US3824525A — Connector latch assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 634 words

A connector latch to be used in conjunction with an identical latch, or alternative securing means, for selectively securing corresponding ends of a pair of mated multi-contact connectors, each of said connectors having a flange, said flanges being generally rectangular and being substantially parallel, spacedapart and substantially aligned when said connectors are engaged, said flanges having end portions having a rectangular crosssection and terminating at an edge, said aligned flanges having coaxially aligned, vertically displaced mounting holes in corresponding said end portions of said flanges, said latch comprising: a base member having a first opening defined in its side facing said connectors, said base member being resiliently deformable for receiving and retaining said end portion of a first of said flanges in said first opening, said base member having a first vertically disposed groove in said side toward said connectors which is aligned with said mounting hole in said first flange when said base member is installed on said end portion thereof so that fastening means can be inserted into said first groove, and said mounting hole of said first flange for permanently securing said first flange and said base member installed thereon to a panel; a hinged member having a second opening defined in its side facing said connectors, said hinged member being resiliently deformable for receiving and retaining said end portion of a second of said flanges in said second opening, said hinged member having a second vertically disposed groove in said side toward said connectors which is aligned with said mounting hole in said second flange when said hinged member is engaged with said end portion of said second flange so that said fastening means can be inserted into said second groove and said mounting hole of said second flange for permanently securing said connectors one to the other with said connector latch installed on said connectors; a flexible hinge integral with and extending between said base member and said hinged member, said hinge allowing movement of said hinged member relative to said base member when said base member is engaged with said first flange for selective engagement of said hiNged member with said second flange, said hinge being flexible about an axis which is disposed generally parallel to said edge of each corresponding said end portion of said flanges and displaced horizontally from said edges toward said connectors when said base member is fully installed on said end portion of said first flange; cam surface means on said hinged member extending upwardly from a portion above said second opening and outwardly from said connectors when engaged so that said edge of said end portion of said second flange acts upon said cam surface means when said connectors are being engaged to move said hinged member away from said connectors out of the path of said second flange; at least one cross-sectional dimension of said openings adjacent to said side of said latch being greater than the corresponding cross-sectional dimension of said end portion of said flanges to be inserted therein, said cross-sectional dimension of each of said openings in a region remote from said side of said latch being substantially equal to said corresponding crosssectional dimension of said end portion of said corresponding flange so that the reduction of said cross-sectional dimension of said opening allows alignment of said end portion of said flange with said remote region of said opening as said end portion of said flange is being inserted for retention therein; and at least one adapting ridge extending into said remote region of each of said openings to decrease the respective crosssectional heights of said openings; said ridge having a portion removable by said corresponding flange as said flange is inserted into said opening to specifically adapt said opening to accommodate the particular thickness of said flange.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 634 words

