Patent US6089898A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6089898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector having an improved latch member
Assignee: Commscope Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1998-03-06
•
Granted: 2000-07-18
•
Expires: 2018-03-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a latching arm for an electrical connector. The latching arm has a main body with a connection point to the housing of the electrical connector. The main body has a securing section for engaging a mating connector. The main body has a back-up member for engaging the housing. Whereby when the connection point weakens due to stresses on the connection point, the back-up member engages the housing thereby maintaining a good connection between the electrical connector and the mating connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford Franklin Lincoln, III
- 👤 Larry Hansen Smith
- 👤 Andrew Joseph Kinka
- 👤 Hung Viet Ngo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R13/6271; H01R13/6272; H01R13/02; H01R13/28; H01R13/46; H01R13/502; H01R13/506; H01R24/00; H01R24/84; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/242; H01R4/2425; H01R4/2429; H01R4/2433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A latching arm for an electrical connector, the latching arm comprising: a main body including (with) a connection point to (the) an electrical connector housing (of the electrical connector), (the main body having) a securing section for engaging a mating connector, (the main body having) a back-up member for engaging the housing upon weakening of (whereby when the connection point weakens due to stresses on) the connection point, (the back-up member engages the housing thereby maintaining) to maintain a (good) substantially static connection between the electrical connector and the mating connector, the back-up member extending (extends) from the main body (housing) at an angle directed toward the securing section (a forward end of the housing), the housing including (has) an opening angled to match the angle of the back-up member (,) and (the opening engages) engage the back-up member upon weakening of the connection point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A latching arm for an electrical connector, the latching arm comprising: a main body including (with) a connection point to (the) an electrical connector housing (of the electrical connector), (the main body having) a securing section for engaging a mating connector, (the main body having) a back-up member for engaging the housing upon weakening of (whereby when the connection point weakens due to stresses on) the connection point, (the back-up member engages the housing thereby maintaining) to maintain a (good) substantially static connection between the electrical connector and the mating connector, the back-up member extending (extends) from the main body (housing) at an angle directed toward the securing section (a forward end of the housing), the housing including (has) an opening angled to match the angle of the back-up member (,) and (the opening engages) engage the back-up member upon weakening of the connection point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The latching arm of claim 1, wherein the connection point is a pivot hinge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The latching arm of claim 1, wherein the main body has an actuation member for pivoting the latch into a disengaged section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
A latching arm for an electrical connector, comprising: a main body with a connection point to a housing of the electrical connector, the main body having a securing section for engaging a mating connector, the main body having a back-up member for engaging the housing whereby when the connection point weakens due to stresses on the connection point, the back-up member engages the housing thereby maintaining a good connection between the electrical connector and the mating connector, the back-up member being a tab extending from a side of the main body at an angle, where the angle is directed toward a forward end of the main body, the housing having an opening to engage the tab, and the opening being angled to match the angle of the tab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
A latching arm for an electrical connector, comprising: a main body with a connection point to a housing of the electrical connector, the main body having a securing section for engaging a mating connector, the main body having a back-up member for engaging the housing whereby when the connection point weakens due to stresses on the connection point, the back-up member engages the housing thereby maintaining a good connection between the electrical connector and the mating connector, the back-up member being a tab extending from a side of the main body at an angle, where the angle is directed toward a forward end of the main body, the housing having an opening to engage the tab, and the opening being angled to match the angle of the tab.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A latching arm for an electrical connector, the latching arm comprising: a main body including a leg connecting the latching arm to a housing of (being connected to) the electrical connector; (the latching arm having) an engagement section for engaging a mating connector; (the latching arm having) a back-up member for engaging (to engage) the electrical connector housing upon weakening of (when) the leg (is weakened due to stresses), the back-up member including (being) a tab extending from a side of the main body at an angle directed toward th e engagement section, (where the angle is directed toward a forward end of the main body,) the housing having an opening (,and the opening being) angle to match the angle of the tab.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A latching arm for an electrical connector, the latching arm comprising: a main body including a leg connecting the latching arm to a housing of (being connected to) the electrical connector; (the latching arm having) an engagement section for engaging a mating connector; (the latching arm having) a back-up member for engaging (to engage) the electrical connector housing upon weakening of (when) the leg (is weakened due to stresses), the back-up member including (being) a tab extending from a side of the main body at an angle directed toward th e engagement section, (where the angle is directed toward a forward end of the main body,) the housing having an opening (,and the opening being) angle to match the angle of the tab.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The latching arm of claim 5, wherein the leg is a pivot hinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The latching arm of claim 5, wherein the latching arm has an actuation member for pivoting the latch into a disengaged section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The latching arm of claim 5, wherein the backup member is a swept forward wing and the electrical connector has an opening to engage the swept forward wing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The latching arm of claim 8, wherein the swept forward wing can move through the opening during deflection of the latching arm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The latching arm of claim 5, wherein the tab can move through the opening during deflection of the latching arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The latching arm of claim 5, wherein the back-up member comprising the front end of the latching arm and the electrical connector includes a cross arm which extends adjacent to the front end of the latching arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4153326A
Cited
US4255007A
Cited
US4431244A
Cited
US4537456A
Cited
US4526431A
Cited
US4995830A
Cited
US4709976A
Cited
US4759723A
Cited
US4990099A
Cited
US5127844A
Cited
US5662493A
Cited
US5639256A
Cited
US5681182A
Cited
US5718596A
Cited
US5895284A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-18 | 2004-01-17 | 2004-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-18 | 2008-01-17 | 2008-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-18 | 2012-01-17 | 2012-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |