Finger proof power connector

• Main Author: DOUTY GEORGE HAROLD,WALTER RICHARD PAUL,WEBER RONALD MARTIN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.03.2006
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRICITY; LINE CONNECTORS

A hermaphroditic connector is provided having a housing with a rear end configured to receive a cable. A socket is provided on the front end of the housing and extends forwardly therefrom. The socket includes a shroud and a socket tongue formed on the housing and defining a pocket opening onto a front face of the socket. The shroud and socket tongue are configured to mate with another hermaphroditic connector having a similar shape. The socket includes at least one blocking member in the opening in the front face to interfere with foreign objects that may inadvertently come into contact with the enclosed conductive member. The blocking member may include ribs and/or beveled corner inserts provided in the pocket and extending at least partially along the length of the socket. A contact is held within the pocket and is configured to join a power, signal or ground cable. The bottom surface of the socket includes one or more grooves and/or chamfered edges configured to align with ribs and/or beveled corner cutouts on a mating connector. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the socket includes a shroud and a socket tongue that are staggered with the length of the shroud being greater than the length of the socket tongue in order to exclude foreign objects without interfering with mating of connectors.