Electrical connector having bracket-covered latch

Details Electrical connector having bracket-covered latch Electrical connector having bracket-covered latch

2001-04-13

2002-06-04

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Retaining means

C439S344000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06398576

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector having a plastic latch pivotally assembled thereto. The electrical connector further includes a grounding device for establishing a grounding path with a receptacle in which the electrical connector is mated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Electrical connector with latches is widely used between plug and receptacle connectors to ensure reliable electrical connection therebetween. However, in some circumstance, such as when the plug is made from die-cast, a grounding path is required between the plug and the receptacle.
One of the approaches is to provide a metal latch which functions engagement as well as grounding. However, it is preferable to perform the engagement and grounding between the plug and receptacle separately.
FIG. 6
disclose an approach suggested by Small Form Factor Committee on the HSSDC-2, SFF-8421, Page 17, which is currently attached for reference.
However, the current design of the latch may experience a permanent deformation and which will be detailed described as below. As shown in
FIG. 6
, both ends of the latch are securely attached to a housing of the plug. As a result, the latch is exposed to axial compression force which inherits an elastic instability. Accordingly, a deformation which exceeds the elastic instability will become a permanent deformation and will not resume to its original position.
As shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, when both ends
901
,
902
of the latch
900
are securely attached to the housing
910
, axial compression forces
960
are applied to the latch once the latch is applied with a traversal force. Line
920
represents the elastic instability inherited in the prior art model.
In order to provide a locking effect, the latch
900
is provided with a knee
903
which is normally depressed by a user to release the latch
900
from its corresponding receptacle. Apparently, during the unlatching movement of the latch
900
, the knee
903
will be depressed completely to ensure a completely unlatch from the receptacle. If the knee
903
is depressed completely, the latch
900
would experience 1) a complete deformation when the knee
903
buckles the elastic instability line
920
; and 2) the knee
903
will be suffered from a reverse force.
In the first situation, once the knee
903
is buckled and trapped to its permanent deformation, the latch
900
becomes useless and it cannot be locked to its corresponding receptacle and this will create a great problem because the electrical connection between the plug and receptacle connectors can no longer be ensured.
In the second situation, as stated before, if an upper surface of the knee
903
is exposed with tension force (FIG.
7
), then after the knee
903
exceeds line
920
, elastic instability line, the upper surface of the knee
903
′ will be exposed to a compression force (lower one of FIG.
8
). Accordingly, after a period of cycle, the latch
900
will be broken right at the knee
903
.
In addition, during the downward movement of the latch, an end
901
of the latch
900
will be twisted such that an unwanted force is generated between the engagement between the latch
900
and a retaining bud
911
of the housing
910
. This repeated movement will finally separate the first end
901
of the latch
900
from the retaining bud
911
of the housing
910
.
On the other hand, even cantilever latch has been widely know to the skill in the art, a free end of the latch may easily flip over when exposed excess upward force. Accordingly, there is still room for providing a reliable latch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of this invention is to provide an electrical connector having a latch which is free from axial compression force thereby eliminating potential permanent deformation resulted from elastic instability resulted from axial compression force.
In order to achieve the objective set forth, an electrical connector in according to the present invention includes a lower half having a first end thereof. An upper half is assembled to the lower half. A latch is pivotally assembled to the upper and lower halves and having a free end extending rearward. A bracket is attached to the upper half for limiting upward movement of the free end of the latch.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5292258 (1994-03-01), Sakurai
patent: 5462457 (1995-10-01), Schroepfer et al.
patent: 5993236 (1999-11-01), Vanderhoof et al.
patent: 5993237 (1999-11-01), Kern, Jr. et al.
patent: 6132233 (2000-10-01), Fukuda
patent: 6186819 (2001-02-01), Holub
patent: 6203352 (2001-03-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 6261116 (2001-07-01), Ceru

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