Electrical connector having a latch mechanism

Details Electrical connector having a latch mechanism Electrical connector having a latch mechanism

2002-08-12

2003-11-04

Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Retaining means

C439S607070

Reexamination Certificate

active

06641425

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector having a pull tab and a pair of latch springs for engaging and releasing a mated complementary connector.
2. Description of Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,939, issued to Yukihiro Maitani et al, on Oct. 15, 1996, discloses a conventional electrical connector disclosed in the patent has a pair of latch springs
22
and
22
A respectively attached on opposite sides of a housing
21
of the connector. An operating member
23
has a pair of latch releasing cams
23
-
4
located below angled portions
22
-
4
of the latch springs
22
,
22
A. When an operator pulls a pull tab
23
-
8
of the operating member
23
backwardly, the latch releasing cams
23
-
4
exert outward forces on the angled portions
22
-
4
and U-shaped claws
22
-
1
slip out to release a mated complementary connector. Because the operating member
23
and the latch springs
22
,
22
A are positioned outside of the housing
21
, they are very easy to be damaged when a force is exerted thereon. When two or more such connectors are arranged side by side, a relatively large space is needed between every two connectors and this adversely affects the compact design of an electronic system including such connectors. Furthermore, when the pulling force acting on the operating member
23
is released, the latch springs
22
,
22
A exert a force to push the operating member
23
to its original position. However, the force is too little to pull the operating member
23
exactly to the original position. To overcome the above mentioned disadvantages, an electrical connector is needed that a pull tab of the connector which can be automatically return to its original position, and a better protection is provided to the latch springs to prevent them from damage by an external force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide an electrical connector having a pull tab engaging with a pair of latch springs for latching and releasing a mated complementary connector, the pull tab with the latch springs can automatically resume to an original position after released the complementary connector.
In order to achieve the object above-mentioned, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention includes a base defining a pair of elongated first channels on opposite sides thereof, a cover being assembled to the base and defining a pair of elongated second channels on opposite sides thereof corresponding to the first channels of the base. A pull tab has an operation portion and a pair of arms extending from a pair of ends of the operation portion. The pair of arms is respectively received in the first and second channels, and the operation portion locates outside the base and the cover. Each arm has a latch releasing portion at a free end thereof, a metal spring assembled to an inner side of the arm. Each metal spring abuts against a rear portion of the base. A pair of latch springs is cooperated with the pull tab for engaging with a complementary connector when said complementary connector is mated with the electrical connector. When the pull tab is pulled rearwards, the latch releasing portions push the latch springs for separating from the complementary connector and the metal springs are elastically deformed. When the pull tab is released, the metal springs resumes to an original position, thereby push the pull tab to return to an original position.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5564939 (1996-10-01), Maitani et al.
patent: 5634809 (1997-06-01), Hirai
patent: 5951316 (1999-09-01), Kawano et al.
patent: 6394842 (2002-05-01), Sakurai et al.

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