A connector latch to be used in conjunction with an identical latch, or alternative securing means, for selectively securing corresponding ends of a pair of mated multi-contact connectors, each of said connectors having a flange, said flanges being generally rectangular and being substantially parallel, spacedapart and substantially aligned when said connectors are engaged, said flanges having end portions having a rectangular crosssection and terminating at an edge, said aligned flanges having coaxially aligned, vertically displaced mounting holes in corresponding said end portions of said flanges, said latch comprising: a base member having a first opening defined in its side facing said connectors, said base member being resiliently deformable for receiving and retaining said end portion of a first of said flanges in said first opening, said base member having a first vertically disposed groove in said side toward said connectors which is aligned with said mounting hole in said first flange when said base member is installed on said end portion thereof so that fastening means can be inserted into said first groove, and said mounting hole of said first flange for permanently securing said first flange and said base member installed thereon to a panel; a hinged member having a second opening defined in its side facing said connectors, said hinged member being resiliently deformable for receiving and retaining said end portion of a second of said flanges in said second opening, said hinged member having a second vertically disposed groove in said side toward said connectors which is aligned with said mounting hole in said second flange when said hinged member is engaged with said end portion of said second flange so that said fastening means can be inserted into said second groove and said mounting hole of said second flange for permanently securing said connectors one to the other with said connector latch installed on said connectors; a flexible hinge integral with and extending between said base member and said hinged member, said hinge allowing movement of said hinged member relative to said base member when said base member is engaged with said first flange for selective engagement of said hiNged member with said second flange, said hinge being flexible about an axis which is disposed generally parallel to said edge of each corresponding said end portion of said flanges and displaced horizontally from said edges toward said connectors when said base member is fully installed on said end portion of said first flange; cam surface means on said hinged member extending upwardly from a portion above said second opening and outwardly from said connectors when engaged so that said edge of said end portion of said second flange acts upon said cam surface means when said connectors are being engaged to move said hinged member away from said connectors out of the path of said second flange; at least one cross-sectional dimension of said openings adjacent to said side of said latch being greater than the corresponding cross-sectional dimension of said end portion of said flanges to be inserted therein, said cross-sectional dimension of each of said openings in a region remote from said side of said latch being substantially equal to said corresponding crosssectional dimension of said end portion of said corresponding flange so that the reduction of said cross-sectional dimension of said opening allows alignment of said end portion of said flange with said remote region of said opening as said end portion of said flange is being inserted for retention therein; and at least one adapting ridge extending into said remote region of each of said openings to decrease the respective crosssectional heights of said openings; said ridge having a portion removable by said corresponding flange as said flange is inserted into said opening to specifically adapt said opening to accommodate the particular thickness of said flange.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 158 words

A connector latch, which may be used in conjunction with an identical latch, and useful for holding together mated, multi-contact connectors of the type having peripheral flanges which are substantially parallel, spaced apart and in alignment with each other and which contain a mounting hole at either end, said connector latch comprising: a. a base member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange on one of the connectors; b. a hinged member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange c. a resilient hinge integral with and extending between said base and hinged members thereby maintaining said members in spaced relation to each other and permitting each to move rotationally relative to the other; and d. the upper wall of the opening in the hinged member being leveled inwardly toward the rear of the opening.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 158 words

A connector latch, which may be used in conjunction with an identical latch, and useful for holding together mated, multi-contact connectors of the type having peripheral flanges which are substantially parallel, spaced apart and in alignment with each other and which contain a mounting hole at either end, said connector latch comprising: a. a base member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange on one of the connectors; b. a hinged member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange c. a resilient hinge integral with and extending between said base and hinged members thereby maintaining said members in spaced relation to each other and permitting each to move rotationally relative to the other; and d. the upper wall of the opening in the hinged member being leveled inwardly toward the rear of the opening.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The connector latch of claim 2 wherein one or both of said openings contain means therein to effectively reduce the height thereof, thereby increasing the frictional retentivity of said latch.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The connector latch of claim 3 wherein said means includes a stepped portion adjacent the rear of the opening.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The connector latch of claim 3 wherein said means includes a ridge positioned in said opening.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The connector latch of claim 5 wherein a portion of said ridge may be removable by the flange to specifically adapt the opening to accommodate the particular thickness of the flange.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 57 words

The connector latch of claim 2 wherein a vertical groove extends longitudinally across the surface of both members, intersecting the entrance portion of the openings, said groove being in alignment with the mounting holes in the flanges when the flanges are positioned in the openings, the groove permitting the positioning of fastening means through the mounting holes.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

The connector latch of claim 7 wherein the portion of the hinged member above the opening contains a longitudinally extending arcuate recess with a surface between it and the opening, said recess and surface adapted to receive a portion of fastening means which may extend through the mountinG holes on the flange.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 173 words

A connector latch, which may be used in conjunction with an identical latch and useful for holding together mated, multi-contact connectors of the type having peripheral flanges which are substantially paralled, spaced apart and in alignment with each other and which contain a mounting hole at either end, said connector latch comprising: a. A base member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange on one of the connectors; b. A hinged member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange on another of the connectors; c. A resilient hinge integral with and extending between said base and hinged members thereby maintaining said members in spaced relation to each other and permitting each to move rotationally relative to the other; and d. said hinged member further including a downwardly depending tapered nipple adapted to be inserted into a mounting hole in the flange thereby increasing the retaining capability of said member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 173 words

