The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 20, 1998
Randy Lynn Fink, Warren, OH (US);
Brian Matthew Donato, Warren, OH (US);
Michael Patrick Cummings, Canfield, OH (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An electrical connector comprising: a housing assembly (328, 318) having at least one slot (562) extending substantially therethrough; a releasable positive stop (636, 638) on the housing assembly; at least one lock (632) on the housing assembly; a slide assembly (312 and 314) slidably received within the at least one slot; and at least one locking wall (650) on the slide assembly, wherein, in initial engagement of the slide assembly to the housing assembly where the slide assembly is slid into the at least one slot in an engagement direction, the positive stop prevents movement of the slide assembly beyond a prestage state, wherein, in the prestage state, the lock engages the locking wall preventing disengagement of the slide assembly from the prestage state. Thus, an advantageous prestage state of the electrical connector is achieved. When the positive stop is released and a mating connector is aligned with the electrical connector, force applied to the slide assembly in the engagement direction moves the slide assembly past the prestage state to fully engage the housing assembly and to force the mating connector into full engagement with the electrical connector.