BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector having an improved latching structure in accordance with the principle of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical connector with connector modules being exploded therefrom;
FIG. 3 is an explosive view of the connector;
FIG. 4 is another explosive view of the connector;
FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the connector showing the latching structure in a latching position; and
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the latching structure in an unlatched position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an electrical connector 100 in accordance with the present invention is typically terminated with a plurality of wires or cables (not shown) and mates with a backplane connector mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown). The electrical connector 100 includes a plurality of electrical connector modules 11 assembled together as a connector block 1 for engaging with the complementary backplane connector. In the preferred embodiment, the connector block 1 includes two opposite “side modules” and one “central module” sandwiched between the two “side modules”. Each side module 11 has one row of insulated contacts 14 (only one illustrating contact is shown) each electrically connecting to a corresponding wire. The electrical connector 100 forms a housing or a cover 10. The housing 10 has a first housing member 2 and a second housing member 3 which mate with each other and define a receiving space 4 therebetween for receiving the connector block 1. The electrical connector 100 also includes a latching member 6 mounted on the housing 10 for securing the connection between the connector 100 and the complementary connector during engagement.
Referring to FIG. 3, the first housing member 2 includes a main body 21 comprising a rectangular section 210 and a triangular section 211. The rectangular section 210 defines a recess 212. A pair of protrusions 213 is positioned adjacent to the recesses 212. Each of the protrusion 213 defines a cavity 2130 functioning as fulcrums. Two sidewalls 22 vertically extend from two side edges of the rectangular section 210 and each has a locking member 220. The locking member 220 includes a resilient arm member 221 extending beyond the bottom side of the sidewall 22, and an opening 222 defined thereon. A pair of slits 223 is oppositely positioned beside the resilient arm member 221 so as to increase the spring force of the resilient arm member 221. In addition, the main body 21 has an elongate groove 25 (see more clearly in FIG. 4) defined on its inner surface for mating with ribs 12 formed on the connector block 1. Two inclined sidewalls 23,24 also vertically extend from two side edges of the triangular section 211 and intersect with each other. The inclined wall 23 is provided with the locking member 220 as same as that of the sidewall 22. Further, the inclined wall 24 defines a half-round opening 241, and a neck portion 26 thereon. The half-round opening 241 and the neck portion 26 are used to manage the wires connected to the connector modules 11.
Now reference made to FIG. 4, the second housing member 3 is capable of cooperating with the first housing member 2 and has a similar configuration with the first housing 2 except for locking members 320 on two sidewalls 32 and an inclined wall 34. The locking member 320 includes a planar 321 with a cam 322 formed thereon for engaging within the opening 222 of the first housing member 2 thereby to firmly assemble the first and second housing members 2, 3 together. Two elongate grooves 35 are defined on the inner surface of the main body portion 31 for receiving second ribs 13 formed on the connector block 1 to thereby secure the modules 11 in the housing 10.
As mentioned above, the present invention is aimed at an improved latch structure providing enough biasing force for reliably retaining the connector block 1 in place within the complementary connector. As shown in FIG. 2, one preferred embodiment of the improved latching structure comprises a pair of latching members 6. The latching members 6 have an intermediate portion 61 pivotally mounted on the first housing member 2 and second housing member 3 respectively. The intermediate portion 61 provides two cylindrical ribs 610 on both sides thereof. The ribs 610 are rotatably received in the cavities 2130 of the protrusions 213 defining the intermediate portion 61 as a pivotable portion. The latch member 6 further has an engagement portion 62 extending from the intermediate portion 61. The engagement portion 62 illustrated as a hook for engaging with the complementary connector, while the complementary connector may have a recess on its side surface to receive the engagement portion 62. The latching member 6 has an actuating portion 63 extending from the intermediate portion 61 opposite to the engagement portion 62. The actuating portion 63 is provided with an injectable arc shape that has a front end 631 abutting against an outer surface of the first/second housing members 2, 3. When pressed by an operator, as best shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the actuating portion 63 will inflect toward the connector block 1 and provides biasing force making the latching member 6 rotate around the pivotable portion, which result in the engagement portion 62 coming out of the receptacle. Vice versa, the actuating portion 63 restores and forces the engagement portions 62 enter into the engagement position to thereby lock the connector module 1 and the complementary connector together.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080050961
