초록 ▼

An electrical panel assembly providing a plurality of receptacles for use with cable connectors. The connectors and receptacles are of the known type having single contacts which lock together when the connector is mated with the receptacle and rotated a partial revolution with respect thereto. The

An electrical panel assembly providing a plurality of receptacles for use with cable connectors. The connectors and receptacles are of the known type having single contacts which lock together when the connector is mated with the receptacle and rotated a partial revolution with respect thereto. The panel assembly comprises a front panel element with from two to five receptacles arranged in a side-by-side row therebehind. The front panel element has an opening therein for each receptacle through which a cable connector can extend for mating with the receptacle. Polarizing devices are provided in association with each receptacle and each cable connector to assure that each cable connector can be mated only with its respective receptacle. Each panel opening, except the first, is provided with a locking mechansim shiftable between a normal locking position wherein it blocks entrance of a connector into its respective panel element opening and a retracted position permitting entrance of a connector into its respective panel opening. The locking mechanism for each opening is shifted to its retracted position when the appropriate connector is inserted through the preceding opening and mated and locked with its receptacle. Each locking mechanism in retracted position precludes removal of the connector from the preceding opening. As a result of this, the connectors must be connected to their respective receptacles in a given order and disconnected therefrom in the reverse of that order.

대표청구항 ▼

An electrical panel assembly for use with cable connectors, said panel assembly comprising a front panel element and at least two receptacles, means to mount said receptacles behind said front panel element arranged in a side-by-side row, said front panel element having an opening therethrough for e

An electrical panel assembly for use with cable connectors, said panel assembly comprising a front panel element and at least two receptacles, means to mount said receptacles behind said front panel element arranged in a side-by-side row, said front panel element having an opening therethrough for each receptacle and coaxial therewith through which a cable connector can extend for mating with said receptacle, the receptacle at one end of said row and its front panel element opening comprising the first receptacle and the first front panel element opening respectively, the receptacle at the other end of said row and its front panel element opening comprising the last receptacle and last front panel element opening respectively, locking means provided in association with each front panel element opening except said first front panel element opening, each locking means being shiftable between a normal locking position wherein it prevents entrance of a connector in its respective front panel element opening for connection to its respective receptacle, and an unlocking position permitting entrance of a connector in its respective front panel element opening for connection to its respective receptacle and preventing disconnection of a connector from the preceding receptacle and removal thereof from the preceding front panel element opening, means biasing each of said locking means to its normal locking position, a latch means for each front panel element opening, except the first front panel element opening, each latch means having a latching position latching the locking means for its respective front panel element opening in its normal locking position and an unlatching position releasing its respective locking means, means biasing each latch means to its latching position and being shiftable to its unlatching position by insertion of a connector into the preceding front panel element opening and connection of said last mentioned connector to the receptacle thereof, whereby connectors must be connected to said receptacles in order from said first receptacle to said last receptacle and must be disconnected from said receptacles in order from said last receptacle to said first receptacle.