Latch arm for electrical connector housing

Claim 2

A hinge joint for joining a deflectable section integrally to a plastic article, comprising a bight section spaced from a surface portion of said plastic article and joined integrally thereto by a pair of leg sections coextending outwardly from said surface portion and spaced apart substantially in parallel to define a relief area therebetween, and a rib section joining said bight section to said deflectable section and having at least a first rib component joined to said bight section substantially parallel to said leg sections and midway therebetween and extending from proximate a first edge of said bight section to proximate a second edge, whereby upon deflection of said deflectable section relative to said article, said bight section is flexible by being adapted to be locally elastically deformed by said first rib component relatively toward said article surface portion at one of said first and second edge portions and relatively away therefrom at the other of said first and second edge portions.

Claim 3

A hinge joint as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rib section includes a second rib component perpendicular to said first rib component and joining said deflectable section and said bight section, whereby said rib section has a cross-shaped cross-section.

Claim 4

A connector housing molded of plastic material and matable with a corresponding connector housing and having a pair of latch arms on opposite sides thereof each having respective latching projections at forward free ends thereof latchable with corresponding latching means of said corresponding connector housing, each said latch arm joined to a respective said side of said housing at a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from said forward free end of said latch arm, each said hinge joint comprising a bight section spaced from said side of said housing and joined integrally thereto by a pair of leg sections coextending outwardly from said side and spaced apart substantially in parallel to define a relief area therebetween, and a rib section joining said bight section to said latch arm and having at least a first rib component joined to said bight section substantially parallel to said leg sections and midway therebetween and extending from proximate a first edge of said bight section to proximate a second edge, whereby upon deflection of said latch arm relative to said housing, said bight section is flexible by being adapted to be locally elastically deformed by said first rib component relatively toward said housing side at one of said first and second edge portions and relatively away therefrom at the other of said first and second edge portions

Claim 5

A connector housing molded of plastic material and matable with a corresponding connector housing and having a pair of latch arms on opposite sides thereof each having respective latching projections at forward free ends thereof latchable with corresponding latching means of said corresponding connector housing, each said latch arm joined to a respective said side of said housing at a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from said forward free end of said latch arm, each said hinge joint comprising a bight section spaced from said side of said housing and joined integrally thereto by a pair of leg sections coextending outwardly from said side and spaced apart substantially in parallel to define a relief area therebetween, and a rib section joining said bight section to said latch arm and having at least a first rib component joined to said bight section substantially parallel to said leg sections and midway therebetween and extending from proximate a first edge of said bight section to proximate a second edge, whereby upon deflection of said latch arm relative to said housing, said bight section is flexible by being adapted to be locally elastically deformed by said first rib component relatively toward said housing side at one of said first and second edge portions and relatively away therefrom at the other of said first and second edge portions

Claim 6

A connector housing as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rib section includes a second rib component perpendicular to said first rib component and joining said latch arm section and said bight section, whereby said rib section has a cross-shaped cross-section.

Claim 7

A connector housing as set forth in claim 3 wherein said latch arms include rearward portions extending rearwardly from respective said hinge joints to define a pair of inwardly deflectable latch arm portions enabling delatching and unmating of said connector housing from said corresponding connector housing.

Claim 8

A hinge joint for joining a deflectable section integrally to a plastic article, comprising a bight section joined integrally to a surface portion of said plastic article at a pair of spaced joints and extending over a recessed portion of said surface portion between said spaced joints and defining a first free edge and a second free edge spaced from said first free edge, and means jointing said bight section to said deflectable section about midway between said pair of spaced joints, said joining means at least joining said deflectable section to said bight section proximate said first free edge of said bight section and proximate said deflectable section relative to said article, said bight section is flexible by being adapted to be locally elastically deformed by said joining means relatively toward said article surface portion at one of said first and second free edges and relatively away therefrom at the other of said first and second free edges.

Claim 9

A hinge joint for joining a deflectable section integrally to a plastic article, comprising a bight section joined integrally to a surface portion of said plastic article at a pair of spaced joints and extending over a recessed portion of said surface portion between said spaced joints and defining a first free edge and a second free edge spaced from said first free edge, and means jointing said bight section to said deflectable section about midway between said pair of spaced joints, said joining means at least joining said deflectable section to said bight section proximate said first free edge of said bight section and proximate said deflectable section relative to said article, said bight section is flexible by being adapted to be locally elastically deformed by said joining means relatively toward said article surface portion at one of said first and second free edges and relatively away therefrom at the other of said first and second free edges.

Claim 10

A hinge joint as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spaced joints comprise respective leg sections extending between said article and said bight section.

Claim 11

A hinge joint as set forth in claim 6 wherein said joining means comprises a rib section joining said deflectable section to said first and second free edges.

Claim 12

A connector housing molded of plastic material and matable with a corresponding connector housing and having a pair of latch arms on opposite sides thereof each having respective latching projections at forward free ends thereof latchable with corresponding latching means of said corresponding connector housing, each said latch arm joined to a respective said side of said housing at a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from said forward free end of said latch arm, each said hinge joint comprising a bight section joined integrally to a respective side of said housing at a pair of spaced joints and extending over a recessed portion of said housing side between said spaced joints and defining a first free edge and a second free edge spaced from said first free edge, and means joining said bight section to said deflectable section about midway between said pair of spaced joints, said joining means at least joining said deflectable section to said bight section proximate said first free edge of said bight section and proximate said second free edge thereof, whereby upon deflection of each said latch arm relative to said article, the respective said bight section is flexible by being adapted to be locally elastically deformed by said joining means relatively toward the respective said housing side at one of said first and second free edges and relatively away therefrom at the other of said first and second free edges.

Claim 13

A connector housing molded of plastic material and matable with a corresponding connector housing and having a pair of latch arms on opposite sides thereof each having respective latching projections at forward free ends thereof latchable with corresponding latching means of said corresponding connector housing, each said latch arm joined to a respective said side of said housing at a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from said forward free end of said latch arm, each said hinge joint comprising a bight section joined integrally to a respective side of said housing at a pair of spaced joints and extending over a recessed portion of said housing side between said spaced joints and defining a first free edge and a second free edge spaced from said first free edge, and means joining said bight section to said deflectable section about midway between said pair of spaced joints, said joining means at least joining said deflectable section to said bight section proximate said first free edge of said bight section and proximate said second free edge thereof, whereby upon deflection of each said latch arm relative to said article, the respective said bight section is flexible by being adapted to be locally elastically deformed by said joining means relatively toward the respective said housing side at one of said first and second free edges and relatively away therefrom at the other of said first and second free edges.

Claim 14

A hinge joint as set forth in claim 9 wherein said spaced joints comprise respective leg sections extending between said housing and a respective said bight section.

Claim 15

A hinge joint as set forth in claim 9 wherein said joining means comprises a rib section joining a respective said latch arm to said first and second free edges.