Patent ID: 6213795
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical connector (10) comprising a first part (12) mateable with a second part (14) along a mating axis, the first part including a housing (16) having opposed side walls (18, 20) and opposed end walls (22), each side wall having an upper wall (24) and a lower wall (26) defining opposed slide surfaces (28) extending perpendicular to the mating axis, first and second spaced apertures (34, 36) in each side wall, a pair of spaced apertures (38) in the lower wall of each side wall, and an upward extension (70) from the upper wall of each side wall; a slider (30, 31) positioned adjacent each side wall, each slider having an upper edge (55) and a lower edge (50) making a sliding engagement with the slide surfaces of the upper wall and the lower wall, respectively, of the side walls, a pair of inclined cam surfaces (46) having openings (48) in the lower edge alignable with the apertures in the lower wall of the side walls, and a resilient tab (52) for making a snap fit in the first aperture or the second aperture in the side wall; a substantially U-shaped lever (58) having a pair of arms (60); pivot means (62, 72) on each arm and each upward extension of each side wall to allow the lever to pivot relative to the housing of the first part; and drive means (66, 74; 68, 80) on each arm and each slider to slide each slider relative to the adjacent side wall on pivoting of the lever relative to the housing of the first part; the second part (14) including a housing (106) having side walls (108) and end walls (110) positionable inside the side walls (18, 20) and end walls (22) of the housing (16) of the first part (12), each side wall (108) of the housing (106) of the second part (14) having a pair of spaced cam followers (112) which can pass through the apertures (38) in the lower walls (26) and the openings in the inclined cam surfaces for sliding movement along the cam surfaces; pivoting movement of the lever moving the second part relative to the first part along the mating axis between a fully unmated position in which the tabs on each slider make a snap fit in the first aperture (34) in the side walls and a fully mated position in which the tabs on each slider make a snap fit in the second aperture (36) in the side walls (18, 20), and wherein the pivot means comprises a pivot aperture (72) in the upward extension (70) of each side wall (18,20) of the housing (16) of the first part (12) which makes a snap fit with a pivot pin (62) on each arm (60) of the lever (58).