Patent Publication Number: US-10784621-B1

Title: Connector housing latch

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector housing, and in particular to a latch for a connector housing used in an electrical connector assembly. 
     Electrical connector assemblies that mate multiple wire harnesses often include a pair of housings that are releasably mated to each other. Once mated together, some type of latch or other securement mechanism (lock) may hold the housings together to prevent inadvertent release of the housings from each other. To allow for repair or replacement, the housings may include some type of release for the lock that allows the housings to be separated. However, it is undesirable for the release to be easily inadvertently actuated, in which case the housings may be separated when not desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment contemplates an electrical connector comprising a connector housing having a first end and an opposed second end, a pair of spaced apart release stops extending generally radially outward and adjacent to the first end, a single or a pair of deflection buttons extending longitudinally cantilevered from a pivot base having a lateral axis and having free ends extending toward the first end and located adjacent to and radially outward from respective ones of the release stops when in an unflexed state, and a latch arm extending longitudinally cantilevered from the pivot base toward the second end, with a free end of the latch arm including a latch lock configured to selectively engage a barb on a mating connector. An embodiment contemplates an electrical connector comprising: a connector housing having: a first end and an opposed second end; a pair of spaced apart release stops extending generally radially outward and adjacent to the first end; a pivot base pivotable about a generally lateral axis; a pair of deflection buttons extending longitudinally cantilevered from the pivot base and having free ends extending toward the first end and located adjacent to and radially outward from respective ones of the release stops when in an unflexed state; and a latch arm extending longitudinally cantilevered from the pivot base toward the second end, with a free end of the latch arm including a latch lock; and a mating connector having: a mating housing with a first end configured to be received in the connector housing; and a barb extending radially outward from the mating housing and configured to selectively engage the latch lock. 
     An advantage of an embodiment is that the latch for the connector housing is not disengageable or unlockable from the other housing by just pressing on the latch button but is when also actuating deflection buttons. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view, in cross section, of a connector assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a mating connector. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of a connector housing. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the connector housing, with the deflector buttons actuated laterally inward. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of the connector housing, with the deflector buttons actuated laterally inward and pivoted radially inward. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross section of an alternative embodiment of the connector housing, in the un-deflected state. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross section similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the deflector buttons actuated laterally inward and pivoted radially inward. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate various portions of a connector assembly  20 , which includes a connector housing  22  that is selectively secured to a mating connector  24 . The connector housing  22 , is formed from an elastic material that allows for flexing (deflection) when a force is applied and then returns to the non-deflected state when the force is released. 
     The mating connector  24  includes a mating housing  26  that may contain mating electrical components  28  within a connector receiving passage  30  that is defined by a mating main body  32 . A pair of ramps  34  extend generally radially outward from an outer surface  38  of the mating main body  32  and terminate at a barb  36 . The ramps  34  slope radially inward toward the end  50  of the mating main body  32  that is received in an electrical passage  40  of the connector housing  22 . 
     The connector housing  22  may include electrical components  42  that are received in the electrical passage  40 , which is defined by a housing main body  46 . The housing main body  46  has a first end  48 , which is slideable around the end  50  of the mating main body  32 , and a second end  52 , longitudinally opposite from the first end  48 . Extending generally radially outward from the housing main body  46 , adjacent to the second end  52  are a pair of spaced apart release stops  54 . The release stops  54  interact with a latch  56 , which selectively secures and releases the mating connector  24  to and from the connector housing  22 . The latch  56  may be molded as part of the connector housing  22 , the two thus being formed as a single monolithic piece. 
     The latch  56  includes a singular or pair of deflection buttons  58  that extend cantilevered from the housing main body  46  in a generally longitudinal direction toward the second end  52 . The deflection buttons  58  are located such that free ends  60  longitudinally and laterally align with respective release stops  54 , radially outward and adjacent to the respective release stops  54 . This location of the deflection buttons  58  occurs when the buttons  58  are in their non-deflected (un-flexed) state. Thus, in the non-deflected state, the deflection buttons  58  cannot move radially inward. 
