Latch apparatus for electrical connection

Details Latch apparatus for electrical connection Latch apparatus for electrical connection

1999-07-22

2001-08-14

Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Retaining means

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273743

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to latch apparatus to connect and fasten connectors on a computer and a terminal device, such as an external printer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, for connecting, for example, a general computer system with an external printer or the like, latch apparatus have been widely used in connecting a connector which is a securing member provided for an input-output printer port on the computer side and a connector which is a securing member on the cable side. The latter connector is standardized in line with the former connector and connected to the external printer. The latch apparatus is utilized for fastening, or latching, the connector on the computer side and the connector on the cable side.
Such conventional latch apparatus include: an elastic body (spring); a freely turnable support member to support the elastic body; and a holding member (latching plate) to which a connector on the cable side is attached and which engages the elastic body, wherein the elastic body turns about its support portions which act as fulcrums, and the elastic body engages the holding member. The connector on the computer side and the connector on the cable side join so as to fasten the cable from the external printer to the printer port, so that the external printer or the like may be connected to the computer device.
The operation of the above mentioned conventional latch apparatus is described below.
FIGS. 7
a
,
7
b
, respectively, show a front view and a side view of the latch spring which is an elastic body in a conventional latch apparatus.
FIG. 8
a
,
FIG. 8
b
, and
FIG. 8
c
, respectively, illustrate a top view, a front view and a side view of the engaging operation of the latch spring.
As shown in these prior art figures, a conventional latch spring
20
which is an elastic body is engaged by fitting spring legs
8
which are holding portions into axial holes
7
of a spring leg holder
2
which is a support member of the latch spring, and the spring leg holder
2
is fastened to a mounting base
3
by a screw
4
. Alternatively, a spring holder
5
which is a holding member is fastened to a connector
10
on the cable side by a screw
9
.
A second connector
10
is engaged with a first connector
11
of the mounting base
3
on the computer side, and at this moment, the conventional latch spring
20
is turned in the direction of the arrow Y
50
around the spring leg holder
2
, and the conventional latch spring
20
contacts and engages a holder groove
6
of the spring holder
5
. Consequently, the first and second connector
11
,
10
are engaged and connected. That is, the second connector
10
is prevented from slipping off the first connector
11
by holding the spring holder
5
by using spatially two-dimensional spring shoulders
21
in the conventional latch spring
20
.
However, in the above mentioned conventional latch equipment, as shown in FIG.
7
and
FIG. 8
, the spring shoulder
21
in the conventional latch spring
20
to be engaged with the spring holder
5
has a two-dimensional shape, and therefore, in the case where a cable connected to the computer device is caught, the cable is pulled, and pressure is added to the second connector
10
on the cable side in the direction of being pulled out of the first connector
11
(direction shown by an arrow Y
51
). Accordingly, the shape of the conventional latch spring
20
may easily be deformed and the latching force is lost, posing the problem that the cable often slips off the computer device.
To solve this problem, first connector
11
on the computer side and the second connector
10
on the cable side are often fastened not by engagement of the conventional latch spring
20
, but by a screw. However, this solution poses another problem. The operating performance for connection and removal of an external device like a printer worsens and the simple operation of removal and insertion of a cable becomes more difficult.
The present invention solves the above mentioned conventional problems, and provides a latch apparatus which can securely connect and fasten the connector on the spring holder side to the connector on the spring leg holder side, thereby preventing the connectors from slipping off and separating while offering a simple configuration as compared to a conventional latch spring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problem, a latch apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of three-dimensional knuckle portions projected in the turning direction of an elastic body and formed in the elastic body. When the elastic body turns around a support member, the knuckle portions contact and engage a holding member. First and second securing members easily connect and securely fasten each other only by the elastic body. Since the holding member is held by the three-dimensional knuckle portions of the elastic body, the conventional latching force in a secondary surface near the engaging point is added with a latching force produced in the direction approximately perpendicular to a secondary plane. The secondary plane is defined by the relation of the relative shape between the shape of the knuckle and the shape of the holding member at its engaging point. As a result, the latching function for the holding member is remarkably strengthened. Consequently, a strong holding effect from the first securing member on the support member side can be exerted on the second securing member on the holding member side.
Furthermore, the latch apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus in which a ring-like winding portion with one or more windings is formed in the elastic body, and when the elastic body turns around the support member, this winding portion contacts and engages the holding member. The first and second securing members easily connect and securely fastened each other only by means of the elastic body. The in-plane flexural rigidity of the winding portion is remarkably larger than that of a conventional shape, and therefore, the latching force is also stronger.
As mentioned above, although the configuration of the elastic body is relatively simple, the second securing member on the holding member side can securely connect and fasten the first securing member on the support member side, so that the second securing member resists slipping off and separating from the first securing member. Thereby providing improve functionality as compared with an elastic body (spring) having a conventional shape. As a result, the above latch apparatus can be used as a latch apparatus for a connector which is a securing member between various kinds of devices installed on an aircraft, a vehicle, or the like which is exposed to a lot of vibrations, enabling sure holding and fastening of the connector.
The latch apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention is a latch apparatus which connects and fastens securing members in a computer system including a plurality of electronic devices, when connecting the respective devices through the securing members for effecting connection between the respective devices. The apparatus includes an elastic body in which a pair of three-dimensional knuckle portions are formed approximately linearly symmetrically and the knuckle portions are arranged approximately in accordance with the engaging positions of an engaging object and which is formed to be freely turnable in a state where both ends of the elastic body are supported; a support member having a first securing member to support the elastic body by engaging the support portions at both ends of the elastic body; and a holding member which is an engaging object of the elastic body and having a second securing member to bring the holding member into contact with and engagement with the knuckle portions of the elastic body to hold the elastic body. The elastic body turns around the support member, and the knuckle portions of the elastic body contact and engaged the holding member. The holding member holds the elas

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