CN201181767Y - Plug connectors configured for locking engagement with receptacle connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

A shielding housing providing shielding for an SFP-type circuit board connector includes a conductive body surrounding the connector. The housing has an opening forming an inlet through which a mating connector can be inserted. The housing also includes a pair of engagement tabs bent inwards at an angle, which engage with an opening formed in a plug connector housing for mating with the SFP-type connector. The tabs are positioned within the opening and can be released by a locking mechanism, which is part of the plug connector. The mechanism includes a handle and two longitudinally extending arms. The arm ends on a cam portion that lifts the engagement tabs and disengages them from the opening in the plug connector housing, thereby unlocking the plug connector from the SFP-type connector.

Description

Plug connectors configured for locking engagement with receptacle connectors

technical field

The present invention relates generally to small size connectors and shielding housings enclosing such connectors, and more particularly to plug connectors received within such housings and mated to such small size connectors.

Background technique

High speed data transfer systems require electrical connectors whose electrical impedance can be controlled in order to maintain the data transfer rate required by the electrical system. Smaller connectors such as those used in SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable) applications are desired where space is at a premium and it is therefore difficult to direct a relatively mating plug connector into the electronic device in contact with such a connector. Plug connectors typically include a circuit board card with a protruding edge that is received in a circuit board opening of the SFP connector. Shielding cages are often used with this type of connector to control the emission of electromagnetic interference. Such covers are often used as auxiliary housings for connectors in which they substantially surround the connector. The small size of the SFP-type connector makes it difficult to ensure that an opposing mating connector mates properly with the SFP-type connector.

It is even more difficult for these small size connectors to ensure that the shielding shell is of sufficient size to allow a solder reflow process of the connector without current flow between the connector contacts and the shielding shell.

The small size of the circuit board connector makes it more difficult to provide a relatively mating plug-type connector that securely engages a shield housing surrounding the circuit board connector.

Due to the small size of the board connector, it is desirable that the plug-type connector it mates with includes means for engaging or locking with the board connector, and that the plug connector has means for unlocking itself from the board connector . Such unlocking means should have some means associated therewith for returning the unlocking mechanism of the plug connector to its original (or locked) state.

The present invention therefore relates to an improved plug connector for use with a reduced size SFP connector which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and which provides for engagement of the plug connector with a shielded housing and for use with SFP connector means for unlocking or releasing the plug connector, wherein the shielding shell is associated with and surrounds the SFP connector.

Contents of the invention

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for unlocking a plug connector having a housing and an actuator movably mounted thereon from a position within a shielding housing, the actuating The connector includes a handle portion and at least one actuating portion disposed on a free end of a locking arm, the locking arm extending longitudinally through the plug connector, the actuating portion being movable between first and second operating positions, the The first and second operating positions correspond to respective locked and unlocked states of the plug connector.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an unlocking system or ejector system for a reduced size plug connector having a housing, a circuit board extending outwardly through the housing, the plug connector mates with a miniature connector mounted on a circuit board, and the miniature connector is surrounded by a cover structure having engagement tabs that engage the plug connector when the plug connector is mated with the connector, and a locking assembly disposed at least partially within the housing, the locking assembly having a rear handle portion and two arms extending forwardly from the handle portion through the connector housing, the arms terminating at free ends, and each free end Including a cam portion that aligns with and selectively contacts a corresponding engagement tab disposed on an opposing shield housing to move the engagement tab out of engagement with the plug connector housing to release the plug connector and easily remove it from the Remove from the shielding case.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a unlocking mechanism as described above, wherein the plug connector includes a conductive housing at least partially surrounding the inner circuit board, the housing having a pair of T-shaped openings disposed therein, the housing having a pair of T-shaped openings disposed therein. Actuator arm portions are aligned with the openings and are at least partially received therein, the shield housing engaging tab depends downwardly at an angle towards the shield housing interior space, the T-shaped opening and the cam on the actuator arm The portions are aligned with the tabs so that movement of the actuator arm pushes the cam portions into contact with the tabs, thereby moving them out of engagement with the plug connector housing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an unlocking mechanism of the above type for a plug connector, wherein the unlocking mechanism further comprises means for returning the actuator to its original position, the return means comprising an angle extending A pair of spring arms to the arm of the actuator, the spring arm is aligned with the shoulder portion of the plug connector housing, and the housing shoulder portion forms a reaction surface on which the return arm is biased so as to respond to the actuator. The actuator applies spring force and returns it to its original position after it has retracted.

