Patent Abstract:
An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connector receptacle is provided and includes a housing configured and adapted for selective matable connection with a corresponding complementary connector receptacle; a pair of latch arms provided on opposite sides of the housing; and a pair of latch guards extending from the sides of the housing and overlying at least a portion of a respective latch arm. Each latch arm includes a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from a forward end thereof for joining the latch arm to a respective side of the housing. Accordingly, as a latch arm is twisted about the hinge joint, at least a portion of the latch arm abuts against the respective latch guard and additional twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint is prevented.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present disclosure relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to electrical connector housings which are configured and adapted to reduce breakage of latch members thereof. 
   2. Discussion of Related Art 
   Housings for certain electrical connectors are molded from dielectric plastic material and are intended to be secured to mating or complementary connector receptacles when the connector and receptacle has been moved together in a mated condition. In so doing the respective arrays of electrical contacts are mated to complete electrical connections therebetween. In some of these connectors or receptacles, hardware is fastened to or structures are provided on the respective housings to ensure proper and secure mating of the connector with the receptacle when in the mated condition. Desirably, each respective housing includes an integral latching element or the like. For example, integrally molded latch arms may be disposed along opposed sides of the housing of one of the connector and receptacle and may extend forwardly to latchingly engage with corresponding/complementary latching surfaces of the housing of the other of the connector and receptacle, when the connector and receptacle are moved together into a mated condition. 
   Exemplary latch arms used for securing connector and receptacles together are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,700, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, and assigned to assignee hereof. The latch arms include rearward portions which are deflectable to unlatch the latch arms when it is desired to separate and unmate the connector and the receptacle, in which case the latch arms can be said to be hingedly joined to the housing. 
   Such latch arms are subjected to stress and torque during mating and unmating of the connector and receptacle. Accordingly, the hinge joint must be rugged and durable to withstand many cycles of mating and unmating, especially taking into consideration that the hinge joint is molded of plastic material which can commonly lose strength over time when worked and subjected to temperature cycling as well. 
   A need exists for an electrical connector or connector receptacle which is configured and adapted to reduce the degree of torque transmitted to the latch arms or the like. 
   A need further exists for an electrical connector or connector receptacle which is configured and adapted to reduce the degree of motion of the latch arm and/or reduces the degree of flexure in the hinge connecting the latch arm to the connector or receptacle. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present disclosure relates to electrical connector housings which are configured and adapted to reduce breakage of latch arms thereof. 
   According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrical connector for mating with a complementary connector receptacle is provided. The electrical connector includes a housing configured and adapted for selective matable connection with a corresponding complementary connector receptacle; a pair of latch arms provided on opposite sides of the housing; and a pair of latch guards extending from the sides of the housing and overlying at least a portion of a respective latch arm. Each latch arm includes latching projections at a forward end of the latch arm which are configured and adapted for selective engagement with corresponding latching means provided on the connector receptacle; and a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the forward end thereof for joining the latch arm to a respective side of the housing. Accordingly, as a latch arm is twisted about the hinge joint, at least a portion of the latch arm abuts against the respective latch guard and additional twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint is prevented. 
   Each latch guard may extend distally and proximally of the hinge joint. 
   Each latch arm may include a first stop feature extending therefrom at a location between the latching projection and the hinge joint. The first stop feature desirably extends towards the housing. Accordingly, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the first stop feature is engagable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm. 
   Each latch arm desirably includes a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the respective hinge joint. Each latch arm may include a second stop feature extending therefrom at a location rearward of the hinge joint. The second stop feature desirably extends towards the housing. 
   In use, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the second stop feature is engageable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm. 
   Each latch arm is desirably deflectable about the hinge joint. Accordingly, flexure of the forward end of the latch arm toward the housing is stopped by the first stop feature. Additionally, flexure of the rearward end of the latch arm toward the housing is stopped by the second stop feature. 
   It is envisioned that the housing and the latch arms are fabricated from a dielectric material. 
   According to another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein an electrical connector for selective mating with a complementary connector receptacle is provided, and wherein the electrical connector includes a housing, a pair of latch arms hingedly connected to and extending from opposite sides of the housing, the improvement includes a pair of latch guards extending from opposite sides of the housing. Each latch guard overlies at least a portion of a respective latch arm. The latch guards stop twisting of the latch arms about the hinge joint in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the latch arms. 
   Each latch arm desirably includes a latching projection at a forward end thereof for selectively engaging a corresponding latching means provided on the connector receptacle. 
   The hinge joint is desirably spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the forward end of the latch arm. Desirably, each latch guard extends distally and proximally of the hinge joint. 
   In use, the latch guards stop twisting of the latch arms about an axis transverse to a pivot axis of the hinge joint. 
