US6149451A — Cable connector latching device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 228 words

A latch assembly for use in a cable connector adapted to mate with a complementary receptacle having a latch post, said latch assembly engaging said latch post when said connector and receptacle are mated, said latch assembly comprising: a sheet metal latch body having a flat central portion, at least one latch arm extending from one end of said central portion and a spring tab extending from an opposite end of said central portion; and a pivot means on said central portion adapted to be mounted in said connector for rotatable supporting said latch body in said connector, wherein said pivot means comprises a plurality of spaced parallel cuts through said central portion and a plurality of bends in said central portion between said cuts forming a transverse pivot sleeve and a pivot pin rotatably received in said sleeve, wherein said pin is adapted to be held in said connector such that said latch member may be rotated about said pivot pint; wherein said latch arm has a bent latch portion bent at a selectable angle from a direction of insertion of said connector to said receptacle, and wherein said latch arm further comprises a front end portion bent at another angle from said direction of insertion for engaging said latch post and deflecting said latch arm from said latch post as said connector and receptacle are mated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 228 words

A latch assembly for use in a cable connector adapted to mate with a complementary receptacle having a latch post, said latch assembly engaging said latch post when said connector and receptacle are mated, said latch assembly comprising: a sheet metal latch body having a flat central portion, at least one latch arm extending from one end of said central portion and a spring tab extending from an opposite end of said central portion; and a pivot means on said central portion adapted to be mounted in said connector for rotatable supporting said latch body in said connector, wherein said pivot means comprises a plurality of spaced parallel cuts through said central portion and a plurality of bends in said central portion between said cuts forming a transverse pivot sleeve and a pivot pin rotatably received in said sleeve, wherein said pin is adapted to be held in said connector such that said latch member may be rotated about said pivot pint; wherein said latch arm has a bent latch portion bent at a selectable angle from a direction of insertion of said connector to said receptacle, and wherein said latch arm further comprises a front end portion bent at another angle from said direction of insertion for engaging said latch post and deflecting said latch arm from said latch post as said connector and receptacle are mated.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pivot pin comprises a spring rod member having a U shaped central portion and a pair of oppositely and coaxially extending pin ends each adapted to be received in one of said sleeves.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

The latch assembly according to claim 2 wherein said central portion of said latch member has at least one cutout forming a retainer tab bent to retain said U shaped central portion of said spring rod member against said central portion of said latch member when said pin ends are positioned in said sleeves.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 45 words

The latch assembly according to claim 3 wherein each of said sleeves comprises an elongated portion of said central portion of said latch member between a pair of opposite bends, said pin ends being held against one end of said sleeves by said retainer tab.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The latch assembly according to claim 4 further comprising a stop tab formed from a portion of said central portion of said latch member bent upward from said central portion toward said retainer tab.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

The latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pivot pin is a straight rod and said sleeve formed in said central portion of said latch member comprises a plurality of oppositely projecting bent portions forming a transverse round tubular sleeve receiving said straight rod therethrough.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The latch assembly according to claim 6 wherein said spring tab has a transverse bend forming a bent end with said bend adapted to engage said connector instead of said bent end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 122 words

A multi-pin cable connector for mating with a complementary multi-pin receptacle in an insertion direction comprising: a connector body adapted to carry a plurality of conductors, said connector body having a pair of parallel channels on opposite sides of said body, each channel having an upper wall and a lower wall and opposing side walls, each channel adapted for receiving therein a latch assembly including a latch member and a transverse pivot pin, said connector body further having a blind slot terminating at a predetermined pivot location in at least one wall of each of said channels for receiving therein said pivot pin, said blind slot having a constriction adjacent said pivot location for retaining said pivot pin in said pivot location.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 122 words

A multi-pin cable connector for mating with a complementary multi-pin receptacle in an insertion direction comprising: a connector body adapted to carry a plurality of conductors, said connector body having a pair of parallel channels on opposite sides of said body, each channel having an upper wall and a lower wall and opposing side walls, each channel adapted for receiving therein a latch assembly including a latch member and a transverse pivot pin, said connector body further having a blind slot terminating at a predetermined pivot location in at least one wall of each of said channels for receiving therein said pivot pin, said blind slot having a constriction adjacent said pivot location for retaining said pivot pin in said pivot location.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector according to claim 8 wherein said upper and lower walls each have a blind slot therein for receiving said pivot pin.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The connector according to claim 9 wherein each blind slot has a constriction adjacent said pivot location.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector according to claim 8 further comprising said connector body having a through bore at said pivot location extending through said channel.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 195 words

A multi-pin latching cable connector for mating with a complementary multi-pin receptacle in an insertion direction comprising: a connector body adapted to carry a plurality of conductors, said connector body having a pair of parallel channels on opposite sides of said body, each channel having an upper wall and a lower wall and opposing side walls; and a pair of latch assemblies captured in said channels, each including a latch member formed from a piece of sheet metal cut and bent to form at least one latch arm extending from one end of an elongated central portion, a spring tab extending from the other end of said central portion, and a pair of T shaped portions extending laterally from said central portion wherein ends of said T shaped portions are bent to form short coaxially aligned pivot pins on opposite sides of said central portion, wherein each channel has a blind slot terminating at a predetermined pivot location in at least one wall of each of said channels for receiving therein one of said pivot pins, said blind slot having a constriction adjacent said pivot location for retaining said pivot pin in said pivot location.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 195 words

A multi-pin latching cable connector for mating with a complementary multi-pin receptacle in an insertion direction comprising: a connector body adapted to carry a plurality of conductors, said connector body having a pair of parallel channels on opposite sides of said body, each channel having an upper wall and a lower wall and opposing side walls; and a pair of latch assemblies captured in said channels, each including a latch member formed from a piece of sheet metal cut and bent to form at least one latch arm extending from one end of an elongated central portion, a spring tab extending from the other end of said central portion, and a pair of T shaped portions extending laterally from said central portion wherein ends of said T shaped portions are bent to form short coaxially aligned pivot pins on opposite sides of said central portion, wherein each channel has a blind slot terminating at a predetermined pivot location in at least one wall of each of said channels for receiving therein one of said pivot pins, said blind slot having a constriction adjacent said pivot location for retaining said pivot pin in said pivot location.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The connector according to claim 12 wherein each of said upper and lower walls has a blind slot therein terminating at said predetermined pivot location.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The connector according to claim 13 wherein said latch member further comprises a pair of latch arms extending from said central portion.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The connector according to claim 14 wherein each of said latch arms has a latch portion bent at an angle from said insertion direction.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 45 words

The connector according to claim 13 wherein said latch arm has a latch portion bent at a selectable angle from said insertion direction, said angle being selected to provide a predetermined retention force on said connector when said connector is latched to a corresponding receptacle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The connector according to claim 16 wherein each latch assembly comprises a pair of latch arms extending from said central portion.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The connector according to claim 17 wherein each channel has a pair of blind slots and each said blind slot has a constriction adjacent said pivot location for retaining said pivot pin in said pivot location.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-11-21	2004-05-22	2004-11-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-11-21	2008-05-22	2008-11-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-11-21	2012-05-22	2012-11-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cable connector latching device

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