Patent Publication Number: US-7581978-B1

Title: Connector assembly with a latch

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The subject matter herein generally relates to connector assemblies and, more particularly, to a connector assembly that latches and unlatches with a mating connector. 
   Various types of connectors include latches to secure the connector with a mating connector. The connectors mate by loading one connector into the other along a loading direction. The latch of one connector is lowered to engage the mating connector and thus latch and secure the two connectors together. The connectors may be separated by unlatching the latch from the mating connector. Some known connectors are configured to latch and unlatch with the mating connector by raising the latch of the connector away from the mating connector. The latch may be raised by applying a load to the latch to depress a part of the latch downwards towards the connector. Known connectors with latches, however, are not without disadvantages. For instance, known connector latches are easily plastically deformed through repeated use of the latch and repeated depression of the latch downwards towards the connector. For example, the latches may not return to the original position or shape of the latch after the load is removed from the latch. As the latches become plastically deformed, the latches do not secure the connectors together as well as the latches did prior to being plastically deformed. Other known connectors have relatively complex latches that may be expensive and time-consuming to manufacture. 
   Thus, a need exists for connector having a latch that is robust and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. For example, a need exists for a latch that does not plastically deform when depressed to unlatch the connector with a mating connector. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, a connector assembly is configured to latch and unlatch with a mating connector. The mating connector includes a latch cavity. The connector assembly includes a housing and a latch. The housing includes a front tower and a rear tower. The latch is coupled to the housing and is supported by the front and rear towers. The latch includes a latch end and a floating portion. The latch end is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position with the latch end inserted into the latch cavity of the mating connector in the latched position and removed from the latch cavity in the unlatched position. The floating portion is disposed between the front and rear towers. The floating portion is biased towards the housing by a load applied to the floating portion to move the latch end to the unlatched position. The load is applied in a direction towards the housing and between the front and rear towers. 
   In another embodiment, a connector assembly is configured to latch and unlatch with a mating connector. The mating connector includes a latch cavity. The connector assembly includes a housing and a latch. The housing includes a front tower and a rear tower. The latch is coupled to the housing and is supported by the front and rear towers. The latch includes a latch end and a floating portion. The latch end is configured to be inserted into the latch cavity to latch with the mating connector and be removed from the latch cavity to unlatch with the mating connector. The floating portion is disposed between the front and rear towers. The floating portion is configured to be deformed towards the housing to raise the latch end out from the latch cavity when a load is applied to the floating portion. The front and rear towers are spaced apart such that the floating portion is elastically deformed when the load is applied. 
   In another embodiment, a connector assembly is configured to latch and unlatch with a mating connector. The mating connector includes a latch cavity. The connector assembly includes a housing and a latch. The housing includes a front tower and a rear tower. The latch is coupled to the housing and is supported by the front and rear towers. The latch includes a latch end and a floating portion. The latch end is configured to be inserted into the latch cavity to latch with the mating connector and be removed from the latch cavity to unlatch with the mating connector. The floating portion is disposed between the front and rear towers. The front tower extends above the housing by a tower height. The tower height is sufficiently small such that a load applied to the floating portion towards the housing and between the front and rear towers elastically deforms the latch in order to raise the latch end out from the latch cavity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector system according to one embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the connector system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a connector assembly according an alternative embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cut away view of the connector assembly shown in  FIG. 3  in a latched position and mated with the mating connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the connector assembly shown in  FIG. 3  in an unlatched position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector system  100  according to one embodiment. The connector system  100  includes a connector assembly  102  that mates with a mating connector  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connector assembly  102  is partially loaded into the mating connector  104  to electrically connect the connector assembly  102  with the mating connector  104 . The connector assembly  102  may be loaded into the mating connector  104  along a loading direction  120 . 
   The connector assembly  102  includes a housing  106  and a latch  108 . In one embodiment, the housing  106  includes, or is formed from, a dielectric material such as a plastic material. In another embodiment, the housing  106  includes, or is formed from, a conductive material such as a metal material. The housing  106  extends between a cable end  110  and a mating end  310  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The cable end  110  receives one or more cables  112 . The cables  112  include one or more conductors (not shown) that extend through the housing  106  to a mating interface  312  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) at the mating end  310 . The conductors are electrically connected to contacts (not shown) disposed at the mating interface  312 . The contacts engage corresponding contacts (not shown) in the mating connector  104  to provide the electrical connection between the connector assembly  102  and the mating connector  104 . 
   The latch  108  is coupled to the housing  106  and latches with the mating connector  104  to secure the connector assembly  102  and mating connector  104  together. For example, the latch  108  may prevent the connector assembly  102  from being separated from the mating connector  104  along a direction that is substantially opposite to the loading direction  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, a latch end  114  of the latch  108  includes a plurality of hook elements  116 . The hook elements  116  are inserted or lowered into one or more latch cavities  402  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) in the mating connector  104  to latch the latch end  114  and the connector assembly  102  with the mating connector  104 . During use, the latch end  114  may be raised so that the hook elements  116  are removed from the latch cavities  402  and the latch  108  and connector assembly  102  may be unlatched from the mating connector  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hook elements  116  are separated by a gap  122  at the latch end  114 . 
   The mating connector  104  includes a housing  118  that is shaped to receive the mating end (not shown) of the connector assembly  102 . The mating connector  104  may be mounted to a circuit board  400  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) or other device and electrically connected to the board or device. Mating the connector assembly  102  with the mating connector  104  may then provide for communication between the connector assembly  102  and the circuit board  400  or device. 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the connector system  100 . The housing  106  of the connector assembly  102  includes front and rear towers  210 ,  212  that extend away from an upper surface  214  of the housing  106 . The front tower  210  extends a front tower height  216  upwards from the upper surface  214  and the rear tower  212  extends a rear tower height  218  upwards from the upper surface  214 . In one embodiment, the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  are approximately the same. In another embodiment, the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  differ from one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  include oppositely sloped surfaces  220 ,  222 . In another embodiment, one or both of the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  do not include the sloped surfaces  220 ,  222 . Also as shown in the illustrated embodiment, each of the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  includes a support surface  224 ,  226 . The support surfaces  224 ,  226  support the latch  108  above the housing  106 . The front and rear towers  210 ,  212  are spaced apart from one another by a tower separation distance  228 . In one embodiment, the tower separation distance  228  is the distance between the support surfaces  224 ,  226  along a direction that is substantially parallel to the loading direction  120 . The tower separation distance  228  may be approximately 20 millimeters, for example. In one embodiment, the tower separation distance  228  is approximately 19.31 millimeters. 
   The latch  108  extends between a back end  228  and the latch end  114 . In the illustrated embodiment, the back end  228  includes a latch finger  230 . The latch finger  230  may be a feature, extension, protrusion, finger, and the like, that couples the latch  108  to the housing  106 . In the illustrated embodiment, the latch finger  230  is a bent portion of the latch  108  that is inserted into the rear tower  212  to couple the latch  108  to the housing  106  and to prevent the movement of the latch  108  along the loading direction  120  relative to the housing  106 . 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a connector assembly  300  according an alternative embodiment. The connector assembly  300  includes a housing  302  that may be similar to the housing  106  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The housing  302  extends between the cable end  110  and the mating end  310 . The mating end  310  is received in the housing  118  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the mating connector  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The mating end  310  includes the mating interface  312  that is configured to mate with the mating connector  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the housing  302  includes a protrusion  304  that extends upwards from an upper surface  314  of the housing  302 . The protrusion  304  may be a raised strip of the housing  302  that extends between the front and rear towers  210 ,  212 . The protrusion  304  may limit the vertical travel of the latch  306  when a load L is applied to the latch  306 , as described below. A latch  306  may be similar to the latch  108  and is coupled to the housing  302 . The latch  306  extends between the back end  228  and a latch end  308 . The latch end  308  may be similar to the latch end  114  and may include a plurality of hook elements  116 . In contrast to the latch end  114  of the latch  108  shown in  FIG. 1 , the hook elements  116  of the latch  306  are not separated by the gap  122 . 
     FIG. 4  is a partial cut away view of the connector assembly  300  in a latched position and mated with the mating connector  104 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mating connector  104  may be mounted to the circuit board  400 . As shown in the partial cut away portion of the mating connector  104 , the latch cavities  402  extend into the housing  118  of the mating connector  104  from a top surface  404  of the housing  118 . The latch cavities  402  receive the hook elements  116  of the latch  306  to secure the connector assembly  302  and mating connector  104  together. The hook elements  116  may extend into the latch cavities  402  by a depth  406 . The depth  406  is sufficiently deep into the latch cavities  402  such that the connector assembly  300  cannot be unloaded from the mating connector  104  along a direction opposite the loading direction  120  without first raising the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402 . In one embodiment, the depth  406  is approximately 1 millimeter. For example, the depth  406  may be approximately 0.88 millimeters. The front and rear towers  210 ,  212  support the latch  306  above the housing  302 . A floating portion  408  of the latch  306  extends between the front and rear towers  210 ,  212 . In one embodiment, the floating portion  408  is the portion of the latch  306  between the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  that is elevated above the upper surface  314  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and does not directly contact the housing  302 . 
     FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the connector assembly  300  in an unlatched position. The connector assembly  300  and the latch  306  may be unlatched from the mating connector  104  so that the connector assembly  300  may be removed from the connector assembly  300  by applying a load L to the latch  306 . For example, a load L may be applied on the floating portion  408  of the latch  306 . The load L may be applied towards the housing  302  between the front and rear towers  210 ,  212 . The load L may be applied in a direction  500  that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface  314  of the housing  302 . In another embodiment, the load L may be applied in a direction that is transverse to the upper surface  314 . As the load L is applied to the floating portion  408 , the floating portion  408  is biased towards the housing  302 . For example, at least part of the floating portion  408  may travel a depression distance  504  towards the housing  302  in response to the load L being applied to the floating portion  408 . The depression distance  504  is in a substantially vertical direction in one embodiment. For example, the depression distance  504  may be measured in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface  314 . The total distance that the floating portion  408  may vertically travel when the load L is applied may be limited by the housing protrusion  304  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) in one embodiment. For example, the housing protrusion  304  may extend sufficiently far from the upper surface  314  so as to prevent the latch  306  from being plastically deformed when the load L is applied. In one embodiment, the housing protrusion  304  extends away from the upper surface  314  such that the housing protrusion  304  and the latch  306  are separated by approximately 1 millimeter. For example, the housing protrusion  304  and the latch  306  may be separated by approximately 1.2 millimeters. 
   In one embodiment, the front tower  210  acts as a fulcrum about which the latch  306  pivots to raise the latch end  308  when the load L is applied to the floating portion  408 . Based on one or more factors, the hook elements  116  may be removed from the latch cavities  402 . For example, the hook elements  116  may be completely raised out of the latch cavities  402  by raising the hook elements  116  by a height  502  that is at least as great as the depth  406  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) at which the hook elements  116  were inserted into the latch cavities  402 . By way of example only, these factors may include the amount of the load L, the direction  500  at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the location at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the tower separation distance  228  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the front tower height  216  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the rear tower height  218  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the dimensions of the latch  306 , the material(s) included in the latch  306 , and the like. Once the hook elements  116  are raised out from the latch cavities  402 , the connector assembly  300  may be removed from the mating connector  104  by unloading the connector assembly  300  in a direction that is opposite the loading direction  120 . The load L may be removed from the floating portion  408  to lower the latch end  308  and the hook elements  116 . For example, by removing the load L from the floating portion  408 , the latch  306  may substantially return to the original position of the latch  306  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   In one embodiment, the latch  306  includes, or is formed from, a material that is elastically deformed when the load L is applied to the floating portion  408  to avoid plastic, or inelastic, deformation. For example, the latch  306  may include a material that allows the latch  306  to be elastically deformed when the load L is applied to the floating portion  408  and substantially return to the original shape of the latch  306  once the load L is removed from the floating portion  408 . In one embodiment, the latch  306  includes or is formed from a stainless steel. For example, the latch  306  may be formed from stainless steel defined by the standard UNS S30100. 
   In one embodiment, the tower separation distance  228  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is sufficiently large such that the latch  306  does not plastically deform when the load L is applied to the floating section  408 . For example, the tower separation distance  228  may be larger than a minimum separation distance. The minimum separation distance may be the smallest distance between the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  that is used to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied to the floating portion  408  while not plastically deforming the latch  306 . For example, if the tower separation distance  228  is less than this minimum separation distance, then the hook elements  116  may be plastically deformed when the load L is applied to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402 . In another example, if the tower separation distance  228  is greater than the minimum separation distance, then the latch  306  is not plastically deformed when the load L is applied to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402 . Alternatively, the tower separation distance  228  may be greater than a threshold that is greater than the minimum separation distance. For example, in order to avoid plastically deforming the latch  306 , the tower separation distance  228  may be kept above a fraction or percentage of the minimum separation distance. In one example, the tower separation distance  228  may be 110% of the minimum separation distance. In another example, the tower separation distance  228  may be 120% of the minimum separation distance. In another example, the tower separation distance  228  may be 130% of the minimum separation distance. The minimum separation distance may be a function of a variety of factors. By way of example only, the minimum separation distance may be a function of the amount of the load L necessary to raise the hook elements  116  out from the latch cavities  402 , the direction  500  at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the location at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the front tower height  216  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the rear tower height  218  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the dimensions of the latch  306 , the material(s) included in the latch  306 , and the like. 
   In one embodiment, the tower separation distance  228  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is sufficiently small such that the hook elements  114  are raised out from the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied to the floating section  408  without plastically deforming the latch  306 . For example, the tower separation distance  228  may be smaller than a maximum separation distance. The maximum separation distance may be the greatest distance between the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  that is used to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied to the floating portion  408  while not plastically deforming the latch  306 . For example, if the tower separation distance  228  is greater than this maximum separation distance, then the hook elements  116  may not be raised out from the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied. In another example, if the tower separation distance  228  is smaller than the maximum separation distance, then the hook elements  116  may be raised out from the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied. The maximum separation distance may be a function of a variety of factors. By way of example only, the maximum separation distance may be a function of the amount of the load L necessary to raise the hook elements  116  out from the latch cavities  402 , the direction  500  at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the location at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the front tower height  216  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the rear tower height  218  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the dimensions of the latch  306 , the material(s) included in the latch  306 , and the like. 
   In one embodiment, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is sufficiently small such that the latch  306  does not plastically deform when the load L is applied to the floating section  408 . For example, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  may be smaller than a maximum tower height. The maximum tower height may be the greatest height of one or both of the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  that is used to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied to the floating portion  408  while not plastically deforming the latch  306 . For example, if one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  is greater than this maximum tower height, then the hook elements  116  may not be raised out from the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied. In another example, if one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  is greater than the maximum tower height, then the latch  306  is plastically deformed when the load L is applied to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402 . Alternatively, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  may be less than a threshold that is less than the maximum tower height. For example, in order to avoid plastically deforming the latch  306 , one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  may be kept below a fraction or percentage of the maximum tower height. In one example, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  may be 90% of the maximum tower height. In another example, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  may be 80% of the maximum tower height. In another example, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  may be 70% of the maximum tower height. The maximum tower height may be a function of a variety of factors. By way of example only, the maximum tower height may be a function of the amount of the load L necessary to raise the hook elements  116  out from the latch cavities  402 , the direction  500  at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the location at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the tower separation distance  228  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the dimensions of the latch  306 , the material(s) included in the latch  306 , and the like. 
   In one embodiment, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is sufficiently large such that the hook elements  114  are raised out from the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied to the floating section  408  without inelastically deforming the latch  306 . For example, one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  may be greater than a minimum tower height. The minimum tower height may be the smallest height of one or both of the front and rear towers  210 ,  212  that is used to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied to the floating portion  408  while not inelastically deforming the latch  306 . For example, if one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  is smaller than this minimum tower height, then the hook elements  116  may not be raised out from the latch cavities  402  when the load L is applied. In another example, if one or both of the front and rear tower heights  216 ,  218  is smaller than the minimum tower height, then the latch  306  is plastically deformed when the load L is applied to raise the hook elements  116  out of the latch cavities  402 . The minimum tower height may be a function of a variety of factors. By way of example only, the minimum tower height may be a function of the amount of the load L necessary to raise the hook elements  116  out from the latch cavities  402 , the direction  500  at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the location at which the load L is applied on the floating portion  408 , the tower separation distance  228  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the dimensions of the latch  306 , the material(s) included in the latch  306 , and the like. 
   It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and merely are example embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.