Electrical connector

An electrical connector including a first box element and a second box element, each box element receiving an electrical contact and the other box element when one of the box elements is inverted head-to-tail upside down with respect to the other box element. Each element includes male and female portions. The male portion includes a locking lug having an elastic portion and a stiff rounded portion. The female portion includes a joggle. The joggle of each element is adapted to engage the locking lug of the other element during assembly of the first and second elements along an insertion axis. When this occurs the joggle will climb up the stiff rounded portion of the locking lug thereby displacing the first and second elements in opposite directions perpendicular to the insertion axis. Further displacement along the insertion axis displaces the joggle into contact with the elastic portion which bends, so as to displace the two elements closer to each other perpendicular to the insertion axis. The initial displacement perpendicular to the insertion axis of the first and second elements away from each other ensures that the electrical contacts in each box element are initially separated from each other so that there is no damage to these elements. These two electrical contacts are then brought together for engagement with each other to form an electrical connection when the first and second elements are displaced toward each other as the joggle contacts the elastic portion of the locking lug.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
Reference is made to the following related copending applications of 
Applicant: Ser. No. 758,440 filed July 24, 1985 now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,664,460; Ser. No. 816,626 filed Jan. 6, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,655,527; Ser. No. 701,180 filed Feb. 13, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,564,259; Ser. No. 865,018 filed May 20, 1986, allowed by not as yet 
issued; and Ser. No. 88,847, filed July 7, 1986. Each of these 
applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to electrical connectors of the "hermaphroditic" 
type, i.e. composed of two substantially identical box elements one of 
which is turned "head-to-tail" upside down with respect to the other and 
fitted together. Each box element comprises a plurality of channels and 
each channel is adapted to receive a component of an electrical contact. 
Each contact is linked to a conductor, and the electrical contact 
components are complementary to each other so that those in one of the box 
elements are complementary to those in the other box element so that those 
in one of the box elements are adapted to engage those in the other of the 
box elements, and vice versa. 
2. Description of Pertinent Information 
In order to connect two electrical conductors, each electrical conductor is 
normally attached to an electrical contact. One of the electrical contacts 
attached to one of the conductors has a shape complimentary to the other 
contact so that the two contacts are adapted to engage each other when 
brought together. The two portions of the contacts that engage each other 
must be protected to protect the linkage of the two electrical conductors. 
This protection is normally accomplished by attaching each electrical 
contact to an electrical connector. Each electrical connector is adapted 
to engage another electrical connector so as to lock the two electrical 
connectors together and to protect the connection between the two 
electrical conductors. Electrical connectors usually comprise a plurality 
of channels, each of which are adapted to house one electrical contact 
component. Furthermore, each channel of the connector usually comprises 
means for locking the electrical contact components therein so as to 
retain the electrical contact components in the connector. 
It is often the case, however, that even if great care is taken in 
manufacturing the electrical connectors and the electrical contact 
components, the configuration of these contact components are altered 
slightly so that they are not identical to each other as a result of 
placing and locking the electrical contact component in the channels of 
the connectors. As a result, when the two electrical contact components 
are assembled they may not fit together to provide an electrical link, but 
may abut each other in such as way as to be forced against each other 
during assembly, which can damage the electrical connector or the 
electrical contact components themselves, thereby resulting in a bad 
electrical connection. This disadvantage is even more noticeable when the 
connectors are very small and comprise a large number of channels housing 
a large number of electrical contact components. 
Thus, there is a need for an electrical connector that does not damage 
itself or damage or alter the configuration of the electrical contact 
components housed therein during the assembly of two connectors. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to remedy the disadvantages of the 
prior art. 
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an 
electrical connector that does not damage itself or damage or alter the 
configuration of the electrical contact components housed therein during 
assembly of the two electrical connectors. Each housing at least one 
electrical contact component. 
The invention which achieves these objectives relates to an electrical 
connector. The connector comprises a first element adapted to receive 
electrical contacts and adapted to be connected to a second substantially 
identical element by displacement of the first and second elements toward 
each other along an engagement or insertion axis. The first element 
comprises a male portion and a female portion. The male portion is adapted 
to engage a female portion on the second element substantially identical 
to the female portion on the first element. Further, the female portion of 
the first element is adapted to receive a male portion of the second 
element substantially identical to the male portion of the first element. 
