Abstract:
The present invention provides a device and method for separating electrical connector assemblies. Electrical connector assemblies typically comprise a male connector, commonly called a plug, and a female connector, commonly called a receptacle. The separation of an electrical connector assembly is accomplished by at least one lever disposed in the body of at least one of the connectors. The lever is attached to the body of the connector such that when the lever is “up” the lower portion of the lever is flush with the mating surface so as not to not interfere with the coupling of the connector. Actuation of the lever, i.e., moving the lever to its down position, causes a displacement of at least one the connectors comprising the electrical connector assembly. The present invention may be adapted to a wide range of electrical connectors including, but not limited to: standard household plug and sockets, parallel connectors, serial connectors, and inline connectors.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is in the field of electrical connectors. Specifically, the present invention is related to assisted-release electrical connectors.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Many electrical devices rely upon power cords to connect the device to a power source, such as an electrical outlet on a wall. In addition, extension cords are often required to extend the range of the electrical device from an outlet due to poor outlet availability or because the power cord of the electrical device is too short to reach an available outlet.  
           [0003]    A power cord typically comprises a length of wire wrapped in insulation. Typically, one end of the power cord terminates in a male connector, while the opposite end terminates in a female connector. Connectors are manufactured products designed to terminate conductors and cables between electronic circuits within a system, between systems, and between systems and external power sources and signal lines.  
           [0004]    A male connector is commonly referred to as a plug. Examples of plugs include, but are not limited to: a flat blade attachment plug as shown in FIG. 1 (along with an electrical outlet); a flat blade attachment plug with a round grounding pin as shown in FIG. 2; a round pin attachment plug as shown in FIG. 3 (along with an electrical socket); a round pin attachment plug with ground as shown in FIG. 4 (along with an electrical socket); a round pin plug as shown in FIG. 5 (along with a receptacle with a male grounding pin); a “Schuko” plug as shown in FIG. 6 (along with a receptacle with side grounding contacts); a rectangular blade plug as shown in FIG. 7; an oblique flat blade plug with ground as shown in FIG. 8; an oblique flat blade plug (inverted V-shape) with ground as shown in FIG. 9 (along with a socket); a round pin plug with offset ground as shown in FIG. 10 (along with a socket); a round pin plug with spade ground as shown in FIG. 11 (along with a socket); and a round pin plug with in-line ground as shown in FIG. 12 (along with a socket). A male connector, i.e., plug, typically mates with a female connector of the same size and number of conductors. Female connectors are also commonly called recepticals, sockets, jacks, or outlets.  
           [0005]    As shown in FIG. 13, a male connector  13   a  may comprise a body  13   c  made from an insulating material. The body  13   c  has a mating surface  13   e  from which conductive projections  13   d  extend. The mating surface  13   e  can be pressed substantially against a mating surface of a female connector (shown in FIG. 14) so as to place the two connectors in electrical communication. The body  13   c  of the male connector typically houses the connection (not shown) of the wire  13   b  with the conductive projections  13   d.    
           [0006]    As shown in FIG. 14, a female connector  14   a  may comprise a body  14   c  made from an insulating material. The body  14   c  has a mating surface  14   e  in which cavities  14   d  are formed. The cavities  14   d  contain conductive receivers  14   f  adapted to accept the insertion of conductive projections (shown in FIG. 13). The body  14   c  of the female connector  14   a  encapsulates the connection (not shown) of the wire  14   b  with the conductive receivers  14   f.    
           [0007]    Typically, a plug is held in a receptical after insertion due to an interference fit between the conductive projections of the male connector and the conductive receivers of the female connector. This is sometimes referred to as a force fit because an insertion force may be required to overcome the interaction of the conductive projections of the male connector with the conductive receivers of the female connector when coupling the connectors in the formation of a circuit. A male connector coupled with a female connector is referred to as a connector assembly. A connector assembly can typically be uncoupled by applying sufficient force to pull the the male and female connectors apart. However, the amount of force required to uncouple the connectors can often be excessive for people with low hand strength. Such people may have difficulty seperating the connectors. A partially seperated connector assembly may be a hazard as it exposes the conductive projections of the male connector such that another conductive material may contact the projections and short the circuit.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, a need exists to provide an electrical connector that is easily seperable by persons having low hand strength such as the elderly, the physically challenged, or normally heathly persons too weak to seperate a connector assembly. Another need exists to provide a method for seperating electrical connectors.  
