Connector including a releasable contact engaging latch

• US 6,364,705 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R.
• Application Number:
  US09/553,497
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 439/595, 439/752
• US Class Current: 439/595
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4223 comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/22 Hand tools

Abstract

A connector has a slot formed in a housing to accommodate a terminal and a lance disposed in the slot to engage with and latch the terminal inserted into a slot. A curved surface is formed on a part of the terminal which is in contact with the lance so that the terminal is released by applying a predetermined external force to the terminal in a temporary latch state where the terminal is temporarily latched by the lance. The external force may be applied to the terminal by a tool.

Claims

1. A connector comprising terminal, and a housing (10) having slots (12) each for receiving therein said terminal (1), each slot having therein a lance (11) for engaging with and latching said terminal inserted into the slot, wherein a curved surface (1A) is shaped on a part of said terminal in contact with said lance so that said terminal may be released from said lance by externally applying a predetermined force to said terminal in a reverse direction to an insertion direction of said terminal.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said lance has a contact surface at an end portion thereof, said contact portion being in partial contact with said curved surface of said terminal.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said external force is determined in accordance with at least one of a contact angle between the lance and the terminal, a shape of the lance, and the quality or stiffness of material.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein a through-hole (13) is formed in said housing (10) and said external force may be applied to said terminal inserted into said slot by means of a tool (20) inserted through the through-hole (13).

5. A connector according to claim 4, wherein said through-hole (13) further comprises a groove (13A) formed on opposed inner wall (13b) of an opening (13B) of said slot (12) for accommodating therethrough said tool.