Latching apparatus for an electrical connector

Abstract: A latching apparatus is provided for an electrical connector (10) of the tupe having a housing (12) including a plurality of electrical contacts therein. The latching apparatus comprises a deflectable arm (16) that is pivotally supported on the connector housing (12), the pivot being disposed generally between the two ends (16a, 16b) of the pivotal arm (16) such that both opposed ends (16a, 16b) of such arm may move relatively toward and away from the connector housing (12). The front end (16a) of the deflectable arm (16) is provided with a latch for attachment to a complementary latch (42) of a mateable electrical connector or the like. A slidable locking bar (20) is captively supported on the housing (12) for movement between a first position and a second position. The locking bar (20) and deflectable arm (16) include cooperative locking means (30) disposed on both sides of the pivot that are operative in the first position to prevent movement of both ends of the latching arm (16) and in the second position to permit free movement of both arm ends (16a, 16b). As such, when the bar (20) is in the first position, secured locking engagement of the latch is provided when attached to the mateable connector, while when the locking bar (20) is in the second position, the free movement of the deflectable arm (16) permits ease of attachment to or detachment from the mateable connector.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION : The present invention relates to an improved latching apparatus for an electrical connector that is particularly useful in the data communications industry. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION : In the use of electrical connectors there is need to provide secured mechanical and electrical engagement between the electrical connector and a mateable electrical connector or other electrical device or equipment. Various latching techniques have been devised for use with electrical connectors in an effort to provide such secured engagement. One of the concerns in providing this secured engagement is the ease with which the connectors may be both attached to and detached from other devices. To satisfy this concern, connectors having latching mechanisms comprising pivotally supported latching arms that facilitate both ease of attachment and detachment have been developed. For example, latching structures of this type are shown in U.S. Patent 4,449,778 (issued on May 22, 1984) and U.S. Patent 4,501,459 (issued on February 26, 1985), both of these connectors being of the electrically shielded type for particular use in the data communications industry. While the pivotal latching arms, as shown in these patents, assist in the ease of attachment and detachment, there is no positive locking structure that maintains the connector in secured relation once connected to another connector or other electrical component. In an effort to compensate for this problem, a separate, external wedge is provided for subsequent attachment to the electrical connector in a manner to prevent the latching mechanism from separating in use. In another known shielded electrical connector a latching structure is provided to not only facilitate the ease of attachment and detachment but also to provide a locking device while the connector is in use. In U.S. Patent 4,619,494 (issued on October 28, 1986) and assigned to the same Assignee as is the subject application, the latching mechanism includes a slidable actuator that moves a pivotal latching arm in a manner to control both attachment and detachment as well as to serve as a lock to provide secure engagement while the connector is in use. In a different field of art, CH-A-587571 discloses a member with latch with a central mounting, a member being slidable, on to one end of the member remote from the latch. While it is advantageous to maintain some of the features of the known connectors and their latching mechanisms, it is also desirable to provide improvements thereto, considering both cost and ease of use. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved latching apparatus in an electrical connector. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an electrical connector comprising a housing, a plurality of electrical contacts therein and latching apparatus, which latching apparatus comprises:- an elongate member deflectably supported by a pivot on said housing, said pivot being located generally intermediate said elongate member such that both longitudinal ends of said member may move toward and away from said housing, one end of said member including a latch for latching to a latch of another mateable connecting device, and a movable locking bar slidably captivated for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the pivot between a first position and a second position, said locking bar and said member including cooperative locking means disposed on both sides of said pivot operative when said locking bar is in said first position to prevent movement of both ends of said member relative to said housing and non-operative when said locking bar is in said second position, thereby permitting movement of both ends of said member relative to said housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS : Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a shielded electrical connector embodying the improved latching apparatus of the subject invention. