Connector with a mating assistance assembly
AssigneeTE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
InventorsGalen M. Martin, Barakissa Gakou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector includes a housing receiving a mating connector in a mating direction, a slide movable with respect to the housing between a latched position and a released position, and a mating assistance assembly. The slide automatically moves from the latched position to the released position upon insertion of the mating connector to a partially mated position in the housing. The mating assistance assembly imparts a mating assistance force on the mating connector as the slide moves from the latched position to the released position. The mating assistance force moves the mating connector further into the housing along the mating direction from the partially mated position to a fully mated position.
Claims19
A connector, comprising:
- a housing receiving a mating connector in a mating direction;
- a slide movable with respect to the housing between a latched position and a released position, the slide automatically moves from the latched position to the released position upon insertion of the mating connector to a partially mated position in the housing;
- and
- a mating assistance assembly imparting a mating assistance force on the mating connector as the slide moves from the latched position to the released position, the mating assistance force moving the mating connector further into the housing along the mating direction from the partially mated position to a fully mated position, the mating assistance assembly includes:
- a guide slot disposed on one of the slide and the mating connector;
- and
- a guide element disposed on the other one of the slide and the mating connector, the guide element moves along the guide slot between the latched position and the released position, the guide slot declining in a direction opposite to a direction of a biasing force along the mating direction such that the guide slot urges the mating connector toward the fully mated position under the biasing force.
A connector assembly, comprising:
- a first connector including a housing and a slide movable with respect to the housing between a latched position and a released position, the slide having a base and a latch arm extending from the base, the latch arm is resiliently deflectable with respect to the base and engages the housing in the latched position;
- a second connector mateable with the first connector along a mating direction, the slide automatically moves from the latched position to the released position upon insertion of the second connector to a partially mated position in the housing;
- and
- a mating assistance assembly imparting a mating assistance force on the second connector as the slide moves from the latched position to the released position, the mating assistance force moving the second connector further into the housing along the mating direction from the partially mated position to a fully mated position.
A connector, comprising:
- a housing receiving a mating connector in a mating direction;
- a slide movable with respect to the housing between a latched position and a released position;
- an elastic element biasing the slide to move from the latched position to the released position upon insertion of the mating connector to a partially mated position in the housing;
- and
- a mating assistance assembly imparting a mating assistance force generated by the elastic element on the mating connector as the slide moves from the latched position to the released position, the mating assistance force biasing the slide in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and moving the mating connector further into the housing along the mating direction from the partially mated position to a fully mated position, the mating assistance assembly includes:
- a guide slot disposed on one of the slide and the mating connector;
- and
- a guide element disposed on the other one of the slide and the mating connector, the guide element moves along the guide slot between the latched position and the released position, the guide slot declining in a direction opposite to a direction of a biasing force applied by the elastic element along the mating direction such that the guide slot urges the mating connector toward the fully mated position under the biasing force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.