In addition, the male and female portions of the first element together 
comprise means for displacing the first and second elements in diverging 
directions substantially perpendicular to the engagement axis in response 
to the first and second elements being displaced toward each other along 
the engagement axis that the male portion of the first element engages the 
female portion of the second element and the female portion of the first 
element receives the male portion of the second element. In addition, the 
invention relates to such a connector in combination with the second 
element. 
The first and second elements are adapted to be positioned in a normal 
assembly position in which an electrical contact housed in the first 
element engages an electrical contact housed in the second element. In 
this embodiment the connector further comprises means for displacing the 
first and second elements into their normal assembly position after the 
first and second elements are displaced in the diverging direction noted 
above by the male and female portions. 
As the first and second elements are displaced toward each other along the 
engagement axis, the first and second elements are displaced from a first 
position to a second position and then to a third position along the 
engagement axis. In this embodiment, the first element comprises means for 
engaging a complimentary shaped portion on the second element during 
displacement along the engagement axis. As a result, in the first 
position, the engagement means on the first element begins to contact the 
complimentary shaped element on the second element. Further, at the first 
position the first and second elements are in their normal assembly 
position. In their second position, the male and female portions of the 
first element displace the first and second elements in opposite 
directions substantially perpendicular to the engagement axis and away 
from the normal assembly position. In addition, the normal assembly 
position displacing means comprises means for displacing the first and 
second elements back into their normal assembly position in response to 
displacement of the first and second elements from the second position to 
the third position along the engagement axis beyond the first position. 
The diverging direction displacement means comprises a joggle on the male 
portion of the first element and a locking lug on the female portion of 
the first element. The joggle of the first element engages a locking lug 
on a male portion of the second element and the locking lug of the first 
element engages a joggle on a female portion of the second element so that 
the engagement of the locking lugs and the joggles of the first and second 
elements displaces the first and second elements in diverging directions 
substantially perpendicular to the engagement axis. 
The male portion comprises two lateral walls each comprising a projecting 
bar comprising a free end comprising a ramp. The female portion comprises 
two lateral walls each comprising a slide having a shape complimentary to 
the projecting bar. The slide of the first element is adapted to slidingly 
receive a projecting bar of the second element in response to displacement 
of the second element along the engagement axis. The bar of the first 
element is adapted to slidingly engage a slide on the second element, and 
the engagement means comprises this projecting bar and the slide of the 
first element. The first and second elements are displaced into their 
normal assembly position in response to displacement of the elements from 
the second to the third position, thereby sliding the ramp of one of the 
elements into the slide of the other of the elements. 
The first element further comprises means for connection to a second 
element substantially identical to the first element by inverting the 
first element head-to-tail upside down with respect to the second element. 
In this embodiment, when the first element is in this inverted position 
the bar of the first element is adapted to slidingly engage a slide of the 
second element and the slide of the first element is adapted to slidingly 
engage the bar of the second element. In addition, the locking lug and the 
joggle of said first element comprise means for displacing the first and 
second elements in opposite directions substantially perpendicular to the 
engaging axis. Also, in this inverted position of the first element with 
respect to the second element, the joggle of the first element is adapted 
to slidingly engage the locking lug of the second element. Also, in this 
inverted position of the first element with respect to the second element, 
the locking lug of the first element is adapted to slidingly engage the 
joggle of the second element and the ramp of the first element is adapted 
to slidingly engage the bar of the second element. 
The locking lug comprises an elastic portion, and a stiff rounded portion 
connected to and extending in front of the elastic portion. In this 
embodiment the joggle of the second element first contacts the stiff 
rounded portion of the lug and then contacts the elastic portion of the 
lug in response to displacement of the first and second elements from 
their second to their third positions. As the first and second elements 
first contact each other during assembly the joggle climbs the rounded 
portion, thereby displacing the first and second element in opposite 
directions perpendicular to the engagement axis. After the joggle has 
climbed the stiff rounded portion of the lug and the elements are 
positioned in their third position the ramps of the first and second 
elements engage the slides of the second and first elements, respectively, 
so as to position the first and second elements in their normal assembly 
position. 