   Each latch arm may include a first stop feature extending therefrom at a location between the latching projection and the hinge joint. In use, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the first stop feature is engagable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm. Each latch arm may include a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the respective hinge joint. Each latch arm may further include a second stop feature extending therefrom at a location rearward of the hinge joint. As such, upon twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint, the second stop feature is engageable with the respective latch guard to stop twisting of the latch arm. 
   For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a top, perspective view of a bottom half-shell of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top, plan view of the bottom half-shell of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom, plan view of the bottom half-shell of  FIGS. 1–3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front, elevational view of the bottom half-shell of  FIGS. 1–4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the bottom half-shell of  FIGS. 1–5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top, perspective view of a top half-shell of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom, plan view of the top half-shell of  FIGS. 1 and 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a top, plan view of the top half-shell of  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a front, elevational view of the top half-shell of FIGS.  1  and  7 – 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the top half-shell of FIGS.  1  and  7 – 10 , and 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the blocking feature of the latch guards. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   Embodiments of the presently disclosed electrical connector will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein and as is traditional, the term “distal” refers to that portion which is furthest from the user while the term “proximal” refers to that portion which is closest to the user. In addition, terms such as “above”, “below”, “forward”, “rearward”, etc. refer to the orientation of the figures or the direction of components and are simply used for convenience of description. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–11 , an electrical connector, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is generally designated as  100 . Connector  100  includes a housing  102  having a top half-shell  102   a  and a bottom half-shell  102   b . As seen in  FIG. 1 , housing  102  includes a receiving recess  104  having a plurality of electrical contact channels  106  formed therein. Each contact channel  106  may include an electrical contact therein (not shown) for electrical connection with a complementary electrical contact of a connector receptacle (not shown). Contact channel  106  is particularly shaped to mate with a complementary element or structure of the connector receptacle. 
   Housing  102 , including top half-shell  102   a  and/or bottom half-shell  102   b , may be made from a dielectric material. Desirably, top half-shell  102   a  and bottom half-shell  102   b  are secured to one another by fastening means, such as screws  108 , or other securing structures, such as, for example, clips, snap-fit engaging structure and the like. 
   Electrical connector  100 , as described herein, is an eight position connector for use with an eight wire communications cable. However, it should be understood that the invention can also be applied to other connectors which are terminable to different numbers of wires. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1–6 , bottom half-shell  102   b  of housing  102  includes a bottom wall  112 , a rear wall  114  extending substantially orthogonally from bottom wall  112 , and a pair of spaced apart side walls  116   a ,  116   b  extending substantially orthogonally from bottom wall  112 . Bottom half-shell  102   b  includes a plurality of channels  118   a – 118   d  formed therein for accommodating electrical contacts and/or wire cables therein. 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 1–6 , electrical connector  100  further includes a pair of latch arms  120 ,  122  integrally joined to side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b  of housing  102  at respective flexible integral hinge joints  124 ,  126  located approximately midway along latch arms  120 ,  122 . Each latch arm  120 ,  122  includes a respective forward portion  120   a ,  122   a  concluding in a free end  120   b ,  122   b . Each free end  120   b ,  122   b  of latch arms  120 ,  122  includes a latching projection  120   c ,  122   c , respectively, which extends towards a respective side wall  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b . Each projection  120   c ,  122   c  defines a latching surface  120   d ,  122   d . In use, latching surfaces  120   d ,  122   d  selectively engage corresponding complementary recesses (not shown) provided in or on the connector receptacle. 
   Each latch arm  120 ,  122  further includes a respective rearward portion  120   e ,  122   e  extending rearwardly from respective hinge joints  124 ,  126 . Desirably, rearward portions  120   e ,  122   e  of latch arms  120 ,  122  are configured and adapted for gripping by a user. 
   Each hinge joint  124 ,  126  is capable of enabling latch arm deflection in a plane “P” (see  FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  6 ,  10  and  11 ). Plane “P” is desirably co-planar to an upper or lower surface of housing  102  of electrical connector  100 , or orthogonal to a front surface of housing  102  of electrical connector  100 . In particular, each latch arm  120 ,  122  may be deflected at or about respective hinge joints  124 ,  126 , so as to move in plane “P” in the direction of arrows “A”, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   Desirably, each latch arm  120 ,  122  includes a distal or first stop feature  121   a ,  123   a , respectively, projecting from an inner surface of forward portion  120   a ,  122   a , towards respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b . In use, as will be described in greater detail below, distal stop features  121   a ,  123   a  prevent excessive or over-flexure of forward portions  120   a ,  122   a  of latch arms  120 ,  122  toward side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b . In particular, if forward portions  120   a ,  122   a  of latch arms  120 ,  122  are deflected towards respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b , stop features  121   a ,  123   a  abut against respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b  and prevent further flexure of forward portion  120   a ,  122   a  towards respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b.    
