) and a lower wall (24) defining
opposed slide surfaces (28) extending in a direction (Y) substantially
perpendicular to the mating axis, first and second spaced apertures (38) in the
upper wall of each side wall; a slide member (30,31) positioned adjacent each
side wall, each slide member having an upper edge (50) and a lower edge (54)
making a sliding engagement with the slide surfaces of the upper wall and the
lower wall, respectively, of the side walls, a pair of inclined cam surfaces (46)
having openings (48) in the upper edge alignable with the apertures in the
upper wall of the side walls; a body member (34) positioned internally of the
housing and having through bores (36) which extend in the mating direction;
and drive means (58,64) on the housing engaging each slide member to slide
each slide member relative to the adjacent side wall; the second part including
a housing (78) having side walls (80) and end walls (82) positionable inside
the side walls and end walls of the housing of the first part, the housing of the
second part having through bores (86) alignable with the through bores in the
body member, each side wall of the housing of the second part having a pair
of spaced cam followers (84) which can pass through the apertures in the
upper walls and the openings in the inclined cam surfaces for sliding
movement along the cam surfaces, actuation of the drive means moving the
second part relative to the first part along the mating axis between a fully
unmated position and a fully mated position; wherein each slide member has
an inclined cam surface (108) extending from its lower edge in a direction
substantially parallel to the inclined cam surfaces extending from its upper
edge; and wherein the first part includes a plate member (100) positioned
between the body member and the housing of the second part, the plate
member having apertures (102) alignable with the through bores, side edges
(104) directed towards the side walls of the housing of the first part, and a
cam follower (106) extending from each side edge and slidably engaging the
cam surface extending from the lower edge of the adjacent slide member,
actuation of the drive means moving the plate member relative to the body
member between a fully unmated position in which the plate member is spaced
from the body member and a fully mated position in which the plate member
is substantially in engagement with the body member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the
plate member (100) has a pair of cam followers (106) extending from each
side edge (104); and wherein each slide member (30,31) has a corresponding
pair of inclined cam surfaces (108) extending from the lower edge (54)
thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2,
wherein the cam followers on the plate member (100) are laterally extending
pins (106), and the corresponding cam surfaces on the slide members (30,31)
are inclined channels (108).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to
3, wherein the slide members (30,31) are substantially identical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to
4, wherein the lower edge (54) of each slide member (30,31) has a rib (112)
which makes a sliding fit in a corresponding groove (114) in the slide surface
(28) in the lower wall (24) of each side wall (18,20) of the housing (16) of the
first part (12).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to
5, wherein the housing (16) of the first part (12) includes an additional side
wall (116) positioned internally of the slide members (30,31).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to
6, wherein the drive means comprises a substantially U-shaped lever (58)
having a pair of arms (60) pivotally mounted on the side walls (18,20) of the
housing (16) of the first part (12), each arm having a pin (64) for engaging
and moving one of the slide members (30,31) on pivoting of the lever relative
to the housing of the first part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to
7, wherein the cam surfaces extending from the upper edge (50) of each slider
(30,31) are defined by open-sided inclined channels (46), and the cam
followers on the housing (78) of the second part (14) are defined by pins (84)
formed on the side walls (80) of the housing.