The present invention achieves the foregoing and other objects by its novel and unique construction.

In one embodiment of the invention, the electrically conductive metal housing is formed, for example by die casting, and the housing includes an inner hollow. This hollow section fits over an SFP type connector on the circuit board. The housing has an opening formed at its front, and the opening forms an inlet of the housing. One or more projections or tabs are formed with the housing, and these projections extend into the recess and into the opening of the housing to provide one or more projections that must be received in the mating connector formed on the opposite side. other than the corresponding notch or groove in the guide.

In the locking mechanism of the present invention, the plug connector housing has recesses that receive engagement pieces of the shield housing when the plug connector is inserted into the shield housing to mate with the SFP type circuit board connector enclosed therein. The unlock assembly has a handle portion disposed at the rear end of the plug connector housing, and two arms extending forwardly therefrom through the plug connector housing in a spaced manner. In this embodiment the two arms are movable linearly longitudinally and back and forth within the plug connector housing. The free ends of the two actuator arms extend forwardly from the plug connector housing into an area partially delimited by an electrically conductive metal housing disposed on the front end of the plug connector.

The two free ends of the actuator arm each preferably include a cam portion having an upwardly angled cam surface provided thereon, and which may take the form of a solid cam block, or which may be formed as a step at the free end . Openings, preferably comprising a T-shape, are formed on the plug connector housing, and the cam portions are aligned with these openings and partially reside within portions of the opening. The robot arm free end and cam portion move between first and second operative positions when the actuator handle is pulled. In one of the two positions, the cam portion is in a rest position, and in the other of the two positions, the cam portion arm is urged towards the engagement part of the shielding housing.

The shielding can comprises one or more engagement members preferably formed as tabs, which can be stamped and formed from the shielding can. The tabs are angled inwardly and angled downward into the interior of the shielding can and extend at a downward angle towards the rear of the shielding can. These engagement features align with the T-shaped opening of the plug connector and the cam portion of the locking mechanism. When the plug connector is fully engaged with the shield housing, the engagement tab extends into the T-shaped opening, thus preventing the plug connector from functioning when it is not engaged with the circuit board connector. The cam portion is movable in a linear manner within the T-shaped opening and its engagement surfaces are movable against the engagement tabs, lifting them and out of engagement with the plug connector housing to unlock the plug connector from the shield housing , so that the plug connector can be removed.

The actuator arm may have a return mechanism engaged therewith that returns the actuator arm to its original position. In one embodiment of the invention, this mechanism utilizes two return springs formed as spring arms extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the actuating arm. The free ends of these return spring arms contact a reaction surface in the form of a nub provided on the inner surface of the plug connector housing. The return spring arms provide a biasing force against the actuator and force the actuator back to its original position after it has been moved to unlock the plug connector from the shield housing.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plug connector configured for locking engagement with a receptacle connector, characterized in that the plug connector includes: a plug connector housing, the plug connector housing includes a a mating blade portion extending forward of the connector, the plug connector housing including a hollow interior, and an unlocking mechanism for unlocking the plug connector out of engagement with the receptacle connector, the unlocking mechanism including an actuator having at least one arm member extending longitudinally at least partially within said plug connector housing, the actuator arm member being movable between first and second operating positions, said actuator The actuator arm part includes a free end terminating in an unlocking cam configured to deflect the engaging part of the receptacle connector, the unlocking mechanism further comprising a biasing element extending laterally from the actuator arm part, the A biasing element is configured to contact a portion of the connector housing when unlocking the plug connector from the receptacle connector, whereby when the actuator arm member is in the second operative position, the A biasing element provides a biasing force to return the actuator arm member to the first operative position.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description.

