Low profile latching connector

• US 20060189197A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Brinkerhoff, Cleaver, Reed, Bruce, Neer, Jay H., Doye, Dennis Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/722 coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
• 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 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132

Abstract

A small, low-profile plug connector for use with electronic devices provides a latching member with a pair of hooks that engage mating holes in a guide frame, and which can be easily delatched from the guide frame or opposing connector or housing. The hooks lock the plug connector into engagement with the frame or housing, but are readily released by way of a simple ramp and lobe mechanism in the plug connector. The ramp and lobe mechanism converts horizontal movement of a pull tab-like actuator into vertical movement of a latching member such that the hooks are lifted upward and disengaged from the guide frame or housing.

Claims

1. A plug connector comprising:

a plug connector body having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion including a first surface and said front portion being sized to fit within a mating receptacle connector, the rear portion having a second surface disposed at a level on the plug connector body that is above the first surface;

a latching member including a first end attached to the rear portion second surface and a second end that is cantilevered from the first end thereof, the latching member second end extending over a portion of said rear portion second surface and over a portion of said front portion first surface; and

,

an actuator having a first end that protrudes beyond said rear portion and a second end that extends toward said front portion, a portion of the actuator being interposed between said latching member and said rear portion second surface, said actuator being sized, structured and arranged such that movement of said actuator away and toward said front portion causes the latching member second end to be raised and lowered relative to said front portion first side surface.

2. The connector of claim 1, further including a ramped surface disposed on said rear portion proximate to said front portion, the ramped surface being inclined at an angle relative to said front portion first surface and extending away from said front portion, said ramped surface having a length that extends at least part way between the level of said front portion first surface and the level of said rear portion second surface.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein said actuator second end further includes a lobe which rides against said ramped surface and slides upwardly toward said rear portion second surface as said actuator is pulled in a direction away from said front portion, the upward movement of said lobe causing it to press against said latching member and lift said latching member first end away from said front portion first surface.

4. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said latching member first end includes at least one engagement hook that is capable of extending into an opening in a surface of a opposing mating structure, when said plug connector is inserted into said opposing mating structure.

5. The plug connector of claim 4, wherein said latching member is partially biased against said actuator and said engagement hook thereof is biased toward said front portion first surface.

6. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said front portion first surface is a top surface thereof and said second portion side surface is a top surface thereof.

7. The plug connector of claim 3, wherein said lobe has a cylindrical configuration which is oriented transverse to said ramped surface.

8. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said rear portion includes a channel and said actuator and latching member are disposed in the channel, said channel terminating at one end thereof in a ramped surface that extends toward said front portion.

9. The plug connector of claim 8, wherein said channel is T-shaped including a longitudinal body portion and two wing portions extending transversely to the channel body portion, and said latching member is T-shaped, said latching member including a longitudinal body portion received in said channel body portion and two wing portions, which are received in said channel wing portions, said actuator extending within said channel body portion.

10. The plug connector of claim 9, wherein latching member body portion is offset upwardly with respect to said latching member wing portions to define an intervening space within said channel body portion, said actuator being received within said intervening space.

11. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein said latching member is attached to said connector body rear portion at said latching member wing portions, and said latching member second end is offset downwardly with respect to said latching member body portion.

12. The plug connector of claim 9, wherein said actuator is capable of longitudinal movement in said intervening space and said connector includes means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said actuator on said connector body rear portion.

13. The plug connector of claim 12, wherein said actuator movement limiting means includes a stop member disposed in said channel and said actuator includes an opening formed in said actuator that receives the stop member therein.

14. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said actuator first end includes a pull tab.

15. The plug connector of claim 14, wherein said pull tab includes a finger opening that may be grasped by a user.

16. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said actuator first end include a continuous loop having an opening therein that receives wires leading to said connector body.

