Electrical connector assembly with latching mechanism

• US 7,857,650 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• 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): Abrams; Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US12/456,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20100317218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 439/499, 439/468, 439/473, 439/76.1, 439/694, 439/606, 439/902, 439350-358
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector

Abstract

An electrical connector includes an elongated housing having a front portion and a rear portion, a printed circuit board enclosed in the housing, a latching mechanism mounted to the housing. The latching mechanism includes a locking member and actuating member. The locking member includes a retaining portion, a locking portion extending rearwardly from the retaining portion, a ramp connecting to a back edge of the locking portion, the retaining portion engaging with the front portion of the housing. The actuating member includes a plurality of sides surrounding the rear portion of the housing, an inclined pressing tab connecting with a top side of the actuating member and disposed adjacent to the ramp of the locking member. The actuating member is rearwardly pulled to let the pressing tab sliding along the ramp and downwardly pressing the ramp to lower the locking portion of the locking member.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

an elongated housing having a front portion and a rear portion;

a printed circuit board enclosed in the housing;

a latching mechanism including a locking member and an actuating member, the locking member includes a retaining portion, a locking portion extending rearwardly from the retaining portion, a ramp connecting to a back edge of the locking portion, the retaining portion engaging with the front portion of the housing, the actuating member surrounding the rear portion of the housing and having an inclined pressing tab on a top side thereof disposed adjacent to the ramp of the locking member;

a rearward movement of the actuating member bringing the pressing tab to slide along the ramp and downwardly press the ramp to lower the locking portion of the locking member;

a pair of tongues extending from the housing;

a spring member rearwardly projects from a back edge of a lateral side of the actuating member and abuts against a corresponding flange formed on the rear portion of the housing;

the locking member further includes a planar mediate portion connected with the ramp and an inclined supporting portion slantwise extending from the mediate portion to sandwich said locking portion therebetween;

the printed circuit board includes a mating portion, a mounting portion and a mediate portion, the mounting portion is combined with the rear portion of housing and extends into a space between the two tongues.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein;

the front portion having a pair of lateral walls, and a cutout defined in each lateral walls.

3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a rear housing piece assembled to a front housing piece, the front housing piece includes a body portion and two tongue sections protrude from a front surface of the body portion thereof, the rear housing piece includes a body portion and holding portion projects forwardly from the body portion thereof and into a receiving space defined in a rear segment of the front housing piece.

4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the pulling tab of the actuating member extends into the depression.

5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the front housing piece and the printed circuit board is fastened together by a bolt member.

6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depression is defined in a top side of the housing.

7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuating member has a pulling tab connected to a back edge of the top side thereof.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein a pulling tape is attached to the pulling tab of the actuating member.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pulling tab of the actuating member extends into the depression.

10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pulling tab includes an inclined part connected to the back edge of the actuating member and a horizontal part connected to the inclined part.

11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein a slit is defined in the horizontal part of the pulling tab to let a pulling tape through therein.

12. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein;

the rear portion is made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material.

13. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the supporting portion protrudes into the depression of the housing.

14. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the supporting portion is enclosed in the actuating member.

15. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein a pair of side beams extend downwardly from opposite lateral ends of the mediate portion of the locking member.

16. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein the side beams protrude into two slots defined in the depression of the housing.

17. An electrical cable connector assembly comprising:

a housing defining a front portion and the rear portion;

a latching mechanism including a downwardly deflectable locking member and a back and forth moveable actuating member, the locking member positioned upon one of the housing and providing a locking portion, a ramp connecting to the locking portion, the actuating member fully surrounding the rear portion of the housing for assuring retention between the actuating member and the housing, and further enclosing said locking member for avoiding withdrawal of the locking member form the housing, said actuating member defining a pressing tab downwardly pressing and moving along the ramp for lowering the locking portion when said actuating member is pulled rearwardly;

a pair of tongues extending from the housing;

said actuating member is further provided with a spring member to urge the actuating member to move forward;

said spring member is located on a side of said housing which is perpendicular to said face of the housing;

said locking member includes a retention section cooperating with the ramp to sandwich said locking portion therebetween.

18. The electrical cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein a slit is defined in the horizontal part of the pulling tab to let a pulling tape through therein.

19. The electrical cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein, the actuating member has a pulling tab connected to a back edge of the top side thereof.

20. The electrical cable connector assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein a pulling tape is attached to the pulling tab of the actuating member.