Description of drawings

During the detailed description, reference will often be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 is a perspective view of a circuit board with two conductive contact pad structures disposed thereon, and wherein an SFP type connector is mounted on one of the two contact pad structures;

Figure 2 is the same view as Figure 1, but showing the shield case constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention removed from above the circuit board;

Figure 3 is the same view as Figure 2, but showing the shielding shell on the circuit board and surrounding the SFP type connector;

Figure 4 is a perspective view taken from below the shielding case of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is the same view as Figure 3, but wherein the second shielding shell is mounted adjacent to the first shielding shell;

Figure 6 is the same view as Figure 5, but with the mounting bracket in place across the two shielding shells, and wherein the two opposing mating plug connectors are shown disengaged from engagement with the SFP type connector;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the connector housing of FIG. 4 and shows the opposing mating connectors of FIG. 6 aligned with each other;

7A is a front view of the opposite mating connector front, taken along line A-A of FIG. 7;

7B is a front view of the front end of the shielding housing of the present invention taken along the B-B line of FIG. 7, and wherein the shielding housing is removed from the circuit board, and wherein the internal SFP type connector is also removed for clarity;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a shielding housing and mating connector assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 8 A is the front view of the front end of the opposing mating connector taken along the A-A line of Fig. 8;

Figure 8B is a front view of the shielding case front end of the present invention taken along the B-B line of Figure 8, and wherein the shielding case is removed from the circuit board, and wherein the internal SFP type connector is also removed for clarity;

Figure 9 is a view illustrating another embodiment of a guide mechanism incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Figure 10 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a shielded can assembly incorporating principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the shielding cases of FIG. 10 arranged side by side;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the two housings of Figure 10 disposed belly to belly on opposite sides of a circuit board;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a plug connector incorporating a locking mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 14 is used in the perspective view of the locking mechanism in the plug connector of Fig. 13;

Figure 15 is an exploded view of the plug connector of Figure 13;

16 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector of FIG. 13 taken along a line where the free end of the locking arm can be viewed;

Figure 16A is an enlarged detail view of the locking mechanism cam block in place in the plug connector, and wherein the engagement tabs of the shield housing are fully engaged with the plug connector;

Figure 16B is the same view as Figure 16A, but showing the locking mechanism cam block moved rearwardly within the plug connector and shield housing into contact with its engagement tabs;

Figure 16C is the same view as Figure 16B, but showing the locking mechanism cam block fully engaged with the engagement tab of the shield housing;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a plug connector having an unlocking mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 19 is the same view as Figure 18, but with the plug connector cover removed for clarity;

20 is a perspective view of an unlocking actuation mechanism used in the plug connector of FIG. 18;

Figure 21 is the same view as Figure 18, but shown at a different angle, and showing the actuation mechanism of Figure 20 in place within the plug connector in phantom;

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the interior of the upper half of the plug connector of Figure 18, and shows the state of its contact with the reaction piece of the plug connector;

Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view of a guide frame for use with the plug connector of Figure 18;

Figure 24 is a partial detail view of the surface mount connector and shows the assembly guide frame of Figure 23 in a position secured to a printed circuit board;

Figure 25 is a side cross-sectional view of the plug connector engaged in place within the shield housing, and in this detailed illustration, showing the engagement between the shield housing engagement tabs and the plug connector housing;

Figure 26 is the same view as Figure 25, but showing the unlocking mechanism in operation, and in this inset the contact by the cam portion of the actuator arm against the engagement tab of the shield housing; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of an unlocking mechanism that may be used with the plug connector embodiment of FIG. 17 .

Detailed ways

Figure 1 shows the environment in which the present invention is used. The environment shown includes a planar circuit board 100 having two designated connector areas 102 formed therein, each area including a plurality of electrically conductive contact pads 104 . One such zone has SFP type connectors 106 in place. The connector 106 has an insulating housing 108 and supports a plurality of electrically conductive terminals 110 . Such a connector 106 generally includes a slot 112 intended to receive an edge of a circuit board 114 mounted in an opposing mating plug-type connector 200 (FIG. 6).

