Connectors for under cabinet lighting

1. A panel-mounted electrical connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) having a recessed connector ( 12 ) with a housing body ( 14 ), said housing body ( 14 ) having a socket portion ( 18 ) with a first flange ( 26 ) proximate an open end ( 20 ) thereof, a first distal web ( 22 ) and at least one first type of electrical terminal ( 24 a ) protruding through said first distal web ( 22 ), one end ( 86 a ) of said at least one first type electrical terminal ( 24 a ) extending into said socket portion ( 18 ), another end thereof protruding through said distal web ( 22 ) in a direction opposite to said socket portion ( 18 ), said socket portion ( 18 ) extendable through a first opening ( 64 ) in a first panel ( 62 ), said first flange ( 26 ) abutting against a first surface ( 66 ) on said first panel ( 62 ), said connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) including a protruding connector ( 36 ) with a plug portion ( 38 ), characterized by:

said protruding connector ( 36 ) having a proximal end plate ( 42 ), a second distal web ( 44 ) spaced from said proximal end plate ( 42 ), a side wall ( 40 ) extending between said proximal end plate ( 42 ) and said second distal web ( 44 ), a second flange ( 48 ) disposed on said protruding connector ( 36 ) proximate to said second distal web ( 44 ), and at least one second type of electrical terminal ( 46 a ) protruding through said second distal web ( 44 ) toward said proximal end plate ( 42 ), said proximal end plate ( 42 ) having at least one opening ( 94 a ) therein aligned with said at least one second type of electrical terminal ( 46 a ), said protruding connector ( 36 ) extendable through a second opening ( 76 ) in a second panel ( 74 ), said second flange ( 48 ) abutting against a second surface ( 78 ) on said second panel ( 74 ), said plug portion ( 38 ) slideably receivable within said socket portion ( 18 ) with said proximal end plate ( 42 ) approaching said first distal web ( 22 ), said at least one first type electrical terminal ( 24 a ) penetrating said at least one opening ( 94 a ) in said end plate ( 42 ) and electrically contacting said at least one second type electrical terminal ( 46 a ) establishing an area of contact located between said first flange ( 26 ) and said first distal web ( 22 ) when said first panel ( 62 ) and said second panel ( 74 ) are brought together in close parallel juxtaposition.

2. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 1 , further characterized in that said first type of electrical terminal ( 24 a ) is a male electrical terminal ( 24 a ) and said second type of electrical terminal ( 46 a ) is a female electrical terminal ( 46 a ).

3. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 1 , further characterized in that said first flange ( 26 ) abuts said second flange ( 48 ) when said plug portion ( 38 ) is fully inserted into said socket portion ( 18 ).

4. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 3 , further characterized in that said first flange ( 26 ) has a first complementary structure ( 34 ) and said second flange ( 48 ) has a second complementary structure ( 50 ), said first complementary structure ( 34 ) and said second complementary structure ( 50 ) matingly conjoining together when said first flange ( 26 ) abuts against said second flange ( 48 ).

5. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 4 , further characterized in that said first complementary structure ( 34 ) is a ring ( 34 ) and said second complementary structure ( 50 ) is a groove ( 50 ).

6. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 1 , further characterized in that at least one of said recessed connector ( 12 ) and said protruding connector ( 36 ) has a shroud ( 52 ) extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the area of contact of said first electrical terminal ( 24 a ) and said second electrical terminal ( 46 a ) when said plug portion ( 38 ) is received within said socket portion ( 18 ).

7. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 1 , further characterized in that said first panel ( 62 ) is a panel of a first lighting fixture ( 96 ) and said second panel ( 74 ) is a panel of a second lighting fixture ( 104 ).

8. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 7 , further characterized in that said connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) connects adjacent lighting fixtures ( 96 , 104 ).

9. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 1 , further characterized in that said housing body 14 and said shroud 52 are non-circular and fit into mating non-circular panel openings ( 64 , 76 ), respectively, to provide a pre-selected orientation of said recessed electrical connector ( 12 ) and said protruding connector ( 36 ) relative to said first panel ( 62 ) and said second panel ( 74 ), respectively.

10. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 9 , further characterized in that said housing body ( 14 ) and said shroud ( 52 ) have flats ( 16 a , 54 a ), respectively, thereon.

11. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 10 , further characterized in that the preselected orientation of said recessed connector ( 12 ) and said protruding connector ( 36 ) align, to permit said at least one first type electrical terminal ( 24 a ) to contact said at least one second type electrical terminal ( 46 a ) when said first panel ( 62 ) and said second panel ( 74 ) are brought into close parallel juxtaposition with the plug portion ( 38 ) inserting into the socket portion ( 18 ).

12. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 11 , further characterized in that said first panel ( 62 ) and said second panel ( 74 ) are panels of said first light fixture ( 96 ) and said second light fixture ( 104 ), respectively, mounted upon a surface and electrically connected in an end-to-end configuration.

13. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 12 , further characterized in that said recessed connector ( 12 ) has a first retainer ( 28 a ) and said protruding connector has a second retainer ( 58 a ), said first panel ( 62 ) being captured between said first flange ( 26 ) and said first retainer ( 58 a ) and said second panel ( 74 ) being captured between said second flange ( 48 ) and said second retainer ( 58 a ) when said recessed connector ( 12 ) and said protruding connector ( 36 ) are installed in said first panel ( 62 ) and said second panel ( 74 ), respectively.

14. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 13 , further characterized in that said recessed connector ( 12 ) has a first opposing retainer ( 28 b ) like said first retainer ( 28 a ) but disposed opposite thereto on said recessed connector ( 12 ) and said protruding connector ( 36 ) has a second opposing retainer ( 56 b ) like said second retainer ( 56 a ) but disposed opposite thereto on said protruding connector ( 36 ).

15. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 14 , further characterized in that each of said first retainer ( 28 a ), said first opposing retainer ( 28 b ), said second retainer ( 56 a ) and said second opposing retainer ( 56 b ) have a free end ( 32 a , 32 b , 60 a , 60 b ) and a connected end ( 58 a , 58 b ) said first panel ( 62 ) and said second panel ( 74 ) each being captured between said first flange ( 26 ) and said second flange ( 48 ), respectively, and, said free ends ( 32 a , 32 b )( 60 a , 60 b ), respectively.

16. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 15 , further characterized in that each of said first retainer ( 28 a ), said first opposing retainer ( 28 b ), said second retainer ( 56 a ) and said second opposing retainer ( 56 b ) diverge outwardly relative to an axis of said recessed connector ( 12 ) and said protruding connector ( 36 ), respectively, from the connected end ( 58 a , 58 b ) to the free end ( 32 a , 33 b , 60 a , 60 b ) thereof.

17. The connector pair ( 12 , 36 ) of claim 16 , further characterized in that each of said first retainer ( 28 a ), said first opposing retainer ( 28 b ), said second retainer ( 56 a ) and said second opposing retainer ( 56 b ) are each disposed proximate said flats ( 16 a , 54 a ).