Patent ID: 6547579
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: H01R,H05K

Abstract:
A releasable connector for coupling at least one pin to at least one contact on a circuit board, comprisinga housing, a plurality of pins mounted in the housing, each pin having a contact arm, a receiving portion for receiving an edge of a circuit board, the contact arm of each pin being movable between a closed position in which at least portion of the pin impinges into the receiving portion and an open position in which talc contact arm is retracted from the receiving portion, means for moving the pin between the open position and the closed position comprising a cam strip disposed longitudinally through the housing having cams extending toward the contact arms, wherein by moving the cam strip longitudinally in one direction the cams move the contact arms to the open position by depressing the contact arms in the direction of the open position, and by moving the cam strip longitudinally in another direction the contact arms return to the closed position, and an actuator for moving the cam strip, comprising a slidably mounted track for receiving an edge of the circuit board and slidable in response to movement of an obstructing member, the obstructing member having an opening such that in an open position the circuit board can be inserted into or removed from the track through the opening and in a closed position the obstructing member prevents the circuit board from being inserted into or removed from the track, the obstructing member being positioned such that the cam strip is actuated to open the contact arms when the obstructing member is moved to the open position and to close the contact arms when the obstructing member is moved to the closed position.