Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly ( 100 ) includes a housing ( 1 ) having an outer peripheral; a latching mechanism ( 3 ) assembled to the outer peripheral of the housing ( 1 ), said latching mechanism ( 3 ) including a latching member ( 31 ) pivotally engaging with the housing ( 1 ) and a pull member ( 32 ) having an actuator portion ( 321 ) beneath the latching member ( 31 ); a cap member ( 4 ) assembled to the housing ( 1 ), with a spring member ( 441 ) thereof substantially pressing the latching member ( 31 ); and whereby movement of the actuator portion ( 321 ) causes the latching member ( 31 ) rotating upwardly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly, more particularly to an electrical connector assembly with improved latching mechanism. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Small and low-profile connectors, such as those used in SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable) applications are desired in electronic devices in which space is a premium. Such connectors are widely used to make connections with routers and servers. However, the connectors are often separated from the component of the aforementioned device, unintentionally. 
   Connectors, and particularly plug connectors, can be made more reliable and drawn out less likely by latching them together. U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,987 issued Jun. 29, 1999 to Reed et al. entitled, “Latched Electrical Connector” discloses a plug-receptacle connector assembly with a latching mechanism incorporated into the housing of the plug connector. One problem with the latching mechanism such as that disclosed in the &#39;987 patent can not be applied to low-profile, high-density receptacle connectors. Their size and the side locations of the actuators for the latching mechanisms of such plug connectors would increase the size required in a system. Such connector also requires a tailored-designed housing to receive the plug connector. As connectors become smaller and as the density of receptacle connectors in electronic devices increases, the simple act of disengaging a plug connector latch mechanism becomes increasingly more difficult. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,937, issued Oct. 16, 2007 discloses a small, low-profile plug connector provides a latching mechanism, including a latching member with a pair of hooks that engage mating holes in a metal shell of an opposing connector, and which can be easily detached from the opposing connector, by way of a simple ramp and lobe mechanism in the plug connector. The ramp and lobe mechanism converts horizontal movement of a pull tab-like actuator into vertical movement of a latching member such that the hooks are lifted upward and disengaged from the metal shell of the opposing connector. Sufficient pull force must be exerted to the actuator to make the hooks to be lifted upward to leave the engaging mating holes in the metal shell of the opposing connector. However, the lobe mechanism may be sandwiched between a top surface of the plug and the latching member as incorrect operation, and it is unable to restore automatically. Further more, the latching member trends to be deformed, which causes hooks unable to lock the opposing connector. 
   Hence, an improved latching mechanism for an electrical connector assembly is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly with improved latching mechanism which is durable and operated easily. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector assembly interconnection system in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing having an outer peripheral; a latching mechanism assembled to the outer peripheral of the housing, said latching mechanism including a latching member pivotally engaging with the housing and a pull member having an actuator portion beneath the latching member; a cap member assembled to the housing, with a spring member thereof substantially pressing the latching member; and whereby movement of the actuator portion causes the latching member rotating upwardly. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is an assembled, perspective view of the electrical connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is another cross-section view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , an electrical connector assembly comprises a housing  1 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  2  received in a hollow portion  10  enclosed by the housing  1 , a latching mechanism  3  assembled to the housing  1 , a cap member  4  partially covering the latching mechanism  3 , a cable  5  coupled to rear end of the PCB  2 , and an anti-EMI gasket  6 . 
   The housing  1  includes a first piece  1   a  and a second piece  1   b  combined together to form the hollow portion  10 . Both the first piece  1   a  and the second piece  1   b  are die-cast member. 
   The first piece  1   a  is composed of a base segment part  11  and a mating segment part  12  extending forward from lower front edge of the base segment part  11 . A top outer peripheral of the base segment part  11  defines a first cavity portion  111 , a second cavity portion  112  located at back of the first cavity portion  111 . The first cavity portion  111  is deeper than the second cavity portion  112  and further has a front opening (not numbered). A pair of spaced protruding members  1111  are disposed in the front portion of the first cavity portion  111 . Two mounting slots  114  recessed downward from top surface of the base segment part  11  are arranged two lateral sides of and communicate with the second cavity portion  112 , each having an arched inward surface (not numbered). A shallow channel portion  113  is located at back of the second cavity portion  112 , with a back opening (not numbered). A pair of broader first recess portions  1131  are laterally defined in a middle area of the top outer peripheral of the base segment part  11  and further communicate with the channel portion  113 . A pair of second recess portions  1132  are disposed in front of the first recess portions  1131 , communicating with the channel portion  113  and the second cavity portion  112 . 
   The mating segment part  12  includes a pair of first keyways  121  arranged in transversal sides thereof, a front cutout  123  in a middle section of top side thereof and three juxtaposed keyways  122  at back of and communicating with the front cutout  123 . 
   The second piece  1   b  is composed of a base segment part  13  and a mating segment part  14  extending forward from upper front edge of the base segment  11 . A pair of narrow cutouts  141  are laterally defined in front segment of the mating segment part  14 . 
