Electrical connector having a latch mechanism

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

2002-07-31

2004-04-20

Gilman, Alexander (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

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

Retaining means

C439S357000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06722912

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 latch springs for engaging and releasing a mated complementary connector.
2. Description of Prior Art
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,939, 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 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 can be automatically return to the 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 releasing the complementary connector.
In order to achieve the object above-mentioned, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, an insulating housing, a cover assembled to the cover, a pull tab and a pair of latch springs. The base defines a pair of elongated first channels on opposite sides thereof. A mating frame is formed on a front end thereof. A pair of depressions are defined in a rear portion of the base which is opposite to the front end. The depressions are in communication with the first channel. The insulting housing is assembled into the mating frame and has a plurality of terminals received in the insulating housing. The cover defines a pair of elongated second channels on opposite sides thereof corresponding to the first channels of the base. The 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 are respectively received in the first and second channels and the operation portion located outside the base and the cover. Each arm has a latch releasing portion at a free end thereof and a resilient portion protruding inwardly from the arm, the resilient portions are received in the depressions defined in the base. The latch springs cooperate with the latch releasing portions for latching with the complementary connector when said complementary connector mates with the electrical connector. When the pull tab is pulled rearwards, the latch releasing portions push the latch springs to separate the complementary connector. The resilient portions of the pull tab are bent to a deflective shape. When the pull tab is released, the resilient portion resume to an original shape to motivate the pull tab return back to an original position.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5564939 (1996-10-01), Maitani et al.
patent: 6371787 (2002-04-01), Branch et al.

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