Electrical connector with cam action

Claim 2

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a bifurcated contact element mounted to said support comprising a pair of resilient female contact segments: a. extending in spaced relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; and c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; bight C. a cam plate having an aperture mounted abOut said contact segments adjacent said bight thereof: a. with said contact segments in their said spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of said contact segments adjacent the end portions thereof for deflecting said contacts segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; D. means for controllably reciprocating said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein said means comprises: E. an expansible member intermediate said cam plate and said support and including; F. a second means for selectively pressurizing and depressurizing said expansible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said expansible member is pressurized; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said expansible member is depressurized.

Claim 3

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a bifurcated contact element mounted to said support comprising a pair of resilient female contact segments: a. extending in spaced relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; and c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having an aperture mounted about said contact segments adjacent said bight thereof: a. with said contact segments in their said spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of said contact segments adjacent the end portions thereof for deflecting said contacts segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably reciprocating said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein said means comprises: E. an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and retraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is retracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises a reversibly extensible chamber comprising: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a pair of spaced wall members; a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in telescoping relationship therein; and wherein J. said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said chamber for, respectively, extending and contracting said chamber in response to the reaction of said cam plate to said bias means.

Claim 4

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a bifurcated contact element mounted to said support comprising a pair of resilient female contact segments: a. extending in spaced relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; and c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having an aperture mounted about said contact segments adjacent said bight thereof: a. with said contact segments in their said spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of said contact segments adjacent the end portions thereof for deflecting said contacts segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably reciprocating said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein said means comprises: E. an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and retraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is retracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises a reversibly extensible chamber comprising: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a pair of spaced wall members; a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in telescoping relationship therein; and wherein J. said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said chamber for, respectively, extending and contracting said chamber in response to the reaction of said cam plate to said bias means.

Claim 5

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a bifurcated contact element mounted to said support comprising a pair of resilient female contact segments: a. extending in spaced relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; and c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having an aperture mounted about said contact segments adjacent said bight thereof: a. with said contact segments in their said spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of said contact segments adjaCent the end portions thereof for deflecting said contacts segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably reciprocating said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein said means comprises: E. an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and retraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is retracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a piston element a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in extensible relationship therein; and J. wherein said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said member intermediate said piston and said recess for, respectively, extending and retracting said piston in response to the reaction of said cam plate to said bias means.

Claim 6

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a bifurcated contact element mounted to said support comprising a pair of resilient female contact segments: a. extending in spaced relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; and c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having an aperture mounted about said contact segments adjacent said bight thereof: a. with said contact segments in their said spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of said contact segments adjaCent the end portions thereof for deflecting said contacts segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably reciprocating said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein said means comprises: E. an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and retraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is retracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a piston element a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in extensible relationship therein; and J. wherein said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said member intermediate said piston and said recess for, respectively, extending and retracting said piston in response to the reaction of said cam plate to said bias means.

Claim 7

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a plurality of spaced contact elements mounted to said support, with each said elements comprising: a. female contact segments spaced apart in diverging relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having openings corresponding to and in register with said contact elements; a. with each opening mounted about the contact segments of its corresponding contact element adjacent the bight thereof with said contact segments in their spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of contact segments adjacent the end portions thereof for deflecting a mounted contact segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably moving said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of each said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein E. said means comprises an expansible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. a second means for selectively pressurizing and depressurizing said expansible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portion of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said expansible member is pressurized; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments to position the contact segments in the open position when said expansible member is depressurized.

Claim 8

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a plurality of spaced contact elements mounted to said support, with each said elements comprising: a. female contact segments spaced apart in diverging relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having openings corresponding to and in register with said contact elements; a. with each opening mounted about the contact segments of its corresponding contact element adjacent the bight thereof with said contact segments in their spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of contact segments adjacent the end portions thereof for deflecting a mounted contact segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably moving said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of each said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein E. said means comprises an expansible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. a second means for selectively pressurizing and depressurizing said expansible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portion of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said expansible member is pressurized; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments to position the contact segments in the open position when said expansible member is depressurized.

Claim 9

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a plurality of spaced contact elements mounted to said support, with each said elements comprising: a. female contact segments spaced apart in diverging relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having openings corresponding to and in register with said contact elements; a. with each opening mounted about the contact segments of its corresponding contact element adjacent the bight thereof with said contact segments in their spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of contact segments adjacent the end portions thereOf for deflecting a mounted contact segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably moving said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of each said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein E. said means comprises an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and contraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is contracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises a reversibly extensible chamber comprising: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a pair of spaced wall members a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in telescoping relationship therein; and J. wherein said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said chamber for, respectively, extending and contracting said chamber in response to the reaction of said cam plate to the last said means and said bias means.

Claim 10

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a plurality of spaced contact elements mounted to said support, with each said elements comprising: a. female contact segments spaced apart in diverging relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having openings corresponding to and in register with said contact elements; a. with each opening mounted about the contact segments of its corresponding contact element adjacent the bight thereof with said contact segments in their spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of contact segments adjacent the end portions thereOf for deflecting a mounted contact segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably moving said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of each said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein E. said means comprises an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and contraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is contracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises a reversibly extensible chamber comprising: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a pair of spaced wall members a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in telescoping relationship therein; and J. wherein said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said chamber for, respectively, extending and contracting said chamber in response to the reaction of said cam plate to the last said means and said bias means.

Claim 11

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a plurality of spaced contact elements mounted to said support, with each said elements comprising: a. female contact segments spaced apart in diverging relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having openings corresponding to and in register with said contact elements; a. with each opening mounted about the contact segments of its corresponding contact element adjacent the bight thereof with said contact segments in their spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of contact segments adjacent the end portions thereof for deflecting a mounted contact segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably moving said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of each said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein E. said means comprises an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and contraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is contracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a piston element a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact elements; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in extensible relationship therein; and J. wherein said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said member intermediate said piston and said recess for, respectively, extending and retracting the piston in response to the reaction of said cam plate to the last said means and said bias means.

Claim 12

An electrical connector comprising: A. a support; B. a plurality of spaced contact elements mounted to said support, with each said elements comprising: a. female contact segments spaced apart in diverging relationship; b. having a common bight portion adjacent said support; c. adapted for connection to an external circuit; C. a cam plate having openings corresponding to and in register with said contact elements; a. with each opening mounted about the contact segments of its corresponding contact element adjacent the bight thereof with said contact segments in their spaced relationship defining an open position; and b. with said cam plate adapted for sliding movement along the extension of contact segments adjacent the end portions thereof for deflecting a mounted contact segments inwardly of each other to define a closed position; and D. means for controllably moving said cam plate between said bight and said end portions of each said contact segments for selective positioning thereof in the open and closed positions; wherein E. said means comprises an extensible member intermediate said cam plate and said support; and including F. second means for extension and contraction of said extensible member whereby said cam plate is driven toward and adjacent said end portions of said contact segments for positioning thereof in a closed position when said extensible member is extended; and G. bias means for yieldingly urging said cam plate toward said support adjacent said bight of said contact segments for positioning thereof in the open position when said extensible member is contracted; and wherein said extensible member comprises: H. a recess in said support peripherally circumscribing said contact element; and I. a piston element a. depending from said cam plate; b. peripherally circumscribing said contact elements; and c. slidably mounted in said recess in extensible relationship therein; and J. wherein said second means includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing said member intermediate said piston and said recess for, respectively, extending and retracting the piston in response to the reaction of said cam plate to the last said means and said bias means.