FIG. 2 shows a shielding housing 130 for use with the present invention, comprising a top wall 131 , two side walls 132 , 133 , a rear wall 134 and a bottom wall 135 as shown. These walls together form an opening 136 into an interior cavity 137 . The rear wall 134 may include a pair of flanged ends 137 bent on each side wall 132 , 133 to secure the rear wall to the housing and seal the rear of the interior cavity 137 . Preferably, the bottom wall 135 is formed such that only a portion of the bottom wall does not extend completely backward to the rear wall 134 . Rather, it has a depth less than the entire housing to form a cavity 139 on the bottom of the housing 130 that can be placed over an SFP-type connector 106 for use therewith. The bottom wall 135 may have an engaging flange 140 formed at an end thereof bent at a certain angle to engage a corresponding opposing engaging piece 141 formed on the side wall 133 to secure the entrance for the shielding case 130. skeleton.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the housing 130 may also include a flange 150 that provides a flat mounting surface opposite the top surface of the circuit board 100 . The flanges 150 may include holes 151 to receive screws or bolts for attaching the circuit board, or they may be flat for soldering to the circuit board 100 . U-shaped EMI gaskets 170 may be placed over these flanges 150 as shown in FIG. 3 to prevent EMI leakage from the sides and rear of the housing 130 .

The housing 130 includes means for guiding an opposing mating connector 200 ( FIG. 6 ) into the opening 136 and interior cavity 139 of the housing 130 . Such guide means may also be referred to as "keyed" means and are shown in FIG. 2 as guide tabs 160 formed along the front edge of the housing opening 136 . Additional guide pieces 162 may be formed in the top wall 131 of the case 130 . The guide tab 160 (or guide tab 162 ) forms an alignment point for the opposing mating connector 200 and is preferably aligned along an imaginary line extending toward the rear of the housing 130 .

The opposite plug connector 200 is shown in FIG. 6 and it can be seen that the connector comprises a housing 202 connected to one or more cables 201, each cable comprising a plurality of wires intended to be connected to the circuits of the circuit board 100. . The plug connector 200 includes a male extension in the form of a circuit board 114 received within the circuit board slot 112 of the board connector 106 . These protrusions, as well as the remainder of the front end 210 of the connector 200 are surrounded by a conductive shield 203 . The shield plate 203 preferably includes guide slots 205 which may either be formed as slits 211 ( FIG. 7A ) in the top of the shield plate 203 into two separate parts 212 ( FIG. The notch, or groove, of the top, in which case the top will not be divided into top separate parts. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, such guide slots 205 preferably extend the length of the plug connector.

Alternatively, the entire shield housing 130 may be integrally formed as a single die-cast part, wherein the guide tabs 160, 162 are formed as part of the casting process, rather than being stamped from the top of the housing 130, and may extend the entire length of the connector. depth. It is desirable to have some type of engagement means that engages the opposing plug connectors in place in the housing, such as engagement tab 175 that can be removed from the top wall 131 of the housing 130 in the embodiment of FIGS. Either they are stamped and formed, or they are cast together with the cover portion 602 of the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 .

8-8B illustrate another shielding case for use with the present invention. The shielding housing 300 is formed from a plurality of pieces including a base 301, which is preferably die cast, and a cover portion 302, which is preferably stamped and formed from sheet metal. As shown, the cover portion 302 includes an inlet portion 303 formed in a manner similar to the inlet 136 of the shield housing 130 described above. This cover portion 302, like the shielding case 130, also includes disposed therein an EMI gasket 305 in the form of a slotted metal strip to provide a plurality of electrically conductive resilient fingers 306 which rises upward into the interior cavity of the housing 130 , 300 to contact the conductive bottom surface of the opposing plug connector 200 , 400 .

The bottom 301 of the shielding housing shown in FIG. 8 includes a pair of guide rails 310 formed on an inner surface 312 thereof, which provide means for guiding the connector 400 into position within the housing 300 . The plug connector 400 includes itself a housing 401 which is connected to a cable 402 and also includes a conductive shield plate 405 extending towards the front of the plug connector housing 401 . The plug connector shielding plate 405 has a slot 502 formed in its side 406, and the slot 502 cooperates with the guide rail 310 on the bottom side wall of the housing. 8A and 8B are front views of the header connector 400 and its shielding housing 300 , respectively, showing the associated rails 310 and slots 408 .

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a shielding housing 500 in which a top wall 501 of the housing 500 includes a slot 502 formed therein extending the depth of the housing top wall 501 . The corresponding opposing header connector 510 has one or more guide tabs, or other protrusions 504 , formed on the shield portion 505 of the connector 510 and aligned to mate with the shield housing slot 502 .