The male portion comprises two additional walls spaced apart from each 
other. One of the additional walls is adjacent to the female portion. The 
other of the additional walls is opposite from the wall adjacent to the 
female portion. In this embodiment the stiff rounded portion of the lug is 
connected to the other of the additional walls, and the lug connects the 
elastic portion to the other of the additional walls. Also, the female 
portion further comprises two additional walls, spaced apart from each 
other. One of the additional walls of the female portion is adjacent to 
the male portion, and the other of the additional walls of the female 
portion is opposite from the wall adjacent to the male portion and 
comprises an internal face. In this embodiment the joggle is connected to 
the internal face of the other of the additional walls of the female 
portion. 
The male and female portions each further comprise a plurality of channels. 
Each channel comprises means for receiving and housing a component of an 
electrical contact linked to an electrical conductor. Each contact housed 
in the male portion has a complimentary shape to a contact housed in the 
female portion. In addition, the invention comprises such a connector in 
combination with the electrical contact. Also, the connector further 
comprises a locking means for maintaining the first element assembled with 
the second element. In addition, the male portion can comprise a housing 
for housing the elastic portion of the lug and in which the elastic 
portion extends. Also, the lug can further comprise an intermediate slot. 
As the first and second elements are displaced toward each other along the 
engagement axis, the first and second elements are displaced from the 
third position noted above to a fourth locked position along the 
engagement axis. In this embodiment, the joggle of the second elements 
engages the slot in the first element and the slot of the first element 
engages the joggle on the second element after the joggles of the first 
and second elements have climbed the stiff rounded portion of the second 
and first elements, respectively, and after the first and second elements 
are displaced from the third to the fourth position. As a result, the 
joggle in the slot comprise the locking means noted above, and this 
locking means locks the first and second elements in the locked position 
in response to engagement of the slot of the first element with the joggle 
of the second element and in response to the engagement of the joggle of 
the first element with the slot of the second element. 
In addition, the lug can further comprise a boss. The slot is positioned 
between the boss and the stiff rounded portion. The boss comprises means 
for freeing the joggle from the slot so as to unlock the first and second 
elements in response to pressing the boss downwardly. 
The joggle can further comprise a rounded portion facing the exterior of 
the first element, an end facing the inside of the first element, and a 
stop positioned at this end and opposite from the rounded portion of the 
joggle. 
The first element can also comprise means for housing and receiving 
hermaphroditic electrical contacts. The first element is adapted to house 
hermaphroditic contacts comprising a body comprising an end comprising 
means for attaching the contact to an electrical conductor. The body of 
the contact which is adapted to be housed by the first element comprises a 
rectangular section having a floor wall comprising an extension folded 
toward the inside of the body and further comprising an elastic lug turned 
toward the extension. In addition, the present invention relates to such a 
connector in combination with one of these hermaphroditic electrical 
contacts. Also, the contact which is adapted to be housed in the first 
element can further comprise an opening therein which is adapted to engage 
an elastic lug comprising a joggle positioned in each channel. Also, each 
contact which is adapted to be received in the channel of the first 
element comprises a free end, and each channel of the connector further 
comprises a stop adapted to abut this free end when the contact is 
assembled with the connector. 
The other of the additional walls of the female portion comprises a free 
end spaced from the lateral walls of the female portion. In addition, the 
other of the additional walls of the male portion comprises a central 
portion in which the housing is positioned. 
The joggle of the female portion is positioned in a plane passing through 
the locking lug of the male portion. In addition, one of the additional 
walls of the female portion in this embodiment comprises a free end having 
a forwardmost edge. The joggle is spaced behind this forwardmost edge of 
the free end of one of the additional walls of the female portion. 
The invention also relates to the connector defined above in combination 
with the second element, and the present invention relates to first and 
second elements which are substantially boxed-shaped. 
