Patent ID: 8408932
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. An electrical plug connector comprising: a plug body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the top surface being arranged opposite the bottom surface, the first side surface being arranged opposite the second side surface; a plug housing extending from the plug body, the plug housing configured to be inserted within a corresponding receptacle connector during a mating event and having an interior cavity designed to accommodate a plurality of contact locations that extend within the cavity in a direction of a depth of the plug housing; a plurality of contacts positioned within the plug housing in at least some of the plurality of contact locations; a locking mechanism including a first locking portion and a second locking portion each enclosed at least partially by the plug housing and a release point positioned within the plug body for each of the first locking portion and the second locking portion, wherein each locking portion is configured to engage with the corresponding receptacle connector during the mating event to lock the plug connector to the receptacle connector; a first access pathway extending from the first side surface of the plug body to expose the release point associated with the first locking portion and a second access pathway extending from the second side surface of the plug body to expose the release point associated with the second locking portion such that a tool separate from the plug connector can be inserted through the first access pathway and the second access pathway to contact the release points and disengage the first and second locking portions from the corresponding receptacle connector so that the plug connector can be unplugged from the receptacle connector.