A connector latch, which may be used in conjunction with an identical latch and useful for holding together mated, multi-contact connectors of the type having peripheral flanges which are substantially paralled, spaced apart and in alignment with each other and which contain a mounting hole at either end, said connector latch comprising: a. A base member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange on one of the connectors; b. A hinged member having a resiliently deformable opening on one side adapted for receiving and frictionally retaining an end of a flange on another of the connectors; c. A resilient hinge integral with and extending between said base and hinged members thereby maintaining said members in spaced relation to each other and permitting each to move rotationally relative to the other; and d. said hinged member further including a downwardly depending tapered nipple adapted to be inserted into a mounting hole in the flange thereby increasing the retaining capability of said member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 144 words

A connector latch useful for retaining mated, multi-contact connectors of the type having flanges with mounting holes at either end, which comprises: a. a base member having a plate which is adapted to extend over the end of one of the flanges, the plate having a hole therein which may be aligned with the hole in the flange so that a fastening means may secure the flange to the plate; b. a hinged member positioned above the base member and having a resiliently, deformable opening therein for receiving and frictionally retaining the end of the other flange; and c. a flexible hinge integral with and extending between said members, said hinge member having a reduced cross-sectional area relative to said members, said hinge permitting rotational movement of one member relative to the other and further maintaining the members in space relation to each other.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 144 words

A connector latch useful for retaining mated, multi-contact connectors of the type having flanges with mounting holes at either end, which comprises: a. a base member having a plate which is adapted to extend over the end of one of the flanges, the plate having a hole therein which may be aligned with the hole in the flange so that a fastening means may secure the flange to the plate; b. a hinged member positioned above the base member and having a resiliently, deformable opening therein for receiving and frictionally retaining the end of the other flange; and c. a flexible hinge integral with and extending between said members, said hinge member having a reduced cross-sectional area relative to said members, said hinge permitting rotational movement of one member relative to the other and further maintaining the members in space relation to each other.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The connector latch of claim 10 wherein the hinged member contains a downwardly depending nipple adapted to be positioned in the mounting hole of the other flange thereby providing additional retentivity of said member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 138 words

A connection comprising: a. a pair of multi-contact connectors in mated relation, each of said connectors having a flange extending about the periphery thereof, said flanges being substantially parallel, spaced apart and in alignment one to the other; b. a pair of connector latches positioned on either end of said mated connectors and latching such together, said latches consisting of, i. a base member having an expandable opening with the end of one of the flanges being received and frictionally retained therein, ii. a hinged member having an expandable opening with the end of the second flange being received and frictionally retained therein, and iii. a resilient, deformable hinge integral with and extending between the base and hinged members, said hinge maintaining the members in spaced relation to each other thereby maintaining the engagement of the mated connectors.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 138 words

A connection comprising: a. a pair of multi-contact connectors in mated relation, each of said connectors having a flange extending about the periphery thereof, said flanges being substantially parallel, spaced apart and in alignment one to the other; b. a pair of connector latches positioned on either end of said mated connectors and latching such together, said latches consisting of, i. a base member having an expandable opening with the end of one of the flanges being received and frictionally retained therein, ii. a hinged member having an expandable opening with the end of the second flange being received and frictionally retained therein, and iii. a resilient, deformable hinge integral with and extending between the base and hinged members, said hinge maintaining the members in spaced relation to each other thereby maintaining the engagement of the mated connectors.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

The connection of claim 12 wherein the hinge is resiliently expanded longitudinally so that the tension developed therein as a result of such expansion urges the members toward one another resulting in greater engagement of the connectors.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-07-15	1978-01-14	1978-07-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-07-15	1982-01-14	1982-07-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-07-15	1986-01-14	1986-07-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Connector latch assembly

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