The invention also relates to a hermaphroditic electrical connector 
comprising a first element adapted to receive electrical contacts and 
adapted to be assembled with a second substantially identical element 
comprising a male element comprising a locking lug and a female element 
comprising a joggle by displacement of the first and second elements 
toward each other along an engagement axis. The first element is adapted 
to engage the second element when the second element is turned 
head-to-tail upside down with respect to the first element. The first 
element comprises a male portion and a female portion. The male portion 
comprises a locking lug comprising an elastic portion and a stiff rounded 
portion. The male portion comprises means for engaging the female portion 
of the second element. The female portion comprises a joggle, and means 
for receiving the male portion of the second element. The joggle of the 
first element comprises means for engaging the lug of the second element 
during assembly of the first and second elements, and lug of the first 
element comprises means for engaging the joggle of the second element 
during assembly of the first and second elements. The position of the 
joggle and the locking lug is such that at the beginning of the assembly 
of the first and second elements the joggle of the first element climbs 
the stiff rounded portion of the joggle of the second element, thereby 
displacing the first and second element in diverging directions 
substantially perpendicular to the engagement axis. 
The male portion of the first and second elements further comprises at 
least one projecting bar comprising a sliding ramp, and the female portion 
of the first and second elements further comprises at least one slide. The 
at least one projecting bar and the at least one slide are positioned so 
that: the at least one projecting bar of the first element comprises means 
for engaging the slide of the second element, the at least one slide of 
the first element comprises means for receiving the at least one bar of 
the second element, and the ramp of the first element fits into the slide 
of the second element to bring the first and second elements to a normal 
assembly position in which an electrical contact attached to the first 
element engages an electrical contact attached to the second element. 
The present invention also relates to the connector defined above in the 
above two paragraphs in combination with the second element. In this 
embodiment, the joggle of the second element comprises means for engaging 
the lug of the first element during assembly of the first and second 
elements, and the lug of the second element comprises means for engaging 
the joggle of the first element during assembly of the first and second 
elements. In addition, the position of the joggle, locking lug, and the 
slanting ramps, and the bar of the first and second elements are such that 
at the beginning of the assembly of the first and second elements the 
joggle of the second element climbs the stiff rounded portion of the first 
element, thereby displacing the first and second elements in diverging 
directions substantially perpendicular to the engagement axis. In 
addition, the at least one projecting bar of the second element comprises 
means for engaging the slide of the first element, and at least one slide 
of the second element comprises means for receiving the at least one bar 
of the first element. As a result, the ramp of the second element fits 
into the slide of the first elements to bring the first and second 
elements into a normal assembly position in which an electrical contact 
attached to the first element engages an electrical contact attached to 
the second element. 
The first and second elements also comprise first and second box elements, 
and means for locking the first and second elements in an assembled 
position. In this embodiment the male and female portions of the first and 
second elements each further comprise first and second lateral walls, 
third and fourth additional walls, and a plurality of channels. Each 
channel comprises means for receiving a component of an electrical contact 
linked to an electrical conductor. The electrical contact housed in the 
male portions have a shape complimentary to the shape of the electrical 
contacts housed in the female portions. In addition, each lateral wall of 
the male portion comprises one projecting bar. Also, each lateral wall of 
the female portion comprises one slide. The third wall of the male portion 
is adjacent to the female portion, and the fourth wall of the male portion 
is opposite from the third wall of the male portion and comprises the 
locking lug. The fourth wall of the female portion corresponds to the 
fourth wall of the male portion and comprises an internal face on which 
the joggle is positioned. 
The invention also relates to a hermaphroditic electrical contact 
comprising first and second ends, a first lug positioned at the first end 
so that the first lug attaching a sleeve of a conductor to the contact, a 
second lug for attaching a stripped end of the conductor to the contact, a 
floor comprising an extension comprising the second end of the contact, 
the extension being folded on itself to comprise an elastic tab, two 
lateral walls, and two flaps, each flap connected to a different lateral 
wall. The lateral walls extend above the floor, and the flaps are 
positioned above the floor and extends substantially parallel to the floor 
to form a substantially rectangular duct with the floor and the lateral 
walls. In addition, the floor can have an opening therein adapted to 
receive a joggle in the channel of an electrical connector. Also, the 
substantially rectangular duct extends from the second lug toward the 
second end of the contact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The electrical connector of the present invention is of the type referred 
to as a "hermaphroditic" connector comprising two substantially identical 
box elements. One of these elements is turned head-to-tail on top of the 
other when the two box elements are assembled with each other. In 
addition, each element comprises a male portion adapted to be inserted in 
a female portion of the other element, and each element comprises a female 
portion adapted to receive a male portion of the other element. The male 
portion comprises two lateral walls and two additional walls, and the 
female portion also comprises two lateral walls and two additional walls. 
