SLIDING WINDOW MAGNETIC ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

An electrical connector for supplying electrical power from a fixed member to a movable member that moves with respect to the fixed member, the movable member bearing an electrical load. The electrical connector has a first connector part fixed to the fixed member and connected to a source of electrical power. A second connector part is fixed to the movable member and is connected to the electrical load. The first connector part and second connector part are movable into electrical engagement when the movable member is moved adjacent the fixed member. The first connector part has a first housing, a movable enclosure in the housing, having first external electrical contacts, and a movable carriage bearing second electrical contacts. The movable carriage has first magnets or magnet attractive components, the second contacts being movable with the carriage by a first magnetic force into electrical engagement with the first contacts and being retracted away from the first contacts by a second force. The second connector part has a second housing and second magnets or magnet attractive components and has third electrical contacts for electrically engaging with the first contacts. The first magnetic force is generated when the first and second connector parts are disposed adjacent each other by the interaction of the first magnets or magnet attractive components and the second magnets or magnetic attractive components thereby to move the movable carriage to allow the first and second contacts to come into electrical engagement. When the second connector part is moved away from the first connector part, the first magnetic force ceases to act on the movable carriage and the movable carriage is retracted by the second force whereby the first contacts are electrically disengaged from the second contacts and the first contacts are disconnected from the source of electrical power. The movable enclosure has a limited range of motion in at least two directions defining its contact surface thereby to facilitate alignment of the first and third contacts.