     The latch  56  also includes a pivoting beam  62  with two opposed cantilevered members, a latch tongue  64  and a latch arm  66 . The latch tongue  64  extends cantilevered from the housing main body  46  in a generally longitudinal direction toward the second end  52 , generally parallel to and generally between the deflection buttons  58 . The latch arm  66  extends generally longitudinally, cantilevered in an opposite direction from the latch tongue  64 . The latch arm  66  includes a latch lock  68  extending radially inward from a free end  70  of the latch arm  66 , with the free end  70  extending toward the first end  48  of the housing main body  46 . The latch lock  68  is sized and located such that, as the mating connector  24  is slid into the connector housing  22 , the latch lock  68  slides up the ramps  34  and engages the barb  36  when the mating connector  24  is fully seated in the connector housing. The latch lock  68  may taper somewhat toward the free end  70  in order to assist in the sliding motion during assembly. 
     One will note that the deflection buttons  58  and pivoting beam  62  (latch tongue  64  and latch arm  66 ) all pivot about essentially the same pivot base  72  (best seen in  FIG. 1 ), which pivots about a laterally extending axis. Thus, for example, if the free ends  60  of the deflection buttons  58  are moved radially inward, this causes the pivot base  72  to pivot about this lateral axis, which in turn will cause the free end of the latch tongue  64  to also move radially inward while at the same time causing the free end  70  of the latch arm  66  to move radially outward. 
     The assembly and disassembly of the connector assembly  20  will now be discussed. When one wishes to assemble the connector housing  22  to the mating connector  24 , the two are oriented so that the first end  48  of the connector housing  22  will slide around the end  50  of the mating housing  26 , with the latch arm  66  aligned with the ramps  34 . The connector housing  22  and mating connector  24  are then slid telescopically toward each other. While sliding telescopically, the latch lock  68  will slide up the ramps  34 , thus causing the latch arm  66  to flex radially outward. Upon essentially full insertion, the latch lock  68  slides off of the ramps  34 , allowing the latch arm  66  to flex radially inward, engaging the latch lock  68  with the barb  36 . The connector assembly  20  is now secured together (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     When one wishes to disassemble the connector housing  22  from the mating connector  24 , one must first disengage the latch lock  68  from the barb  36 . To accomplish this, one grasps the deflection buttons  58  adjacent to the free ends  60  and flexes them laterally inward towards each other (see arrows L in  FIG. 4 , indicating the direction of applied lateral force). This flexing offsets the free ends  60  of the deflection buttons  58  from the release stops  54 . While maintaining the lateral force L, the free ends  60  of the deflection buttons  58  are then pivoted, about the pivot base  72 , radially inward (see arrows R in  FIG. 5 , indicating the direction of the applied radial force). Since the deflection buttons  58  are flexed laterally inward, the radially inward pivoting can now be accomplished without interference from the release stops  54 . As the free ends  60  move radially inward, the latch tongue  64  also pivots radially inward, with the latch arm  66  pivoting to cause its free end  70  to move radially outward. This movement causes the latch lock  68  to move radially outward, out of engagement with the barb  36 . Thus, the latch  56  on the connector housing  22  is disengaged from the barb  36  on the mating housing  26 . 
     With the latch  56  disengaged, one continues holding the deflection buttons  58  laterally inward and radially downward and pulls the mating housing  26  telescopically from the connector housing  22 . The connector assembly  20  is now disassembled. Upon releasing the deflection buttons  58 , the features return to unflexed states. Accordingly, the housings  22 ,  26  are ready to be reassembled when desired. 
       FIGS. 6-7  illustrate an alternate embedment of the connector housing  22 . Since the apparatus described in this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, like reference characters designate corresponding elements of the drawings and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the internal structure of the connector housing  22  is somewhat different, which may accommodate somewhat different electrical components (see  42  in  FIG. 1 ). The latch lock  68  is still located at the end of the latch arm  66 , which still pivots about the pivot base  72 , from which the deflection buttons  58  extend in an opposite direction. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the deflection buttons  58  are unflexed and so align with the release stops  54 , preventing the free ends  60  of the deflection buttons  58  from moving radially inward. Accordingly, the latch lock  68  is in a position to engage the barb of the mating housing (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     In  FIG. 7 , one will note that the free ends  60  of the deflection buttons  58  are flexed laterally inward and radially inward, thus causing the latch lock  68  of the latch arm  66  to pivot radially outward. Accordingly, the latch lock  68  is in a position to remain released from the barb of the mating housing (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.