Patent US1561523A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6276841B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6276841B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector with low-profile latch
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 1999-10-20
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Granted: 2001-08-21
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Expires: 2019-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A connector couples with a mating component and has a main body and a generally planar latch. The main body is insertable into the mating component in a coupling direction, and has a face generally parallel to the coupling direction. The latch is resiliently coupled to the main body at the face thereof, and is generally parallel to the face. The latch includes a latching surface for cooperating with a latch-catch of the mating component, and is resiliently actuatable in the plane thereof. Accordingly, the latching surface is released from the latch-catch of the mating component. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of the connectors each couple with a respective mating component.
Inventors
- 👤 Drew A. Demangone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R13/6271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| 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 |