Patent ID: 9614323
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: H01R

Claim:
1. An electrical connector, comprising: a squib connector of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of socket contacts; a squib assembly of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of pin contacts for insertion in the socket contacts when the squib connector and squib assembly are moved together in a mating direction and mated; a retaining means for retaining the squib connector and squib assembly in a fully mated condition, the retaining means being self activated when the squib connector and squib assembly are fully mated; a spring, acting in a direction opposite the mating direction, to provide a resisting force to oppose mating, the spring being separate from the squib connector, wherein during the application of a mating force to overcome the resisting force of the spring and move the squib connector and squib assembly in the mating direction, and prior to the squib connector and squib assembly reaching the fully mated condition, removal of the resisting force of the spring is triggered and the mating force is instantly applied to moving the squib connector and squib assembly to the fully mated condition, whereat the retaining means is activated.