   The latching mechanism  3  includes a latching member  31  and a pull member  32  for actuating the latching member  31 . A pair of hook portions  311  are laterally formed at front section of the latching member  31  and protrude downward. A pair of through holes  312  are defined in a middle section of the latching member  31 . A pair of projecting members  313  are formed on lateral sides of rear section of the latching member  31 , each having a ramp surface  3131  thereof. The pair of projecting members  313  are spaced from one another, with a passageway  315  formed therebetween. A rod member  314  engages with rear edge of the latching member  31 , with two lobe portions  3141  outward extending beyond side faces of the latching member  31 , respectively. 
   The pull member  32  includes a main body  320 , a pull portion  322  extending rearward from end edge of the main body  320  and an actuator portion  321  extending forwardly from front edge of the main body  320 . The main body  320  is of L-shaped viewed laterally, including a horizontal segment  320   a  and a shorter vertical segment  320   b  extending downward from a front end of the horizontal segment  320   a . A pair of cutouts  3204  are defined in lateral sides of a front section of the horizontal segment  320   a , with a pair of sinuate spring members  3203  formed at front portions of the cutouts  3204 , respectively. A pair of stop members  3202  are formed at lateral sides of the horizontal segment  320   a , in front of the spring member  3023  and proximate to front end of the horizontal segment  320   a . The actuator portion  321  is configured to substantially T-shaped, including a neck portion  3211  extending forward from lower middle portion of the vertical segment  320   b  and a pair of stub portions  3212  arranged lateral sides of a front section of the neck portion  3211 . The stub portion  3212  further has an arched and smooth top surface (not numbered). 
   The cap member  4  is made of sheet metal and includes a planar top wall  40 , a pair of transversal walls  41  extending downwardly from lateral edges of the top wall  40  and a back wall  42  extending downwardly from rear edges of the top wall  40 . The back wall  42  defines a rectangular-shaped outlet  421  in the middle section thereof. A spring member  44  extends forwardly from front section of the top wall  40 , with a downwardly inclined free end  441 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-2 , when the latching mechanism  3  is assembled to the housing  1 , the pull member  32  is firstly mounted on the base segment part  11 , with a front segment of the horizontal segment  320   a  thereof located in the channel portion  113 , the vertical segment  320   b  thereof located in the second cavity portion  112 , the spring members  3203  located in the first recess portions  1131 , the stop members  3202  located in the second recess portions  1132 . The neck portion  3211  of the actuator portion  321  is received in the second cavity portion  112 , and the pair of stub portions  3212  thereof are received in the first cavity portion  111 . Then, the latching member  31  is assemble to the housing  1 , with the two lobe portions  3141  thereof respectively received in the two mounting slots  114  of the base segment part  11 , the stub portions  3212  arranged beneath and contacting the ramp surfaces  3131  of the pair of projecting members  313 , the neck portion  3211  being disposed in the passageway  315 , the two protruding members  1111  inserting into the two through holes  312 , and the pair of hook portions  311  disposed on a top surface of the mating segment part  12 . Finally, the cap member  4  is assembled to the housing  1 , with the pair of transversal walls  41  and the back wall  42  arranged in a pair of notches  115  of two lateral and rear sides of the base segment part  11 , a front edge of the cap member  4  abutting against a pair of ridge portions  116  in the front of the housing  1 , the free end  441  of the spring member  44  substantially pressing onto a top surface of the latching member  31 , a rear portion of the main body  320  exiting outwardly through the outlet  421  of the rear wall  42 , with the pull portion  322  disposed outward. A pair of first screws  71  and another pair of second screws  72  pass through a pair of first through holes  431  and another pair of second through holes  432  of the top wall  40  of the cap member  4 , inserted into corresponding screw holes  117 ,  118  of the base segment parts  11  and  12  to combine the cap member  4  and the housing  1  together. 
   When the electrical connector assembly  100  mates with an opposing connector (not shown), the hook members  311  of the latching member  31  locking into mating holes in a metal shell of an opposing connector, to keep them combining together reliably. When the electrical connector assembly  100  disengages the opposing connector, a pull force exerted onto the pull portion  322  to make the actuator portion  321  move backward, causing the pair of stub portions  3212  sliding along ramp surfaces  3131  of the two projecting members  313  to urge the latching member  31  upwardly rotating around two lobe portions  3141 , thus, the hook members  311  are lifted to disengage the mating holes of the metal shell of the opposing connector. When the pull force is released, the free end  441  of spring member  44  presses onto the latching member  31  to make it return to an original place, and the spring members  3023  of the pull member  32  offer a restore force to make it return to an original place. The pair of stop members  3202  only slide in the second recess portions  1113  to inhibit the pull member  32  rearward moving excessively. 
   The latching member  31  is pivoted with the housing  1 , compared with the latching member fixed to the housing, just a small pull force is needed to actuate it disengaging the opposed connector. Further more, some inhibition method can prevent the pull member  32  rearward moving overmuch. 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrated only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.