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EP-4307491-B1 - SET COMPRISING A FLAT ANGULAR CONNECTOR WITH LATCH MECHANISM AND A MATING CONNECTOR

EP4307491B1EP 4307491 B1EP4307491 B1EP 4307491B1EP-4307491-B1

Inventors

  • WIMMER, FRANZ

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20180820

Claims (11)

  1. A set comprising a connector (1), which is a flat angular cable connector, and a mating connector (18), wherein on the side of the connector (1) where the connector face (3) is located the connector (1) comprises a projection (29) or a recess that can cooperate with a mating recess or mating projection (27) of the mating connector (18) to pivotably bear the connector (1) on the mating connector (18), wherein the connector (1) is configured for being provisionally borne pivotably by the mating connector (18) and for being pivoted into a position where the connector (1) also engages with the mating connector (18) by means of a latch mechanism (5) of the connector (1), characterised in that the latch mechanism (5) comprising a latch handle portion (8) which can be slid from an engagement position to a release position and is elastically biased towards its engagement position, wherein the path from the engagement position to the release position is towards the cable (2) end of the connector (1), and wherein the path from the engagement position extends in the plane of the handle portion (8).
  2. The set of claim 1, characterised in that the connector comprises two latch handle portions provided at opposite sides of the connector, which latch handle portions can be moved from an engagement position to a release position.
  3. The set of claim 2, characterised in that the two latch handle portions (8) are arranged on lateral sides of the connector (1).
  4. The set of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cable (2) orientation is at an angel of between 60 and 120 degrees relatively to the connector face (3).
  5. The set of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the latch handle portion(s) (8) is/are biased towards the engagement position with one or more springs (9).
  6. The set of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that on the side of the connector (1) where the connector face (3) is located the latch mechanism (5) comprises a latch surface (7) that when the latch handle is in the engagement position can engage a corresponding mating latch surface (28) for engaging the connector (1) with the mating connector (18).
  7. The set of claim 6, characterised in that the latch handle portion(s) (8) and the part of the latch mechanism (5) with the latch surface (7) are formed in one piece.
  8. The set of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the latch mechanism (5) is provided with a running surface that can cooperate with a portion of the mating connector (18) to move at least part the latch mechanism (5) against the bias from the engagement state towards the release state so that the mating latch surface can reach a position where it can cooperate with the connector's (1) latch surface (7).
  9. The set of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector face (3) is circular.
  10. The set of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at the end of the connector (1) opposite to the cable (2) end the extension of the connector (1) in the direction normal to the connector face (3) decreases towards the end of the connector (1) opposite to the cable (2) end.
  11. A method for operating a flat angular connector (1) and a mating connector (18), wherein on the face of the connector (1) where the connector face (3) is located the connector (1) comprises a projection (29) or a recess that can cooperate with a mating recess or mating projection (27) of the mating connector (18), wherein first the connector (1) is provisionally borne pivotably by the mating connector (18); then the connector (1) is pivoted into a position where the connector (1) also engages with the mating connector (18) by means of a latch mechanism (5) of the connector (1) in order to fixedly engage the connector (1) with the mating connector (18), characterised in that the latch mechanism (5) comprises a latch handle portion (8) which can be slid from an engagement position to a release position and is elastically biased towards its engagement position, wherein the path from the engagement position to the release position is towards the cable (2) end of the connector (1), and wherein the path from the engagement position extends in the plane of the handle portion (8).

Description

Field of the invention The invention relates to a set comprising a connector, which is a flat angular cable connector, and a mating connector, wherein the connector is configured for being provisionally borne pivotably by the mating connector and for being pivoted into a position where the connector also engages by means of a latch mechanism with the mating connector, the latch mechanism comprising a latch handle portion which latch handle portion can be slid from an engagement position to a release position. Background of the invention EP 2745355 B1 discloses a connector with a tab which is slid into a corresponding aperture of a device and with a cover which can be moved inwardly or outwardly in order to engage the connector with the device or disengage it, respectively. The cover is provided with a slidable latch to secure it in the engaged position. A similar connector is known from US 9,300,086 B1 and US D769,823 S. The connector is configured to connect a cable and the communication device by inserting a tab into a tab reception slot of the socket region of the communication device, and from an opposite end, pivotally buckling a spring-loaded head onto a flange of the socket region. US 6,454,608 B1 relates to a connecting adapter for connecting an earphone with a body part of a writs type of music player. On the outer surface of the adapter's casing, a fixed hook 507 for engaging with a concavity of the music player's body part is provided. Moreover, the adapter comprises a movable hook for engaging with another concavity of music player's body part. The movable hook is rotatable and it is biased toward the music player's body part. EP 2779322 B1 A discloses a break-away connector assembly comprising a plug member and a socket portion configured for mating with the plug member. The plug member includes a first engagement claw having a first angled surface positioned to engage a first complementary angled surface of the socket portion. In addition, there is a lever arm pivotally mounted on the plug member and movable between a first position for coupling the plug member to the socket portion and a second position for uncoupling the plug member from the socket portion. The lever arm is spring-biased toward the first position and includes a second engagement claw having a second angled surface configured to engage a second complementary angled surface of the socket portion when the lever arm is in the first position. Similar connector assemblies are disclosed in EP 2476167 B1, EP 2548272 B1, US 7,442060 B2 and US D615,040 S. ITT Inc, 56 Technology Drive Irvine, California 92618, USA offers for sale under the brand name Cannon Rock-in-Lock a latching connector set, the first part of which comprises on one end two tabs that can be inserted into corresponding slots of the second part. Moreover, another tab at the other end of the first part can engage with a spring-loaded pivotable latch of the second part. Glenair, Inc, 1211 Air Way, Glendale, California 91201, USA offers for sale under the brand name Mousebud a snap-lock connector set with a plug that comprises rotatable coupling nut. The coupling nut can engage the shell of the plug with the shell of a receptacle of the connector by means of bayonet pins. A torsion spring biases the nut in the engaged position. PCT application WO 2017/174153 A1 discloses a connector arrangement for forming a signal connection comprising a male connector and a female connector. The female connector has a recess which is configured to receive a tip of the male connector only when the male connector is introduced at an angle to the female connector, such that a relative pivoting motion of the male and female connector forms a mechanical lock preventing relative movement of the male and female connector. A signal connection is formed between the respective signal connection elements of the male and female connectors by means of the relative pivoting motion. The Patent US 5171161 B2 describes a connector system designed to form a secure and stable signal connection between a plug connector assembly and a header connector assembly. The plug connector assembly includes latch arms that have latching tabs that snap into apertures of the header connector assembly. The latch arms are spring-loaded and self-biased to their outwardly projecting positions. An outer cover of the plug connector assembly can engage the latch arms, moving them to an unlatching position and allowing the connectors to be unmated. The patent US 5 435 744 A describes an electrical cable connector of the type for mating with and latchably engaging a complementary connector. The connector typically includes a dielectric housing containing an array of electrical contacts for electrical engagement with respective contacts in a complementary connector. The connector further comprises a pair of unitary metal shielding members stamped and formed from a metal sheet blank, where a first of the shielding members includ