Lock mechanism of inner lock type for electrical connector

• US 5,173,059 A
• Filed: 07/19/1991
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hirose Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hirose Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Kensaku, Nakata, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US07/731,788
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350-355, 439/357, 439/358, 439/344, 439/347, 439/552, 439/557
• US Class Current: 439/354
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms

Abstract

An electrical connector consisting of a connector socket (1) having a rectangular socket block (3) and a connector plug (2) having a rectangular plug block (13). The rectangular socket block includes a pair of lock recesses (8) on opposite sides thereof, each having a pair of lock shoulders (9, 10) and a cutout (11) in a front portion thereof; and a pair of sloped surfaces (12) in opposite front sides thereof. The rectangular plug block includes a pair of lock arms (14) having a base portion (15a) extending backwardly from front ends of opposite sides of the plug block and a front portion (15b) extending backwardly and outwardly from the base portion, the base portions having a pair of lock projections (18, 19); a pair of lock arm receiving recesses (20) formed on opposite sides of the plug block; and a pair of end projections (21) extending outwardly from a rear end of the plug block to define an end of the lock arm receiving recesses.

Claims

1. An electrical connector consisting of a connector socket having a rectangular socket block having a rectangular cavity and a connector plug having a rectangular plug block designed to fit into said rectangular cavity;

said rectangular socket block comprising;

a pair of lock recesses formed on insides of opposite side walls of said socket block thus forming an inner-lock type connector socket, each having a pair of lock shoulders and a central cutout formed through each of said side walls in a front portion thereof; and

a pair of sloped outer surfaces in opposite front portions of said side walls;

said rectangular plug block comprising;

a pair of lock arms having a base portion extending backwardly from front ends of opposite side walls of said plug block and a front portion extending backwardly and outwardly from said base portion, said base portions having a pair of lock projections for engagement with said lock shoulders of the lock recesses with the lock arm extending through the central cutouts.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said plug block further comprises:

a pair of lock arm receiving recesses formed on opposite sides of said plug block for receiving said front portions of said lock arms; and

a pair of end projections extending outwardly from a rear end of said plug block to define an end of said lock arm receiving recesses.

4. The lock mechanism of claim 2, wherein said socket block further comprises a pair of sloped outer surface of said side walls thereby facilitating releasing said lock arms from said lock recesses.

5. The lock mechanism of claim 2, wherein said lock mechanism further comprises a pair of lock arm receiving recesses formed on said opposite side walls for receiving free ends of said flexible lock arms when depressed so that said flexible lock arms are inserted into said lock recesses without resistance and flex back when released to engage said lock shoulders, thereby locking said connector plug to said connector socket.

3. A lock mechanism of an inner lock type for an electrical connector which consists of a connector socket having a rectangular socket block with a rectangular cavity therein and a connector plug having a rectangular plug block designed to fit into said rectangular cavity, said lock mechanism comprising:

a pair of lock recesses formed on insides of opposite side walls of said socket block, each having a pair of lock shoulders and a central cutout in a front end portion thereof;

a pair of flexible lock arms extending backwardly from front ends of said opposite side walls of said plug block and having a pair of lock projections for engagement with said lock shoulders;

a pair of lock arm receiving recesses formed on said opposite sides for receiving said flexible lock arms when depressed so that said flexible lock arms are inserted into said lock recesses without resistance and flex back when released to engage said lock shoulders, thereby locking said connector plug to said connector socket with the lock arm extending through the central cutouts.