Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-17
2001-04-03
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210202
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. Nos. 5,401,189 and 5,971,790, and Taiwan Patent Application No. 84201383 disclose such connectors.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, 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 copending applications of Ser. Nos. 09/361,686 filed Jul. 27, 1999 and 09/364,172 filed Jul. 07, 1999 both of which have the same inventor and the same assignee with the invention, disclose some approaches.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a locking device having effective guiding means for locking/unlocking two members of the locking device with a minimal force.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a locking device which occupies a small amount of space in an insulative housing of an electrical connector in which the locking device is assembled.
To fulfil the above objects, a locking device for joining first and second mating connectors together comprises a pair of first locking members and a pair of second locking members respectively retained in opposite sides of the first and second connectors. Each first locking member has a globular engaging portion extending beyond the first connector. Each second locking member has a latch extending beyond the second connector which includes an opening and a transverse bar at a free end thereof. The transverse bar defines an inclined surface and has an arcuate construction for facilitating guidance of a corresponding engaging portion of the first locking member into the opening of the latch. The pair of engaging portions of the first locking members is accommodated in the pair of openings of the second locking members, thereby securely engaging the first and second locking members together.
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: 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.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
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