Electrical connector with improved latch means

Claim 2

An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connecting device in a mating direction, comprising: a non-conductive housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals, the housing having a channel extending generally parallel to said mating direction, the channel having, at a forward mating end of the housing, opposite side walls and an opening; and a flexible latch arm having a free end located in said channel, the free end having a latch plate for latchingly engaging an appropriate latch of the complementary connecting device inserted into the opening of the channel, the latch plate being in a plane generally parallel to said mating direction, and the latch plate having side edges confined by said opposite side walls of the channel, whereby the flexible latch arm and latch plate can flex in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the latch plate, but the latch arm and latch plate are confined against movement in the plane of the latch plate; wherein said latch arm is elongated and generally planar in a plane generally parallel to said mating direction and generally perpendicular to the plane of the latch plate.

Claim 3

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said latch arm and latch plate are independent of the housing and are fabricated of metal material.

Claim 4

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said latch plate has a latch aperture for latching engagement by the latch of the complementary connecting device.

Claim 5

The electrical connector of claim 1 , including a pair of said latch arms and respective latch plates at opposite sides of the housing.

Claim 6

The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said pair of latch arms and latch plates are located outside opposite ends of an elongated array of said terminals on the housing.

Claim 7

The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said pair of latch arms and latch plates are integral components of a common metal latching clip.

Claim 8

The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said latching clip includes an integral electrical cable clamping portion at a rear terminating end of the housing.

Claim 9

The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said latching clip includes an integral actuating portion joining the pair of latch arms for moving the latch plates out of latching engagement with the latches of the complementary connecting device.

Claim 10

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said latch arm has an actuating portion projecting from the channel to facilitate moving the latch plate out of latching engagement with the latch of the complementary connecting device.

Claim 11

An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connecting device in a mating direction, comprising: a non-conductive housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals, the housing having a channel extending generally parallel to said mating direction, the channel having, at a forward mating end of the housing, opposite side walls and an opening; and a flexible metal latch arm independent of and mounted on the housing and having a free end located in said channel, the free end having a latch plate with a latch aperture for latchingly engaging an appropriate latch of the complementary connecting device inserted into the opening of the channel, the latch plate being in a plane generally parallel to said mating direction and having side edges confined by said opposite side walls of the channel, and the latch arm being elongated and generally planar in a plane generally parallel to the mating direction and generally perpendicular to the plane of the latch plate, whereby the flexible latch arm and latch plate can flex in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the latch plate, but the latch arm and latch plate are confined against movement in the plane of the latch plate.

Claim 12

An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connecting device in a mating direction, comprising: a non-conductive housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals, the housing having a channel extending generally parallel to said mating direction, the channel having, at a forward mating end of the housing, opposite side walls and an opening; and a flexible metal latch arm independent of and mounted on the housing and having a free end located in said channel, the free end having a latch plate with a latch aperture for latchingly engaging an appropriate latch of the complementary connecting device inserted into the opening of the channel, the latch plate being in a plane generally parallel to said mating direction and having side edges confined by said opposite side walls of the channel, and the latch arm being elongated and generally planar in a plane generally parallel to the mating direction and generally perpendicular to the plane of the latch plate, whereby the flexible latch arm and latch plate can flex in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the latch plate, but the latch arm and latch plate are confined against movement in the plane of the latch plate.

Claim 13

The electrical connector of claim 10 , including a pair of said latch arms and respective latch plates at opposite sides of the housing.

Claim 14

The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein said pair of latch arms and latch plates are located outside opposite ends of an elongated array of said terminals on the housing.

Claim 15

The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein said pair of latch arms and latch plates are integral components of a common metal latching clip.

Claim 16

The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said latching clip includes an integral electrical cable clamping portion at a rear terminating end of the housing.

Claim 17

The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said latching clip includes an integral actuating portion joining the pair of latch arms for moving the latch plates out of latching engagement with the latches of the complementary connecting device.

Claim 18

An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connecting device in a mating direction, comprising: a non-conductive housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals, the housing having a channel extending generally parallel to said mating direction with an opening to the channel at a forward mating end of the housing; and a flexible latch arm having a free end located in said channel, the latch arm having a latch portion near the free end thereof for latchingly engaging an appropriate latch of the complementary connecting device inserted into the opening of the channel, the latch arm and latch portion being located substantially entirely within the bounds of the channel; including a pair of said latch arms at opposite sides of the housing; wherein said pair of latch arms are integral components of a common metal latching clip.

Claim 19

An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connecting device in a mating direction, comprising: a non-conductive housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals, the housing having a channel extending generally parallel to said mating direction with an opening to the channel at a forward mating end of the housing; and a flexible latch arm having a free end located in said channel, the latch arm having a latch portion near the free end thereof for latchingly engaging an appropriate latch of the complementary connecting device inserted into the opening of the channel, the latch arm and latch portion being located substantially entirely within the bounds of the channel; including a pair of said latch arms at opposite sides of the housing; wherein said pair of latch arms are integral components of a common metal latching clip.

Claim 20

The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein said latch arm and latch portion are independent of the housing and are fabricated of metal material.

Claim 21

The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein said latch arm has an actuating portion projecting from the channel to facilitate moving the latch portion out of latching engagement with the latch of the complementary connecting device.

Claim 22

The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein said pair of latch arms are located outside opposite ends of an elongated array of said terminals on the housing.

Claim 23

The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein said latching clip includes an integral electrical cable clamping portion at a rear terminating end of the housing.

Claim 24

The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein said latching clip includes an integral actuating portion joining the pair of latch arms for moving the latch portions out of latching engagement with the latches of the complementary connecting device.

Claim 25

The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein the latch portion of said latch arm comprises a planar latch plate having an aperture for latching engagement by the latch of the complementary connecting device.