ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING IMPROVED LATCH MECHANISM

• US 20040023545A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 6,702,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

Abstract

An electrical connector (1) includes a bottom housing (10) and a top housing (20) assembled together. The bottom housing and top housing each define a pair of channels (121, 221). A pair of beams (80) has a first block (81) and a second block (85). The first block and the second block each has an arch (84,86). Each beam has a latch releasing portion (83) at a free end thereof. A pair of operating bars (50) has an operation portion (51) and an arm (52) extending from the operation portion, each arm having a retention member (510) formed on outer surface thereof. A pair of latches (70) each has a first claw portion (72) engaging with the bottom housing, a second claw portion (73) for engaging with a complementary connector, and a sloping portion (712) between the first and second claw portion.

Claims

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

a housing defining a receiving space;

a plurality of terminals attached to the housing;

a fastener having a head at one end thereof and external threads at the other end thereof for engaging with nuts of the complementary connector;

a beam receved in the receiving space and having a latch releasing portion at a free end thereof;

a latch received in the receving space and cooperating with the beam for engaging with a hook of the complementary connector;

wherein when the fastener is pulled rearwardly in a longitudinal directon by gripping the head, the latch releasing portion of the beam is pulled rearwardly and deflects the latch in a lateral direction for separating from the hook of the complementary connector, thereby the connector is released;

when the electrical connector is adapted to mate with the complementary connector, the fastener drives the beam forwardly with outer threads engaging with the nuts of the complementay connector and makes the latch to resume to original position for engaging with the hook of the complementary connector.

2. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bottom housing and a top housing assembled together.

3. The electrical connector as described in claim 2, wherein the bottom housing has a first limb projecting outwardly from sidewalls thereof, and the top housing has a second limb related to the first limb.

4. The electrical connector as described in claim 3, wherein when the connector is mated with the complementary connector, the head of the fastener abuts against a rear face of the limbs.

5. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the beam comprises a first and second blocks projecting sidewardly therefrom.

10. The electrical connector as described in claim 5, wherein the housing is made of metallic material.

11. The electrical connector as described in claim 10, wherein the housing has a mating frame formed on a front end thereof and a teminal insert assembled into the mating frame.

12. The electrical connector as described in claim 11, wherein the teminals are received in the terminal insert.

13. The electrical connector as described in claim 12, wherein the housing defines an elongated channel on one side thereof for receiving the latch.

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

an insulative housing defining a receiving space therein;

a plurality of terminals attached to the housing;

a drive member being movably received in the receiving space between a first position and a second position;

a movable member received in the receiving space and having a latch releasing portion at a free end thereof; and

a latch cooperating with the latch releasing portion for engaging with a hook of the complementary connector;

wherein when the drive member pulls the movable member rearwardly from the first position to the second position in a longitudinal direction, the latch releasing portion deflects the latch for separating from the hook of the complementary connector in a lateral direction, thereby the connector being released;

when the drive member pushes the movable member forwardly from the second position to the first position, the latch releasing portions make the latch to resume to original position for engaging with the hook of the complementary connector.

7. The electrical connector as described in claim 6, wherein the drive member comprises a head at one end thereof and a fixing end at the other end thereof.

8. The electrical connector as described in claim 7, wherein the fixing end has external threads at a rearmost end thereof.

9. The electrical connector as described in claim 8, wherein when the connector is mated with a complementary connector, the external threads engaging with nuts of the complementary connector for adjusting the engagement between the connector and the complementary connector by operating the head.

14. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

an insulative housing defining a receiving space;

a terminal module received in the receiving space;

a latch secured to at least one of said housing and said terminal module in a laterally deflectable manner so as to latchably engage a complementary connector; and

a screw retained to and moveable along a front-to-back direction of the housing with threads at a front end thereof;

wherein

said screw defining a latch releasing portion which deflects the latch outwardly when said screw is disengaged from the complementary connector and moved to a rear position relative to the housing in comparison with a front position where the screw is engaged or ready to be engaged with the complementary connector.