FIG. 10 shows a shielding case 600 that is preferably die cast from a conductive material and includes a bottom 601 and a top cover portion 602 . The base 601 includes side walls 603, 604, and each side wall 603, 604 includes one or more attachment posts 606 having holes 608 into which bolts and screws can be inserted to hold the housing to the circuit board. 100 on. The post 606 protrudes slightly from the side walls 603, 604 and forms a slot 612 therebetween, as well as slots 613, 614 at the front and rear of the post 606, respectively.

The posts 606 on each side wall 603 , 604 are staggered in their position so that two such housings can be placed close together on the circuit board 100 shown in FIG. 11 . In this regard, post 606 on right side wall 604 will fit into slots 612 - 614 on left side wall 604 of adjacent housing 600 . In order to provide an even tighter spacing, it is preferred that the slots 612-614 are recessed, meaning that the cover portion 602 includes a top edge 620 that projects slightly outwards on the side to form a space below it, the outer side 621 of the post 606 can fit within that space. This fit is shown generally in FIG. 11 .

Figure 12 shows two housings 600 of the present invention arranged on opposite sides of a circuit board, which is commonly referred to in the art as a "face-to-face" arrangement. In this case, mounting screws 650 extend through holes 608 in one set of mounting posts 606 for one housing 600 and into holes in the other set of mounting posts for the other housing.

FIG. 13 illustrates a plug connector 200 having a release mechanism 660 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention that allows a user of the plug connector to release, eject it from mating engagement with the shield housing of a board mounted receptacle connector. Or unlock the plug connector. As seen in Figure 14, the unlocking mechanism 660 includes an actuator having a base or handle portion 662 with apertures 664 for a user's fingers to engage and operate the mechanism. Two actuator arms 665 extend forwardly from the handle portion 662 in a spaced apart manner and the actuator arms 665 terminate in a free end 606 . At the free end 606 two tabs 663 extend inwardly from the actuator arm 665 to form a pair of sliding surfaces 667 . Each sliding surface 667 includes an actuation end 668 shown as a cam block 669 having an angled cam surface 670 . The cam surface 670 is angled downward in a direction from the actuation end 668 of the unlocking mechanism 660 to the handle 662 .

As shown in FIG. 15 , a portion of unlocking mechanism 660 is contained within plug connector housing 202 , specifically actuator arm 665 . The free end 666 of the actuator arm 665 protrudes from the connector housing 202 and the entire assembly 660 is slidable within the connector housing 202 . The unlocking arm free end 666 extends into the front region of the plug connector and into the region between the conductive housing parts 203 of the plug connector 200 . The housing 203 of the plug connector includes a pair of openings 680 shown as T-shaped openings having lateral portions, or leg portions 683 , and transverse portions, or shroud portions 682 . The cam portion of the actuator arm 665 is shown as a solid block aligned with the openings 680 .

The shroud portions, or lateral portions 682, of these header connector openings 680 serve as receptacles for the engagement tabs 175 of the board mounted shield housing, as shown in Figures 16A-16C. The ends of the tabs fit in these openings 680 and they bear against the surfaces 690 of the openings 680 , as well as on the end walls 691 thereof. This interference fit prevents the plug connector 200 from being released from the circuit board connector 106 and the shield housing 130 . To provide a means of unlocking the plug connector 200 from the shield housing 130 , the cam portion 669 is aligned with and received within the opening 680 and generally occupies a leg portion 683 of the opening 680 . Movement of the unlocking mechanism and cam portion 669 will cause contact with the engagement tabs 175 and lift them out of engagement with the plug connector housing 203 .

Figures 16A-16C best illustrate the manner in which the unlocking mechanism is operated. In FIG. 16A , the mechanism is in a first operative position in which the plug connector 200 is locked in engagement with the shield housing 130 . As shown, the end of the engagement tab 175 bears against the inner wall 691 of the opening 680 . In FIG. 16B , the unlocking mechanism has begun to move towards its second operative position, and the cam block cam surface 610 faces the end of the engagement tab 175 . In FIG. 16C , the unlocking mechanism has been pulled back so that cam portion 669 and its surface 670 contact the end of engagement tab 175 , pushing it up within opening 680 and out of contact with the end wall of opening 680 . In fact, the top of the cam portion (block) preferably extends partially outside of the opening 680 in order to complete the lifting of the engaging tab 175 of the shield housing 130 .

A handle 660 of the unlocking mechanism is shown extending along one side of the cable 202 . It can also extend to the other side of the cable 202, or under it, along the dotted line as shown in FIG. 13 .