Each of the male and female portions comprise a plurality of channels 
adapted to receive a component of an electrical contact which is linked to 
an electrical conductor. The electrical contacts which are housed in the 
channels of the male portion are complimentary in shape to those in the 
channels of the female portions. Also, the connector is provided with 
locking means for maintaining these connector box elements assembled to 
each other. 
The female portion of each box element comprises a slide on each lateral 
wall, and each male portion of each box element comprises a projecting bar 
on each lateral wall of the male element which is adapted to engage the 
slides. Each bar is provided at its free end of the sliding ramp, and the 
additional wall of the male portion opposite to the additional wall which 
is adjacent to the female portion comprises a locking lug having an 
elastic section connected to this opposite additional wall. Also, this 
locking lug comprises a rigid rounded section. In addition, one of the 
additional walls of the female portion which corresponds to the additional 
wall of the male portion having the locking lug thereon is provided with a 
joggle adapted to engage the locking lug of the other box element during 
the assembly of these two box elements. The position of the joggle, the 
locking lug, and the slanting ramps is such that at the beginning of the 
assembly of the box elements, the joggle slides up the rounded section and 
causes a movement of the two box elements in diverging directions 
substantially perpendicular to an insertion axis along which one of the 
box elements is displaced with respect to the other to assemble the two 
box elements. In addition, after the joggle has slid up the rounded part, 
the slides engage the ramps to bring the elements into a normal assembly 
position. 
As a result of this arrangement, there will be an accurate insertion and 
engagement of the electrical contact components housed in the two box 
elements. 
In addition, according to one characteristic of the invention, the male 
portion comprises a housing in which the elastic locking lug extends. 
According to another detail of the invention, the elastic locking lug has 
an intermediate slot in which the joggle inserts itself so as to provide a 
locked position for the two boxed elements in which the two boxed elements 
are locked into assembly with each other. In this embodiment, the joggle 
has at its end toward the inside of the box element, a stop, and the 
locking lug has a boss on its side opposite from the rounded portion. As a 
result, an accurate, efficient, and simple locking of the two box elements 
can be achieved in a releasable fashion because when the boss is pressed 
downwardly, the elastic lug releases the joggle and disconnects the two 
elements. 
The components of the electrical contacts which are adapted to be used with 
such an electrical connector are "hermaphroditic" and are formed from a 
body provided at one end with means for attachment to an electrical 
conductor. The body comprises a rectangular section comprising a wall 
having an extension folded inwards and comprises at its end an elastic tab 
turned toward the extension. 
It should be noted that in the different figures the box-like electrical 
connectors and the components of the electrical contacts are both 
hermaphroditic, i.e. these elements are adapted to engage identical 
elements. However, it should be understood that it is within the scope of 
the present invention to use conventional male or female components of the 
electrical contacts with the connector of the present invention, and it is 
also within the scope of the present invention to use box-like connectors 
that are either male or female and which are adapted to engage each other. 
The box connector illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed from two identical box 
elements 1 and 2 which can be assembled one on top of the other after one 
of these elements has been turned in a head-to-tail upside down with 
respect to the other. 
Each box element 1, 2 comprises a male portion 22 comprising lateral walls 
22a, 22a and additional walls 22b and 22c. Each box element 1, 2 also 
comprises a female portion 23, comprising lateral walls 23a, 23a, and 
additional walls 23b and 23c. Wall 22b of male portion 22 is adjacent to 
female portion 23, and additional wall 23b of female portion is adjacent 
to male portion 22. 
Male portion 22 comprises a plurality of channels 3 each of which, are 
adapted to receive an electrical contact component 4. Female portion 23 
comprises as plurality of channels 3a, each of which are adapted to 
receive an electrical contact component 4. 
