US6276841B1 — Connector with low-profile latch

Claim 1

Independent Claim 90 words

A connector for coupling with a mating component, the connector comprising: a main body insertable into the mating component in a coupling direction, the main body having a face generally parallel to the coupling direction; a generally planar latch coupled to the main body at the face thereof, the latch being generally parallel to the face and including a latching surface for cooperating with a latch-catch of the mating component and being resiliently actuatable in the plane thereof, thereby releasing the latching surface from the latch-catch of the mating component.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 90 words

A connector for coupling with a mating component, the connector comprising: a main body insertable into the mating component in a coupling direction, the main body having a face generally parallel to the coupling direction; a generally planar latch coupled to the main body at the face thereof, the latch being generally parallel to the face and including a latching surface for cooperating with a latch-catch of the mating component and being resiliently actuatable in the plane thereof, thereby releasing the latching surface from the latch-catch of the mating component.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

The pair of connectors of claim 1 further comprising a latch lever coupled to the latch and extending generally in the plane thereof to resiliently actuate such latch in the plane thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The pair of connectors of claim 1 wherein the latch and at least a portion of the main body are formed as a unitary body.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 9 words

The connector of claim 1 comprising an optical connector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The connector of claim 1 further comprising an offset body interposed between the main body and the latch and offsetting the latch from the main body.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

The connector of claim 1 wherein the latch includes a fixed leg coupled to the main body and an actuatable leg resiliently coupled to the fixed leg at a juncture, the latch surface being on a lateral edge of the actuatable leg.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

The connector of claim 6 further comprising a latch lever coupled to the latch and extending generally in the plane thereof to resiliently actuate such latch in the plane thereof, the latch lever extending in a direction generally opposite the coupling direction from the actuatable leg of the latch.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The connector of claim 1 wherein the latching surface faces in a direction generally opposite the coupling direction.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 81 words

The connector of claim 8 wherein the latch further comprises an initially contacting surface adjacent the latching surface and facing at an acute angle with respect to the coupling direction, the initially contacting surface initially contacting the mating component adjacent the latch-catch thereof during coupling of the connector with the mating component, such contact and movement of the connector in the coupling direction resiliently deflecting the latch to allow the latching surface to be brought into cooperating contact with the latch-catch.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The connector of claim 9 wherein the latch further comprises an opposing surface generally laterally opposite the latching surface and the initially contacting surface, the opposing surface for cooperating with a corresponding surface on the mating component.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 95 words

A pair of connectors each for coupling with a respective mating component, each connector comprising: a main body insertable into the mating component in a coupling direction, the main body having a face generally parallel to the coupling direction; and a generally planar latch coupled to the main body at the face thereof, the latch being generally parallel to the face and including a latching surface for cooperating with a latch-catch of the mating component and being resiliently actuatable in the plane thereof, thereby releasing the latching surface from the latch-catch of the mating component.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 95 words

A pair of connectors each for coupling with a respective mating component, each connector comprising: a main body insertable into the mating component in a coupling direction, the main body having a face generally parallel to the coupling direction; and a generally planar latch coupled to the main body at the face thereof, the latch being generally parallel to the face and including a latching surface for cooperating with a latch-catch of the mating component and being resiliently actuatable in the plane thereof, thereby releasing the latching surface from the latch-catch of the mating component.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 each further comprising a cable extending from the main body in a direction generally opposite the coupling direction, the pair of connectors further comprising a boot fitted over both cables and at least a portion of each main body.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 wherein the boot is semi-rigid.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 wherein the latches are arranged in mirror image with respect to each other along a line generally parallel to the coupling direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 13 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 wherein the latches are generally co-planar.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 55 words

The pair of connectors of claim 15 each further comprising a latch lever coupled to the respective latch and extending generally in the plane thereof to resiliently actuate such latch in the plane thereof, the latch levers being actuatable toward each other to release the latching surfaces from the latch-catches of the respective mating components.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 each further comprising a latch lever coupled to the respective latch and extending generally in the plane thereof to resiliently actuate such latch in the plane thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 26 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 wherein each latch and at least a portion of the respective main body are formed as a unitary body.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 comprising a pair of optical connectors.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 each further comprising an offset body interposed between the main body and the latch and offsetting the latch from the main body.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 wherein each latch includes a fixed leg coupled to the main body and an actuatable leg resiliently coupled to the fixed leg at a juncture, the latch surface being on a lateral edge of the actuatable leg.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 54 words

The pair of connectors of claim 21 each further comprising a latch lever coupled to the respective latch and extending generally in the plane thereof to resiliently actuate such latch in the plane thereof, each latch lever extending in a direction generally opposite the coupling direction from the actuatable leg of the respective latch.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The pair of connectors of claim 11 wherein each latching surface faces in a direction generally opposite the coupling direction.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 86 words

The pair of connectors of claim 23 wherein each latch further comprises an initially contacting surface adjacent the respective latching surface and facing at an acute angle with respect to the coupling direction, the initially contacting surface initially contacting the respective mating component adjacent the latch-catch thereof during coupling of the respective connector with such mating component, such contact and movement of such connector in the coupling direction resiliently deflecting such latch to allow such latching surface to be brought into cooperating contact with such latch-catch.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 54 words

The pair of connectors of claim 24 wherein each latch further comprises an opposing surface generally laterally opposite the respective latching surface and the respective initially contacting surface, the opposing surface for cooperating with a corresponding surface on the respective mating component to oppose deflecting forces experienced by the latch during resilient deflection thereof.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 54 words

An optical connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of optical fibers defining a plane; a latch mounted to the housing for securing the connector to a mating connector, the latch being actuatable in a direction generally parallel to the defined plane to engage with and release from a corresponding structure of the mating component.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 54 words

An optical connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of optical fibers defining a plane; a latch mounted to the housing for securing the connector to a mating connector, the latch being actuatable in a direction generally parallel to the defined plane to engage with and release from a corresponding structure of the mating component.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The connector of claim 26 wherein the latch is actuatable in an actuation plane offset from the defined plane.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-08-20	2005-02-19	2005-08-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-08-20	2009-02-19	2009-08-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-08-20	2013-02-19	2013-08-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Connector with low-profile latch

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