Figure 17 shows an alternative embodiment where the handle of the unlocking mechanism 700 includes a solid tab that can be pulled back. In this embodiment, only one actuator arm having a single cam piece 703 at its free end is used, and the shield housing is formed with only a single engaging tab 175 .

18-24 illustrate another plug connector 800 that includes another unlocking mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The plug connector 800 shown in these figures is used to terminate the plurality of wires contained in the cable 802 . The cable 802 enters a housing 804 which, as shown, is formed of two halves, an upper housing half 805A and a lower housing half 805B. Each half-shell 805A, 805B has a wide body portion 806 and a thin plug portion 808 protruding from the front of the connector 804 . A flexible conductive gasket 810 may be applied to the plug portion 808 (as in the other embodiments) to provide a suitable EMI seal between the plug connector 800 and the opposing guide frame into which the connector fits (FIG. 23 and twenty four).

As shown in FIG. 23, the plug portion 808 of the connector 800 may include a pair of slots 812 formed on opposite sides thereof. These slots 812 receive complementary shaped guide rails 902 of the corresponding guide frame 900 . The guide frame is U-shaped and is shown to include three walls 903, which are preferably formed from an electrically conductive material. Together they form a hollow enclosure 904 around a receptacle connector 910 which, as shown in FIG. The connector 912 is mounted on a surface of a printed circuit board 913 near an edge 917 of the board 913 .

To complete the guide frame closure, an electrically conductive cover 925 is preferably provided. As shown, the cover 925 includes a cover plate 926 having a pair of opposing side clips 928 that can extend downwardly over a portion of each side wall 903 of the guide frame 900 and engage a portion formed therein. The slot 930. The front frame portion 932 is preferably also formed as part of the cover 925 and includes two side walls 934 and a bottom wall 935 joined together at 936 with a tab 937 . This front frame portion 932 forms an opening that receives the guide frame of the plug portion 808 of the plug connector 800 . The bottom wall 935 may be slotted along its end within the guide frame enclosure to provide a plurality of conductive spring fingers 912, which, as shown, are biased upwardly so that when inserted into the guide frame 900 The bottom surface of the plug portion 808 of the plug connector is contacted in the middle. The cover 925 includes locking tabs 938 stamped and formed into the cover and rests in the closure 904 in the same manner as the other embodiments discussed above. A portion of the bottom wall may protrude and fit into a slot 918 formed along an edge 917 of the circuit board at the front of the connector 912 .

19 and 20 illustrate the unlocking mechanism 1000 used in the connector 800 . As shown, it includes a pair of elongated arms 1002 extending longitudinally from a rear handle portion 1003 having a wide body with a central hole 1004 formed for the user to use one or more Pull tab construction for finger grip. Each arm 1002 terminates at a free end 1005, and each such free end 1005 is bent 90 degrees into a plane transverse to the length of the arm. The free end 1005 has an unlocking tab 1007 which, as shown, originates in the transverse plane, but may be offset and spaced from the transverse plane. The tab 1007 is spaced a distance S from the bottom surface of the end. The free end 1005 has an S-shaped structure when viewed from the side.

The biased end preferably includes an inclined cam surface 1010 that moves rearwardly against the end of the locking tab 938, and due to the rearward movement of the free end, it lifts the locking tab upwards and disengages the locking tab from contact with the locking tab 938. Engagement of the opening of the plug portion 808 of the plug connector. As shown in FIG. 19, the arm 1002 of the unlocking mechanism is retained in a slot or slot 1100 preferably formed in both the upper plug connector half 805A and the lower plug connector half 805B.

In an important aspect of the present invention, the unlocking mechanism 1000 has the function of holding it in the initial position after it has been actuated to unlock the plug connector 800, or release the plug connector 800 from the corresponding receptacle connector. location device. The retracting device is shown in Figures 19-22. As shown, a pair of return springs 1050, preferably in the form of a pair of arms 1051, are shown formed together with the actuator arm 1002 and stamped to form, or bent away from, the longitudinal plane in which the actuator arm 1002 extends. and into its own generally transverse plane, or at least offset from the actuator arm 1002 . In this way, the return spring arm 1051 is located in the open space below the plug connector top half 805A. This relationship is best shown in Figure 21.