FIG. 2 illustrates electrical contact component 4. Component 4 is composed 
of a metal that is a good conductor of electricity and which has a certain 
elasticity. Component 4 comprises at one end lugs 5 adapted to tighten on 
a sleeve 6 of a conductor 8. Also, component 4 further comprises lugs 7 
which are adapted to tighten a corresponding stripped end of the 
conductor. Component 4 also comprises a floor wall 9 comprising an 
extension 10 folded to form an elastic tab 11. Also provided are two 
lateral walls 13 and 14 which are attached to flaps 15 and 16, 
respectively. Flaps 15 and 16 extend from lateral walls 13 and 14 inwardly 
so that flaps 15 and 16 extend substantially parallel to floor 9 and above 
floor 9. Flaps 15 and 16, lateral walls 13 and 14, and floor 9 together 
comprise a substantially rectangular section or duct. 
Electrical contact component 4 is adapted to receive a simple male bar, 
which is to be inserted between extension 10 and tab 11. Alternatively, 
component 4 is adapted to engage an identical component 4 which is turned 
head-to-tail upside down with respect to component 4 so that extension 10 
of this inverted component 4 is inserted against and between extension 10 
and elastic tab 11 of the non-inverted component 4. In addition, extension 
10 of non-inverted component 4 is inserted in the same way between 
extension tab 10 and tab 11 of inverted component 4. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, floor wall 9 has, near lugs 7, a hole 18 adapted 
to receive a joggle 19 carried by an elastic lug 20 provided in each 
channel 3 of each box element 1, 2. Each channel 3 also comprises a stop 
17 against which the free end of flaps 15, 16 abuts. 
It should be noted that each male portion comprises a plurality of channels 
3, and that similarly each female portion of each box member comprises a 
plurality of channels, each of which are denoted by 3a. Each channel 3a is 
identical to channel 3 in the male portion of the box element. As a 
result, each channel 3a also comprises a joggle 19a carried by a locking 
lug 20a which is adapted to engage a hole 18 in floor 9 of component 4. 
Also, each channel 3a comprises a stop 17a against which the free end of 
flaps 15, 16 abuts. 
In this way, when contact component 4 is installed in a channel 3, it is 
locked therein. Also, when a contact component 4 is inserted into a 
channel 3a it is also locked therein. It should be noted that each channel 
3a of female portion 23 is substantially identical to each channel 3, but, 
each channel 3a is formed to allow male portion 22 to be inserted into 
female portion 23 as will be discussed below. As a result, additional wall 
23b of female portion 23 does not, near its free end, contact lateral 
walls 23a in order to allow lateral walls 22a of male portion 22 to engage 
female portion 23. Also, female portion 23 forms a free space 24 to enable 
wall 22c to press under wall 23b. 
Male portion 22 of each element 1, 2 is also provided with an elastic 
locking lug 25 having an end 26 which is integral with a rib 30 of wall 
22c. Also, locking lug 25 comprises a stiff rounded portion 27 and an 
elastic portion 31 extending from rounded portion 27 in a direction 
opposite from ends 26. Elastic portion 31 is pierced with a slot 28. Also 
provided is a boss 29 attached to elastic portion 31 so that slot 28 is 
positioned between elastic portion 31 and boss 29. Elastic locking portion 
25 is positioned in a housing 33 formed in a central portion of wall 22b 
of each element 1,2. 
Wall 23c comprises a joggle 35 having a rounded portion 36 and a stop 37. 
Joggle 35 is located in a plane passing through elastic locking lug 25. 
Lateral walls 22a of male portion 22 each comprise, near wall 22b, a 
guiding or projecting bar 38 having a slanting ramp 40 thereon. In a 
complimentary fashion, lateral walls 23a and female portion 23 are 
provided with slides 39. Slides 39 of element 1 are adapted to receive 
bars 38 of element and 2, and vice versa. 
It will also be seen from FIG. 1 that joggle 35 is slightly set back in 
relation to the forwardmost edge of wall 23c. 
