The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 08, 1987
Filed:
Jan. 23, 1987
Peter Noorily, Bridgewater, NJ (US);
Thomas & Betts Corporation, Raritan, NJ (US);
Abstract
A latching apparatus is provided for an electrical connector of the type having a housing including a plurality of electrical contacts therein. The latching apparatus comprises a deflectable arm that is pivotally supported on the connector housing, the pivot being disposed generally between the two ends of the pivotal arm such that both opposed ends of such arm may move relatively toward and away from the connector housing. The front end of the deflectable arm is provided with a latch for attachment to a complementary latch of a mateable electrical connector or the like. A slidable locking bar is captively supported on the housing for movement between a first position and a second position. The locking bar and deflectable arm include cooperative locking means disposed on both sides of the pivot that are operative in the first position to prevent movement of both ends of the latching arm and in the second position to permit free movement of both arm ends. As such, when the bar is in the first position, secured locking engagement of the latch is provided when attached to the mateable connector, while when the locking bar is in the second position, the free movement of the deflectable arm permits ease of attachment to or detachment from the mateable connector.