Patent Application
20070026721
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to electrical connector housings which are configured and adapted to reduce breakage of latch members thereof.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Housings for certain electrical connectors are molded from dielectric plastic material and are intended to be secured to mating or complementary connector receptacles when the connector and receptacle has been moved together in a mated condition. In so doing the respective arrays of electrical contacts are mated to complete electrical connections therebetween. In some of these connectors or receptacles, hardware is fastened to or structures are provided on the respective housings to ensure proper and secure mating of the connector with the receptacle when in the mated condition. Desirably, each respective housing includes an integral latching element or the like. For example, integrally molded latch arms may be disposed along opposed sides of the housing of one of the connector and receptacle and may extend forwardly to latchingly engage with corresponding/complementary latching surfaces of the housing of the other of the connector and receptacle, when the connector and receptacle are moved together into a mated condition.
Exemplary latch arms used for securing connector and receptacles together are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,700, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, and assigned to assignee hereof. The latch arms include rearward portions which are deflectable to unlatch the latch arms when it is desired to separate and unmate the connector and the receptacle, in which case the latch arms can be said to be hingedly joined to the housing.
Such latch arms are subjected to stress and torque during mating and unmating of the connector and receptacle. Accordingly, the hinge joint must be rugged and durable to withstand many cycles of mating and unmating, especially taking into consideration that the hinge joint is molded of plastic material which can commonly lose strength over time when worked and subjected to temperature cycling as well.
A need exists for an electrical connector or connector receptacle which is configured and adapted to reduce the degree of torque transmitted to the latch arms or the like.
A need further exists for an electrical connector or connector receptacle which is configured and adapted to reduce the degree of motion of the latch arm and/or reduces the degree of flexure in the hinge connecting the latch arm to the connector or receptacle.
The present disclosure relates to electrical connector housings which are configured and adapted to reduce breakage of latch arms thereof.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrical connector for mating with a complementary connector receptacle is provided. The electrical connector includes a housing configured and adapted for selective matable connection with a corresponding complementary connector receptacle; a pair of latch arms provided on opposite sides of the housing; and a pair of latch guards extending from the sides of the housing and overlying at least a portion of a respective latch arm. Each latch arm includes latching projections at a forward end of the latch arm which are configured and adapted for selective engagement with corresponding latching means provided on the connector receptacle; and a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the forward end thereof for joining the latch arm to a respective side of the housing. Accordingly, as a latch arm is twisted about the hinge joint, at least a portion of the latch arm abuts against the respective latch guard and additional twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint is prevented.
Each latch guard may extend distally and proximally of the hinge joint.
Each latch arm may include a first stop feature extending therefrom at a location between the latching projection and the hinge joint. The first stop feature desirably extends towards the housing. Accordingly, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the first stop feature is engagable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm.
Each latch arm desirably includes a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the respective hinge joint. Each latch arm may include a second stop feature extending therefrom at a location rearward of the hinge joint. The second stop feature desirably extends towards the housing.
In use, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the second stop feature is engageable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm.
Each latch arm is desirably deflectable about the hinge joint. Accordingly, flexure of the forward end of the latch arm toward the housing is stopped by the first stop feature. Additionally, flexure of the rearward end of the latch arm toward the housing is stopped by the second stop feature.
It is envisioned that the housing and the latch arms are fabricated from a dielectric material.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein an electrical connector for selective mating with a complementary connector receptacle is provided, and wherein the electrical connector includes a housing, a pair of latch arms hingedly connected to and extending from opposite sides of the housing, the improvement includes a pair of latch guards extending from opposite sides of the housing. Each latch guard overlies at least a portion of a respective latch arm. The latch guards stop twisting of the latch arms about the hinge joint in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the latch arms.
Each latch arm desirably includes a latching projection at a forward end thereof for selectively engaging a corresponding latching means provided on the connector receptacle.
The hinge joint is desirably spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the forward end of the latch arm. Desirably, each latch guard extends distally and proximally of the hinge joint.
In use, the latch guards stop twisting of the latch arms about an axis transverse to a pivot axis of the hinge joint.
