Power connector with safety feature
View Patent ↗Electrical receptacle connectors are provided including an insulative housing and AC power contacts disposed therein that are configured for engaging an external power supply. The receptacle connectors are employed with a safety guard for restricting operator access to hot AC power contacts when disconnected from complementary header connectors. Preferred safety guards include projections extending along at least a portion of perimeter areas surrounding housing apertures that provide access to engaging portions of the AC power contacts. The projections define a safety gap between human digits directed toward the housing apertures and the AC power contacts.
1. An electrical connector, comprising:
an insulative housing including a connector mating face;
a DC power contact disposed in said insulative housing, said DC power contact comprising a pair of opposed and spaced apart contact walls, and one or more terminals extending from one of the contact walls for engaging a circuit board;
an AC power contact disposed in said insulative housing; and
a shrouded AC cable port extending from said insulative housing at a location that is different from that of said connector mating face;
wherein said connector mating face comprises:
an aperture therein to provide access to a engaging portion of said AC power contact;
a perimeter area adjacent said aperture; and
a guard proximate said perimeter area for preventing direct human touching of said engaging portion of said AC power contact.
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said AC power contact comprises a pair of opposed and spaced apart contact walls, and a tab extending from at least one of the contact walls.
3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of signal contacts disposed in said insulative housing.
4. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein said guard comprises at least one projection extending outwardly from opposing sides of said perimeter area.
5. The electrical connector according to claim 4 , wherein said guard comprises two spaced apart projections extending outwardly from each of the opposing sides of said perimeter area.
6. The electrical connector according to claim 3 , wherein said two spaced apart projections are dissimilar.
7. An electrical connector, comprising:
an insulative housing including a connector mating face including first and second apertures formed therein;
a first type of power contact disposed in said insulative housing and accessible through said first aperture;
a second type of power contact disposed in said insulative housing, said second type of power contact being accessible through said second aperture and having a different configuration than that of said first type of power contact; and
at least one projection extending outwardly from said connector mating face and along at least a portion of a perimeter of said first aperture to inhibit entry of a human digit into said first aperture,
wherein said first type of power contact comprises a pair of opposed and spaced apart walls, at least one of which includes a tab for engaging an AC power cable plug; and wherein said second type of power contact comprises a second pair of opposed and spaced apart walls including a plurality of terminals extending therefrom for engaging a printed circuit board.