Improved latching mechanism for blindmate electrical connector

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first housing half (2) having an opened end face (18) formed by upstanding side walls (12,14) where inner surfaces (20,22) of the side walls have camming grooves (24) formed on the inner surfaces thereof. The grooves emanate from the opened end face (18) and one groove has a laterally extending slot portion (30a) in communication with an inclined slot portion (30b) whereas a second camming slot is comprised of an inclined slot portion 28 only. The housing portion (4) includes a camming slide (72) which is slidable moveable within a slot portion (70) of the housing portion (4). The camming slide (72) includes side arms (74) having camming spigots (78, 80) positioned thereon. The housing portion (4) is insertable through the open end face (18) and movement of the camming slide (72) positions the spigots (78) in the inclined portion of the slot (30b) and the spigot portion (80) and the inclined slot portion (28) whereby the connector halves are drawn together in mated relation.

Description: The present invention relates to an improved latching mechanism for blindmate electrical connectors, and more particularly, relates to a mechanism for improved latching and unlatching for such blindmate applications. It is known from DE-A-3604548 to provide a sliding cam mechanism on one connector half, where the camming slide includes camming slots which cooperate with camming members on the other connector housing. These connectors are mated in an axial direction such that the mating face of each connector is in a parallel and opposed relation with the mating electrical connector. The connector half having the camming slide includes a peripheral shroud therearound, and the camming slide moves parallel to the shroud, and is moveable relative thereto. Once the two connector housings are presented for connection, with the connector fully within the shroud of the other connector, the camming slide is moved in a direction transverse to the mating direction and the cooperating camming members on the two mating connector housings move the two connector housings and their associated electrical contacts into electrical engagement with one another. Movement of the camming slide in an opposite direction disengages the two connector halves from each other. DE-A-3604548 discloses an electrical connector assembly according to the preambles of claims 1 and 6. While the above mentioned latching system provides a substantial improvement to connector latching and unlatching systems, some applications or connector requirements are such that there is not adequate space or visual ability to place the connector to be mated in alignment within the shroud which surrounds the other connector. For example, if the connector including the shroud is mounted in an area with little space above the shroud, it may be impossible to have the clearance to lift the mating connector above the shroud to clear it. Even if there is clearance to fit above the shroud, it may be difficult to align the connectors, as it may be impossible to see into the shroud. It is an object of the invention then to provide an electrical connector system to assist in the latching and unlatching of such connector systems, in applications where the available height above the mating connector is reduced. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved latching and unlatching system for mating connectors in positions where the mating connectors are in blindmate applications. The objects of the invention have been accomplished by providing an electrical connector assembly comprising mating first and second connector housings where the first connector housing includes first camming members and the other connector includes a camming slide moveable transversely to a mating axis, including camming members thereon which cooperate with corresponding camming members on the first housing. The camming slide is moveable to cause axial movement between the first and second housings along the mating axis. The assembly is characterized in that the first housing has at least one partially opened end wall and said first camming members are positioned on inner side surfaces of the first housing, and the second connector is insertable through the partially opened end wall along an axis transverse to the mating axis and between the side walls. In this manner, the second electrical connector can be inserted through the open end of the first connector along a lateral axis to axially align the first and second connectors whereupon activation of the camming slide moves the first and second housings into a mated condition along the mating axis. In another aspect of the invention, an electrical connector assembly is comprised of first and second connector housings wherein the first connector housing includes a peripheral shroud. The second connector is receivable within the shroud. The connector assembly is characterized in that the shroud is comprised of side walls and an end wall leaving one end open. The side walls have inner surfaces with guide means thereon, and the second connector has complementary second guide means for cooperation with said first guide means. The second connector is insertable through the open end of the first connector under guiding influence of the first and second guide means. The second connector is laterally moveable across the mating face of said first connector housing to a position where said first and second connectors are axially aligned, whereupon the first and second connector housings can be moved into mating engagement. By providing the first electrical connector with the open end, the first electrical connector can be mounted to a bulkhead wall or other such device where the open end faces outwardly. The second connector can be aligned with the first connector by the guide means on the outer surface of the second housing and the guide means on the inner surface of the first housing side walls, thereby eliminating blind mating of the first and second electrical connectors. Also by providing an open end to the first electrical connector, the height requirement for mating of the first and second electrical connector housings has been reduced by the height of the side walls. The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the drawings, where: Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the two connector halves poised in a mating relation; Figure 2 is an end view of the connector to be mounted; Figure 3 is a side plan view of the connector of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through lines 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the connector shown in Figures 2-4; Figure 6 is a side plan view of the connector carrying the camming slide; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of Figure 6 through lines 7-7; Figure 8 is a side plan view of the connector mounted, with the mating connector in position to be mated; Figure 9 is a side plan view of the connectors of Figure 8, showing the mating connector positioned fully forward, but with the camming slide fully retracted; and Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9, showing the camming slide fully pushed forward, and the connectors fully mated. With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, an electrical connector assembly is shown as including a receptacle housing 2 and a tab housing 4, where the tab housing 4 is electrically connectable with the receptacle housing 2. The receptacle housing 2 includes a central body