Flat angular connector with latch mechanism

Abstract

A flat connector with a latch mechanism having two latch handle portions provided at opposite sides of the connector where the latch handle portions can be moved from an engagement position to a release position. The connector is an angular cable connector and for both handle portions, the direction of the path from the engagement position to the release position is towards the cable end of the connector. The latch handle portions are elastically biased towards their engagement position. The path from the engagement position to the release position is linear. The path from the engagement position to the release position is towards the cable end of the connector and extends in the plane of the handle portion.

Claims

1. A set comprising a flat connector and a mating connector, the flat connector comprising a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism comprising two latch handle portions provided at opposite sides of the flat connector, which latch handle portions can be moved from an engagement position to a release position, wherein the flat connector is an angular cable connector in which the cable orientation is at an angle relatively to the normal of a flat connector face, and the directions of the paths from the engagement position to the release position of the handle portions extend in parallel towards the cable end of the connector, and wherein the latch handle portions are elastically biased towards their engagement position, wherein on the side of the flat connector where the flat connector face is located, the flat connector comprises a projection or a recess that can cooperate with a mating recess or mating projection of the mating connector to pivotably bear the flat connector on the mating connector, wherein the flat connector is configured for being provisionally borne pivotably by the mating connector and for being pivoted into a position where the flat connector also engages by means of the latch mechanism with the mating connector.

2. The set of claim 1, wherein the two latch handle portions are arranged on lateral sides of the flat connector.

3. The set of claim 1, wherein the cable orientation is at an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees relatively to the normal of the flat connector face.

4. The set of claim 1, wherein the latch handle portion(s) is/are biased towards the engagement position with one or more springs.

5. The set of claim 1, wherein on the side of the flat connector where the flat connector face is located the latch mechanism comprises a latch surface that when the latch handle is in the engagement position can engage a corresponding mating latch surface for engaging the connector with the mating connector.

6. The set of claim 5, wherein the latch handle portions and the part of the latch mechanism with the latch surface are formed in one piece.

7. The set of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism is provided with a running surface that can cooperate with a portion of the mating connector to move at least part of the latch mechanism 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 latch surface.

8. The set of claim 1, further comprising a connector face, wherein on the side of the flat connector where the flat connector face is located the flat connector comprises a projection or a recess that can cooperate with a mating recess or mating projection of a mating connector to pivotably bear the connector on the mating connector.

9. The set of claim 1, further comprising a circular connector face.

10. The set of claim 1, further comprising a connector face wherein, at the end of the connector opposite to the cable end, the extension of the connector in the direction normal to the connector face decreases towards the end of the connector opposite to the cable end.

11. A set comprising a flat connector and a mating connector, the flat connector comprising a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism comprising a latch handle portion, which latch handle portion can be moved from an engagement position to a release position, wherein the flat connector is an angular cable connector in which the cable orientation is at an angle relatively to the normal of a flat connector face, and wherein the latch handle portion's path from the engagement position to the release position is linear and in the direction of the cable orientation, and wherein the handle portion is elastically biased towards its engagement position, wherein on the side of the flat connector where the flat connector face is located, the flat connector comprises a projection or a recess that can cooperate with a mating recess or mating projection of the mating connector to pivotably bear the flat connector on the mating connector, wherein the flat connector is configured for being provisionally borne pivotably by the mating connector and for being pivoted into a position where the flat connector also engages by means of the latch mechanism with the mating connector.

12. The set of claim 11, wherein the flat 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.

13. The set of claim 11, wherein the latch handle portion(s) is/are biased towards the engagement position with one or more springs.

14. The set of claim 11, wherein on the side of the flat connector where the flat connector face is located the latch mechanism comprises a latch surface that when the latch handle is in the engagement position can engage a corresponding mating latch surface for engaging the connector with the mating connector.

15. The set of claim 11, wherein the latch mechanism is provided with a running surface that can cooperate with a portion of the mating connector to move at least part of the latch mechanism 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 latch surface.

16. The set of claim 11, further comprising a connector face, wherein on the side of the flat connector where the connector face is located the flat connector comprises a projection or a recess that can cooperate with a mating recess or mating projection of a mating connector to pivotably bear the connector on the mating connector.

17. The set of claim 11, further comprising a circular connector face.

18. The set of claim 11, further comprising a connector face wherein, at the end of the connector opposite to the cable end, the extension of the connector in the direction normal to the connector face decreases towards the end of the connector opposite to the cable end.

