Connector secondary latch

• US 6,821,024 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bates, Charles Linsday III
• Primary Examiner(s): CARR, DEBORAH D
• Application Number:
  US10/409,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 385/77, 385/78, 385/76, 385/59, 385/55, 385/56, 174/74.R, 174/75.F, 174/79, 439/352, 439/354, 439/344
• US Class Current: 385/76
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A secondary latch (50) is provided for an electrical or optic fiber connector (12) that has a housing (22) with a housing body (24) and with a primary latch (26). The primary latch is of the type that has a front end (30) merging with the housing body and a rear end forming a handle (42) that can be depressed to release the latch and allow the connector to be withdrawn from a terminus coupling (16). The secondary latch prevents unintentional unlatching of the primary latch. The secondary latch includes a sleeve (60) that extends around the housing body and that can slide forward and rearward thereon, and a wedge part (52) that is wedged between a lower surface (56) of the handle and a top surface (54) of the housing body.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a connector that includes a housing having a housing body that is elongated in front and rear longitudinal directions and that has a housing body top, said housing having a primary latch that is integrally molded with said housing body and that has a pair of largely rearwardly-facing latch shoulders and a handle that can be depressed to move down said latch shoulders, the handle having a lower handle surface that is spaced above said housing body top, wherein said apparatus prevents inadvertent downward movement of the primary latch handle, comprising:

a secondary latch that forms a sleeve constructed to extend closely around said housing body and to slide forward and rearward therealong, said sleeve having a top, and said secondary latch includes a wedge part coupled to said sleeve to slide forward and rearward with said sleeve;

said wedge part extends to a position forward of said sleeve top and has upper and lower wedge surfaces that simultaneously substantially contact said handle lower surface and said housing body top when said handle slides to a forward position.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said secondary latch includes a beam with a middle fixed to said sleeve, a beam front forming said wedge part, and a beam rear forming an upward projection that is higher than the rest of the beam and that receives a person'"'"'s fingertip to slide the secondary latch rearwardly.

3. The apparatus described in claim 2 wherein:

said beam has an upper surface with a convex front at said wedge part and with a concave middle extending between said convex front and said upward projection.

4. The apparatus described in claim 1 including said optic fiber connector, said sleeve encircling said housing body and wherein:

said housing body top is horizontal and said housing body has vertical opposite sides, each side having an inwardly-extending recess and an outwardly-projecting detent in each recess;

said sleeve has a pair of latch lugs each projecting into one of said recesses and lying in line with one of detents, said lugs and detents form shoulders that resist sleeve sliding of said sleeve in said forward and rearward directions.

5. Apparatus for use with an optic fiber connector that includes a housing having a housing body that is elongated in front and rear longitudinal directions and that has a housing body top, said housing body having a passageway that holds an optic fiber terminus, said housing also having a primary latch that is integrally molded with said housing body and that has at least one largely rearwardly-facing latch shoulder and a handle that can be depressed to move down said latch shoulder, the handle having a lower handle surface that is spaced above said housing body top, wherein said apparatus prevents inadvertent downward movement of the primary latch handle, comprising:

a secondary latch that has a sleeve constructed to extend at least partially around said housing body to lie at opposite sides of the body, and to slide forward and rearward therealong, said sleeve having a top, and said secondary latch includes an engaging part coupled to said sleeve to slide forward and rearward with said sleeve, said engaging part having an upper surface that contacts said handle lower surface when said handle slides to a forward position.

6. The connector described in claim 5 wherein:

said housing body has an upper housing surface and said engaging part has a lower surface that lies adjacent to said upper housing surface to press directly against said upper housing surface, to thereby use the housing to support the engaging part that prevents downward movement of the latch handle.

7. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said secondary latch includes a beam with a middle fixed to said sleeve, a beam front forming said engaging part, and a beam rear forming an upward projection that is higher than the rest of the beam and that receives a person'"'"'s fingertip to slide the secondary latch rearwardly.

8. The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein:

said beam has an upper surface with a convex front at said engaging part (52) and with a concave middle extending between said convex front and said upward projection.

9. The connector described in claim 5 wherein:

said secondary latch has a largely forwardly-facing shoulder for engaging a person'"'"'s finger tip to move the secondary latch rearwardly.

10. The apparatus described in claim 5 including said optic fiber connector, said sleeve encircling said housing body and wherein:

said housing body top is horizontal and said housing body has vertical opposite sides, each side having an inwardly-extending recess and an outwardly-projecting detent in each recess;

said sleeve has a pair of latch lugs each projecting into one of said recesses and lying in line with one of detents, said lugs and detents form shoulders that resist sleeve sliding of said sleeve in said forward and rearward directions.