Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-07-10
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S378000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257916
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locking device for joining first and second mating connectors together.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrical connection between two mating connectors is often adversely effected by vibration or an unexpected external force. In order to protect the connection from such disturbances, the mating connectors often have engageable locking devices for securely joining the two connectors together. U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,189 and Taiwan Patent Application No. 84201383 disclose such connectors.
Referring to
FIG. 5
, a conventional connector comprises a dielectric housing
70
, a plurality of conductive contacts
71
received in the housing
70
, a shield
72
enclosing a front portion of the housing
70
and a pair of locking members
73
for joining the connector and a mating connector (not shown) together. The housing
70
defines a pair of apertures
74
in opposite sides thereof for securely receiving the corresponding locking members
73
. The shield
72
defines a pair of cutouts
78
and a pair of through holes
79
at positions corresponding to the apertures
74
of the housing
70
. Each locking member
73
forms a cantilevered arm
76
having a hook
77
at a free end thereof and a cavity
75
corresponding respectively to the cutout
78
and the through hole
79
of the shield
72
. Each locking member
73
is received in the corresponding aperture
74
of the housing
70
with the arm
76
extending through the corresponding cutout
78
of the shield
72
. The locking member
73
is attached to the housing
70
and the shield
72
by a fastening member such as a screw (not shown), extending through the cavity
75
and the through hole
79
.
However, since the locking member
73
is relatively large, the aperture
74
of the housing
70
weakens the integrity of the housing
70
. In addition, since the hook
77
only engages with a locking member of the mating connector (not shown) at a predetermined position, any deviation therebetween will hinder proper engagement. Further, disengagement between the two mated connectors is complicated since the locking members
73
are not provided with an accessible disengaging device. Hence, an improved electrical connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. The co-pending application Ser. No. 09/442,105 filed Nov. 17, 1999 with the same inventor and the same assignee, discloses an approach to cure the disadvantages, while the invention performs an advanced design afterwards.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a locking device having effective guiding means and locking means for securely engaging two mating connectors together.
To fulfill the above object, a locking device for joining first and second mating connectors together comprises a pair of first locking members pivotably received in the first connector, a pair of guiding posts positioned beside the pair of first locking members and a pair of second locking members retained in the second connector complementary to the pair of first locking members. The first connector comprises an upper housing and a lower housing each respectively forming a pair of stations defining a recess. Each guiding post forms a projection block. The projection block is interferentially received in the recess of the station thereby securing the guiding post in the upper and lower housings. Each first locking member defines an opening in a head thereof and forms at least one spring arm by which the first locking member is biased to engage with the second locking member. The pair of guiding posts smoothly guides the pair of second locking members to engage with the pair of first locking members with a portion of each second locking member being received in the opening of a corresponding first locking member.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5383794 (1995-01-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5401189 (1995-03-01), Sato
patent: 5588864 (1996-12-01), Lin
patent: 5599207 (1997-02-01), Lai
patent: 5741150 (1998-04-01), Stinson et al.
patent: 5775931 (1998-07-01), Jones
patent: 5860826 (1999-01-01), Chang
patent: 5941726 (1999-08-01), Koegel et al.
patent: 6007364 (1999-12-01), Wu
patent: 6074235 (2000-06-01), Brandberg et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
LandOfFree
Device for locking two mating connectors does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for locking two mating connectors, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for locking two mating connectors will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2563756