           [0009]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention satisfy some or all of these needs. In addition, it will be appreciated that similar advantages may be obtained in other applications of the present invention. Such advantages may become apparent from the present disclosure or through practice of the present invention.  
           [0010]    The present invention provides an electrical connector as well as a method for separating connectors of electrical connector assemblies. The electrical connector may be a male connector, a female connector, or any other similar, suitable, or conventional type of connector. An example of a male connector is a plug, and examples of female connectors include jacks, sockets, receptacles, and wall outlets. The electrical connector includes a lever that is pivotally connected to the body. Force may be applied to one end of the lever, thereby causing the opposing end of the lever to move outwardly from the mating surface of the connector. The lever may be pivotally attached to the body of the connector in such a way as to not interfere with the connection between the connectors during engagement. The connector may be a part of an electrical connector assembly. Electrical connector assemblies may comprise a male connector, e.g., a plug, that is engaged with a female connector, e.g., a receptacle such as a wall outlet. In the present invention, the separation of an electrical connector assembly is accomplished by at least one lever that is pivotally connected to the body of at least one of the connectors.  
           [0011]    The present invention is not limited to any specific type or use of electrical connector. One preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly useful with two-conductor or three-conductor, male or female power connectors, e.g., with power cords, extension cords, or other similar, suitable, or conventional power cables. Nevertheless, the present invention may be implemented with any of the connectors described above in the background as well as other similar, suitable, or conventional connectors that are now known or may be later developed. Examples of other connectors to which the present invention may be applied include, but should not be limited to, other serial connectors, parallel connectors, and in-line connectors. The connectors may be used for any suitable purpose such as for power distribution (e.g., with power strips, wall outlets, power cords, extension cords, and other similar, suitable, or conventional power distribution systems), data transmission, control signal transmission, response signal transmission, timing signal transmission, and other similar, suitable, or conventional uses that are now known or may be later developed. In addition, it should be recognized that the present invention may be used to separate connector/wall outlet assemblies as well as any other similar, suitable, or conventional type of electrical connector assembly.  
           [0012]    In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flat blade attachment plug and receptacle of the prior art;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flat blade plug with round grounding pin of the prior art;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a round pin attachment plug and a receptacle of the prior art;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a round pin plug with ground and a receptacle of the prior art;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a round pin plug and a receptacle with male grounding pin of the prior art;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a “Schuko” plug and a receptacle with side grounding contacts of the prior art;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rectangular blade plug of the prior art;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of an oblique flat blade plug (V-shaped) with ground of the prior art;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of an oblique flat blade plug (inverted V) with ground and a receptacle of the prior art;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a round pin plug with round offset grounding pin and a receptacle of the prior art;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a round pin plug with spade grounding pin and a receptacle of the prior art;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a round pin plug with in-line round grounding pin and a receptacle of the prior art;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a male connector of the prior art;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of a female connector of the prior art;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a male connector ejector in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a female connector ejector in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the mating surface of a male connector ejector body in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of a male electrical connector ejector with the lever in an up position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the male electrical connector ejector of FIG. 18 with the lever mid-way between the up and the down position;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the male electrical connector ejector of FIG. 18 with the lever in a down position;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 21 is a side elevation view of a male electrical connector ejector fully engaging a female connector;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 22 is a side elevation view of the male electrical connector ejector partially ejected from the female connector of FIG. 21;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 23 is a side elevation view of the male electrical connector ejector fully ejected from the female connector of FIG. 21;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 24 is a side elevation view of the mating surface of a female connector ejector body in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 25 is a side elevation view of a female electrical connector ejector with the lever in an up position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the