Electrical connector including latch assembly
First Claim
1. An electrical connector comprising:
- a connector housing, and at least one electrical contact supported by the connector housing, the at least one electrical contact configured to mate with a complementary electrical contact of a complementary electrical connector; and
a latch assembly including;
an actuator having an actuator portion and at least one arm that defines a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end extends from the actuator portion, and the at least one arm is retained by the connector housing at a location that is inwardly recessed with respect to the distal end;
a latch body pivotally connected to the connector housing at a pivot location, the latch body attached to the distal end of the at least one arm at a first side of the pivot location, and the latch body including a latch member disposed at a second side of the pivot location opposite the first side, wherein movement of the at least one arm causes the latch body to rotate about the pivot location, thereby actuating the latch member from a latched position to an unlatched position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector includes a connector housing and at least one electrical contact supported by the connector housing, the at least one electrical contact configured to mate with a complementary electrical contact of a complementary electrical connector. The electrical connector further includes a latch assembly that includes an actuator and a latch body. The actuator has an actuator portion and at least one arm extending from the actuator portion. The arm includes a proximal end connected to the actuator portion, an opposed distal end, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is retained by the connector housing at a location below the distal end. The latch body is connected to the connector housing so as to rotate about a pivot axis. The latch body includes a latch member at one side of the pivot axis, and a spring disposed at a second opposite side of the pivot axis. The spring provides a spring force that biases the latch member toward a latched position. The distal end of the at least one arm is attached to the latch body at the second opposite side of the pivot axis, such that an actuation force applied to the actuator causes the latch body to pivot against the spring force so as to urge the latch member to an unlatched position.
55 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electrical connector comprising:
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a connector housing, and at least one electrical contact supported by the connector housing, the at least one electrical contact configured to mate with a complementary electrical contact of a complementary electrical connector; and a latch assembly including; an actuator having an actuator portion and at least one arm that defines a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end extends from the actuator portion, and the at least one arm is retained by the connector housing at a location that is inwardly recessed with respect to the distal end; a latch body pivotally connected to the connector housing at a pivot location, the latch body attached to the distal end of the at least one arm at a first side of the pivot location, and the latch body including a latch member disposed at a second side of the pivot location opposite the first side, wherein movement of the at least one arm causes the latch body to rotate about the pivot location, thereby actuating the latch member from a latched position to an unlatched position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrical connector comprising:
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a connector housing that defines an upper surface and a brace that is inwardly offset with respect to the surface at least one electrical contact supported by the connector housing, the at least one electrical contact configured to mate with a complementary electrical contact of a complementary electrical connector; and a latch assembly including; an actuator having an actuator portion and at least one arm that defines a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end extends from the actuator portion, and the at least one arm is retained by the connector housing and supported at a location that is inwardly recessed with respect to the distal end; a latch body pivotally connected to the connector housing at a pivot location, the latch body attached to the distal end of the at least one arm at a first side of the pivot location, and the latch body including a latch member disposed at a second side of the pivot location opposite the first side, wherein movement of the at least one arm causes the latch body to rotate about the pivot location, thereby actuating the latch member from a latched position to an unlatched position, wherein the upper surface supports the at least one arm, such that the at least one arm extends from the upper surface to a location below the brace. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification