Electrical connector having a latch mechanism

Claim 1

An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connector, comprising: a base defining a pair of elongated first channels on opposite sides thereof, a mating frame formed on a front end thereof; an insulting housing assembled into the mating frame and a plurality of terminals received in the insulating housing; a cover assembled to the base and defining a pair of elongated second channels on opposite sides thereof corresponding to the first channels of the base; a pull tab having an operation portion and a pair of arms extending from a pair of ends of the operation portion, the pair of arms respectively received in the first and second channels and the operation portion located outside the base and the cover, each arm having a latch releasing portion at a free end thereof; a pair of latch springs cooperating with the pull tab, each latch spring having a first claw portion engaging with the base, a second claw portion adapted for securely engaging with the complementary connector when said complementary connector mates with the electrical connector, and a sloping portion between the first and second claw portions and engaging with a corresponding latch releasing portion of the pull tab; and wherein when the pull tab is pulled rearwards, the latch releasing portions push the sloping portions, the sloping portions deflect outwardly to motivate the second claws to move outwardly accordingly whereby a latch of the second claws with the complementary connector is released; wherein the each latch spring defines a cutout in the sloping portion, the latch releasing portion having a protrusion extending into the cutout from an inner face to an outer face of the sloping portion, so that the latch releasing portion contacts with the inner face of the sloping portion of the latch spring; wherein the protrusion protrudes outwardly from an outside face of the latch releasing portion; wherein the latch releasing portion has upper and lower tip ends, the cover and the base each defines a groove receiving the upper and lower tip ends of the latch releasing portion therein, the tip ends sliding rearwards in the grooves when the pull tab is pulled rearwards; wherein the mating frame has a pair of engaging ears extending outwardly on opposite sides of a top thereof, a pair of projections extends forwardly from opposite sides of the cover, the projections are placed under the pair of engaging ears prevent the cover from being moved upwardly.