portion 6 which would contain a plurality of receptacle terminals (not shown in Figure 1) where a plurality of wires connected to the receptacle terminals would extend outwardly from the lower face 8 and be held in place by the strain relief strap 10 as is well known in the art. The connector housing 2 further includes upstanding sidewalls 12 and 14, and an end wall 16. An open end is formed at 18 formed by front edges of the side walls 12 and 14, and a lower surface 19. The side walls 12 and 14 include inside surfaces 20 and 22 which include guide grooves 24. Each groove 24 includes a lead-in portion 26 which communicates with individual grooves 28 and 30. The groove 30 is comprised of a horizontal alignment slot portion 30a and a camming slot portion 30b. As shown best in Figure 2, the housing 2 includes mounting flanges 32 having openings 33 therethrough for mounting purposes. Thus, the lead-in openings 24 and the opening 18 are visible form the end, as viewed in figure 2. As shown in Figure 4, the alignment slot portion 30a is shown in cross-section as including an undercut slot at 34, thereby forming a T-shaped locking groove. As also shown in Figure 4, the connector housing 2 includes a central post section 35 having individual through openings 36 for receiving receptacles (not shown) but which will be positioned within the openings 36, below the upper surface 37 of the post section 35. Slots 38 are formed on each side of the post section 35, a forward slot 39 (Figure 5) is in front of the post section 35, and a rear slot 40 (Figure 5) is behind the post section 35. Also as viewed in Figures 1 and 5, the housing 2 includes slots 41 having a lower shoulder 42, and guiding ribs 43 positioned in the slot 38, as will be described in greater detail herein. With reference still to Figure 1, the housing 4 includes a central body portion 52 having a plurality of terminal receiving apertures 54 for receiving the tab type terminals, and it should be appreciated that the housing body portion 52 would include some means of retaining the tab terminals within the housing body portion, for example some type of locking shoulders. The housing body portion further includes two side walls 56, a mating face 58, a wire exit face 60, a leading face 62 and an outer face 64. Two grooves 70 are integrally formed in the side walls 56 for receiving a camming slide 72, where the camming slide includes slidable arms 74 positioned in the grooves 70, and interconnected by an operating portion 76 which connects the two sliding arms 74 together adjacent to the outer end 64. As shown in Figure 7, the camming slide 72 and the corresponding slot 70 are tongue-in-groove at upper and lower edges thereof, such that the camming slide 72 is slidable in the track 70, but is axially locked in place. The camming slide 72 further includes two camming spigots 78 and 80 where the spigot 78 is profiled for receipt within the alignment portion 30a of the camming slot 30 and the spigot 80 is receivable in the camming slot 28. The spigots are profiled for locking engagement within the associated camming slots. For example, spigot 78 in Figure 7 is shown as consisting of a shank portion 78b and a head portion 78a. Thus when in position, the shank portion 78b will be disposed within the slot portions 30a or 30b, and the head portion 78a will be locked within the slot portion 34. This prevents outward bowing or spreading of the sidewalls, preventing disconnection of the two connector members 2 and 4. With reference now to Figure 7, the connector housing 4 includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities 82 for receiving tab type contacts where the mating tab portions extend downwardly from a face 84. A shroud 86 surrounds the tab positions which extend from the face 84. The shroud 86 is profiled to fit over the post section 35, which was previously described with reference to Figure 5. The side walls of the shroud 86 includes thin wall sections 88 which fit between the inclined ribs 43, shown in Figures 4 and 5. The housing portion 4 also includes vertically oriented ribs 90 having a lower shoulder 92, which will be described in greater detail herein. It should be appreciated then that the connector body portion 52 is insertable through the open end portion 18, such that the ribs 90 are positioned through the forward posts 48 of the connector housing 2 with the lower surface portion 92 of the rib 90 positioned on the upper surface 46 of the side walls 12 and 14. Further movement of the connector housing 4 towards the end wall 16 causes the spigots 78 to be positioned within the horizontal portion 30a of the guide grooves 30 and positions the spigot 80 at the forward end of the corresponding slot 28. It should be appreciated from Figure 6 that the forward spigot 78 is vertically higher than the spigot 80 which prevents the possible misalignment of the spigot 78 with the slot 28. It should be appreciated that the housing body portion 52 of the connector housing 4 must be positioned completely rearwardly to a position where the ribs 90 drop into the side slots 41 in the housing side walls 20. The connector housing 4 will be lowered within the connector housing portion 2 by inner movement of the camming slide 72. It should be appreciated that the cooperation between the camming spigot 78 and 80 in their corresponding inclined slots 30b and 28 cams the connector housing 4 downwardly such that the two connectors are in mated engagement. When in the fully lowered position, the lower surface 92 of the rib 90 will rest on the corresponding surface 42 in the slot 41. It should be appreciated that covers 100 and 102 can be positioned on corresponding housings 2 and 4 where the insulated wires can be suitably attached to the corresponding strain relief portions 10 and 106. Advantageously then, the connector housing portion 2 can be installed to a bulkhead wall such as 110 in Figure 8 by positioning the flanges against the bulkhead wall 110. The connector housing 2 can be positioned adjacent to an opening 112 in an outer wall 114 where the vertical height of the opening is less than possible with previous designs. Due to the position of the lower surface 19, the connector housing 4 can be moved laterally through the open end of the connector housing 2 as shown in Figure 8 for mating of the two connector housings. It should also be appreciated that the flared opening 26, as it is positioned at the front edge of the connector housing portion 2 is facing outwardly through the opening 112 and thus is visible for the mating of the connector housing 4. As shown in Figure 9, the connector housing portion 4 is moved laterally to a position where the connector housing 4 is fully abutted against the corresponding end wall 16 of the connector housing portion 2, and it is in this position where the vertical rib 90 is vertically aligned with its corresponding slot 41. As also shown in Figure 9, the camming slide is kept in its fully retracted position until the connector housing 4 is fully inserted within the connector housing portion 2. As shown in Figure 10, the camming slide 72 is moved from its fully retracted position to the fully activated position whereby the corresponding spigots 78 and 80 move the connector axially downward and into corresponding mating engagement with the connector housing 4. It should be appreciated from Figure 10 that the camming slide 72 extends from the trailing end of the connector housing portion 4. In this manner the installer has full control over the mating and unmating of the connector members 2 and 4 through the opening 112.