female electrical connector ejector of FIG. 25 with the lever mid-way between the up and the down position;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 27 is a side elevation view of the female electrical connector ejector of FIG. 25 with the lever in a down position;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 28 is a side elevation view of a male connector ejector with the lever in a down position, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of the male connector ejector of FIG. 28 with the lever in an up position;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 30 is a partial side elevation view of a lever of a connector ejector biased in an up position, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 31 is a partial side elevation view of the connector ejector of FIG. 30 with the lever in a down position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0044]    In accordance with the foregoing summary, the following presents a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention that are currently considered to be the best mode.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 15 shows a side view of a male connector ejector  15   a  of the present invention. This embodiment of the male connector ejector  15   a  comprises: (1) a body  15   b  having conductive projections  15   c  and an attachment means  15   d  and (2) a lever  15   e  that is connected to the body  15   b . In this example, the lever  15   e  is mounted at least partially in a channel of the body  15   b . However, in other embodiments, the lever  15   e  may be located along an outside portion of the body  15   b . The lever  15   e  may be comprised of an upper portion  15   f , an engagement means  15   g , and a lower portion  15   h . The lever  15   e  is pivotally or rotatably connected to the body  15   b . Any suitable combination of attachment means  15   d  and engagement means  15   g  may be used to pivotally or rotatably connect the lever  15   e  to the body  15   b . Examples of suitable attachment means  15   d  include, but are not limited to, female connecting portions, male connecting portions, posts, holes, apertures, receptacles, rods, axles, pins, chains, sprockets, belts, pulleys, balls, sockets, hinges, trunnions, and clips. Similarly, examples of suitable engagement means  15   g  include, but are not limited to, female connecting portions, male connecting portions, posts, holes, apertures, receptacles, rods, axles, pins, chains, sprockets, belts, pulleys, balls, sockets, hinges, trunnions, and clips. In this particular example, posts  15   g  are adapted to rotate in respective apertures  15   d . As a result, the attachment means  15   d  and engagement means  15   g  cooperate in order to permit the lever  15   e  to pivot or rotate in relation to the body  15   b.    
         [0046]    The upper portion  15   f  of the lever  15   e  is where a person may exert a force to separate the connector  15   a  from another connector of an electrical connector assembly. It is preferred that the upper portion  15   f  of the lever  15   e  comprises a finger pad, a portion for the comfortable placement of a human finger to exert a force upon. The finger pad may have a texture and/or contoured surface for ergonomic advantage and/or to ensure good contact between the finger pad and the user&#39;s fingers.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 16 shows a side view of a female connector ejector  16   a  of the present invention. The female connector ejector  16   a  may include any of the optional or preferred features of the male connector ejector  15   a . The female connector ejector  16   a  comprises: (1) a body  16   b  having conductive receivers  16   c  and an attachment means  16   d  and (2) a lever  16   e  that is connected to the body  16   b . The lever  16   e  may be comprised of an upper portion  16   f , an engagement means  16   g  and a lower portion  16   h . In this example, the lever  16   e  is mounted at least partially in a channel of the body  16   b . However, in other embodiments, the lever  16   e  may be located along an outside portion of the body  16   b . The lever  16   e  is pivotally or rotatably connected to the body  16   b . Any suitable combination of attachment means  16   d  and engagement means  16   g  may be used to pivotally or rotatably connect the lever  16   e  to the body  16   b . Examples of suitable attachment means  16   d  include, but are not limited to, female connecting portions, male connecting portions, posts, holes, receptacles, apertures, rods, axles, pins, chains, sprockets, belts, pulleys, balls, sockets, hinges, trunnions, and clips. Similarly, examples of suitable engagement means  16   g  include, but are not limited to, female connecting portions, male connecting portions, posts, holes, apertures, receptacles, rods, axles, pins, chains, sprockets, belts, pulleys, balls, sockets, hinges, trunnions, and clips. In this particular example, posts  16   g  are adapted to rotate in respective apertures  16   d . As a result, the attachment means  16   d  and engagement means  16   g  cooperate in order to permit the lever  16   e  to pivot or rotate in relation to the body  16   b.    
         [0048]    A person may exert a force on the upper portion  16   f  of the lever  16   e  to separate the connector  16   a  from another connector of an electrical connector assembly. It is preferred that the upper portion  16   f  of the lever  16   e  comprises a finger pad, a portion for the comfortable placement of a human finger to exert a force upon. The finger pad may have a texture and/or uneven surface to ensure good contact between the finger pad and the user&#39;s fingers.  
         [0049]    The present invention may also be implemented in connectors that have a combination of male and female conductive portions. Additionally, one or each connector of an electrical connector assembly may be an electrical connector ejector of the present invention. The following examples will discuss the present invention in further detail.  