As shown, the return spring arm 1051 extends slightly rearward at an angle θ ( FIG. 20 ) to initially bias the return spring arm 1051 and the entire actuator 1000 . Return spring arms 1051 are shown having free ends 1054 each including rearwardly extending fingers 1055 . These fingers 1055 align with reaction nubs 1075 formed or provided on the inner surface of the plug connector upper half 805A (FIGS. 21 and 22). Preferably the reaction block 1075 is aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the plug connector housing such that the fingers 1055 are also aligned with this axis, and are further preferably located on opposite sides thereof. The location of the reaction block 1075 along the center of the plug connector ensures that the return force applied to the actuator acts equally on both actuator arms.

To unlock, the user pulls back the finger tab 1003 in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 18 and the return spring finger 1055 contacts the reaction block 1075 , specifically its front surface 1076 . Rearward movement of the actuator causes the spring return arms to converge forward, as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 22 . Due to its thin section and its material, preferably spring steel with high elasticity, the return spring arms 1051 are elastic and when the user releases the actuator, they tend to return to their original position, thus to Move the actuator arm end back forward.

Figures 25 and 26 illustrate the action of the cam portion at the free end of the actuator arm. It can be seen that the rearward movement of the actuator will bring the cam portion into contact with the tab of the shield housing and form an inclined surface for the tab to ride up on and engage the plug connector. The opening of the housing is disengaged.

FIG. 27 schematically illustrates another return spring arrangement suitable for use on a single actuator as in the embodiment of FIG. 17 . The actuator 700 in this embodiment has a tab portion 701 , a recessed portion 710 retained within the plug connector housing and a free end with a cam portion 703 . A single reverse arm 712 is shown stamped in the body 710 of the recess and contacts the reaction surface of the shoulder 740 as shown in phantom. Depressing the tab releases the plug connector from engagement with the housing.

Claims (15)

1. A plug connector configured for locking engagement with a receptacle connector, characterized in that the plug connector comprises: a plug connector housing including a mating blade portion extending toward the front of the plug connector, the plug connector housing including a hollow interior, and an unlocking mechanism for unlocking the plug connector out of engagement with the receptacle connector, the unlocking mechanism comprising an actuator having at least one arm member at least partially within the plug connector housing Extending longitudinally within the body, the actuator arm member is movable between first and second operating positions, the actuator arm member including a free end terminating in an unlocking cam configured to deflect the receptacle connector The engagement member of the unlocking mechanism further includes a biasing element extending laterally from the actuator arm member configured to contact the connection when the plug connector is unlocked from the receptacle connector. part of the actuator housing, thus, when the actuator arm part is in the second operating position, the biasing element provides a biasing force to return the actuator arm part to the first operating position Location. 2. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a second actuator arm member, the two actuator arm members being spaced apart from each other, each of said actuator arms Parts each extend partially within the plug connector housing, and wherein each actuator arm part includes a biasing element. 3. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein each of said actuator arm member biasing elements is enclosed within said plug connector housing. 4. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein said plug connector housing includes a reaction surface disposed opposite to said biasing member such that said actuator arm member moves towards the second operating position. Movement generates a biasing force that biases the actuator arm member toward the first operative position. 5. The plug connector of claim 4, wherein said plug connector housing reaction surface is disposed within the hollow interior of said plug connector housing. 6. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said plug connector housing includes an opening in a horizontal surface thereof communicating with a hollow interior of said plug connector housing , and the cam is disposed in the opening. 7. The plug connector of claim 6, wherein said opening is T-shaped. 8. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein said biasing member terminates in free ends spaced apart from each other and aligned with a central longitudinal axis of said plug connector housing. 9. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said unlocking cam is spaced laterally from said actuator arm member. 10. The plug connector according to claim 9, wherein the unlocking cam has an S-shaped structure. 11. The plug connector of claim 9, wherein said unlocking cam comprises a cam block having an angled cam surface. 12. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said actuator arm member is slidably disposed within said plug connector housing. 13. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein said two actuator arm members are interconnected by a handle outside said plug connector housing. 14. The plug connector of claim 13, wherein the handle includes a hole for a user to grasp. 15. The plug connector of claim 5, wherein said reaction surface is disposed on an upper inner surface of said plug connector housing hollow interior.

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