Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
An electrical connector assembly for mounting in a panel which includes a mounting aperture having a width defined between two opposing edges, said connector assembly including a housing with floating panel mount means formed thereon comprising: a generally planar mounting flange having a forward surface adapted to face and be generally parallel to said panel when mounted thereon; and a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel resilient double cantilevered latch members formed on said forward surface of the mounting flange and extending outwardly therefrom adapted to be inserted through said aperture, each latch member including a first arm extending from said mounting flange and a second arm joined to the first arm and bent angularly toward said mounting flange with a free end generally opposing and spaced from the forward surface of the mounting flange and having an outwardly facing cam surface, each latch member having a normal position wherein the distance between the forward surface of the mounting flange and the free end of the second arm is slightly greater than the thickness of the panel and the distance between the free end of the cam surface on the second arm and the first arm is greater than the width of the aperture, whereupon insertion of each latch member into the aperture, the cam surface engages an aperture edge causing the latch member to move from the normal position to a deflected position wherein said second arm is moved relative to said first arm allowing said latch member to be inserted through the aperture after which said latch member resiliently reassumes said normal position, whereby the portions of the panel adjacent the edges are captured and retained between the free end of the second arm and the forward surface of the mounting flange in floating manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
An electrical connector assembly for mounting in a panel which includes a mounting aperture having a width defined between two opposing edges, said connector assembly including a housing with floating panel mount means formed thereon comprising: a generally planar mounting flange having a forward surface adapted to face and be generally parallel to said panel when mounted thereon; and a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel resilient double cantilevered latch members formed on said forward surface of the mounting flange and extending outwardly therefrom adapted to be inserted through said aperture, each latch member including a first arm extending from said mounting flange and a second arm joined to the first arm and bent angularly toward said mounting flange with a free end generally opposing and spaced from the forward surface of the mounting flange and having an outwardly facing cam surface, each latch member having a normal position wherein the distance between the forward surface of the mounting flange and the free end of the second arm is slightly greater than the thickness of the panel and the distance between the free end of the cam surface on the second arm and the first arm is greater than the width of the aperture, whereupon insertion of each latch member into the aperture, the cam surface engages an aperture edge causing the latch member to move from the normal position to a deflected position wherein said second arm is moved relative to said first arm allowing said latch member to be inserted through the aperture after which said latch member resiliently reassumes said normal position, whereby the portions of the panel adjacent the edges are captured and retained between the free end of the second arm and the forward surface of the mounting flange in floating manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel includes one mounting aperture, and said pair of latch members are disposed adjacent each other such that their first arms extend parallel to and adjacent one another and said second arms of each said latch member extend in opposed directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the panel includes a pair of spaced apart mounting apertures and the housing includes a second pair of latch members spaced from one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein said second arm includes an upper portion joined to the first arm and a lower locking portion extending from the upper portion and bent downwardly with respect to the upper portion, the lower locking portion defining the free end of the second arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein in each latch member, the locking portion is deflectable with respect to the upper portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein in each latch member, the first and second arms are deflectable relative to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein the first arm is deflectable relative to the mounting flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein each latch member lies generally in a single plane, and wherein the planes of the multiple latch members are generally parallel to one another.