Electrical connector with lever type latch means

Details Electrical connector with lever type latch means Electrical connector with lever type latch means

2000-09-11

2001-10-02

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Retaining means

Reexamination Certificate

active

06296510

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector having a lever whereby mating and unmating of the connector with a second connector is effected by rotation of the lever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector which has an actuating lever rotatably mounted thereon for connecting and disconnecting the connector with a complementary mating second connector. The actuating lever and the second connector typically have a cam groove/cam follower arrangement for drawing the second connector into mating condition with the first connector in response to rotation of the lever.
A common structure for a lever type electrical connector of the character described above is to provide a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of lever arms which are disposed on opposite sides of the first (“actuator”) connector. The lever arms may have cam grooves for engaging cam follower projections or posts on opposite sides of the second (“mating”) connector.
Such lever type connectors often are used where large forces are required to mate and unmate a pair of connectors. For instance, terminal and housing frictional forces encountered during connecting and disconnecting the connectors may make the process difficult to perform by hand. The present invention is directed to solving various problems with such connectors, including providing means for protecting the lever system from damage or breakage. In particular, if the actuating lever is not in a properly aligned “preload” position, attempts to forcibly mate the connectors can cause damage or breakage to the lever or other operative components. The present invention provides a system for latching the actuating lever is a preload position to ensure that the cam grooves and cam follower projections are properly aligned. The latch means prevents the actuating lever from being disengaged during shipping and handling, and the lever is automatically unlatched upon mating of the connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved lever-type electrical connector assembly.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a first connector pivotally mounts an actuating lever for movement between a preload position and a mating position. The actuating lever includes a cam groove therein. Complementary interengaging latch means are provided between the first connector and the actuating lever for holding the lever in the preload position. A second connector includes a cam follower projection to be engaged in the cam groove of the actuating lever, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the actuating lever. Release means are provided on the second connector for releasing the latch means automatically as the connectors are mated to allow the actuating lever to move from the preload position to the mating position. The cam groove of the lever includes a mouth which is in alignment with the cam follower projection when the lever is in the preload position.
According to one aspect of the invention, the actuating lever comprises one arm of a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of actuating arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the first connector. A pair of the cam follower projections are provided on opposite sides of the second connector. The pair of actuating arms are joined by a cross portion. The complementary interengaging latch means are operatively associated with the cross portion.
According to another aspect of the invention, the complementary interengaging latch means comprise a flexible latch member on the actuating lever engageable with a latch shoulder on the first connector. The release means include a release member on the second connector engageable with the flexible latch member to bias the latch member out of engagement with the latch shoulder. The release member is formed by a ramped projection on the second connector. The latch shoulder is on a ramped latch boss on the first connector and behind which the flexible latch member resiliently snaps into latching engagement.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5135408 (1992-08-01), Suzuki
patent: 5308255 (1994-05-01), Yamanashi
patent: 5401179 (1995-03-01), Shinchi et al.
patent: 5873745 (1999-02-01), Duclos et al.
patent: 5904583 (1999-05-01), Katsuma et al.

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