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EP0410491B1 - Assemblage articulé et connecteur électrique avec un bras de verrouillage joint à un assemblage articulé - Google Patents

Assemblage articulé et connecteur électrique avec un bras de verrouillage joint à un assemblage articulé Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0410491B1
EP0410491B1 EP90114518A EP90114518A EP0410491B1 EP 0410491 B1 EP0410491 B1 EP 0410491B1 EP 90114518 A EP90114518 A EP 90114518A EP 90114518 A EP90114518 A EP 90114518A EP 0410491 B1 EP0410491 B1 EP 0410491B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
section
joining
hinge joint
housing
bight
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90114518A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0410491A1 (fr
Inventor
Dean Arnold Puerner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
Whitaker LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0410491A1 publication Critical patent/EP0410491A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0410491B1 publication Critical patent/EP0410491B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6271—Latching means integral with the housing
    • H01R13/6273—Latching means integral with the housing comprising two latching arms
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors and more particularly to connector housings.
  • Housings for certain electrical connectors are molded from dielectric plastic material and are intended to be secured to mating connector housings when the connectors have been moved together in a mated condition, in which the respective arrays of electrical contacts are mated to complete electrical connections.
  • hardware is fastened to the respective housings to secure them together in their mated condition, but it is desirable that the housings have an integral latching means.
  • Integrally molded latch arms are known, in which a pair of latch arms are disposed along opposed sides of the housing of one of the connectors and extend forwardly to latchingly engage corresponding latching surfaces of the housing of the other connector, when the connectors are moved together into a mated condition.
  • Latch arms used for securing connectors together are known in US-A-4 867 700.
  • the latch arms include rearward portions which are deflectable to unlatch the latch arms when it is desired to separate and unmate the connectors, 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 connectors, and 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.
  • the present invention provides a hinge joint as defined in claim 1 and an electrical connector housing molded of plastic material as defined in claim 6. Particular embodiments of the hinge joint and of the electrical connector housing are set out in the dependent claims.
  • a hinge joint for joining a latch arm to an outer surface of a plastic connector housing, with the latch arm extending forwardly from the hinge joint to a latching means at the forward end adapted to latchingly engage a corresponding latching means of a mating connector housing, and a gripping portion extending rearwardly from the hinge joint to an inwardly deflectable portion for delatching the forward latching means for connector unmating, the latch arm commonly used as an opposed pair each on one of the opposed sides of the housing.
  • Each hinge joint defines a vertical hinge axis with the forward arm portion deflectable outwardly away from the respective housing side while riding over a corresponding portion of the mating connector housing forwardly of the respective corresponding latching means thereof just prior to latching, or during delatching.
  • the rearward arm portion is deflectable inwardly about the vertical hinge axis to urge the forward arm portion outwardly; thus the pair of gripping portions of the pair of latch arms can be gripped by a person and urged toward each other to unmate the connectors.
  • each latch arm comprises a pair of vertically spaced parallel legs coextending outwardly a short distance from the side surface of the housing to a bight section joined integrally to each leg and spaced outwardly from the housing side; each leg is essentially a thin web having a substantial horizontal forward/rearward dimension.
  • the legs allow flexure of the bight section, permitting it to deform slightly about the hinge axis sufficiently to allow deflection of the latch arm for latching and delatching; the horizontal rib component slightly elastically deforms the center of the bight section intermediate the spaced legs.
  • the present invention provides an integral hinge joint for each latch arm of a connector housing which is capable of flexure to allow deflection of the latch arm during mating and unmating of the connector with a mating connector.
  • Such a hinge joint resists stress and torque and is durable over many cycles of latch arm deflection, allowing many cycles of connector mating and unmating.
  • Such a hinge is moldable as an integral portion of a plastic connector housing in a two-draw molding process.
  • FIGS 1, 2A and 2B illustrate a pair of dielectric housings 10,70 for a pair of electrical connector assemblies.
  • Housings 10,70 are molded of plastic material such as glass-filled polyester and are shaped and dimensioned to be matable, with housing 10 having a forward plug portion 12 shaped to be received into a corresponding large cavity 72 of housing 70, so that mating face 14 of housing 10 is disposed proximate the reduced-dimension rearward portion 74 of cavity 72.
  • Shown along mating face 14 are a plurality of passageways 16 within which are housed respective contact sections of terminal means (not shown) secured within housing 10, to mate with corresponding contact means (not shown) secured within housing 70 upon connector mating.
