Mounting means for mounting a connector in a panel

Claim 1

A molded thermoplastic latching device which, along with a similar latching device, is intended for assembly to a connector housing to provide latching means on said housing to latch said housing to a panel when said housing is inserted into an opening in said panel, said housing having a mating face, a rearward face, external sidewalls and internal endwalls between said faces, said latching device comprising: an L-shaped member having first and second arms, said first and second arms having first and second internal surfaces and first and second external surfaces respectively, said internal surfaces intersecting to form a pocket which is dimensioned to receive a rearward corner of said housing with said rearward face against said first internal surface and with one of said endwalls against said second internal surface, attaching means on said first arm for attaching said L-shaped member to said housing at said rearward corner, said second arm having a free end and having bearing surface portions on said free end for bearing against one side of said panel and against portions of said opening in said panel, and latch arm means for engagement with said panel, said latch means comprising a flexible latch arm which extends parallel to said second arm, said latch arm being spaced from said second internal surface and being flexible towards said second internal surface, said latch arm having a free end and having rearwardly facing shoulder means on said free end for bearing against the other side of said panel whereby, upon assembling one of said latching devices to each of the rearward corners of said housing and inserting said housing into opening in said panel until said bearing surface portions are against said one side of said panel and against said opening, said latch arms will be flexed towards said second internal surfaces until said shoulders are through said openings, and said shoulders will then bear against the other side of said panel.