Patent ID: 6637538
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: F16B,F16L,H01R,H02G

Abstract:
A connector component for mounting to a connector mounting component, which connector mounting component defines a connector opening through itself, which connector opening has an outer perimeter, and for electrically connecting two or more devices to one another, said connector component comprising:(a) a connector body that comprises a mounting portion that is of a shape and size such that said mounting portion may be disposed within and protrude through the connector opening defined through the connector mounting component, when said connector component is properly mounted to the connector mounting component in such a manner that said mounting portion is disposed within the connector opening defined through the connector mounting component in such a manner that a first end of said mounting portion and a second end of said mounting portion are disposed upon opposite sides of the connector mounting component; (b) wherein said connector component comprises first retention structure and second retention structure that are or may be engaged to said connector body adjacent said first end and said second end respectively of said mounting portion of said connector body in such a manner that at least a portion of said first retention structure and said second retention structure extend outwardly from said connector body in directions perpendicular to a central axis of said mounting portion of said connector body; (c) wherein said connector body, said first retention structure, and said second retention structure are constructed in such a manner that, when said mounting portion of said connector body is disposed within the connector opening defined through the connector mounting component and said first retention structure and said second retention structure are properly engaged to said connector body, some portion of both said first retention structure and said second retention structure always extend beyond the outer perimeter of the connector opening in directions perpendicular to said central axis of said mounting portion of said connector body and, thus, said mounting portion of said connector body is retained within the connector opening; (d) wherein said connector body comprises one or more pilot portions each of which is disposed adjacent either said first end or said second end of said mounting portion of said connector body and each of which is of a shape and size such that it may be slid through the connector opening defined through the connector mounting component; (e) wherein adjacent to at least one of said first end and said second end of said mounting portion that one of said one or more pilot portions is disposed adjacent, said connector body defines one or more retention structure slots that extend inwardly of outer surfaces of said connector body and at least a portion of which extend in directions perpendicular to said central axis of said mounting portion of said connector body; (f) wherein at least one of said first retention structure and said second retention structure is a quick connect clip that is or may be engaged to said connector body adjacent one of said first end and said second end of said mounting portion adjacent which a pilot portion is disposed; (g) wherein each quick connect clip of said first retention structure and/or said second retention structure comprises a clip body that is spaced from and extends at least 180 degrees around a clip central axis of said quick connect clip; (h) wherein said connector body and each quick connect clip of said first retention structure and/or said second retention structure are constructed in a manner such that said each quick connect clip of said first retention structure and/or said second retention structure may be engaged to said connector body with at least some portion of an inner perimeter of its clip body disposed within one or more of said retention structure slots defined by said connector body; (i) wherein said connector body and each quick connect clip of said first retention structure and said second retention structure are constructed in such a manner that, when each quick connect clip is properly engaged to said connector body, said quick connect clip must be elastically deformed before it can be disengaged from said connector body; (j) wherein said connector body and each quick connect clip of said first retention structure and said second retention structure are of a construction such that each quick connect clip may be quickly and easily slid or snapped into or out of engagement with a portion of said connector body adjacent either said first end or said second end of said mounting portion; and (k) wherein said connector component comprises first electrical connection structure, second electrical connection structure and electricity conducting structure that is electrically connected to and extends between said first electrical connection structure and said second electrical connection structure.