  • Housing 10 has a rear face 18, wide and flat upper and lower outer surfaces 20,22 and low profile sides 24,26.
  • Mating housing 70 has a leading end 78, wide and flat upper and lower outer surfaces 80,82, low profile sides 84,86 and rear face 88; mating housing 70 is also shown having a pair of right-angled mounting flanges 90 for being secured to a printed circuit board (not shown) in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation.
  • Housings 10,70 as shown have a low profile and are especially suitable for use as connectors for connecting a terminated flat power cable to a printed circuit board.
  • a pair of latch arms 30 are joined integrally to sides 24,26 of housing 10 at respective flexible integral hinge joints 32 located approximately midway along the latch arms.
  • Each latch arm 30 includes a forward portion 34 concluding in a free end 36 having a latching projection 38 extending toward housing sides 24,26 defining a latching surface 40 facing rearwardly and preferably angled slightly outwardly as seen in Figure 2A.
  • Housing 70 includes a pair of latching recesses 92 along sides 84,86 defining corresponding latching surfaces 94 facing rearwardly and angled slightly inwardly; latching recesses 92 are adapted to receive thereinto latching projections 38.
  • Latch arms 30 further include rearward portions 42 extending rearwardly from hinge joints 32, adapted to be gripped.
  • latch arms 30 are deflected slightly outwardly as latching projections 38 ride over portions 96 of housing sides 84,86 forwardly of latching recesses 92; upon mating, latching projections 38 enter latching recesses 92 with latching surfaces 40 latching behind corresponding latching surfaces 94.
  • the slight angle of the latching surfaces 40,94 provides resistance to inadvertent delatching during stress and vibration when the connectors are in their mated condition by tending to hold latch arms 30 toward the sides 84,86 of housing 70.
  • the connector-proximate portion of latch arm free ends 36 preferably includes an angled surface portion 44 to engage corresponding portions of leading end 78 of housing 70 and bear thereagainst to initiate deflection of latch arms 30 outwardly.
  • rearward latch arm portions 42 are adapted to be urged toward each other, rotating latch arms 30 about their respective hinge joints to delatch latching projections 38 from recesses 92, whereupon housing 10 may be moved rearwardly and away from housing 70.
  • Hinge joint 32 is shown in particular detail in Figures 3 to 5 and is capable of flexure during latch arm deflection.
  • Hinge joint 32 includes a bight section 50 joined to housing side 24 by upper and lower legs 52,54 spaced vertically apart and creating a relief area 56 between bight section 50 and housing side 24.
  • a rib section 58 at least has a horizontal rib component 60 and preferably also a vertical rib component 62 which intersect to provide rib section 58 with a cross-shaped cross-section.
  • Horizontal rib component 60 is joined to bight section 50 across the outwardly facing surface thereof midway between upper and lower legs 52,54; upon deflection of latch arm 30 in the horizontal plane, horizontal rib component 60 elastically deforms the central portion of bight section 50 into relief area 56 along the first or rearward edge 64 of bight section 50 and away from relief area 56 along the second or forward edge 66 thereof.
  • Vertical rib component 62 provides substantial strength to rib section 58 and bight section 50 to enable long-term resistance to stress and torque.
  • Rearward latch arm portion 42 may preferably be provided with inwardly directed projections 68 adapted to engage housing sides 24,26 to limit the extent of deflection during unmating, as anti-overtress mechanisms.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Connection Or Junction Boxes (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Joint à charnière (32) destiné à relier en une seule pièce une partie (30) pouvant fléchir à un article (10) en matière plastique, l'article en matière plastique comprenant une partie de surface (24, 26) le long de laquelle le joint à charnière (32) est placé et la partie (30) pouvant fléchir pouvant se rapprocher et s'éloigner, par flexion, de la partie de surface (24, 26) en étant tournée autour du joint à charnière (32), caractérisé en ce que :
       le joint à charnière (32) comprend une section en arceau (50) reliée en une seule pièce à ladite partie de surface (24, 26) par deux joints espacés (52, 54) et s'étendant au-dessus d'une partie à zone de dégagement (56) de ladite partie de surface (24, 26) entre lesdits joints espacés (52, 54), ladite section en arceau (50) définissant un premier bord libre (64) et un second bord libre (66) espacé dudit premier bord libre (64) ; et
       des moyens (58) reliant ladite section en arceau (50) à ladite section (30) pouvant fléchir sensiblement à mi-distance entre ladite paire de joints espacés (52, 54), lesdits moyens de liaison (58) reliant au moins ladite section (30) pouvant fléchir à ladite section en arceau (50) à proximité dudit premier bord libre (64) de ladite section en arceau (50) et à proximité de son second bord libre (66),
       grâce à quoi, lors d'une flexion de ladite section (30) pouvant fléchir par rapport audit article (10), ladite section en arceau (50) est flexible en étant conçue pour être localement déformée élastiquement par lesdits moyens de liaison (58) en se rapprochant de ladite partie de surface (24, 26) de l'article à l'un desdits premier (64) et second (66) bords libres et en s'en éloignant à l'autre desdits premier (64) et second (66) bords libres.