Each latch arm may include a first stop feature extending therefrom at a location between the latching projection and the hinge joint. In use, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the first stop feature is engagable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm. Each latch arm may include a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the respective hinge joint. Each latch arm may further include a second stop feature extending therefrom at a location rearward of the hinge joint. As such, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the second stop feature is engageable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the presently disclosed electrical connector will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein and as is traditional, the term “distal” refers to that portion which is furthest from the user while the term “proximal” refers to that portion which is closest to the user. In addition, terms such as “above”, “below”, “forward”, “rearward”, etc. refer to the orientation of the figures or the direction of components and are simply used for convenience of description.
Referring to
Housing 102, including top half-shell 102a and/or bottom half-shell 102b, may be made from a dielectric material. Desirably, top half-shell 102a and bottom half-shell 102b are secured to one another by fastening means, such as screws 108, or other securing structures, such as, for example, clips, snap-fit engaging structure and the like.
Electrical connector 100, as described herein, is an eight position connector for use with an eight wire communications cable. However, it should be understood that the invention can also be applied to other connectors which are terminable to different numbers of wires.
As seen in
With continued reference to
Each latch arm 120, 122 further includes a respective rearward portion 120e, 122e extending rearwardly from respective hinge joints 124, 126. Desirably, rearward portions 120e, 122e of latch arms 120, 122 are configured and adapted for gripping by a user.
Each hinge joint 124, 126 is capable of enabling latch arm deflection in a plane “P” (see
Desirably, each latch arm 120, 122 includes a distal or first stop feature 121a, 123a, respectively, projecting from an inner surface of forward portion 120a, 122a, towards respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b. In use, as will be described in greater detail below, distal stop features 121a, 123a prevent excessive or over-flexure of forward portions 120a, 122a of latch arms 120, 122 toward side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b. In particular, if forward portions 120a, 122a of latch arms 120, 122 are deflected towards respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b, stop features 121a, 123a abut against respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b and prevent further flexure of forward portion 120a, 122a towards respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b.
Each latch arm 120, 122 further includes a proximal or second stop feature 121b, 123b, respectively, projecting from an inner surface of rearward portion 120e, 122e, towards respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b. In use, as will be described in greater detail below, proximal stop features 121b, 123b prevent excessive or over-flexure of rearward portions 120e, 122e of latch arms 120, 122 toward side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b. In particular, if rearward portions 120e, 122e of latch arms 120, 122 are deflected towards respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b, stop features 121b, 123b abut against respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b and prevent further flexure of rearward portion 120e, 122e towards respective side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b.
During mating of electrical connector 100 to a complementary connector receptacle, forward portions 120a, 122a of latch arms 120, 122 are deflected outwardly (i.e., away from side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b) near respective free ends 120b, 122b as latching projections 120c, 122c ride over mating projections provided on the connector receptacle (not shown). As forward portions 120a, 122a of latch arms 120, 122 are deflected outwardly, rearward portions 120e, 122e of latch arms 120, 122 deflect inwardly due to the pivoting or flexure about hinge joints 124, 126. Over deflection or over flexure of rearward portions 120e, 122e of latch arms 120, 122 is prevented when proximal stop features 121b, 123b of latch arms 120, 122 abut against and/or otherwise contact side walls 116a, 116b of bottom half-shell 102b. Upon complete and proper mating, latching surfaces 120d, 122d of latch arms 120, 122 latch behind the respective projections provided on the connector receptacle (not shown).
Turning now to
With continued reference to
As seen in
In particular, if, during manipulation of electrical connector 100 or during mating of electrical connector 100 to a connector receptacle, either latch arm 120, 122 should twist about hinge joints 124, 126 (i.e., forward portions 120a, 122a of latch arms 120, 122 deflect in a direction transverse to the pivot plane of the latch arms 120, 122) at least a portion of the latch arm 120, 122 (e.g., stop features 121a, 123a, 121b, 123b) will abut against a respective latch guard 140, 142 and prevent or inhibit any further twisting of latch arm 120, 122 about hinge joints 124, 126 in a direction transverse to the pivot plane.
Provision of latch guards 140, 142 on electrical connector 100 reduce the risk of damage to latch arms 120, 122 as a result of excessive twisting of latch arms 120, 122 as described above.
Desirably, housing 102 and latch arms 120, 122 are fabricated from dielectric materials, including and not limited to plastic and the like.
It is to be understood that the foregoing description s merely a disclosure of particular embodiments and is no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other possible modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and all modifications are to be defined by the following claims.