19. A set comprising a flat connector and a mating connector, the flat connector comprising a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism comprising a latch handle portion which latch handle portion can be moved from an engagement position to a release position, wherein the flat connector is an angular cable connector in which the cable orientation is at an angle relative to the normal of the connector face, and the path from the engagement position to the release position is towards the cable end of the flat connector and extends in the plane of the handle portion, and wherein the handle portion is elastically biased towards its engagement position, wherein on the side of the flat connector where a flat connector face is located, the flat connector comprises a projection or a recess that can cooperate with a mating recess or mating projection of the mating connector to pivotably bear the flat connector on the mating connector, wherein the flat connector is configured for being provisionally borne pivotably by the mating connector and for being pivoted into a position where the flat connector also engages by means of the latch mechanism with the mating connector.

20. The set of claim 19, wherein the flat 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.

21. The set of claim 19, wherein the cable orientation is at an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees relatively to the normal of the flat connector face.

22. A method for operating a flat connector and a mating connector, the flat connector comprising a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism comprising a latch handle portion, which latch handle portion can be moved from an engagement position to a release position, wherein the flat connector is an angular cable connector in which the cable orientation is at an angle relatively to the normal of the connector face and the path from the engagement position to the release position is towards a cable end of the flat connector and extends in the plane of the handle portion, wherein the handle portion is elastically biased towards its engagement position, comprising the steps of provisionally bearing the flat connector pivotably by the mating connector; and pivoting the flat connector into a position where the flat connector also engages by means of the latch mechanism with the mating connector in order to fixedly engage the flat connector with the mating connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, further preferred embodiments of invention are illustrated by means of examples. The invention is not limited to these examples, however.

(2) The drawings schematically show:

(3) FIG. 1a A perspective view of an embodiment of a connector of the invention and a mating connector of the invention separated from each other;

(4) FIG. 1b A perspective view of the connector and the mating connector of FIG. 1a in engagement with each other;

(5) FIG. 2a A cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating connector of FIGS. 1a and 1b separated from each other;

(6) FIG. 2b A cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating connector of FIG. 2a, the mating connector being placed in a pivotable fashion on the mating connector;

(7) FIG. 3 A cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating connector of FIGS. 2a and 2b, the connector being engaged with the counter connector;

(8) FIG. 4 An exploded view of the connector of FIGS. 1a to 3;

(9) FIG. 5 An exploded view of the mating connectors of FIGS. 1a to 3;

(10) FIG. 6a A cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a connector according to the invention and a mating connector, the connector being placed in a pivotable fashion on the mating connector;

(11) FIG. 6b A cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG. 6a in engagement with a mating connector;

(12) FIG. 6c A perspective view of the connector of FIGS. 6a and 6b in engagement with a mating connector;

(13) FIG. 7a A perspective view of the connector of FIGS. 6a and 6b, showing the connector face;

(14) FIG. 7b A perspective view of the connector of FIG. 7a with the latch handle removed;

(15) FIG. 8 A top view on the mating connector of FIG. 5 with different key recesses;

(16) FIG. 9a A top view on an alternative embodiment of a mating connector; and

(17) FIG. 9b A perspective view on the mating connector of FIG. 9a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(18) In the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar components.

(19) FIGS. 1a to 4 show a first embodiment of a flat connector 1 according to the invention. As can be seen best in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the connector has a flat body and is an angular cable connector with a cable 2 entering the connector at the cable end side. On the bottom of the body, the connector face 3 is exposed. The normal on the connector face is at a 90° angle relative to the direction of the cable orientation. As can be seen best in FIGS. 1b to 4, the top of the body has a downward slope 4 towards the end of the connector 1 opposite the cable 2 end so that at the end of the connector opposite to the cable 2 end the extension of the connector in the direction normal to the connector face 3 decreases towards the end of the connector 1 opposite to the cable 2 end. Preferably, the slope is in a lid part of the body of the connector, which can fixed to a main part of the body of the connector for example with screws, glue or latch and counter-latch elements.

(20) The connector 1 moreover comprises a latch mechanism 5. In the first embodiment of the connector as shown in FIGS. 1a to 4, the latch mechanism 5 comprises a latch handle and a latch hook 6 with a latch surface 7, the latch handle and the latch hook 6 formed in one piece. The latch handle is slidably mounted on a body of the connector so that it can be moved back and forth in a direction of the cable 2 orientation. The latch handle comprises two latch handle portions 8 on opposite lateral sides of the connector 1. Each handle portion 8 is provided with a spring 9 that biases the handle portion 8 towards the end of the connector opposite to the cable 2 end. For this purpose, at the side of each latch handle portion 8 located on the inside of the connector 1, the spring 9 is placed between a spring seat 10 on the inside face of the latch handle portion 8 and a spring seat 11 on the connector body. On its outside, each latch handle portion 8 is provided with a hill-end-valley profile 12 in order to facilitate gripping the latch handle portions 8.

