Electrical connector having integral latch means

Claim 1

An electrical connector comprising a dielectric matable receptacle housing and a dielectric matable plug housing, the receptacle housing having a plurality of terminals therein, the plug housing having a like plurality of matable terminals located therein, the electrical connector being characterized in that: a resilient latching arm is located between sidewalls of the plug housing forming part of an upper wall of the plug housing, the latching arm having a front portion which is pivotally connected to the sidewalls of the plug housing and a rear portion which has an engaging projection located therein, a lance is provided in the plug housing rearwardly of the latching arm forming another part of the upper wall of the plug housing, inner ends of the resilient latching arm and the lance are spaced from each other in overlapping relationship, forming an aperture therebetween, an engaging portion is provided on the receptacle portion, the engaging portion positioned to cooperate with the latching arm, whereby as the receptacle housing and the plug housing are mated together, the latching arm of the plug housing comes in contact with the engaging portion of the receptacle housing, such that as mating continues, the engaging projection of the latching arm engages the engaging portion, causing the latching arm to move inwardly, and as mating is completed, the projection moves past the portion, allowing the latching arm to resiliently return to its unstressed position, thereby placing the projection in an aperture of the receptacle housing in contact with the portion, latching the housings together and preventing the housings from unwanted disengagement.