Patent ID: 6354873
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A snap rail and connector body combination comprising:a connector body having an upper side, a forward end and a rearward end, said connector body having a plurality of connector receptacles located between said forward and rearward ends, each connector receptacle having a respective button port formed in said upper side communicating therewith; a snap rail located at said upper side of said connector body in transverse relation to said plurality of connector receptacles; pivot arm means for integrally connecting said snap rail to said connector body, wherein said snap rail is pivotal via said pivot arm means between an undeployed state of operation to a deployed state of operation; a plurality of button fingers connected to said snap rail wherein a button finger is respectively provided for each connector receptacle, each button finger having a tip wherein said tip is received into its respective connector receptacle when said snap rail is at said deployed state of operation, said plurality of button fingers comprising a first set of button fingers and a second set of button fingers, said second set of button fingers comprising a majority of the button fingers of said plurality of button fingers; and snap means interacting between said first set of button fingers and said connector body for retaining said snap rail at said deployed state of operation, wherein said snap rail has a central portion, wherein said first set of button fingers is located at said central portion, wherein said second set of button fingers is located outside said central portion and is free of said snap means, and wherein when said snap rail is at said deployed state of operation said snap means in combination with said snap rail causes each button finger of said plurality of button fingers to be simultaneously received into its respective connector receptacle, thereby minimizing force necessary to achieve an interference fit therebetween.