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the slidable locking bar of the subject latching apparatus. Figure 3 is a side elevation view of a portion of the housing of the electrical connector of Figure 1 showing the latching apparatus with the locking bar disposed in a first position wherein the latching arm is in a locked condition. Figure 4(a) is a side elevation view, as in Figure 3, now showing the locking bar in a second position wherein the latching arm is free to pivot, the latch at the mating end being shown in an upward position. Figure 4(b) is a side elevation view, as in Figure 4A, wherein the locking bar is in the second position and wherein the latching arm is pivoted such that the latch at the mating end is in a downward position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT : Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 an electrical connector 10 of the shielded type as more particularly shown and described in commonly owned Patent U.S. 4,619,494 as referred to hereinabove. Briefly, connector 10 comprises an insulative housing 12, a front end 12a of which defines a mating end of the connector and a rear end 12b of which is adapted to receive a shielded electrical cable 14 for internal connection to a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) supported interiorly of the housing 12. Latching apparatus 15, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow, is incorporated in electrical connector 10. It should be appreciated, however, that the latching apparatus of the subject invention, while particularly useful in the type of electrical connector as shown herein, is not so limited and may be used with other electrical connectors. Turning now also to Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figures 4(a) and (b), the details of the latching apparatus may be more fully understood. Latching apparatus 15 comprises a relatively rigid, deflectable latching arm 16 that is pivotally mounted on the housing cover 18 and a slidable locking bar 20. Housing cover 18 is a portion of the housing and is preferably separable from the remainder of the electrical housing 12 in a manner to facilitate the termination of the electrical cable 14 to the connector contacts supported in the housing. The deflectable arm 16 is attached to the cover 18 by a flexible web 22 such that the arm 16 is upwardly spaced from and pivotally movable on the cover 18. The deflectable arm 16 is generally elongate, the arm 16 being supported on the cover 18 intermediate its front end 16a and its rear end 16b. As such, both the front end 16a and the rear end 16b of the flexible latching arm are movable generally transversely toward and away from the cover 18 of the electrical connector housing. The front end 16a of the arm is particularly configured to provide a latch thereat for mechanical engagement with a complementary latch of another electrical connector or other electrical device. Adjacent the front end 16a of the deflectable arm and disposed on its lower surface is a downwardly projecting member defining a locking spacer 24. At the opposite end 16b of the arm, a generally curved recess 26 is formed in the lower surface of the arm 16. The function and purpose of the arm locking spacer 24 and the recess 26 will be described hereinafter. The slidable locking bar 20 is relatively rigid and is of generally planar construction. At the rear end of the locking bar there is provided an upwardly extending handle 28 adapted for manual grasping and operation of the latching apparatus by the user. Upwardly extending from the upper surface of the locking bar 20 is a projection defining a bar locking spacer 30, locking spacer 30 being adapted and configured for engagement with the deflectable arm 16. The front end of the locking bar comprises a downwardly tapering surface 32 adapted for engagement with the locking spacer 24 of the deflectable arm 16. As shown particularly in Figure 2, the locking bar 20 includes at its front end 20a a pair of spaced tines 34 defining a slot 36 therebetween, tines 34 being resiliently laterally deflectable toward and away from each other. In the preferred form, the bar locking spacer 30 is of two-part construction with a space therebetween. Locking bar 20 further includes adjacent its front end 20a a generally curved upwardly extending protrusion 38 disposed on either side of the slot 36. The sliding bar 20 is captively supported for sliding, longitudinal movement between the deflectable arm 16 and the housing cover 18. In the preferred configuration the flexible web 22 is of two-part construction with an opening (not shown) therebetween. The resiliently deflectable tines are inserted through the opening between the two-parts of the web 22, laterally deflecting the tines until shoulders 34a of each tine pass through the web opening. Shoulders 34a and rear surfaces 20b serve to captivate the sliding bar about the web 22. Longitudinal sliding of the locking bar 20 is controlled by guide blocks 35 (see Fig. 1) disposed on the cover 18 and which engage the side, marginal edges of the locking bar during movement. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4(a) and 4(b), the operation of the latching apparatus is more fully described. In Figure 3, the locking bar 20 has been moved, by use of the handle 28, longitudinally to a first position which defines a locking position of the latching arm 16. In this position, the front surface 32 of the sliding bar 20 is in engagement with the downwardly projecting arm locking spacer 24 and the bar locking spacer 30 is engaged in the recess 26 of the deflectable arm 16. As the engagement of the respective locking spacers 24 and 30 is provided on both sides of the pivot 22 supporting the defectable arm 16, transverse movement of both ends 16a and 16b of the arm 16 is effectively prevented. As such, in connector use, the latch provided at the front end 16a of the arm is maintained in a positive locking position thereby preventing inadvertent disconnection during use which could occur due to vibrations and the like. The locked position is releasably held by a detent that is provided by the resilient receipt of the top of the bar