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:
Aug. 27, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 13, 2000
Bryan Donald Cole, Canton, MI (US);
Wesley Richard Corrion, Fenton, MI (US);
Abstract
A releasable lever-mounted lock mechanism for securing an electrical connector lever in a pre-set position on a connector body. The lever has cam slots and is located on a first connector. The lock in a preferred form comprises an L-shaped, deflectable arm formed in the sidewall of the lever. A free end of the arm has a ramp-shaped stop portion. The second end of the arm is joined to the lever sidewall in cantilever fashion such that the arm deflects relative to the lever. A flat surface of the stop snaps behind an edge of the first connector in the preset position, with the arm in an undeflected position. The lever is thereby locked in the pre-set position, allowing a second connector with cam posts to be brought into initial mating contact with the first connector. The cam posts enter the slots of the lever. A release projection on the L-shaped lock arm is contacted by the shroud of the second connector. This deflects the lock arm, releasing the stop from the edge of the first connector. The lever can then be pivoted and the cam interaction between the lever slots and second connector side posts draws the connectors into electrical engagement.