Latching system

• US 5,895,284 A
• Filed: 07/23/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Viselli, Michael Albert, Kocher, Timothy Lee, Patel, Navin Kanjibhai
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/899,458
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/353-357, 439/358, 439/79
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/722 coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms

Abstract

A latching system for latching first and second connectors (120,20) together along a mating axis includes a pair of latch arms (126) spaced a selected distance apart along a common side (124) of a first housing (122) and extending to free ends (127) proximate the mating face (133) thereof, and a pair of embossments (50) spaced along a common side (24) of a second housing (22) includes beams (52) extending outwardly therefrom a second selected distance beyond a mating face (46) to free ends (53). Upon mating the connectors (120, 20), the free ends (53) of the embossments (50) stabilize axial alignment and orientation of the connectors (120, 20) relative to each other during final stages of mating. The embossments (50) pass freely beside the latch arms (126) during initial stages of mating until the connectors (120, 20) are axially aligned whereupon the latch arms (126) latch during final stages of mating.

Claims

1. A system for latching first and second connectors together along a mating axis, the first and second connectors including first and second housings having opposed ends and sides, a pair of latch arms spaced a selected distance apart along a common side of the first housing and extending to free ends proximate a mating face, said latch arms being adapted to cooperate with respective complementary latching surfaces positioned along a corresponding common side surface of the second housing, the system being characterized in that:

respective free ends of said latch arms include latching projections extending toward said ends of said housing and defining rearwardly facing latching surfaces;

said common side surface of said second housing includes a pair of embossments having beams extending laterally outwardly from the second housing a second selected distance beyond a mating face to free ends, said embossments defining said complementary latch surfaces, said embossments being positioned in alignment with said free ends of said latch arms to be initially abutted by camming surfaces of said free ends during initial stages of latching; and

said latch arms are adapted to be deflected toward said ends of said housing upon said camming surfaces bearing against said embossments, whereafter the latching projections pass by the embossments and become latched therebehind;

whereby upon mating of said connectors, said free ends of said beams extend along and outwardly of surface portions of said common side of the second housing to stabilize axial alignment and orientation of said connectors relative to each other during final stages of mating, said beams freely passing beside said latch arms during initial stages of mating until said connectors are axially aligned whereupon said latch arms latch during final stages of mating, said latch arms being deflectable in a direction parallel to said common side of the first housing minimizing the clearance area adjacent the housing needed for deflection of the latch arms.

2. The system for latching of claim 1 wherein said latch projections face toward each other and said latch arms deflect away from each other.

3. The system for latching of claim 1 wherein said latch arms are disposed in recesses on said common side surface such that overall dimensions of the connector housing are not substantially increased by said latch arms.

4. The system for latching of claim 1 wherein said camming surfaces of said latch arms engage respective shoulders of said embossments with sufficient resistance such that no further mating can occur until the application of increased axial mating force to overcome the resistance whereupon said latching arms are deflected around said shoulders and latch behind said embossments to rapidly complete the mating of said connectors.

5. The system for latching of claim 1 wherein upon completion of mating said latch arms engage rear surfaces of said embossments with sufficient resistance such that no unmating can occur until the application of sufficient pulling force to overcome the resistance whereupon said latching arms are rapidly deflected around said embossments and said connectors are rapidly unmated thus minimizing damage to terminals of said connectors, even when said connectors remain energized.

6. The system for latching of claim 1 wherein said embossments are essentially L-shaped.

7. The system for latching of claim 1 wherein said first housing further includes an anti-overstress embossment proximate said free end of each said latch arm and spaced from a side thereof opposed from said latch projections.