Locking structure for electrical connectors

Claim 1

In combination with a pair of matable electrical connectors, easily releasable overcenter locking structure comprising: a double ramp member formed on one of the matable connectors, said double ramp member having a first inclined ramp surface of generally fixed width leading from a front face of the one connector upwardly to an apex and a second inclined ramp surface leading downwardly from said apex in a direction away from said first inclined ramp surface to a surface of the one connector; said apex of said double ramp member being intermediate the locations at which said first and said second inclined ramp surfaces intersect the surface of the one connector; said second ramp surface having a wedge shape when viewed looking directly downwardly at said apex of said double ramp member, the wide portion of said wedge shape being at said apex and the narrow portion of said wedge shape being at the point of intersection of said second ramp surface and the surface of the connector; and a pair of cantilever beams formed on the other of the matable connectors, supporting portions of each of said cantilever beams extending upwardly from a rear portion of a surface of the other connector with said cantilever beams projecting forwardly therefrom in a parallel, spaced relationship towards a front face of the other connector; the spacing between said cantilever beams being slightly greater than said generally fixed width of said first inclined ramp surface of said double ramp member; each of said cantilever beams having at its free end an enlarged portion which projects into the space between said cantilever beams towards but not into engagement with said enlarged portion on said other one of said cantilever beams whereby a small space exists between said enlarged portions; each of said enlarged portions having a cam releasing surface which, when viewed from directly above said cantilever beams, is inclined inwardly from said small space between said enlarged portions generally towards a rear portion of said cantilever beam with which said enlarged portion is associated, each of said enlarged portions also having a cam locking surface which, when viewed from said front face of the other connector, extends generally downwardly and rearwardly from a top surface of each of said cantilever beams; whereby said cantilever beams are deflected upwardly by engagement of said cam locking surfaces and said first inclined ramp surface of said double ramp member during movement of said pair of matable connectors towards a mated position, whereby said cantilever beams and said enlarged portions thereof surround said double ramp member to lock said matable connectors in a mated position, and whereby said cam releasing surfaces of said enlarged portions of said cantilever beams are drawn along said wedge shape of said second ramp surface of said double ramp member to spread said cantilever beams apart to permit easy unmating of said matable connectors.