       EXAMPLE ONE  
     Only Male Connector Having an Ejection Lever  
       [0050]    In this embodiment, the disengagement of the male connector ejector from the female connector is accomplished by a lever. FIG. 17 shows the body  17   a  of a male connector ejector of the present invention which has a channel  17   b  extending from a side surface  17   c  to the mating surface  17   d . The lever is not shown in order to more clearly show the channel  17   b . The channel  17   b  may have any suitable shape to allow the lever to rotate or pivot from an up or closed position to a down or open position. Any suitable portion of the body  17   a  may form attachment means  17   e . In this example, the attachment means  17   e  is formed at an edge of the side surface  17   c  and the mating surface  17   d . The attachment means  17   e  interacts with engagement means on the lever (not shown) to connect the lever to the body  17   a  of the male connector. As noted above, the attachment means  17   e  may be a receptacle or any other suitable attachment device adapted to engage the engagement means of the lever to pivotally connect the lever to the body  17   a . The attachment means  17   e  and the engagement means of the lever act together to form the fulcrum point of the lever.  
         [0051]    The lever may be a type 1 lever, meaning that the fulcrum is situated between the applied force and the load. However, the lever may be any other suitable type of lever, e.g., a type 2 or 3 lever. The lever may have three main portions: an upper portion, an engagement means, and a lower portion. The upper portion is that portion of the lever upon which a user may apply a force to the lever. The engagement means of the lever interacts with the attachment means of the body to form the fulcrum and pivotally connect the lever to the body of the male connector. The lower portion of the lever may reside at least partially in the channel of the body when the lever is an up or closed position. When the lever is moved to a down or open position, the lower portion of the lever contacts the female connector, preferably the mating surface, to push apart the male and female connectors of the connector assembly.  
         [0052]    When the lever  18   a  is in the up position as seen in FIG. 18, the lower portion of the lever  18   a  may be substantially flush with the mating surface  18   b  of the connector. However, in alternative embodiments, the lower portion of the lever  18   a  may protrude from, or be recessed from, the mating surface  18   b . As the lever  18   a  is moved towards its down position, the upper portion  18   c  of the lever  18   a  moves towards the body  18   d  of the connector while the lower portion  18   e  simultaneously moves outward from the mating face  18   b , as in FIG. 19. Upon reaching the down position, the upper portion  18   c  of the lever  18   a  rests against the body  18   d  of the connector and the lower portion  18   e  of the lever  18   a  is fully extended as in FIG. 20.  
         [0053]    The rotation of the lever  21  a about its fulcrum causes a displacement of a female connector as shown in FIGS.  21 - 23 . As the lever  21   a  is moved to its down position, the male conductive portions  21   b  are at least partially or totally disengaged from the female conductive portions. In the example of FIG. 23, the male conductive portions  21   b  are partially disengaged from the female conductive portions. In this position, the amount of force required to completely seperate the male and the female connectors is preferably much lower than it was before actuating the lever.  
       EXAMPLE TWO  
     Only Female Connector Having an Lever  
       [0054]    In this embodiment, the disengagement of the female connector ejector from the male connector is accomplished by a lever. This embodiment may include any of the optional or preferred features of the previous embodiments. FIG. 24 shows the body  24   a  of a female connector ejector of the present invention which has a channel  24   b  extending from a side surface  24   c  to the mating surface  24   d . The lever is not shown in order to more clearly show the channel  24   b . The channel  24   b  may have any suitable shape to allow the lever to rotate or pivot from an up or closed position to a down or open position. Any suitable portion of the body  24   a  may form attachment means  24   e . In this example, the attachment means  24   e  is formed at an edge of the side surface  24   c  and the mating surface  24   d . The attachment means  24   e  interacts with engagement means on the lever (not shown) to connect the lever to the body  24   a  of the female connector. As noted above, the attachment means  24   e  may be a receptacle or any other suitable attachment device adapted to engage the engagement means of the lever to pivotally connect the lever to the body  24   a . The attachment means  24   e  and the engagement means of the lever act together to form the fulcrum point of the lever.  
         [0055]    The lever may be a type 1 lever, meaning that the fulcrum is situated between the applied force and the load. However, the lever may be any other suitable type of lever, e.g., a type 2 or 3 lever. The lever may have three main portions: an upper portion, an engagement means, and a lower portion. The upper portion is that portion of the lever upon which a user may apply a force to the lever. The engagement means of the lever interacts with the attachment means of the body to form the fulcrum and pivotally connect the lever to the body of the female connector. The lower portion of the lever may reside at least partially in the channel of the body when the lever is an up or closed position. When the lever is moved to a down or open position, the lower portion of the lever contacts the male connector, preferably the mating surface, to push apart the male and female connectors of the connector assembly.  
