Patent Abstract:
A connector assembly including a first connector attachable to a first electrical component and a second connector attachable to a second electrical component and releasably engaged with the first connector. The second connector includes a housing, a latch member and a hinge hingedly attaching the latch member to a surface of the housing. The hinge includes at least one beam extending from the latch member to the surface of the housing and curving 90 degrees from the latch member. The latch member includes a push portion at one end and a lock engagement portion at an opposite end. Push portion has an upper push surface configured to receive a force and an opposing lower surface facing the outer surface of the housing and defining a space between outer surface and push portion. The lower surface includes a rib protruding into the space between the outer surface and push portion.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to provisional application Ser. No. 60/702,085, filed on Jul. 22, 2005 and entitled DOUBLE BEAM LATCH CONNECTOR. 
     
    
       [0002]     The present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies for electrically connecting electronic devices to one another and, more particularly, to an improved mechanism for releasably securing the connector members of such an electrical connector assembly to one another.  
         [0003]     Electrical connectors are used in many different applications and industries to electrically connect two electronic components or cables to one another. Such connectors typically include a male member coupled to an end of an electronic component cable and a female member coupled to an end of another electronic component cable. The male and female members are engagable with one another to electrically connect the two cables. Some such connectors also include latching systems that further secure the engagement between male and female members. Industry standards, such as FAKRA and USCAR, have been developed to identify connectors, particularly those in the automotive industry, as having certain characteristics and qualifications. For instance, FAKRA standards require connector assemblies to have a minimum pull out strength (i.e. the amount of strength or force needed to disengage the male member from the female member) to prevent inadvertent disconnection. On the other hand, it may be desirable to provide a latching mechanism that allows for easily and deliberately disengaging the connector members. It would be of further benefit if such a latching system was robust enough to resist damage during shipping, installation and use.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly for connecting first and second electronic components to one another. In one form, the electrical connector assembly includes a first connector member attachable to the first electrical component and a second connector member attachable to the second electrical component and releasably engaged with the first connector member. The first connector member has a first housing. The second connector includes a second housing, a latch member and a hinge hingedly attaching the latch member to a surface of the second housing. The hinge includes at least one beam extending from the latch member to the surface of the second housing. The at least one beam curves 90 degrees extending from the latch member.  
         [0005]     In another form, the electrical connector assembly includes a first connector member attachable to the first electrical component and having a first housing. The electrical connector assembly also includes a second connector member attachable to the second electrical component and releasably engaged with the first connector member. The second connector member includes a second housing, a latch member and a hinge hingedly attaching the latch member to an outer surface of the second housing. The latch member includes a push portion at one end and a lock engagement portion at an opposite end. The push portion has an upper push surface configured to receive a force and an opposing lower surface facing the outer surface of the second housing and defining a space between the outer surface and the push portion. At least one of either the lower surface or the outer surface includes at least one rib protruding into the space between the outer surface and the push portion.  
         [0006]     In yet another form, the present invention provides an electrical connector for releasably coupling with a connector of a first electrical component to couple the first electrical component with a second electrical component. The electrical connector includes a housing having a component end adapted to attach to the second electrical component and a connector end adapted to couple with the connector of the first electrical component. The housing includes an outer surface. The electrical connector also includes a latch member having a push portion at one end and a lock engagement portion at an opposite end. The push portion has an upper push surface configured to receive a force and an opposing lower surface facing the outer surface of the housing and defining a space between the outer surface and the push portion. A hinge hingedly attaches the latch member to the outer surface of the housing. The hinge includes at least one beam extending from the latch member to the outer surface of the housing. The at least one beam has a curve portion curving 90 degrees from the latch member. At least one of the lower surface and the outer surface includes at least one rib protruding into the space between the outer surface and the push portion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an uncoupled electrical connector assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the second, female connector member of connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the connector member of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the connector member of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the connector member of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the connector member of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the connector member of  FIG. 3  taken along line  7 - 7 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the encircled region of the connector member of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view of the connector member of  FIG. 5  taken along line  9 - 9 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the connector member of  FIG. 4  taken along line  10 - 10 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the first, male connector member of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is an end view of the connector member of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
       [0020]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , connector assembly  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Connector assembly  10  generally includes first connector member  12  and second connector member  14 , which may be releasably coupled to one another, as described in further detail below. Each of first and second connector members  12 ,  14  is adapted to be coupled to an electronic device (not shown), as described in further detail below, such that when first and second connector members  12 ,  14  are releasably coupled to one another, the electronic devices (not shown) to which they are coupled are electrically connected.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , second connector member  14  generally includes housing  18  and latch member  28 . Latch member includes hinge portion  52  hingedly coupled to housing  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  7 , housing  18  is defined by outer surface  20  and extends between first end or component end  22  and second end or connector mating end  24 . Component end  22  includes component receiving opening  50  for receiving and/or holding a cable, which in turn connect to a component of an electronic device (not shown). Such a component may be in the form of the plug end of an electric cable adapted to transmit electronic signals to and from the electronic device. The cable may include a bundle of wires and/or electrical contacts positioned in a particular array. Component receiving opening  50  may be adapted to receive such electronic components in any known manner.  