   Each latch arm  120 ,  122  further includes a proximal or second stop feature  121   b ,  123   b , respectively, projecting from an inner surface of rearward portion  120   e ,  122   e , towards respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b . In use, as will be described in greater detail below, proximal stop features  121   b ,  123   b  prevent excessive or over-flexure of rearward portions  120   e ,  122   e  of latch arms  120 ,  122  toward side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b . In particular, if rearward portions  120   e ,  122   e  of latch arms  120 ,  122  are deflected towards respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b , stop features  121   b ,  123   b  abut against respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b  and prevent further flexure of rearward portion  120   e ,  122   e  towards respective side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b.    
   During mating of electrical connector  100  to a complementary connector receptacle, forward portions  120   a ,  122   a  of latch arms  120 ,  122  are deflected outwardly (i.e., away from side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b ) near respective free ends  120   b ,  122   b  as latching projections  120   c ,  122   c  ride over mating projections provided on the connector receptacle (not shown). As forward portions  120   a ,  122   a  of latch arms  120 ,  122  are deflected outwardly, rearward portions  120   e ,  122   e  of latch arms  120 ,  122  deflect inwardly due to the pivoting or flexure about hinge joints  124 ,  126 . Over deflection or over flexure of rearward portions  120   e ,  122   e  of latch arms  120 ,  122  is prevented when proximal stop features  121   b ,  123   b  of latch arms  120 ,  122  abut against and/or otherwise contact side walls  116   a ,  116   b  of bottom half-shell  102   b . Upon complete and proper mating, latching surfaces  120   d ,  122   d  of latch arms  120 ,  122  latch behind the respective projections provided on the connector receptacle (not shown). 
   Turning now to FIGS.  1  and  7 – 10 , top half-shell  102   a  of housing  102  includes a top wall  132 , a rear wall  134  extending substantially orthogonally from top wall  132 , and a pair of spaced apart side walls  136   a ,  136   b  extending substantially orthogonally from top wall  132 . Top half-shell  102   a  includes a plurality of channels  138   a – 138   d  formed therein for accommodating electrical contacts and/or wire cables therein. Channels  138   a – 138   d  of top half-shell  102   a  correspond to and register with channels  118   a – 118   d  of bottom half-shell  102   b.    
   With continued reference to FIGS.  1  and  7 – 11 , top half-shell  102   a  includes a latch guard, wall, ledge or flange  140 ,  142  projecting from each side wall  136   a ,  136   b  thereof. Desirably, each latch guard  140 ,  142  extends from a front edge of side wall  136   a ,  136   b  proximally along substantially an entire length of side wall  136   a ,  136   b . More desirably, latch guards  140 ,  142  substantially overlie respective latch arms  120 ,  122  of bottom half-shell  102   b  when top half-shell  102   a  is connected to bottom half-shell  102   b.    
   As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 12 , at least distal stop features  121   a ,  123   a  of latch arms  120 ,  122  extend at least partially beneath respective latch guards  140 ,  142 . Additionally, at least a portion of rearward portions  120   e ,  122   e  of latch arms  120 ,  122  are disposed beneath latch guards  140 ,  142 . Accordingly, in use, excessive twisting of latch arms  120 ,  122 , about hinge joints  124 ,  126  (i.e., in a direction orthogonal to plane “P” of the latch arm  120 ,  122  and orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the latch arms  120 ,  122  or about rotational axis “C”) is prevented by latch guards  140 ,  142 . The abutment of latch arm  122 , either at a forward end of latch guard  142  or at a rearward end of latch guard  142 , is shown in phantom in  FIG. 12 . 
   In particular, if, during manipulation of electrical connector  100  or during mating of electrical connector  100  to a connector receptacle, either latch arm  120 ,  122  should twist about hinge joints  124 ,  126  (i.e., forward portions  120   a ,  122   a  of latch arms  120 ,  122  deflect in a direction transverse to the pivot plane of the latch arms  120 ,  122 ) at least a portion of the latch arm  120 ,  122  (e.g., stop features  121   a ,  123   a ,  121   b ,  123   b ) will abut against a respective latch guard  140 ,  142  and prevent or inhibit any further twisting of latch arm  120 ,  122  about hinge joints  124 ,  126  in a direction transverse to the pivot plane. 
   Provision of latch guards  140 ,  142  on electrical connector  100  reduce the risk of damage to latch arms  120 ,  122  as a result of excessive twisting of latch arms  120 ,  122  as described above. 
   Desirably, housing  102  and latch arms  120 ,  122  are fabricated from dielectric materials, including and not limited to plastic and the like. 
   It is to be understood that the foregoing description s merely a disclosure of particular embodiments and is no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other possible modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and all modifications are to be defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7