Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-11
2001-07-10
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an electrical connector assembly and, more particularly, to an improved latching arrangement for an electrical connector assembly.
It is common practice in the electrical connector art to provide on all plastic connectors integral latching arrangements which will allow positive locking together of the mating plug and receptacle connectors thereby assuring that electrical continuity is maintained under varying conditions of vibration and separating forces which would otherwise result in the loss of electrical continuity. Typically, the latching arrangement includes integral, molded-in levers that are pivotable about legs that extend laterally outwardly from the opposite sides of the housing of one of the connector halves, and embody latch shoulders which are engageable with catches on the outside of the mating connector half when the two halves are interengaged. While such latching arrangements are generally satisfactory, they have the disadvantage that because they extend outwardly from the opposite sides of the housing of the connector, the connector has a relatively high profile which may be objectionable if space is at a premium in the environment in which the connector is intended to be utilized.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,244 discloses a latching arrangement for an electrical connector assembly in which latch arms are formed by cutting slots in the upper and lower walls of the connector housing. The latch arms are pivotally mounted on the housing by integral live hinge pivots that extend laterally from the sides of the arms so that the arms are pivotable about transverse axes passing laterally through the upper and lower walls of the housing. While such an arrangement provides a low profile connector, the catches on the mating connector are formed on the outer wall of the connector housing, which is undesirable for some applications in which the mating connector must be mounted in an apparatus such that the exterior of the connector is inaccessible for receiving the latch arms from the first connector. Further, the latch arms operate independently of each other, rather than simultaneously with a single actuating motion of the user in one direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,998 discloses a latching arrangement for an electrical connector assembly in which latch arms are formed on the upper wall of the plug connector, while a hood is provided on the mating receptacle connector in which there are formed catches that are engaged by the latch arms. While the catches are formed on the interior of the receptacle housing, because they are formed on a hood forming part of the housing, and the latch arms of the plug are pivotable above the upper wall of the plug housing, the overall connector assembly has a relatively high profile, which is not desirable for some applications.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved latching arrangement for an electrical connector which has a low profile, the receptacle connector can be mounted in an environment where the exterior of the connector housing is inaccessible, and a single activating beam is associated with a pair of latch arms which allows the arms to be unlatched simultaneously with a single motion by the user from one side of the connector body, rather than activation from opposite sides as in most prior art latching arrangements for electrical connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a principal aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector in which a pair of latch arms are pivotally connected to the respective sides of the connector body for pivotable movement about a common transverse axis extending through such sides. Each latch arm has a forward end formed with a latch shoulder that engages a catch formed within the interior of the mating connector housing so that such housing may have an uninterrupted rectangular outer configuration. This allows the mating connector to be mounted in a matching rectangular recess in an apparatus where the exterior of the housing is inaccessible. Preferably, an actuating beam is connected to the rear ends of the latch arms which allows the arms to be simultaneously actuated with a pushing motion in one direction by the user against the beam. The connector has a relatively low profile which is advantageous when the connector is used in applications in which there are substantial space constraints.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2514246 (1950-07-01), Knox
patent: 4431244 (1984-02-01), Anhalt et al.
patent: 4448467 (1984-05-01), Weidler
patent: 4449767 (1984-05-01), Weidler
patent: 4984998 (1991-01-01), Duncan et al.
patent: 5011425 (1991-04-01), Van Zanten et al.
patent: 5030127 (1991-07-01), Blasko et al.
patent: 5100339 (1992-03-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5151048 (1992-09-01), Sato
patent: 5308255 (1994-05-01), Yamanashi
patent: 5324210 (1994-06-01), Brickley
patent: 5344335 (1994-09-01), Scholz et al.
patent: 5382177 (1995-01-01), Hutchinson, Jr. et al.
patent: 5399045 (1995-03-01), Yoneda et al.
patent: 5591042 (1997-01-01), Takata et al.
patent: 5830002 (1998-11-01), Ito et la.
patent: 6065989 (2000-05-01), Walkup et al.
Abrams Neil
Dinh Phuong KT
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Turner Roger C.
LandOfFree
Connector latching arrangement does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Connector latching arrangement, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connector latching arrangement will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2480682