Patent ID: 6716044
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An ejectable electrical connector assembly, comprising:a) a male ejectable electrical connector comprising: i) a first body comprising a first side surface and a first mating surface, the first mating surface having at least one electrically conductive projection extending therefrom, the first body further comprising a first channel extending from the first side surface to the first mating surface, the first side surface having a first attachment means defining a fulcrum about which a lever can pivot; ii) a first lever disposed in the first channel of the first body, the first lever comprising a first upper portion, a first engagement means, and a first lower portion, the first lever being pivotally attached to said first body by securing the first engagement means to the first attachment means, the first lever having an up position and a down position, the first lever capable of disengaging a female ejectable electrical connector coupled to said the male ejectable electrical connector as the first lever is actuated from the up position to the down position; iii) wherein the first upper portion of the first lever is maintained in a predetermined position generally apart from the first body and the first lower portion of the first lever is maintained in a predetermined position generally within the first channel, except when the first lever is actuated to disengage the male ejectable connector from a female electrical connector: iv) a first contacting portion, comprising the first mating surface and the first lower portion of the first lever: b) a female ejectable electrical connector engaged to the male ejectable electrical connector, comprising: i) a second body, the second body comprising a second side surface and a second mating surface, the second mating surface having at least one electrically conductive receiver adapted to receive an electrically conductive projection, the second body further comprising a second channel extending from the second side surface to the second mating surface, the second side surface having a second attachment means defining a fulcrum about which a lever can pivot; ii) a second lever disposed in the second channel of the second body, the second lever comprising a second upper portion, a second engagement means, and a second lower portion the second lever being pivotally attached to the second body by securing the second engagement means to the second attachment means, the second lever having an up position and a down position, said the second lever capable of disengaging a male ejectable electrical connector coupled to the female ejectable electrical connector as the second lever is actuated from the up position to the down position; iii) wherein the second upper portion of the second lever is maintained in a predetermined position generally apart from the second body and the second lower portion of the second lever is maintained in a predetermined position generally within the second channel, except when the second lever is actuated to disengage the female ejectable connector from the male ejectable electrical connector; iv) a second contacting portion, comprising the second mating surface and the second lower portion of the second lever; and c) wherein the male ejectable electrical connector is disengaged from the female ejectable electrical connector by actuating at least one of the first and second levers from their respective up positions to their respective down positions such that the first lower portion of the first lever of the male ejectable electrical connector exerts a force upon the second contacting portion of the female ejectable electrical connector and/or the second lower portion of the second lever of the female ejectable electrical connector exerts a force upon the first contacting portion of the male ejectable electrical connector, the forces being sufficient to cause the male ejectable electrical connector and the female ejectable electrical connector to disengage.