Electrical connector having dual directional mating

摘要

A connector (24) is disclosed for electrically interconnecting a component (14) to circuitry within a cabinet (10), where the component is arranged to slide in and out of a bay (12) in the cabinet (10). The connector (24) is attached to the component (14) and includes an insulated housing (40) having a plurality of electrical contacts (60) arranged therein. The contacts (60) are adapted for mating along a first mating axis (23) of the connector with respective ones of other electrical contacts (100) in a mating connector (26) attached to the cabinet (10). The contacts (60) of the connector (24) are further adapted for mating along a second mating axis (74), that forms a right angle to the first mating axis (23), with respective ones of individual contacts (158) attached to individual wires (156) that are secured to the cabinet (10).