Plug connector having a releasing mechanism and a connector assembly having the same

A connector assembly includes a receptacle (200) having a latching tab (2) defining a latching hole (21) and a plug connector (100). The plug connector includes a housing (1) having a latching nose (111) for latching with the latching hole and a releasing mechanism. The releasing mechanism includes two resisting beams (53) disposed on the housing and having two protrusions (531), a puller (71), and an operator (72) having two guiding portions (722) projecting toward and in front of the protrusions. The guiding portions slide beneath the protrusions, in response to a rearward movement of the puller, to tilt the resisting beams upwardly and lift the latching tab from a latched position to a released position for releasing the latching nose from the latching hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plug connector and a connector assembly, and more particularly to a SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) plug connector adapted for releasably latching with a receptacle and a connector assembly having the same.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,158 issued to Merrick on Jun. 8, 2004 discloses an SFP transceiver connector for mating with a receptacle having a latching tab defining a latching hole. The transceiver connector comprises a housing having a latching nose for engaging with the latching hole, a releasing mechanism assembled to the housing and a pair of recesses. The releasing mechanism includes an actuator, a lever assembled at one end of the actuator, and a pair of releasing portions formed at another end of the actuator and plunged in recesses. The releasing portions climb outwardly of the recesses, in response of the rearward movement of the lever, to upwardly lift the latching tab to thereby release the latching nose from the latching hole.

A plug connector having a differently configured releasing mechanism and a connector assembly having the same are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector and a connector assembly having the same, the plug connector including a releasing mechanism having a releasing portion lifting a resisting beam to take a releasing operation.

In order to achieve the object set forth, a connector assembly includes a receptacle having a latching tab defining a latching hole and a plug connector. The plug connector includes a housing having a latching nose for latching with the latching hole and a releasing mechanism. The releasing mechanism includes two resisting beams disposed on the housing and having two protrusions, a puller, and an operator having two guiding portions projecting toward and in front of the protrusions. The guiding portions slide beneath the protrusions, in response to a rearward movement of the puller, to tilt the resisting beams upwardly and lift the latching tab from a latched position to a released position for releasing the latching nose from the latching hole.

The guiding portion formed on the operator is cooperated with the protrusion formed on the gasket to lift the latching tab from the latched position to the released position. The releasing mechanism of the present invention has a configuration different from that of the conventional releasing mechanism and could take a more simple releasing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a receptacle200having a latching tab2defining a latching hole21, and a plug connector100inserted in the receptacle200.

Referring toFIGS. 2 to 4, the plug connector100comprises a housing1insertion of at least one board3connected with a cable4, a gasket5attached to the housing1, a releasing mechanism assembled to the housing1, a cover9and a pair of screws6.

The housing1comprises an upper face11and a top face12disposed at a level higher than that of the upper face11. The housing1includes a latching nose111projecting from the upper face11, a pair of retaining recesses112defined at two opposite sides of the latching nose111and a receiving recess113communicating with the pair of retaining recesses112. The housing1includes a pair of supporting portions123extending upwardly from the top face12, a primary recess121and a pair of periphery recesses122defined on the top face12, and a stepped portion125disposed between the receiving recess113and the primary recess121for preventing the releasing mechanism from dropping. The housing1further defines a mounting holes124extending downwardly from the top face12.

The releasing mechanism comprises a gasket5, a puller71and an operator72. The puller71and the operator72could be formed into one piece in accordance with the preferred embodiment and could be formed into two pieces. In conjunction withFIG. 5, the gasket5is attached to the housing1and includes a plate51bent from a punched metal sheet and a pair of resisting beams53extending rearwardly from the plate51and situated on the upper face11of the housing1. Each resisting beam53has a protrusion531projecting downwardly therefrom.

The operator72includes a base portion720, a pair of beam portions721extending forwardly from the base portion720, a body portion725connected with the base portion720, and a pair of resilient portions724extending sidewardly from the body portion725. In conjunction withFIGS. 6 and 7, each beam portion721has an upwardly projecting guiding portion722having a guiding face723inclining rearwardly and downwardly. Each resilient portion724is formed into a substantially compressible U-shape.

The cover9includes a top wall91defining a pair of inserting holes911and a downwardly extending tongue portion93.

Referring toFIGS. 1-6, in assembling of the plug connector100, the board3is received in the housing1. The operator72is mounted on the housing1, with the base portion720slidably accommodated in the receiving recess113and the pair of beam portions721slidably received in the retaining recesses112. The body portion725is received in the primary recess121and the pair of resilient portions724are compressible in the periphery recesses122.

The gasket5is attached to the housing1, with the pair of protrusions531projecting toward and behind the guiding portions722. Each guiding portion722is situated between the resisting beam53and the retaining recess112. The cover9is attached to the housing1, with the tongue portion93disposed between the pair of the supporting portions123. The pair of screws6are inserted into the mounting holes124of the housing1through the inserting holes911of the cover9.

In conjunction withFIG. 6, in a latched position, the latching nose111is engaged with the latching hole21of the receptacle connector200.

In conjunction withFIG. 7, when the puller71is pulled rearwardly, the guiding portions722slide beneath the protrusions531and guide the protrusions531together with the resisting beams53tilting upwardly. The resisting beams53lift the latching tab2from the latched position to a released position. The latching nose111is expelled outwardly from the latching hole21of the receptacle200. The releasing mechanism is disposed in the released position.