Latching system for electrical connector

• US 8,449,314 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omnetics Connector Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omnetics Connector Corporation
• Inventors: Strange, Andrew, Feist, Jeremiah
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD C
• Application Number:
  US13/195,134
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 439/358, 439/357, 439/362, 439/638, 439/701, 439/717, 439/283, 439/352, 439/641, 439/643, 439/648
• US Class Current: 439/358
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence

Abstract

An electrical connector latching system for latching to and releasing from a receiving connector quickly and conveniently in a small space without damage to the receiving connector from misalignment of the connectors. The latching system has a first connector end and a second connector end, the first end having a pair of slots formed on the sides thereof, each slot having an aperture at the interior end of the slot and a second connector end having a pair of spring-mounted latching arms attached on the sides, each latching arm having a tooth with a lead-in ramp formed in the distal end thereof, the tooth received by the slot and ultimately by the aperture formed in the first connector end as the spring mounted in the pivoting latching arms urges the arms to latch as the two connector ends are manually pushed together. An adapter plate permits retro-fitting of the latching system to a standard connector.

Claims

1. A method for tool-free latching of small sized two piece electrical connector, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a standard connector first end;

(b) obtaining a connector second end having a pair of spring-mounted latch arms on two sides, each arm having a tooth end and a finger pad end formed therein;

(c) obtaining an adapter plate having,

(i) a body having sides and the body is configured and arranged to attach to a pin contact end or a socket contact receiving end of the standard connector first end,

(ii) a channel through the body wherein the channel is configured and arranged to accommodate passage of the pin contact end or the socket contact receiving end of the standard connector first end to allow usage of the pin contact end or socket contact receiving end, and

(iii) a pair of slots formed on the sides of the body, the slots each having an aperture and an interior end of the wherein the slots are configured and arranged for receiving the tooth end mounted on the latching arm of the connector second end;

(d) attaching the adapter plate to the standard connector first end;

(e) pushing manually the two ends of the connector together to mate the connector ends such that each arm and tooth is guided by the slot formed in the adapter; and

(f) urging the pair of latch arms by the spring mounted therein such that the tooth mounted on each arm is guided by the slot and received by the aperture found in the interior end of the slot mating the two-piece connector.

2. The method for tool-free latching of small sized two piece electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the standard connector first end is a Micro-D type electrical connector.

3. The method for tool-free latching of small sized two piece electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the standard connector first end is of a wire to wire environment, a wire to circuit board environment or a wire to electrical panel environment.