Claims: An electrical connector assembly comprising mating first (2) and second (4) connector housings, where the first connector housing (2) includes first camming members (28, 30b), and the other connector includes a camming slide (72) moveable transversely to a mating axis, the camming slide (72) including second camming members (78, 80) thereon, which cooperate with the camming members (28, 30b) on said first housing (2), said camming slide (72) being moveable to cause axial movement between said first and second housings (2, 4) along the mating axis, the assembly being characterized in that said first housing (2) has at least one partially opened end wall (18) and said first camming members (28, 30b) are positioned on inner side surfaces (20, 22) of said first housing (2), said second connector (4) being insertable through said partially opened end wall (18) along an axis transverse to said mating axis, and between said side surfaces (20, 22), whereupon activation of said camming slide (72) moves said first (2) and second (4) housings into a mated condition along said mating axis. The assembly of claim 1, characterized in that said inner sidewalls (20, 22) of said first housing (2) include guide groove means (24, 30a) parallel to the insertion axis of said second connector (4), and said camming slide (72) includes camming lugs (78, 80) profiled for receipt within said guide groove means (24, 30a). The asembly of either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said guide groove means (24, 30a) is profiled to receive said camming members (78, 80) and align them with said camming members (28, 30b) upon full transverse movement of said second housing member (4). The assembly of any of claims 1-3, characterized in said camming members (78, 80) on the camming slide (72) are axially offset and in that said guide groove means (24, 30a) is profiled to receive said two axially offset lugs (78, 80). The assembly of any of claims 1-4, characterized in that said camming members (78, 80) are profiled as camming lugs including head portions adjacent an end thereof, and said guide groove means (24, 30a) and camming members (28, 30b) are profiled as T-shaped slots, whereby said camming lugs are locked in place within said guide groove means (24, 30a). An electrical connector assembly comprised of first (2) and second (4) connector housings, wherein said first connector housing (2) includes a peripheral shroud and said second connector (4) is receivable within said shroud, the assembly being characterized in that said shroud is comprised of side walls (12, 14) and an end wall (16) leaving one end (18) open, said side walls (12, 14) having inner surfaces (20, 22) having guide means (24, 30a) thereon, and said second connector (4) has complementary guide means (78, 80) for cooperation with said guide means (24, 30a) on said first connector (2), said second connector (4) being insertable through said open end (18) of said first connector (2), under guiding influence of said guide means (24, 30a; 78, 80), said second connector (4) being laterally moveable across a mating face of said first connector housing (2), to a position where said first (2) and second (4) connectors are axially aligned, whereupon said connector housings (2, 4) can be moved into mating engagement. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said guide means (78, 80) on said second housing (4), are positioned on a camming slide (72), whereby actuation of said camming slide (72) causes movement of said first (2) and second (4) connector housings into mated engagement. The assembly of claim 6 or 7 wherein said guide means on said first connector housing (2) are guide grooves (24, 30) on inner surfaces (20, 22) of said side walls (12, 14), at least one of said grooves (30) having a horizontal groove portion (30a) extending from said open end (18) inwardly, to a downwardly extending groove portion (30b). The connector of any of claims 6-8, wherein said guide means (78, 80) on said second housing (4) comprise lugs (78, 80) on an outer surface thereof, which are receivable into said guide grooves (24, 30a). The connector of claim 9, wherein said lugs (78, 80) are positioned on a camming slide (72) which is moveable relative to said second housing (4). The connector of claim 10, wherein said camming slide (72) is moveable relative to said second housing (4) along the horizontal mating axis of said second connector housing (4). The connector assembly of any of claims 1-11, characterized in that said first and second connector housings include guide means (41, 90) to ensure proper axial alignment.

Inventors: WOLLER JOSEPH, WOLLER, JOSEPH
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13