  2. Joint à charnière selon revendication 1, caractérisé en outre en ce que lesdits moyens de liaison (58) comprennent une section à nervure (58) reliant ladite section (30) pouvant fléchir audit premier (64) et second (66) bords libres.
  3. Joint à charnière (32) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en outre en ce que lesdits joints espacés (52, 54) comprennent des sections à branches respectives (52, 54) s'étendant entre ledit article (10) et ladite section à arceau (50).
  4. Joint à charnière (32) selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en outre en ce que lesdits moyens de liaison (58) comprennent une section à nervure (58) reliant ladite section (30) pouvant fléchir audit premier (64) et second (66) bords libres et ayant au moins un premier constituant de nervure (60) relié à ladite section à arceau (50) à peu près parallèlement auxdites sections de branches (52, 54) et à mi-distance entre elles et s'étendant d'un point proche dudit premier bord (64) jusqu'à proximité dudit second bord (66).
  5. Joint à charnière (32) selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en outre en ce que ladite section à nervure (58) comprend un second constituant de nervure (62) perpendiculaire audit premier constituant de nervure (60) et reliant ladite section (30) pouvant fléchir et ladite section à arceau (50), ladite section à nervure (58) présentant une coupe transversale en forme de croix.
  6. Boîtier (10) de connecteur électrique moulé en matière plastique et pouvant être accouplé avec un boîtier de connecteur correspondant (70), et ayant une paire de bras de verrouillage (30, 30) sur ses côtés opposés, les extrémités libres avant (36) des deux bras de verrouillage ayant des saillies respectives (38) de verrouillage pouvant être verrouillées avec les moyens de verrouillage correspondants (92, 94) dudit boîtier de connecteur correspondant (70), chacun desdits bras de verrouillage (30) étant relié à un côté respectif (24, 26) dudit boîtier (10) par un joint à charnière (32) espacé d'une distance choisie vers l'arrière de ladite extrémité libre avant (36) dudit bras (30) de verrouillage, caractérisé en ce que :
       chaque joint à charnière (32) comprend une section à arceau (50) reliée en une seule pièce à un côté respectif (24, 26) dudit boîtier (10) par une paire de joints espacés (52, 54) et s'étendant au-dessus d'une partie à zone de dégagement (56) dudit côté (24, 26) du boîtier entre lesdits joints espacés (52, 54) et définissant un premier bord libre (64) et un second bord libre (66) espacé dudit premier bord libre (64), et des moyens (58) reliant ladite section en arceau (50) audit bras de verrouillage (30) à peu près à mi-distance entre ladite paire de joints espacés (52, 54), lesdits moyens de liaison (58) reliant au moins ledit bras de verrouillage (30) à ladite section en arceau (50) à proximité dudit premier bord libre (64) de ladite section en arceau (50) et à proximité de son second bord libre (66), grâce à quoi, lors d'une flexion de chacun desdits bras (30) de verrouillage par rapport audit boîtier (10), ladite section en arceau respective (50) est flexible en étant conçue pour être localement déformée élastiquement par lesdits moyens de liaison (58) en se rapprochant dudit côté de boîtier respectif (24, 26) à l'un desdits premier (64) et second (66) bords libres et en s'en éloignant à l'autre desdits premier (64) et second (66) bords libres.
  7. Boîtier (10) de connecteur électrique selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en outre en ce que lesdits bras de verrouillage (30, 30) comprennent des parties arrière (42) s'étendant vers l'arrière depuis lesdits joints à charnière respectifs (32, 32) pour définir une paire de parties de bras de verrouillage pouvant fléchir vers l'intérieur, permettant un déverrouillage et un désaccouplement dudit boîtier de connecteur (10) à partir dudit boîtier du connecteur correspondant (70).
  8. Boîtier (10) de connecteur électrique selon l'une des revendications 6 et 7, caractérisé en outre en ce que lesdits joints espacés (52, 54) comprennent des sections de branches respectives (52, 54) s'étendant entre ledit boîtier (10) et ladite section à arceau (50).
  9. Boîtier (10) de connecteur électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 8, caractérisé en outre en ce que lesdits moyens de liaison (58) comprennent une section à nervure (58) reliant ledit bras de verrouillage (30) auxdits premier (64) et second (66) bords libres et ayant au moins un premier constituant de nervure (60) relié à ladite section en arceau (50) sensiblement parallèle auxdites sections de branche (52, 54) à mi-distance entre elles et s'étendant d'un point proche dudit premier bord (64) jusqu'à proximité dudit second bord (66).
  10. Boîtier (10) de connecteur électrique selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en outre en ce que ladite section à nervure (58) comprend un second constituant de nervure (62) perpendiculaire audit premier constituant de nervure (60) et reliant ledit bras de verrouillage (30) et ladite section à arceau (50), ladite section à nervure (58) ayant une coupe transversale en forme de croix.
EP90114518A 1989-07-28 1990-07-27 Assemblage articulé et connecteur électrique avec un bras de verrouillage joint à un assemblage articulé Expired - Lifetime EP0410491B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US38720389A 1989-07-28 1989-07-28
US387203 1989-07-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0410491A1 EP0410491A1 (fr) 1991-01-30
EP0410491B1 true EP0410491B1 (fr) 1994-11-30

