Patent ID: 6039585
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A connector assembly for connecting a first and a second contact, comprising:a male housing having a rigid projection and an interior surface defining a longitudinal passageway sized to mount the first contact therein;a female housing having an interior surface defining longitudinal passageway sized to mount the second contact therein;a resilient sleeve having an interior surface defining longitudinal passageway between a first opening and a second opening, the resilient sleeve being elastically deformable from a resting position wherein the passageway is open and a collapsed position wherein the passageway is closed, the passageway of the sleeve in the resting position sized to accept the first contact therein, the sleeve mounted adjacent to the interior surface defining the passageway of the female housing to allow the first contact to pass into the sleeve and connect with the second contact upon the connection of the male and female housings; anda spring mounted adjacent to the passageway of the female housing, the spring located to engage the sleeve and bias the sleeve toward the collapsed position, the spring also located to interferingly engage the rigid projection of the male housing such that upon the connection of the male and female housings the projection forces the spring to release from engagement with the sleeve, whereupon the sleeve deforms to the resting position to accept the first contact therein.