Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-06-05
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S362000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241548
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. Examples of locking devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,189 and Taiwan Patent Application No. 84201383.
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 to the cutout
78
and the through hole
79
of the shield
72
, respectively. 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 fastener, such as a screw (not shown), extending through the cavity
75
and the through hole
79
.
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 because 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.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a locking device having effective locking means for securely engaging two mating connectors together.
To fulfil the above object, a locking device for joining first and second mating connectors together comprises a pair of first locking members movably received in the first connector and a pair of second locking members retained in the second connector in response to the pair of first locking members. Each first locking member comprises a bolt having a threaded portion and a latch rotatably positioned beside the bolt. The latch defines an opening in a head thereof and forms at least one spring arm by which the latch is biased to engage the second locking member. Each second locking member comprises a retention portion, an expanded portion opposing the retention portion and a recessed portion between the retention portion and the expanded portion. The expanded portion defines an inner-threaded hole. When the first connector is mated to the second connector, the openings of the latches accommodate the expanded portions of the second locking members and the threaded portions of the bolts are threadably received in the inner-threaded holes of the second locking members, thereby securely engaging the first locking members and the second locking members together.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5197900 (1993-03-01), Ellis et al.
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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