Patent ID: 9065207
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for use in securing an electrical connection, said electrical connection being formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly, wherein said electrical connection is broken by withdrawal of said prongs from said receptacles, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a front surface defining an interface area between said male assembly and female assembly; a clamping element disposed within said housing and moveable between a clamping configuration and a release configuration, wherein said clamping element holds said mating structure in a connected state in said clamping configuration; a manual release mechanism, operatively engaged with said clamping element, wherein said release mechanism comprises a manual release member that can be manually operated by a user from an exterior of said housing to move said clamping element to said release configuration; and a strain release member separate from said manual release member and responsive to a withdrawal force acting on said mating structure to urge withdraw of said prong from said receptacle that exceeds a predetermined value to move said mating structure to said release configuration, free from destruction of said housing, and wherein said strain release member resists movement of said mating structure to said release configuration when said withdrawal force is less than said predetermined value.