Latching system

Claim 1

A system for latching first and second connectors together along a mating axis, the first and second connectors including first and second housings having opposed ends and sides, a pair of latch arms spaced a selected distance apart along a common side of the first housing and extending to free ends proximate a mating face, said latch arms being adapted to cooperate with respective complementary latching surfaces positioned along a corresponding common side surface of the second housing, the system being characterized in that: respective free ends of said latch arms include latching projections extending toward said ends of said housing and defining rearwardly facing latching surfaces; said common side surface of said second housing includes a pair of embossments having beams extending laterally outwardly from the second housing a second selected distance beyond a mating face to free ends, said embossments defining said complementary latch surfaces, said embossments being positioned in alignment with said free ends of said latch arms to be initially abutted by camming surfaces of said free ends during initial stages of latching; and said latch arms are adapted to be deflected toward said ends of said housing upon said camming surfaces bearing against said embossments, whereafter the latching projections pass by the embossments and become latched therebehind; whereby upon mating of said connectors, said free ends of said beams extend along and outwardly of surface portions of said common side of the second housing to stabilize axial alignment and orientation of said connectors relative to each other during final stages of mating, said beams freely passing beside said latch arms during initial stages of mating until said connectors are axially aligned whereupon said latch arms latch during final stages of mating, said latch arms being deflectable in a direction parallel to said common side of the first housing minimizing the clearance area adjacent the housing needed for deflection of the latch arms.

Claim 2

A system for latching first and second connectors together along a mating axis, the first and second connectors including first and second housings having opposed ends and sides, a pair of latch arms spaced a selected distance apart along a common side of the first housing and extending to free ends proximate a mating face, said latch arms being adapted to cooperate with respective complementary latching surfaces positioned along a corresponding common side surface of the second housing, the system being characterized in that: respective free ends of said latch arms include latching projections extending toward said ends of said housing and defining rearwardly facing latching surfaces; said common side surface of said second housing includes a pair of embossments having beams extending laterally outwardly from the second housing a second selected distance beyond a mating face to free ends, said embossments defining said complementary latch surfaces, said embossments being positioned in alignment with said free ends of said latch arms to be initially abutted by camming surfaces of said free ends during initial stages of latching; and said latch arms are adapted to be deflected toward said ends of said housing upon said camming surfaces bearing against said embossments, whereafter the latching projections pass by the embossments and become latched therebehind; whereby upon mating of said connectors, said free ends of said beams extend along and outwardly of surface portions of said common side of the second housing to stabilize axial alignment and orientation of said connectors relative to each other during final stages of mating, said beams freely passing beside said latch arms during initial stages of mating until said connectors are axially aligned whereupon said latch arms latch during final stages of mating, said latch arms being deflectable in a direction parallel to said common side of the first housing minimizing the clearance area adjacent the housing needed for deflection of the latch arms.