Connector assembly having a latching mechanism

Claim 2

A connector assembly, which includes a connector body which includes a first end and a second end and at least one connective device disposed adjacent to said first end, said connector body including latching means, and a cover which is disposed about said connector body and which is adapted to be moved sildably along said connector body, said connector assembly being characterized by a coupling for receiving at least a portion of said connector body and of said cover and for aligning said connective device of said connector body with another communication path, said latching means being effective when said cover is in a first position to secure said connector body to said coupling and cooperating with said cover as said cover is moved to a second position or when said connector body is subjected to a force having a predetermined magnitude and direction to cause said latching means to become disengaged from said coupling and allow withdrawal of said connector body from said coupling.

Claim 3

The communications connector assembly of claim 1 wherein: said connector body including at least one movable latching portion which is biased outwardly therefrom and which includes a latching surface and a camming surface; said cover which is disposed about said connector body includes at least one window in one portion thereof for allowing a portion of said movable latching portion to project outwardly therefrom, said cover being adapted to be moved slidably on said connector body to cause a wall which defines said window to engage and to be moved along said camming surface to move said latching portion inwardly within said window; and said connector assembly includes housing means for aligning said connective device of said connector body with another communication path, said housing means being adapted to receive at least a portion of said connector body and of said cover and including an opening therein so that when said connector body and cover are received in said housing means, said latching portion, which normally projects beyond said window, extends into said opening with said latching surface being engaged by a wall which defines said opening to secure said connector body within said housing means, and so that when said cover is moved in a direction toward said second end, relative motion is caused between said wall which defines said window and said camming surface to move said latching portion inwardly to withdraw it from said opening in said housing and thereby permit withdrawal of said connector body from said housing.

Claim 4

The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein said latching portion comprises a latching nub having a sloping camming fae, said nub being attached to a free end of a cantilevered arm, and said cantilevered arm having an end opposite to said free end and attached to said connector body adjacent to said first end thereof, and wherein when said cover is moved toward said second end of said connector body, said wall which defines said window cams against said sloping camming surface of said latching nub to move said nub inwardly of said connector body.

Claim 5

The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein said latching surface also is inclined to a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly and is such that when a tensile force of at least a predetermined magnitude is applied to said connector body, relative engaging motion is caused between said latching surface and said wall which defines said opening to cause said latching portion to be moved inwardly and to withdraw said latching portion from said opening to allow withdrawal of said connector body from said housing, wherein the magnitude of forces which need to be applied to said cover to move said cover or to the connector body to allow withdrawal of the connector body from the housing may be varied by changing the degree of slope of the camming surface and of the latching surface, respectively, or the stiffness of said cantilevered arm.

Claim 6

The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein: said connector body includes a connection end and a cable input end and two connective devices disposed adjacent ot said connection end, said connector body including two latching nubs projecting and being biased normally outwardly therefrom, each said latching including a latching surface and a camming surface and being attached to a cantilevered arm which is formed integrally with said connector body; said cover comprises a release cover which is disposed slidably about said connector body and which includes at least two windows in one portion thereof for allowing a portion of each said latching nub to project outwardly therefrom, said release cover being adapted to be moved slidably by a user grasping said cover adjacent to said cable input end and moving it toward said cable input end thereby causing a wall which defines each said window to cam along one of the camming surfaces to urge said latching nubs inwardly and withdraw said nubs into said windows said latching nubs normally extending beyond said windows; and said coupling causing said connective devices of said connector body to become connected to other light paths, said coupling including a housing adapted to receive at least a portion of said connector body and of said cover and including at least two openings therein so that when said connector body is received in said housing, said latching nubs which extend beyond said windows project into said openings with said latching surfaces thereof being engaged by walls which define said openings to secure said release cover said coupling, and such that when a force of at least a predetermined magnitude is applied to said release cover in a direction toward its cable end, said release cover is moved slidably to depress said latching nubs and to withdraw them from said openings in said housing to permit withdrawal of said connector body from said coupling.

Claim 7

The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said connector body includes at least two cantilevered arms which are attached to said connector body with each said latching nub being attached to a free end of one of said arms.

Claim 8

The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said cantilevered arms are attached to said connector body adjacent to said connection end, the free ends of said arms being oriented toward said cable input end of said connector body.

Claim 9

The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said latching surfaces are inclined to a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly and are such that when a tensile force of at least a predetermined magnitude is applied to the connector body, relative motion is caused between said latching surfaces and said walls which define said openings to cause said latching surfaces and said walls which define said openings to cause said latching nubs to be moved inwardly and withdraw said latching nubs from said openings to allow withdrawal of said connector body from said housing, wherein the magnitude of the forces which need to be applied to said cover to move said cover or to said connector body to allow withdrawal of the connector body from the housing may be varied by changing the degree of slope of the camming surfaces or of the latching surfaces, respectively.

Claim 10

The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said connector body includes means for terminating two optical fibers and said connector body includes a pair of cantilevered arms on each of two opposed sides thereof with a latching nub attached to the free end of each, and said housing including two openings on each of two opposed sides thereof.

Claim 11

The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said connector body includes at least one chamfered edge extending longitudinally therealong and said housing of said coupling includes at least one sloping portion which joins a side portion and an adjoining portion so that said connector body must be oriented to align said chamfered edge thereof with said sloping portion of said housing before said connector body can be inserted into said housing.