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Re-configurable electrical connector including a pair of endcaps, a pair of elongate rails, each removably attached at one end to one of the endcaps, and connector modules arranged between the endcaps and including one or more male or female connecting members adapted to electrically connect at a fi

Re-configurable electrical connector including a pair of endcaps, a pair of elongate rails, each removably attached at one end to one of the endcaps, and connector modules arranged between the endcaps and including one or more male or female connecting members adapted to electrically connect at a first end to one electrical component or part thereof and at a second, opposite end to another electrical component or part thereof. The connector modules are individual modules in the sense that they are separated from one another. When the rails are detached from the endcaps, each connector module can be moved relative to the rails, i.e., slid off of the end of the rails, to enable different configurations of connector modules to be positioned between the endcaps.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An electrical connector for removable attachment to a plurality of different electrical connectors, comprising: first and second endcaps; first and second elongate rails, each of said first and second rails being removably attached at one end to one of said first or sec

The invention claimed is: 1. An electrical connector for removable attachment to a plurality of different electrical connectors, comprising: first and second endcaps; first and second elongate rails, each of said first and second rails being removably attached at one end to one of said first or second endcap; a plurality of connector modules arranged between said first and second endcaps, said connector modules being separable from one another and each including at least one male or female connecting member adapted to electrically connect at a first end to a first electrical component or part thereof and at a second, opposite end to a second electrical component or part thereof, each of said connecting members including a single projection at the first end for removably engaging with the first electrical component or part thereof and a single projection or a single receptacle at the second end for removably engaging with the second electrical component or part thereof; and positioning means for movably engaging said connector modules with said first and second rails. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said positioning means are arranged such that each of said connector modules is movable relative to said first and second rails when said first and second rails are detached from said first or second endcap to enable different configurations of connector modules to be positioned between said first and second endcaps and thereby provide for removable engagement with a plurality of different first electrical components and a plurality of different second electrical components. 3. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first and second endcaps each include a single channel on each side, said positioning means including a single elongate projection on each of said first and second rails each slidable into and along said channel on a respective side of said first and second endcaps, said positioning means further including a channel on each side of said connector modules, said projection on each of said first and second rails being slidable into and along said channel of said connector modules. 4. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first and second endcaps each include a single channel on each side, said positioning means including a single elongate projection on each of said first and second rails each slidable into and along said channel on a respective side of said first and second endcaps. 5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said connector modules each include a plurality of male or female connecting members and a dielectric housing, at least a part of each of said connecting members being fixed in said housing and isolated from other of said connecting members in said housing. 6. The connector of claim 1, wherein said connector is a female connector and said connector modules include only sockets which constitute said female connecting members, said sockets having the single receptacle at the second end. 7. The connector of claim 6, wherein said first and second endcaps are female endcaps each including a single coupling member having a receptacle recessed in the same direction as said receptacles at the second end of said sockets. 8. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first and second rails are removably attached at a first end to said first endcap, each of said connector modules being movable relative to said first and second rails when said first and second rails are detached from said first endcap. 9. The connector of claim 8, wherein said first and second rails are removably attached at a second end to said second endcap, each of said connector modules being movable relative to said first and second rails when said first and second rails are detached from said second endcap. 10. The connector of claim 1, wherein said connector is a male connector and said connector modules include only pins which constitute said male connecting members, said pins having the single projection at the second end. 11. The connector of claim 10, wherein said first and second endcaps are male endcaps each including a single guide pin oriented in the same direction as said projections at the first end of said pins. 12. The connector of claim 10, wherein said plurality of connector modules comprises 48 connector modules or 50 connector modules and each of said connector modules has 4 or 10 pins. 13. An electrical connector for attachment to a plurality of different electrical components, comprising: a plurality of individual connector modules each including at least one male or female connecting member adapted to electrically connect at a first end to a first electrical component or part thereof and at a second, opposite end to a second electrical component or part thereof, each of said connecting members including only a single projection at the first end for engaging with the first electrical component or part thereof and only a single projection or only a single receptacle at the second end for engaging with the second electrical component or part thereof; first and second elongate rails, each of said connector modules engaging at one side with said first rail and at an opposite side with said second rail; first and second endcaps; and attachment means for removably attaching each of said first and second rails to said first or second endcap. 14. The connector of claim 13, wherein each of said connector modules is movable relative to said first and second rails when said first and second rails are detached from said first or second endcap. 15. The connector of claim 13, wherein said attachment means include a single channel on each side on each of said first and second endcaps and an elongate projection on each of said first and second rails, said projection being slidable into and along said channel on a respective side of said first and second endcaps, said connector modules each including a channel on each side, one of said projections on each of said first and second rails being slidable into and along said channel of said connector modules. 16. The connector of claim 13, wherein said connector modules each include a plurality of male or female connecting members and a dielectric housing, at least a part of each of said connecting members being fixed in said housing. 17. The connector of claim 13, wherein said first and second rails are removably attached at a first end to said first endcap, each of said connector modules being movable relative to said first and second rails when said first and second rails are detached from said first endcap. 18. The connector of claim 17, wherein said first and second rails are removably attached at a second end to said second endcap, each of said connector modules being movable relative to said first and second rails when said first and second rails are detached from said second endcap. 19. The connector of claim 13, wherein said attachment means are arranged such that when said first and second rails are detached from said first or second endcap, different configurations of connector modules are positionable between said first and second endcaps and thereby provide for removable engagement with a plurality of different first electrical components and a plurality of different second electrical components. 20. The connector of claim 19, wherein said connector is a female connector and said connector modules include only sockets which constitute said female connecting members, said sockets having the single receptacle at the second end. 21. The connector of claim 20, wherein said first and second endcaps are female endcaps each including a single coupling member having a receptacle recessed in the same direction as said receptacles at the second end of said sockets. 22. The connector of claim 13, wherein said connector is a male connector and said connector modules include only pins which constitute said male connecting members, said pins having the single projection at the second end. 23. The connector of claim 22, wherein said first and second endcaps are male endcaps each including a single guide pin oriented in the same direction as said projections at the first end of said pins. 24. The connector of claim 22, wherein said plurality of connector modules comprises 48 connector modules or 50 connector modules and each of said connector modules has 4 or 10 pins. 25. An electrical connector for removable attachment to a plurality of different electrical connectors, comprising: a frame including a plurality of side members defining an interior space, at least a first one of said side members being detachable from any remaining side members to enable access to said interior space; and a plurality of connector modules arranged in said interior space defined by said side members, said connector modules being separated from one another and each including at least one male or female connecting member adapted to electrically connect at a first end to a first electrical component or part thereof and at a second, opposite end to a second electrical component or part thereof, each of said connecting members including a single projection at the first end for removably engaging with the first electrical component or part thereof and a single projection or a single receptacle at the second end for removably engaging with the second electrical component or part thereof, cooperating channels and projections formed in said frame and said connector modules to enable relative movement between said connector modules and said frame such that when said first side member is detached from said any remaining side members, different configurations of connector modules can be arranged in said interior space and thereby provide for removable engagement with a plurality of different first electrical components and a plurality of different second electrical components.