Lock mechanism for electrical connector

• US 5,234,357 A
• Filed: 07/30/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hirose Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hirose Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US07/921,395
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 439/345, 439/347, 439/350, 439/351, 439/352, 439/353, 439/354, 439/355, 439/357, 439/372
• US Class Current: 439/354
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A lock mechanism for an electrical connector includes a pair of extended sections (41) each having a lock projection (48) for engagement with a lock hole (5) of a mating electrical connector; a linking arm (44) for connecting said extended sections; a pair of press-fit portions (43) with a metal fitting engaging projection (45) for engagement With a press-fit groove 32) of an insulation housing (30); and a pair of U-shaped sections (42) for connecting said extended sections and said press-fit sections.

Claims

1. A lock mechanism for an electrical connector, comprising:

a pair of extended sections each having a lock projection for engagement with a lock hole of a mating electrical connector;

a linking arm for connecting said extended sections;

a pair of press-fit portions with a metal fitting engaging projection;

a pair of U-shaped sections for connecting said extended portions and said press-fit portions; and

a pair of inner walls with a press-fit groove provided on opposite sides of a case for receiving said press-fit portions;

said press-fit groove being formed by a pair of upper and lower L-shaped flanges extending rearwardly from front edges of said case.

2. A lock mechanism for an electrical connector with an insulation housing having a pair of press-fit grooves on opposite sides, comprising:

a pair of extended sections each having a lock projection for engagement with a lock hole of a mating electrical connector;

a linking arm for connecting said extending sections;

a pair of press-fit portions each being provided with a metal fitting engaging projection for engagement with said press-fit groove of said insulation housing; and

a pair of U-shaped sections for connecting said extended sections and said press-fit portions;

said press-fit grooves being formed by a pair of upper and lower L-shaped flanges extending rearwardly from a mating face along upper and lower surfaces of said insulation housing.