Electrical connectors

• US 5,382,176 A
• Filed: 12/28/1992
• Issued: 01/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Norden, Alexander R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US07/997,023
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350-358, 439/304
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm

Abstract

A latch-and-catch which prevents companion plug-in terminal blocks from parting is released by an elongated tool such as a screwdriver. The tool maintains the latch released while applying a thrust to separate the terminal blocks.

Claims

1. In combination, first and second electrical connectors and a connector-separating tool, said connectors having respective contacts, the contacts of said first connector mating with respective contacts of said second connector when the connectors are in their plugged-in condition, one of said connectors having a resilient latch and the other of said connectors having a catch cooperable with the latch for blocking separation of the connectors, said first connector having an abutment against which thrust may be applied for separating the connectors while the second connector is restrained, said other of said connectors providing a passage therealong adjacent to said catch for insertion of said tool, said tool being operable along said passage both for releasing the latch from the catch and, while the latch is held released by the tool, for applying connector-separating thrust to said abutment.

2. The combination as in claim 1, wherein the latch is a resilient elongated member and wherein the tool is elongated, said tool extending generally along the resilient elongated member and deflecting the latch out of cooperation with said catch while the end of the tool applies connector-separating thrust to said abutment.

3. The combination as in claim 1, wherein the tool is a screwdriver having a wedge-like end portion and wherein said latch has a tool-engageable surface separated by a smaller space than the greatest thickness of said wedge-like portion so that progressive insertion of said wedge-like portion serves to deflect and release the tool-engageable surface of the latch.

4. Electrical apparatus including first and second electrical connectors each of which has multiple contacts insulated from each other, said connectors being adapted for plug-in assembly to each other so that the contacts of the first connector mate with respective contacts of the second connector, said first connector having an abutment against which connector-separating thrust may be applied, said connectors having only one latching device comprising a catch and a companion latch for securing said connectors releasably in their plugged-in condition, the second connector providing an insertion passage therealong adjacent to said catch along which passage an elongated tool may be thrust endwise to said abutment, said latch being positioned in relation to said insertion passage and to said abutment so that an elongated tool thrust along said passage to said abutment is operable in a single stroke for releasing said latching device and for at least partially unplugging said connectors from each other, said apparatus having means for securing said second connector against moving with said first connector while the latching device is released and connector-separating thrust is being applied to said abutment.

5. Electrical apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said latch comprise an elongated resilient extending in and along the passage of an elongated tool being thrust endwise toward said abutment.

6. Electrical apparatus including first and second plug-in electrical connectors, each of said connectors having multiple contacts that mate with respective contacts of the other of said connectors in the plugged-in condition of the connectors, said apparatus having only one latching device for securing said connectors against being unplugged from each other, said latching device having a catch and having alatch biased for maintaining said latch engaged with said catch so as to retain the connectors in their plugged-in condition, said second connector having said catch and providing a passage therealong adjacent to said catch for insertion of an elongated tool, said first connector having an abutment against which such tool, when inserted along said passage, may apply connector-separating thrust, means for mounting said second connector and for proventing said second connector from moving with said first connector when the latching device is released and when connector-separating thrust is applied to said abutment, said latching device being positioned in relation to said abutment so as to be released by a tool thrust endwise along said passage toward said abutment, whereby said latching device may be released by a tool being thrust endwise toward and against said abutment for at least partially unplugging said connectors from each other.

7. Electrical apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said latch is an elongated member having a free end carrying a latch portion engageable with said catch and having an end remote from said latch portion secured to a portion of said second connector.

8. Electrical apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said latch is an elongated member having a free end carrying a latch portion engageable with said catch and having an end remote from said latch portion secured to a portion of said second connector, said abutment being disposed adjacent to the secured end of said latch.

9. Electrical apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said latch is an elongated member extending generally along an elongated tool when endwise thrust of the tool is applied to the abutment.

10. Electrical apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said latch has fixed and deflectable ends and wherein said abutment is adjacent to the fixed end of said elongated member.

11. Electrical apparatus as in claim 6, wherein a movable portion of the latch is disposed close to another portion of the connectors in their plugged-in condition, for admitting a wedge-shaped blade portion of a screwdriver and for wedging the movable portion of the latch out of its engageable or engaged relationship to the catch.

12. In combination, first and second electrical plug-in connectors, means for securing said second connector in a fixed position, and an elongated connector-separating tool, said connectors having respective contacts, the contacts of said first connector mating with respective contacts of said second connector when the connectors are in their plugged-in condition, said connectors having only one latching device comprising a catch and a latch cooperable with the catch for blocking separation of the connectors, said first connector having an abutment against which endwise thrust of the tool may be applied for separating the connectors while the second connector is secured in said fixed position by said securing means, said second connector having said catch and providing a passage therealong adjacent to said catch for insertion of said elongated tool and thrust of said tool endwise to said abutment, said latching device being positioned in relation to said abutment so that said tool is operable in one stroke both for releasing the latch from the catch and, while the latch is released, for applying connector-separating thrust of the tool to said abutment.

13. The method of separating plug-in connectors from each other, said method being useful with apparatus having first and second plug-in connectors wherein said first connector has an abutment against which thrust may be applied in that direction which is appropriate for separating the first connector from the second connector, and wherein said connectors have a releasable latching device for retaining the connectors in plugged-in condition, said latching device including a catch on the second connector and wherein said second connector provides a passage therealong adjacent to said catch for insertion of a tool therein, the latching device being positioned in relation to said abutment so that a tool, when thrust along said passage toward said abutment in the connector-separating direction, is operable to release the latching device, said method including the steps of thrusting a tool toward said abutment in a single stroke so that the tool releases the latching device and thereafter applies connector-separating thrust against said abutment, and restraining said second connector against moving with said first connector while the tool is thrust against the abutment.

14. Electrical apparatus including first and second electrical connectors each of which has multiple contacts insulated from each other, said connectors being adapted for plug-in assembly to each other, so that the contacts of the first connector mate with respective contacts of the second connector, said first connector having an abutment against which connector-separating thrust may be applied, said connectors when in plugged-in assembly to each other providing an insertion passage along which an elongated tool may be thrust endwise to said abutment, said connectors having only one latching device comprising a catch and a companion latch for securing said connectors releasably in their plugged-in condition, said latch having a T-shaped end portion that includes mutually opposite lateral projections and said catch having catch portions engageable by said lateral projections, respectively, said latch comprising an elongated resilient element extending in and along said passage and being positioned in relation to said insertion passage and to said abutment so that an elongated tool thrust along said passage to said abutment is operable in a single stroke for releasing said latching device and for at least partially unplugging said connectors from each other, said apparatus having means for securing said second connector against moving with said first connector while the latching device is released and connector-separating thrust is being applied to said abutment.