Electrical connector with latching element

• US 7,160,136 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Zhou, Yi, Shi, Xian-Kui, Zhang, Qing-Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US11/397,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 439/352, 439/354, 439/357, 439/358, 439/483, 439/923
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/184 comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid

Abstract

An electrical connector comprising: a base having a front port and a rear end; a number of contacts received in the base and exposed to the front port; a number of cable wires each connected through the rear portion to a corresponding contact; a latching element being integrally formed with the base and extending rearwardly; and a block disposed rearwardly of the latching element on the rear end of the base. Additionally, the block can assist in conveniently connecting/disconnecting the connector to/from a mating connector.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a base comprising an insulative housing and an overmold body molded over the insulative housing, the housing comprising a pair of raised portion extending rearward beside the latching element and upward beyond an upper surface of the overmold body;

a plurality of contacts received in the base and exposed to a front of the base;

a plurality of cable wires each connected through a rear portion of the base to corresponding contact;

a latching element being unitarily formed with the housing and extending rearwardly; and

a block disposed rearwardly of the latching element on the overmold body.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching element comprises a pair of side arms, a pressing portion connecting the pair of said arms, and an intermediate arm situated between the pair of side arms.

3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching element and the block are substantially of a same height.

4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching element and the block are substantially of a same width.

5. An electrical connector comprising:

a base made from a first material and having a front portion and a rear portion;

a plurality of contacts received in the base and exposed to the front portion;

a plurality of cable wires each connected through the rear portion to a corresponding contact;

a latching element secured with the base and unitarily extending rearwardly therefrom in one piece; and

an overmold body made from a second material and covering the rear portion of the base;

wherein

a raised block is unitarily formed with the overmold body in one piece, and closely disposed on a rear side of the latching element, said raised block extending above a top face of the overmold body and being configured and dimensioned for not only protecting said latching element but also being grasped during mating/unmating.

6. The connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said raised block is essentially aligned with said latching element in a front-to-back direction.

7. A method of making an electrical connector, comprising steps of:

injecting molding an unsulative base;

providing said base with a plurality of conductive contacts;

connecting a plurality of cables to the corresponding contacts, respectively;

overmolding an insulative body unto a rear portion of said base;

unitarily forming a latching element on said base in one piece, said latching element extending along a front-to-back direction; and

providing said body with a raised block, which is unitary with said body in one piece, on a rear side of the latching element;

wherein

said raised block extends above a top face of the insulative body, and is configured and dimensioned for not only protecting said latching element but also being grasped during mating/unmating.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said raised block is aligned with said latching element in said front-to-back direction.