Family

ID=23528912

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90114518A Expired - Lifetime EP0410491B1 (fr) 1989-07-28 1990-07-27 Assemblage articulé et connecteur électrique avec un bras de verrouillage joint à un assemblage articulé

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0410491B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2736473B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR0178378B1 (fr)
BR (1) BR9003680A (fr)
DE (1) DE69014462T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2063872T3 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5921813A (en) * 1997-08-06 1999-07-13 Molex Incorporated Electrical connector with latch
US6077124A (en) * 1997-10-10 2000-06-20 Molex Incorporated Electrical connectors for flat flexible circuitry with yieldable backing structure
JP3066802B1 (ja) * 1998-12-10 2000-07-17 日本航空電子工業株式会社 ヒンジコネクタ
JP2005196975A (ja) * 2003-12-26 2005-07-21 Jst Mfg Co Ltd コネクタ

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6037825Y2 (ja) * 1980-07-18 1985-11-11 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタの二重ロック装置
DE3041938C2 (de) * 1980-11-06 1987-05-07 Allied Corp., Morris Township, N.J. Verriegelbare Steckverbindung mit einem einen Steckverbinder umgebenden Steckergehäuse
JPS6225479U (fr) * 1985-07-29 1987-02-16
US4641902A (en) * 1985-11-13 1987-02-10 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Shielded connector with latches
US4787860A (en) * 1987-08-28 1988-11-29 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Connector system having combined latch and polarization member

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69014462D1 (de) 1995-01-12
DE69014462T2 (de) 1995-04-06
KR910003868A (ko) 1991-02-28
EP0410491A1 (fr) 1991-01-30
JPH0360315A (ja) 1991-03-15
KR0178378B1 (ko) 1999-05-15
ES2063872T3 (es) 1995-01-16
BR9003680A (pt) 1991-09-03
JP2736473B2 (ja) 1998-04-02

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