         [0056]    When the lever  25   a  is in the up position as seen in FIG. 25, the lower portion of the lever  25   a  may be substantially flush with the mating surface  25   b  of the connector. However, in alternative embodiments, the lower portion of the lever  25   a  may protrude from, or be recessed from, the mating surface  25   b . As the lever  25   a  is moved towards its down position, the upper portion  25   c  of the lever  25   a  moves towards the body  25   d  of the connector while the lower portion  25   e  simultaneously moves outward from the mating face  25   b , as in FIG. 26. Upon reaching the down position, the upper portion  25   c  of the lever  25   a  rests against the body  25   d  of the connector and the lower portion  25   e  of the lever  25   a  is fully extended as in FIG. 27.  
         [0057]    As with the male connector ejector described above, the rotation of the lever of a female connector ejector about its fulcrum initiates the separation of engaged connectors. As the lever is moved to its down position, the male conductive portions are at least partially or totally disengaged from the female conductive portions. In the partially disengaged position, the amount of force required to completely seperate the male and the female connectors is preferably much lower than it was before actuating the lever.  
       EXAMPLE THREE  
     Both Male and Female Connectors Having Levers  
       [0058]    In this embodiment, the disengagement of a male connector from a female connector is accomplished by levers disposed in each connector. The male connector ejector and the female connector ejector may include any of the optional or preferred features of the above described embodiments. In order to separate the connectors, the lever of each connector may be actuated. The levers may be offset or aligned. Consequently, when the levers are moved to their down positions, the lower portions of the levers may abut each other or the opposing mating surface to push apart the connectors.  
       EXAMPLE  4   
     Connector Having a Cable Disposed at an Angle Relative to the Male or Female Conductive Portions  
       [0059]    The lever of the present invention may have any shape which is suitable for the particular application. FIGS. 28 and 29 show one example of an alternative shape of a lever of the present invention. In this example, a cable  28   a  terminates in a connector body  28   b . Male conductive portions  28   c  extend from the connector body  28   b  at an angle relative to the cable  28   a . In this particular example, the angle is about 90 degrees. Nevertheless, it should be recognized that the relationship between the cable  28   a  and the conductive portions  28   c  may be any angle greater or less than 90 degrees. A lever  28   d  is pivotally mounted to the connector body  28   b . The lever  28   d  may include any of the optional or preferred features of the levers described above. The lever  28   d  of this example has a curved or contoured upper portion  28   e . The degree of curvature of the upper portion  28   e  may be any amount. In this example, the upper portion  28   e  has about a 90 degree curve such that the upper portion  28   e  substantially rests against the connector body  28   b  when the lever  28   d  is in a down position. Such an embodiment may be useful to limit the amount of space used by the present invention. This embodiment of the present invention may also be implemented in connectors having female conductive portions.  
       EXAMPLE  5   
     Lever Biased in an Up Position  
       [0060]    The lever of the present invention may be biased in an up or a down position. In the example shown in FIG. 30, the lever  30   a  is biased in an up position by a spring  30   b  or any other similar, suitable, or conventional device that may be biased in a certain direction or position. An example of a spring  30   b  includes, but is not limited to, a torsion spring or any other similar, suitable, or conventional type of spring. This embodiment of the present invention may include any of the optional or preferred features of the earlier described embodiments of the present invention. Although the figures show a connector having male conductive portions, it should be recognized that this embodiment of the present invention may also be implemented in a connector having female conductive portions.  
         [0061]    The spring  30   b  may be connected to the connector body  30   c  in any suitable manner. In this example, the spring  30   b  is located in the channel  30   d  of the body  30   c  and connected to the engagement means  30   e  of the lever  30   a . In other embodiments, the spring  30   b  may be connected to the attachment means of the body  30   c . In addition, it should be recognized that the spring  30   b  may be located outside of the channel  30   d  in alternative embodiments.  
         [0062]    The spring  30   b  may be connected to any portion of the lever  30   a  in order to bias the lever  30   a  in the desired direction. As shown in the example of FIG. 30, the spring  30   b  may rest against an upper portion  30   f  of the lever  30   a . Biasing the lever  30   a  in an up position may be useful to keep the lever  30   a  out of the way when engaging two connectors together. The spring  30   b  may have any tension which is suitable for the intended purpose. In order to disconnect two connectors, the lever  30   a  may be moved to a down position as shown in FIG. 31.  
         [0063]    The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.