Although electrical components are manufactured with maximum care and 
connector boxes 1 and 2 are also manufactured with a high standard of 
accuracy, when element 1 is assembled into element 2, extensions 10 of 
both components 4, (one extension 10 being housed in channel 3, and the 
other extension 10 being housed in a corresponding channel of the other 
box element) abut against one another. When this occurs, either one cannot 
assemble elements 1 and 2, or in order to assemble elements 1 and 2 these 
elements must be forced into engagement which can damage one of the 
components, thereby resulting in an imperfect electrical connection. This 
is especially true when the elements are small. 
The present invention prevents this undesirable event from occurring, as 
will now be explained, with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. 
When elements 1 and 2 are positioned to fit together, i.e. when one is 
inverted with respect to the other, head-to-tail upside down, and when 
elements 1 and 2 are displaced toward each other along an insertion or 
engagement axis, male portion 22 of one of these elements engages a female 
portion 23 of the other of these elements until joggles 35 abut against 
rounded portions 27 of elastic locking lugs 25. In this position guide 
bars 38 are just slightly engaged in slides 39 at their ends which are 
provided with a ramp. This is illustrated in FIG. 4A and 5A. In this 
position extensions 10 are spaced apart from each other both vertically 
and horizontally as is illustrated in FIG. 6A. This position is the normal 
assembly position of elements 1 and 2, in which extensions 10 in elements 
1 and 2 will abut each other if insertion is completed. 
If insertion is continued along the engagement or insertion axis joggles 35 
climb up rounded portion 27. This movement is possible because it is only 
the ends of ramp 40 that engage slides 39 at this point so that there is a 
great amount of slack between slides 39 and ramp 40. As a result, 
displacement of elements 1 and 2 occurs in opposite directions 
perpendicular to the insertion or engagement axis in the direction 
illustrated by arrow f in FIG. 4A. The actual displacement of elements 1 
and 2 in diverging directions is illustrated FIG. 4B. The partial 
engagement of a portion of ramps 40 with slides 39 is shown in FIG. 5b. As 
a result of this perpendicular displacement of elements 1 and 2, 
extensions 10 of component 4 in channels 3 and 3a of elements 1 and 2 are 
vertically displaced away from each other as extensions 10 move closer 
together along the insertion axis, as illustrated in FIG. 6B. 
By continuing the insertion of elements 1 and 2 along the insertion axis, 
elements 1 and 2 remain at the same level, i.e. they continue to be 
positioned away from the normal assembly position illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 
5A, and 6A until joggles 35 pass completely over rounded parts 27 of 
locking lugs 25 and until ramps 40 completely engage slides 39. 
When joggles 35 pass completely over rounded portions 27, joggles 35 
contact the elastic portion 31 of lug 25. Because this portion is elastic, 
it will bend downwardly so as to displace elements 1 and 2 toward each 
other as illustrated in FIG. 4C in the direction of arrows g. In this 
position, guide bars 38 engage slides 39 at the level of ramp ends 40 as 
is illustrated in FIG. 5c. As a result, elements 1 and 2 are moved toward 
each other in opposite directions back into their normal assembly 
position. In the normal assembly position, extensions 10 are substantially 
adjacent one another as is illustrated in FIG. 6C. Continued displacement 
of elements 1 and 2 toward each other along the insertion axis results in 
joggles 35 falling into slots 28, which is illustrated in FIG. 4D. In this 
position elements 1 and 2 are locked into engagement with each other. In 
addition, in this position ramps 40 completely engage slides 39 and 
extensions 10 are adjacent to each other and make firm contact with each 
other along a portion of their length as illustrated in FIG. 6D. 
To separate elements 1 and 2 one simply presses boss 29 downwardly, which 
frees joggles 35 from slots 28 so that elements 1 and 2 can then be pulled 
in opposite directions to disassemble elements 1 and 2. 
The invention thus avoids improper positioning of the electrical contact 
components at the very beginning of the assembly of the connectors. 
Further, the present invention eliminates the risks of an improper 
electrical connection between corresponding electrical contact components 
of two complimentary box elements. 
It should be understood that the although the invention has been described 
with respect to particular means, methods and embodiments, that the 
invention is not limited thereto, but extends to all equivalents within 
the scope of the claims, and that numerous modifications can be made 
within the scope of the invention, which is only limited by the attached 
claims.