Abstract:
An electrical connector ( 100 ) includes an elongated housing ( 1 ) having a base segment ( 1   a ) and a mating segment ( 1   b ); a latch mechanism ( 3 ) including a pull member ( 32 ) interlocking with a latch member ( 31 ), said pull member ( 32 ) assembled to a rear portion of the base segment and latch member ( 31 ) engaging with a front portion of the base segment, and said latch member further having at least a hook portion arranged on a front portion thereof and disposed above the mating segment. Movement of the pull member actuates the latch member bias upwardly to cause the hook portion apart from the mating segment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, more particularly to an electrical connector with improved latching mechanism which is reliable and manipulated conveniently. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    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 tendential to unplug from the component of the aforementioned device. 
         [0005]    Connectors, and particularly plug connectors, can be made more reliable and separation less likely by latching them together. U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,987 issued to Reed et al. on Jun. 29, 1999, 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 those disclosed in the Reed device are not usable with 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 specially configured 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. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,937, issued to Reed et al. on 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 delatched 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. Enough and big pull force must be exerted to the actuator to make the hooks to be lifted upward to leave its original place. However, as there is no extra protection step, incorrect operation may cause the lobe mechanism being sandwiched between a top surface of the plug and the latching member, unable to restore automatically; furthermore, the latching member trend to be deformed, causing hooks unable to return its original place to lock with engage mating holes in a metal shell of the opposing connector. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,914 issued to Wu on Nov. 14, 2006 discloses a cable connector assembly introduces a latch mechanism assembled to a top surface of housing. The latch mechanism includes latching member having an engaging portion engaging with the housing and a latch portion extending forwardly from the engaging portion for be deflected in a vertical direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction, so as to latch or unlatch with regard to the complementary connector; a pulling member assembled to the housing to actuate said latching member, and a shell located upon the housing and essentially vertically shielding the pulling member with a rear pulling portion of the pulling member exposed to an exterior. Wu device has spring-back member to push the latch mechanism restore and is convenient for user. However, there exists a tiny issue that the latching member and pulling member may trend to loose, thus the pulling member can not actuate the latching member precisely and reliably. 
         [0008]    Hence, an improved latching mechanism of an electrical connector is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with improved latching mechanism which is durable and operated easily. 
         [0010]    In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongated housing having a base segment and a mating segment; a latch mechanism including a latch member with a pull member attached thereto, the latch member engaging with a front portion of the base segment and having at least a hook portion arranged on a front portion thereof and disposed above the mating segment, and the pull member assembled to a rear portion of the base segment; and 
         [0000]    movement of the pull member actuating the latch member bias upwardly to cause the hook portion apart from the mating segment. 
         [0011]    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 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partially assembled, perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is another cross-section view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , an electrical connector comprises an elongated housing  1  enclosing a hollow portion  10  therein, a printed circuit board (PCB)  2  received in the hollow portion  10 , a latch mechanism  3  assembled to the housing  1 , a metal shell  4  partially covering the latching mechanism  3 , a cable  5  coupled to rear end of the PCB  2 , and an anti-EMI gasket  6 . 
         [0019]    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 metal member. 
         [0020]    The first piece  1   a  includes a base segment part  11  and a mating segment part  12  extending forward from lower front edge of the base segment part  11 . A first cavity portion  111  is recessed downwardly from an upper surface of the base segment part  11  and located in a front portion of the base segment part  11 . The first cavity portion  111  has a bottom surface  1110  and a front opening  1112  communicating outside. Two spaced protruding members  1114  are formed on the bottom surface  1110  and proximate to the front opening  1112 . A pair of supporting members  1116  are respectively disposed in a rear portion of the first cavity  111  and arranged at lateral sides of the bottom surface  1110 . Each supporting member  1116  has an inclined upper surface (not numbered). Two mounting slots  114  are recessed downward from the upper surface of the base segment part  11  and arranged two lateral sides of and communicate with the rear portion of the first cavity portion  111 . A shallow channel portion or second cavity portion  113  is defined in a middle section of the upper portion of the base segment part  11 , disposed at back of and communicating with the first cavity portion  111 . Two laterally extended first recess portions  1131  are arranged at opposite sides of and communicate with a middle area of the channel portion  113 . A pair of second recess portions  1132  are disposed in front of the first recess portions  1131  and communicate with the channel portion  113  too. 