17. The plug connector of claim 16, wherein the actuator loop includes a reinforcing sleeve disposed in said loop.

18. A connector comprising:

a connector body having a mating end for mating with an opposing connector and a rear end disposed opposite the mating end, the rear end defining an entry location for a cable containing electrical wires to enter into said connector body, said connector body further including distinct first and second portions, the first portion of the connector body being sized to fit within a receptacle portion of the opposing connector and the second portion of said connector body being larger than said connector body first end, said connector body second portion including a channel disposed in a surface thereof and extending in a longitudinal direction between said connector body first portion and said connector body rear end, the channel including an angled cam surface proximate said connector body first portion;

a latching member having opposing first and second ends interconnected by a longitudinal body portion, the first end including a free end defining an engagement portion that extends over said connector body first portion, the engagement portion including at least one engagement hook for engaging said opposing connector, the latching member second end being attached to said connector body second portion so that said latching member may deflect and move between in first and second operative positions; and

,

a actuator for moving said engagement member engagement portion between said first and second operative positions, the actuator having opposing first and second ends, the actuator first end being interposed between said latching member first end and said connector body member second portion, said actuator second end extending rearwardly of said connector second portion and including an enlarged section for grasping by a user, said actuator first end including a cam end disposed proximate to said connector body second portion cam surface, whereby movement of said actuator by a user in a first direction moves said cam end along said connector body second portion cam surface, and said cam end contacts said latching member, thereby raising said latching member engagement portion in said first direction.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein said actuator second end enlarged section includes a pull tab with an opening for receiving the finger of a user.

20. The connector of claim 18, wherein said actuator second end enlarged section includes a continuous loop which encircles a cable that enters said connector body.

21. The connector of claim 20, wherein said loop includes a metal reinforcing sleeve.

22. The connector of claim 18, said connector body second portion includes a channel extending longitudinally on said connector body second portion, the channel receiving both said actuator and said engagement member therein.

23. The connector of claim 22, wherein said latching member is T-shaped and said latching member second end includes a pair of wing portions extending transversely outwardly from said latching member body portion, said latching member second end being attached to said connector body second portion at the latching member wing portions.

24. The connector of claim 23, wherein said latching member wing portions are vertically offset form said latching member body portion to define an intervening space between said latching member body portion and a base of said channel.

25. The connector of claim 18, wherein said channel cam surface is angled downwardly from said connector body second portion toward said connector body first portion.

26. The connector of claim 18, wherein said actuator cam end includes a cylindrical portion that extends transversely to said latching member body portion.

27. The connector of claim 18, wherein said cam end includes a base plate that extends transversely to said latching member body portion, the base plate including at least one leg member extending therefrom into contact with said channel cam surface.

28. The connector of claim 27, wherein said base plate is a separate element and is attached to said actuator by engagement members.

29. The connector of claim 27, wherein said base plate includes at least one return spring disposed thereon, the return spring contacting said connector body second portion when said actuator is moved to said first operative position, said return spring providing a bias to said actuator to subsequently return said actuator to said second operative position.

30. The connector of claim 18, further including means for limiting movement of said actuator upon said connector body second portion.

31. The connector of claim 30, wherein the actuator movement limiting means includes at least one stop member projecting within said channel and at least one slot formed in said actuator, a length of said slot being longer than a corresponding length of said stop member.

32. The connector of claim 23, wherein said channel is T-shaped and includes a longitudinal body portion and two wing portions extending transversely thereto, said latching member wing portions being received within said channel wing portions.

33. The connector of claim 18, further including a electromagnetic interference (“

EMI”

) gasket disposed on said connector body first portion, between said latching member engagement portion and said connector body second portion.

34. The connector of claim 18, wherein the EMI gasket is a flexible loop.

35. The connector of claim 18, wherein said engagement portion includes a pair of engagement hooks spaced apart from each other in a direction transverse to said latching member body portion.

36. A connector with a latching mechanism, comprising:

a connector body portion, the connector body portion having a mating end for mating to an opposing connector and a rear end for receiving at least one electrical wire therein;

a latching mechanism supported by said body portion, the latching mechanism including a body with one end fixed to said connector body portion and a free end disposed opposite the one end, the latching mechanism body free end including an engagement member for engaging the opposing connector, said latching mechanism body free end being capable of movement in a vertical direction; and

,

an actuator having a free end that is interposed between said connector body and said latching mechanism body, the actuator being capable of horizontal movement, whereby horizontal movement of said actuator causes vertical movement in said latching mechanism free end.