locking spacer 30 in the arm recess 26. This detent is overcome by manually pulling the locking bar 20, leftwardly in the drawing figures. Turning now to Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the facilitation of attachment to and detachment from other connectors or electrical components is shown. In Figure 4(a) the locking bar 20 has been slid longitudinally rearwardly to its second position. In this position, bar locking spacer 30 has been pulled out from the recess 26 of the deflectable arm 16 and the bar front engagement surface 32 has been separated from the arm locking spacer 24. As such, both the front end 16a and rear end 16b of the deflectable arm 16 are free to move transversely toward and away from the cover 18. In this second position, the protrusion 38 on the locking bar 20 is disposed at a location coincident with the pivot 22. As such, the protrusion 38 will contact the undersurface of the arm in a manner to minimize any loose movement of the locking bar 20 that could result in this position inasmuch as the locking bar is held only at the rear of the connector by the guide blocks 35. In Figure 4(a), for example, as a result of a downward force on the rear end 16b, as represented by arrow 40, the front end 16a is pivoted upwardly away from the cover 18. In use, the latch at the front end 16a of the arm is thereby permitted to be attached to or detached from another latch, generally shown by reference numeral 42, from this upward position. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4(b), when the locking bar 20 is in the second position, the front end 16a of the latch arm 16 may also be deflected downwardly by a force as represented by arrow 44. As such, the latch at the front end 16a of the arm may be resiliently snapped into a locking position with the latch 42 of another connector. Having described the preferred embodiment of the latching apparatus of the subject invention, the advantages thereof should be now appreciated. The subject latching apparatus not only provides for ease of either attaching or detaching an electrical connector to or from a mateable component, but also provides a secured locking arrangement when the connector is attached to another connector or the like.

Claims: An electrical connector (10) comprising a housing (12), a plurality of electrical contacts therein and latching apparauts, which latching apparatus comprises:- an elongate member (16) deflectably supported by a pivot (22) on said housing, said pivot (22) being located generally intermediate said elongate member such that both longitudinal ends (16a, 16b) of said member may move toward and away from said housing (12), one end of said member (16) including a latch (42) for latching to a latch of another mateable connecting device, and a movable locking bar (20) slidably captivated for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the pivot between a first position and a second position, said locking bar (20) and said member (16) including cooperative locking means disposed on both sides of said pivot (22) operative when said locking bar (20) is in said first position to prevent movement of both ends of said member (16) relative to said housing (12) and non-operative when said locking bar (20) is in said second position, thereby permitting movement of both ends of said member (16) relative to said housing (12). A connector according to Claim 1, wherein said pivot (22) comprises a flexible web. A connector according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said locking bar (20) is substantially planar and is slidably captivated between said housing (12) member (16) for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said cooperative locking means includes a locking spacer (24) on said member and (30) on said locking bar. A connector according to Claim 4, wherein the locking spacer (30) on said locking bar projects in a direction toward said member (16) and the locking spacer (24) on said member (16) projects in a direction toward said locking bar (20). A connector according to Claim 5, wherein said member locking spacer (24) is located adjacent said latch (42) and wherein said bar locking spacer (30) is located adjacent the opposing ends of said member (16). A connector according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein said member (16) has at its end opposite said latch detent recess (26) for detachable engagement with said bar locking spacer (30). A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, further comprising detent means (36, 30) on said member and locking bar for releasably holding said locking bar (20) in said first position. A connector according to Claim 8, wherein said detent means comprises said bar locking spacer (30) and a recess (26) formed in said member at the end opposite said latch (42) for resilient receipt therein of a portion of said bar locking spacer (30). A connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, the housing having a mating end for connection to another electrical connector. A connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the elongate member is an arm (16), and the arm is able to move generally transversely toward and away from the housing (12) when the locking bar (20) is in the second position. A connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein said locking bar (20) further includes thereon an upwardly projecting protrusion (38) disposed on said bar (20) to coincide with the location of said pivot (22) when said locking bar (20) is in said second position, said protrusion being adapted to contact said elongate member (16) thereat in a manner to minimize loose movement of said locking bar (20).

Inventors: NOORILY PETER, NOORILY, PETER
Applicants: THOMAS & BETTS CORP, THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13