         [0023]     Turning to  FIGS. 1-2 ,  5  and  7 , connector end  24  of second connector member  14  forms a female member in the form of male member receiving opening  26 . Opening  26  is configured to receive male member  72 , as shown in  FIG. 1  and described in further detail below. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , notches  27   a ,  27   b  are formed in the wall defining opening  26  and, as discussed below, aid in the proper alignment of male member  72  with opening  26 . Housing  18  also includes latch guard  42  protruding from outer surface  20  and defining latch chamber  43 . Latch chamber  43  is configured to loosely receive a portion of latch member  28 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , latch member  28  includes push end  30 , opposing lock end  32 , and opposing sides  34   a ,  34   b  extending the length of latch member  28  between push end  30  and lock end  32 . Referring specifically to  FIGS. 2 and 5 - 7 , latch member  28  includes lock engagement portion  36  near end  32 . Lock engagement portion  36  includes lock receiving opening  38  extending therethrough. Lock receiving opening  38  is configured to receive and capture lock member  76  of first connector member  12 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 - 12  and described in further detail below. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 5  and  6 , lock engagement portion  36  has sloped end surface  40  and is moveably housed within latch chamber  43 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4  and  7 - 10 , latch member  28  forms push portion  44 . Push portion  44  includes upper push surface  46  ( FIG. 2 ) and opposing lower surface  48  ( FIGS. 7-8 ). Upper push surface  46  is adapted to receive a force, such as that which may be applied by a person&#39;s finger or thumb in the direction of arrow A 1 , to move the latch about hinge  52 , as is discussed in further detail below. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , but not necessary, upper push surface  46  may be stepped to assist the user in gripping connector member  14  and applying force to push surface  46 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , lower surface  48  of push portion  44  includes sloped portion  48   a . Push portion  44  also includes a pair of ribs  58  protruding from and extending along a portion of lower surface  48 , as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 .  
         [0026]     Turning now to  FIGS. 2-4  and  7 - 9 , hinge portion  52  of latch member  28  is hingedly coupled to housing  18 , such that lower surface  48  is spaced from outer surface  20  of housing  18 . Hinge portion  52  includes pair of spaced apart beams  52   a ,  52   b  extending from opposing sides  34   a ,  34   b  to housing  18 . It should be understood that hinge portion  52 , alternatively, may include a single beam or any number of beams. Beams  52   a ,  52   b  extend from sides  34   a ,  34   b  at a point between push end  30  and lock end  32  to provide axis P about which latch member  28  may pivot. Each of beams  52   a ,  52   b  includes curved portion  54  proximal latch member  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 9 . Curved portion  54  curves away from lower surface  48  to form angle α, which is about 90° relative to lower surface  48 . Although the preferred embodiment illustrates angle a as being about 90°, angle α may vary. Referring now to  FIGS. 7-10 , in its natural (unpivoted) state, lower surface  48  is spaced from outer surface  20  of housing  18  to create space or distance  56  between lower surface  48  and outer surface  20 . Also in this natural position, the underside of ribs  58  are spaced from outer surface  20  by space or distance  60 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6, 7  and  10 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 11 - 12 , first connector member  12  will now be described. First connector member  12  includes housing  66 , which has component end  68  and opposing connector end  70 . Similar to second connector member  14 , component end  68  defines opening  69  for receiving and holding a cable, which in turn connects to a component of an electronic device (not shown). Connector end  70  forms male member  72  which is configured to be received in male member receiving opening  26  ( FIGS. 1, 2 ,  5  and  7 ). Fins or keying ribs  80   a ,  80   b  extend radially outward from the outside surface of male member  72  and are configured and positioned to be received within corresponding notches  27   a ,  27   b . Housing  66  also includes outer surface  74  from which lock member  76  extends. Lock member  76  is configured to be received in lock receiving opening  38  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of latch member  28 . Lock member  76  includes sloped surface  78 , which is adapted to cooperate with sloped surface  40  ( FIG. 5 ) of latch member  28  to facilitate insertion of lock member  76  into opening  38 .  
