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:
Feb. 15, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 05, 1997
Russell L Mackowiak, Wheaton, IL (US);
Anthony J Pill, Aurora, IL (US);
Molex Incorporated, Lisle, IL (US);
Abstract
A self-aligning connector system is provided for facilitating mating an electrical connector assembly with a complementary mating connector. The system includes a housing having a forward end, a rearward end and side walls extending between the ends. At least one deflectable aligning beam is cantilevered from at least one side wall of the housing. A detent structure is operatively associated between the housing and the aligning beam for holding the beam in an inoperative condition spaced outwardly from the side wall of the housing and, upon mating the connectors, for releasing the beam to a deflectable condition to facilitate self-aligning the housing and mating it with the complementary connector. A frangible break-away web may be provided between the housing and the deflectable aligning beam for holding the beam in its inoperative condition.