IP Library Granted Patent US 11,476,617
Granted Patent B2
US 11,476,617 · App. 17/206,304 · Granted Oct 18, 2022

Connection release

Inventors: Bailey Schuetz (Germantown, WI); Edward A. Nowak (West Bend, WI); Jeff Malinowski (Slinger, WI)
Assignee: Raffel Systems, LLC
H01R13/62H01R13/422H01R13/6392
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,476,617
App. No.
17/206,304
Granted
Oct 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connection comprising a first plug having a first post and a conductor, a second plug having a second post and an aperture configured to receive the conductor, and a connector. The connector includes a first slot and a second slot. The first slot includes a first opening, a first protrusion, and a first end opposite the first opening, and the second slot includes a second opening, a second protrusion, and a second end opposite the second opening. The first slot is configured to at least partially receive the first post and the second slot is configured to at least partially receive the second post. The first post is positioned between the first end and the first protrusion of the first slot, and the second post is positioned between the second end and the second protrusion of the second slot.

Claims (42)

1. A connection comprising:

a first plug having a first post and a conductor;

a second plug having a second post and an aperture configured to receive the conductor;

a connector including a first slot and a second slot, the first slot includes a first opening, a first protrusion, and a first end opposite the first opening, and the second slot includes a second opening, a second protrusion, and a second end opposite the second opening;

wherein the first slot is configured to at least partially receive the first post and the second slot is configured to at least partially receive the second post; and

wherein the first post is positioned between the first end and the first protrusion of the first slot, and the second post is positioned between the second end and the second protrusion of the second slot;

wherein the first slot includes a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion extend between the first opening and the first end;

wherein the first protrusion is positioned on the first side portion; and

wherein the first protrusion includes a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface.

2. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first post is positioned between the first end and the first protrusion of the first slot and the second post is positioned between the second end and the second protrusion of the second slot when the connection is in a connected configuration; and wherein the first post is removed from the first slot in a disconnected configuration in response to a threshold force applied to the first plug.

3. The connection of claim 2 , wherein the second post is removed from the second slot in the disconnected configuration in response to the threshold force applied to the second plug.

4. The connection of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the connector deflects in response to the first plug moving between the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration.

5. The connection of claim 4 , wherein the first plug moves along an axis as the first plug moves between the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration.

6. The connection of claim 5 , wherein deflection of the portion of the connector is orthogonal to the axis.

7. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first end is arcuate.

8. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the second side portion is planar.

9. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a sleeve with a first inlet aperture configured to at least partially receive the first plug and a second inlet aperture positioned opposite the first inlet aperture, the second inlet aperture configured to at least partially receive the second plug.

10. The connection of claim 9 , wherein the first opening of the first slot is formed as part of the first inlet aperture.

11. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the connector is formed with an elastically-deformable material.

12. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first plug includes a first mating surface and the conductor extends from the first mating surface, and wherein the second plug includes a second mating surface and the aperture is formed in the second mating surface.

13. The connection of claim 12 , wherein the first post is spaced from the first mating surface and the second post is spaced from the second mating surface.

14. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first plug and the second plug are DC power plugs.

15. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first plug includes a third post and the second plug includes a fourth post.

16. The connection of claim 15 , wherein the connector includes a third slot configured to at least partially receive the third post and a fourth slot configured to at least partially receive the fourth post.

17. The connection of claim 16 , wherein the third slot is positioned opposite the first slot and the fourth slot is positioned opposite the second slot.

18. A connection comprising:

a first plug having a first post and a conductor;

a second plug having a second post and an aperture configured to receive the conductor;

a connector including a first slot and a second slot, the first slot includes a first opening, a first protrusion, and a first end opposite the first opening, wherein the first end is arcuate, and the second slot includes a second opening, a second protrusion, and a second end opposite the second opening;

wherein the first slot is configured to at least partially receive the first post and the second slot is configured to at least partially receive the second post; and

wherein the first post is positioned between the first end and the first protrusion of the first slot, and the second post is positioned between the second end and the second protrusion of the second slot.

19. The connection of claim 18 , wherein the first slot includes a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion and the second side portion extend between the first opening and the first end.

20. The connection of claim 18 , wherein the connector is a sleeve with a first inlet aperture configured to at least partially receive the first plug and a second inlet aperture positioned opposite the first inlet aperture, the second inlet aperture configured to at least partially receive the second plug.

21. The connection of claim 20 , wherein the first opening of the first slot is formed as part of the first inlet aperture.

22. A connection comprising:

a first plug having a first post and a conductor;

a second plug having a second post and an aperture configured to receive the conductor;

a connector including a first slot and a second slot, the first slot includes a first opening, a first protrusion, and a first end opposite the first opening, and the second slot includes a second opening, a second protrusion, and a second end opposite the second opening;

wherein the first slot is configured to at least partially receive the first post and the second slot is configured to at least partially receive the second post; and

wherein the first post is positioned between the first end and the first protrusion of the first slot, and the second post is positioned between the second end and the second protrusion of the second slot; and

wherein the connector is a sleeve with a first inlet aperture configured to at least partially receive the first plug and a second inlet aperture positioned opposite the first inlet aperture, the second inlet aperture configured to at least partially receive the second plug.

23. The connection of claim 22 , wherein the first opening of the first slot is formed as part of the first inlet aperture.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2021
From: INNOVATIVE MOTION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; RAFFEL SYSTEMS, LLC; MICRO-AIR, LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 058518/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2021
From: SCHUETZ, BAILEY; NOWAK, EDWARD A.; MALINOWSKI, JEFF
To: RAFFEL SYSTEMS LLC.
Reel/Frame 055690/0440 →