Electrical connector having a latch mechanism

• US 6,722,912 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/210,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20040023544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 439/352, 439/357, 439/350, 439/351, 439/353, 439/354, 439/355, 439/358, 439/3
• US Class Current: 439/352
• 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 13/6335 comprising a handle

Abstract

An electrical connector (1) includes a base (10) and a cover (20) assembled together. The base and cover each define a pair of channels (121, 221) on opposite sides thereof and a pair of depressions (19, 29) on rear portion (14) thereof. A pull tab (80) has an operation portion (81) and a pair of arms (82) extending from the operation portion. A pair of resilient portions (85) is formed on inner sides of the arms. The pair of arms are received in the channels with the operation portion remaining outside of the cover and the base. The resilient portions are received in the depressions. Each arm mechanically contacts with a latch spring (70) latching with a complementary connector. When the pull tab is pulled, the latch spring separates with the complementary connector, the resilient portions bent to a deflective shape. When the pull is released, the resilient portions resume to an original shape to motivate the pull tab returning back.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connector, comprising:

a base defining a pair of elongated first channels on opposite sides thereof, a mating frame formed on a front end thereof, a pair of depressions defined in a rear portion of the base which is opposite to the front end, each depression communicating with a corresponding first channel;

an insulting housing assembled into the mating frame and having a plurality of terminals received in the insulating housing;

a cover assembled to the base, defining a pair of elongated second channels on opposite sides thereof corresponding to the first channels of the base;

a pull tab having an operation portion and a pair of arms extending from a pair of ends of the operation portion, the pair of arms respectively received in the first and second channels and the operation portion located outside the base and the cover, each arm having a latch releasing portion at a free end thereof and a resilient portion protruding inwardly from the arm, the resilient portions being received in the depressions defined in the base; and

a pair of latch springs cooperating with the latch releasing portions for latching with the complementary connector when said complementary connector mates with the electrical connector, when the pull tab is pulled rearwards, the latch releasing portions pulling the latch springs for separating from the complementary connector, the resilient portions of the pull tab bent to a deflective shape, when the pull tab is released, the resilient portions resume to an original shape to motivate the pull tab to return back to original position.

2. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein each latch spring having a first claw portion engaging with the base, a second claw portion and a sloping portion between the first and second claw portions, and engaging with the latch releasing portion of the pull tab.

3. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the mating frame has a pair of engaging ears extending laterally on opposite sides of a top thereof, a pair of projections extends forwardly from opposite sides of the cover, the projections are placed beneath the pair of engaging ears to prevent the cover from being moved upwardly.

4. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the base and the covet are made of metallic material.

5. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the base has a pair of screw holes, a pair of screws extends through the cove and threadedly engage with the screw holes to thereby fasten the cover and the base together.

6. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein each resilient portion comprises a stopper projecting from an inner side of the arm and a spring plate extending from the stopper.

7. The electrical connector as described in claim 6, wherein the cover defines a pair of depressions corresponding to the depressions of the base, the depressions of the cover and the base together receive the stoppers and the spring plates of the pull tab.

8. The electrical connector as described in claim 6, wherein the depressions of the base each have a front stop surface at a front side thereof, a rear stop surface at a rear side thereof.

9. The electrical connector as described in claim 8, wherein each spring plate positions between the front stop surface and the rear stop surface.

10. The electrical connector as described in claim 9, wherein a supporting block protruding from the rear stop surface and toward the front stop surface, the spring plate positions between the supporting block and the front stop surface of the depression.

11. The electrical connector as described in claim 10, wherein the spring plate is in the original shape when the stopper abuts against the front stop surface of the depression.

12. The electrical connector as described in claim 11, wherein when the stopper abuts against the rear stop surface of the depression, the spring plate is pushed by the supporting block to bent to the deflective shape.

13. The electrical connector as described in claim 12, wherein each latch spring defines a cutout in the sloping portion, the arm of the pull tab runs through the cutout from an outside face to an inside face of the sloping portion, so that the latch releasing portions abut against inner faces of the sloping portions of the latch springs.

14. The electrical connector as described in claim 13, wherein the base has a pair of sidewalls upwardly extending therefrom, the first channels are defined in the sidewalls.

15. An electrical connector comprising:

a base/cover assembly defining a space, a pair of channels defined in opposite sides of the base/cover assembly;

an insulating housing disposed in a front portion of the space;

a pull tab having a pair of arms received in the pair of channels of the base/cover assembly, said pull tab being slidable relative to the base/cover assembly in a front-to-back direction, each arm having a latch releasing portion at a free end thereof;

a pair of latch springs cooperating with the latch releasing portions of the pull tab and being deflectable in a lateral direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction when the pull tab moves backwardly;

wherein recoverable engagement is formed between the pull tab and at least one of the base/cover assembly and the housing when said pull tab is moved backwardly, so that the pull tab is automatically resumed back to an original position due to said recoverable engagement when a rearward force imposed on the pull tab is released.

16. The connector as described in claim 15, wherein said latch spring is outwardly deflected when said pull tab moves backwardly.

17. The connector as described in claim 15, wherein said pull tab includes a spring plate essentially constantly engaged with a portion of the base/cover assembly.

18. The connector as described in claim 15, wherein said at least one of the base/cover assembly and the housing is the base/cover assembly.