         [0021]    The mating segment part  12  includes a pair of first keyways  121  respectively 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 . 
         [0022]    The second piece  1   b  includes 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 defined in a lateral side of front segment of the mating segment part  14 . 
         [0023]    The latch mechanism  3  includes a latching member  31  and a pull member  32  for actuating the latching member  31 . 
         [0024]    The latch member  31  includes a planar body portion  312 , a vertical engagement portion  316  and an inclined connection portion  314  for connecting the body portion  312  and the engagement portion  316 . The body portion  312  has a pair of downward hook portions  3122  formed at lateral sides of a front portion thereof. Two position holes  3120  is defined in a rear portion of the body portion  312 . The engagement portion  316  has a transversal bar portion  3160  with two expanded wing portions  3162 . Each wing portion  3162  further forms a number of barbs  3164  thereon. 
         [0025]    The pull member  32  comprises a main body  320 , a pull portion  322  extending rearward from end of the main body  320  and an actuator portion  324  extending forwardly from front of the main body  320 . The main body  320  has an elongated body portion, with a pair of spring-back claws  3202  arranged at lateral sides of the front thereof. The actuator portion  324  includes a horizontal portion  3242  and a downwardly inflected portion  3244 . A triangular-shaped mounting hole  3245  is defined in the middle section of the actuator portion  324 . A pair of stop members  3243  extend laterally from the horizontal portion  3242 , and a cam member  3246  is formed on front end of the inflected portion  3244 . 
         [0026]    The metal shell  4  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 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-2 , when assemble, the engagement portion  316  of the latch member  31  is interposed into the mounting hole  3245  of the actuator portion  324 , and after moderate adjusted, the transversal bar portion  3160  is disposed below the horizontal portion  3242  of the actuator portion  324 , and the cam member  3246  is arranged below underside of the connection portion  314  of the latch member  31 . Therefore, the latch member  31  is attached/fastened to the pull member  32 , such structure may insure that the two members are combined together reliably, furthermore, the pull member  32  may actuate the latch member  31  more efficiently. 
         [0028]    The pull member  32  is assembled to the first piece  1   a,  with the main body  320  accommodated in the channel portion  113 , the stop members  3202  extending into the first recess portions  1131 , the stop members  3243  extending into the second recess portion  1132 , the inflected portion  3244  disposed in the first cavity portion  111  and riding against the pair of supporting members  1116 . 
         [0029]    The latch member  31  is mounted to the first piece  1   a , with the rear portion of the body portion  312  accommodated in the front portion of the first cavity portion  111 , the pair of protruding members  1114  inserted into the two position holes  3120 , the front portion of the body portion  312  disposed above the top side of the mating segment part  12  and the pair of hook portions  3122  proximate to a top surface of the mating segment part  12 . The connection portion  314  is arranged in the rear portion of the first cavity portion  111  and lie between the pair of supporting members  1116 . The engagement portion  316  is disposed at back end of the first cavity portion  111 , with the pair of wing portions  3162  interferentially received in the two mounting slots  114 . 
         [0030]    Finally, the metal shell  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  defined in two lateral and another notches  116  defined in a rear side of the base segment part  11 , a front edge of the metal shell  4  abutting against a pair of ridge portions  119  in the front of the housing  1 , the spring member  44  substantially pressing onto the body portion  312  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 metal shell  4 , inserted into corresponding screw holes  117 ,  118  of the base segment parts  11  and  12  to combine the metal shell  4  and the housing  1  together. 
         [0031]    When the electrical connector  100  mates with an opposing connector (not shown), the hook portions  3122  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  100  disengages the opposing connector, a pull force exerted onto the pull portion  322  to cause the actuator portion  324  moving rearward, with the cam member  3246  sliding along the pair of supporting members  1116  to urge the connection portion  314  retracting backward, thus, the body portion  312  of the latch member  31  is elevated. Therefore, the hook portions  3122  are lifted to disengage the mating holes of the metal shell of the opposing connector. When the pull force is released, the spring member  44  presses onto the latching member  31  to make it return to an original place, the spring-back claws  3202  of the pull member  32  offer a restore force to push it return to an original place. The stop members  3243  only slide in the second recess portions  1132  to inhibit the pull member  32  rearward moving excessively. 
         [0032]    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.