(21) The connector face 3 of the connector 1 is provided with spring loaded contacts 13 that protrude from the connector face 3 and, if a force is applied, yield to the force in a direction towards the inside of the connector 1. The inside ends of the contacts 13 are in electrical contact with contact pads (not shown) of a PCB 14. Conducting paths (not shown) of the PCB 14 lead from the contact pads to solder pads 15 at one edge of the PCB 14. There, leads 16 of the cable 2 are soldered to the solder pads 15 in order to provide an electrical connection from the leads 16 to the corresponding contacts 13 of the connector face 3 of the connector 1. In order to protect the connector face 3 when connected against dirt, dust and liquids, an o-ring 17 is provided as a seal around the connector face 3.

(22) The mating connector 18 is attached to a cloth 36, for example of a uniform piece. Like the connector 1, the mating connector 18 is provided with a connector face 19. Yet, unlike in the connector 1, the contact faces 20 of the contacts 21 of the connector face 19 of the mating connector 18 are flush with the connector face 19. In other words, they do not protrude from or are provided in recesses of the mating connector face 19. Also, the contacts 21 are not spring loaded, i.e. they cannot yield to a force applied to them. As can be seen in FIG. 5, similar to the internal design of the connector 1, in the mating connector 18 the contacts 21 are in contact with contact pads 22 of a PCB 23 which in turn are connected to solder pads 24 on two edges of the PCB 23. Leads 25 of two flat cables 26 are soldered to the solder pads 24 of the PCB 23. The mating connector has two body parts 37, which are joined by screws 38.

(23) The mating connector 18 is provided with two projections 27, 28 on opposite sides of the connector face 19 to cooperate with corresponding projections 29, 7 on the connector 1 for engaging the connector 1 with the mating connector 18. This can best be seen in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3 for the first embodiment of the connector 1 and 6a and 6b for the second embodiment of the connector 1.

(24) In a first step of joining the connector 1 with the mating connector 18, a pivoting projection 29 of the connector grips under a corresponding pivoting projection 27 of the mating connector 18. The pivoting projections 29, 27 are located on the end of the connecter 1 opposite the cable 2 end. This can also be referred to as the “catch” step of the procedure of joining the connector 1 with the mating connector 18 as indicated by the arrow 30 in FIG. 2a. In a next step the cable 2 end of the connector 1 is pivoted relatively to the mating connector 18 about the pivot projections 29, 27 as is indicated with the arrow 31 in FIG. 2b. On the other side of the connector faces 3, 19, there is a latch projection 6 of the latch mechanism 5 of the connector and a corresponding latch projection 28 of the mating connector 18. Both projections 6, 28 are provided with running surfaces that, when they are moved towards each other while in contact, force the latch projection 6 and with it the latch mechanism 5 including the latch handle and the latch handle portions 8 towards the cable 2 end of the connector 1. As a result, the latch projection 6 of the connection gives way for a latch surface of the latch projection 28 of the mating connector to grip the latch surface 7 of the connector 1. This allows the latch mechanism 5 to return into its engagement position and as a result secure the connector 1 engaged with the mating connector 18 as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 6b.

(25) FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a and 7b show a second embodiment of the connector 1 in which the springs 9, rather than biasing the latch handle, directly bias a latch bar 32 which is in mechanical contact with and biased against the latch handle and thereby indirectly biases the latch handle towards the end of the connector 1 opposite the cable 2 end. Again, latch handle and latch projection 6 with the latch surface 7 are made in one piece. Also in the second embodiment, on the end of the connector opposite the cable 2 end the body on the side opposite the side of the connector face 3 is not downwardly sloped but flat. The entire connector 1 has an essentially uniform height in the direction perpendicular to the connector face 3.

(26) FIGS. 1a, 7a and 7b also show projections 33 on the side of the connector with the connector face, the projections being placed near the connector face 3 but outside the seal 17. These projections 33 can operate with recesses 34 in a collar 35 provided around the mating connector's 18 connector face 19. The projections 33 and recesses 34 serve as keys so that only connectors 1 and mating connectors 18 with corresponding keys can be brought into engagement with each other. In addition or alternatively, such keys can prevent engagement of the connector 1 with the mating connector 18 in any orientation other than the correct orientation.

(27) FIGS. 9a and 9b show an alternative embodiment of the mating connector 18, in which the mating projection 27 and the latch projection 28 of the mating connector 18 are formed by a circular protrusion around the connector face 19 of the mating connector 18. As a result, the connector 1 can engage the mating connector 18 in any relative orientation. In addition, the contact faces 20 of the connector face 19 of the mating connector 18 form coaxial rings, so that the contacts 13 of the connector 1 can electrically contact the corresponding contact faces 20 of the mating connector 18 irrespectively of the relative orientation of the connector 1 and the mating connector 18. In this embodiment, there are no keys for ensuring that the connector and mating connector cannot engage in any orientation other than the correct orientation.

(28) The features as described in the above description, claims and figures can be relevant individually or in any combination to realise the various embodiments of the invention.