         [0028]     Turning now to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  5 ,  8 , and  10 , the operation of connector assembly  10  will now be described. Each of first and second connector members  12 ,  14  are coupled at their respective component ends  22 ,  68  to the cable assemblies (not shown) of respective electronic devices (not shown) in any conventional manner. Next, keying ribs  80   a ,  80   b  are aligned with notches  27   a ,  27   b , respectively, and male member  72  of first connector member  12  is inserted into male member receiving opening  26  of second connector member  14  until sloped surface  40  ( FIG. 2  or  7 ) of latch member  28  contacts sloped surface  78  of lock member  76 . At this point male member  72  is pushed further into opening  26  such that sloped surfaces  40  and  78  slide against/along one another, forcing lock end  32  of latch member  28  to deflect away from outer surface  20  of housing  18 . Lock member  76  is then able to pass under sloped surface  40  and into lock receiving opening  38 , at which point hinge members  52   a ,  52   b  bias lock end  32  back toward housing  18  thereby capturing lock member  76  in opening  38  and securing first connector member  12  to second connector member  14 . As the edge of lock member  76  passes the edge of opening  38  and hinge members  52   a ,  52   b  bias lock end  32  back toward housing  18 , an audible “click” is generated so that the user is notified that the engagement is secure.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to disconnect first and second connector members  12 ,  14  from one another, force is applied to push surface  46  of latch member  28  in the direction of arrow A 1 , which urges push portion  44  and its lower surface  48  toward outer surface  20  of housing  18 . As a result, latch member  28  hinges at beams  52   a ,  52   b  such that lock portion  36  is urged upward in the direction of arrow A 2  away from outer surface  20  of housing  18 . With lock portion  36  deflected away from housing  18 , lock member  76  of first connector member  12  is freed from lock receiving opening  38  and first connector member  12  may be pulled apart from second connector  14  to disengage male member  72  from lock engagement portion  36 . Ribs  58  ( FIGS. 7 and 10 ) on lower surface  48  of latch member  28  act as stop device, such that when push portion  44  is pushed close to housing  18 , the underside of ribs  58  contact outer surface  20  of housing  18  to thereby prevent further deflection of latch member  28  and stress on hinge  52 .  
         [0030]     The curvature of hinge beams  52   a ,  52   b  lends to hinge  52  a robustness that resists damage to and fracturing of hinge  52 . In addition the curved hinge beams  52   a ,  52   b  strongly urges latch member  28  to its natural (non-pivoted) state to thereby cause a reliable audible “click” sound after lock member  76  is properly received in lock receiving opening  38 . Ribs  58  cooperate with outer surface  20  of housing  18  to further protect hinge  52  from overstress and fracture. Connector assembly  10  provides for a strong secure connection between electronic components that would meet industry standards and, yet, provides a simple and effective means of deliberately disengaging the connection.  
         [0031]     Both first and second connectors  12 ,  14  may be made of any material suitable for use in forming electrical connectors including, for example, plastic. Housing  18 , latch member  28  and hinge  52  of second connector  14  may be formed of the same or different materials and may be formed either as separate parts that are then assembled, or as a single integral unit. For example, second connector  14  may be formed of a plastic material that is rigid enough to couple with and hold the contacts of the electrical device, but capable of providing beams  52   a ,  52   b  with a resiliency that allows deflection of latch member  28 . First and second connector members  12 ,  14  may be formed using any known method including, for instance, injection molding, extrusion or other manufacturing methods. Although ribs  58  are positioned on lower surface  48  in the embodiments described above, the stop ribs may be alternatively positioned on and extend upwardly from the surface of the housing toward the lower surface of the latch member.  
         [0032]     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7