# US 12,224,524 B2 · Connector assembly with plug, having locking features which are operatively arranged between plug housing and socket housing and are adapted to release portion of insertion path of plug housing and socket housing in rotational position > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,524 B2 - Document ID: US12224524B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/696,183 - Filed: 2022-03-16 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-16 - Assignees: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. - Inventors: Jianxiong Li; Yuchen Yang; Reicky Zhang; Haomai Yin; Xionghui Zheng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224524B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm} - H01R 13/502: composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) - H01R 13/629: Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} - H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} - H01R 24/20: Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable - H01R 2101/00: One pole - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract The present invention discloses a connector and a connector assembly. The connector assembly has a first connector having a first housing and a second connector adapted to mate with the first connector and comprising a second housing. The first housing is adapted to be partially inserted into the second housing along an axial direction of the second housing, and an elastic latch for locking the second housing is formed on the first housing; a latch safety is installed on the second housing and movable along a circumferential direction of the second housing between a safety position to prevent the elastic latch from being unlocked and a pre-locking position to allow the elastic latch to be unlocked, a pushing part is formed on the first housing and adapted to push the latch safety to the pre-locking position at which the first housing is allowed to be inserted into the second housing. Therefore, in the present invention, before mating the first connector and the second connector, the operator does not need to check whether the latch safety has been reset to the pre-locking position. Thus, the mating operation of the first and second connectors is very simple and safe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector assembly, comprising: a first connector comprising a first housing; and a second connector adapted to mate with the first connector and comprising a second housing, wherein the first housing is adapted to be partially inserted into the second housing along an axial direction of the second housing, and an elastic latch for locking the second housing is formed on the first housing, wherein a latch safety is installed on the second housing and movable along a circumferential direction of the second housing between a safety position to prevent the elastic latch from being unlocked and a pre-locking position to allow the elastic latch to be unlocked, wherein a pushing part having a guide slope inclined to the axial direction is formed on the first housing and adapted to contact and push the latch safety along the circumferential direction to the pre-locking position at which the first housing is allowed to be inserted into the second housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein a guide slot extending along the circumferential direction is formed on the outer wall of the second housing, the latch safety is slidably installed in the guide slot, and the guide slot is configured to guide the latch safety to move between the safety position and the pre-locking position along the circumferential direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the latch safety comprises: a sliding plate slidably installed in the guide slot; and a limiting part connected to the sliding plate, wherein an opening is formed on the second housing, and the limiting part extends into the second housing through the opening, wherein front and rear edges of the opening in the axial direction are slidably held between the limiting part and the sliding plate to limit the movement of the latch safety in a radial direction of the second housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the elastic latch comprises: an elastic cantilever connected to the first housing and adapted to move between a locking position and an unlocking position; and a locking portion formed on the elastic cantilever and adapted to lock the second housing, wherein the latch safety includes a tongue connected to the limiting part, the tongue is adapted to be inserted into a gap between the elastic cantilever and the outer wall of the first housing to prevent the elastic cantilever from being moved to the unlocking position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the guide slope of the pushing part is adapted to contact and push the tongue part of the latch safety to move the latch safety from the safety position to the pre-locking position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the fixed end of the elastic cantilever is connected with the pushing part and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first housing through the pushing part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the elastic latch also includes a pressing part connected to the free end of the elastic cantilever, the pressing part is exposed to the outside of the second housing when the first housing is inserted into the second housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein two positioning grooves extending along the axial direction are formed on the bottom wall of the guide slot, and a positioning rib extending along the axial direction is formed on the inner surface of the sliding plate; wherein when the latch safety is installed in the guide slot and moved to the safety position, the positioning rib is positioned in one of the two positioning grooves; wherein when the latch safety is installed in the guide slot and moved to the pre-locking position, the positioning rib is positioned in the other of the two positioning grooves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein an indication arrow is formed on the outer surface of the sliding plate, and a safety position identification and a pre-locking position identification are formed on the outer wall of the second housing; wherein when the latch safety is installed in the guide slot and moved to the safety position, the indication arrow points to the safety position identification; wherein when the latch safety is installed in the guide slot and moved to the pre-locking position, the indication arrow points to the pre-locking position identification. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the guide slot is surrounded by a first end wall and a second end wall opposite to each other in the circumferential direction and two side walls opposite to each other in the axial direction; wherein the latch safety is adapted to move between the first end wall and the second end wall of the guide slot along the circumferential direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the sliding plate comprises a first end and a second end opposite to each other in the circumferential direction and front and rear sides opposite to each other in the axial direction; wherein the first and second ends of the sliding plate respectively correspond to the first end wall and the second end wall of the guide slot, and the front and rear sides of the sliding plate respectively correspond to the two side walls of the guide slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The connector assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a first terminal provided in a first terminal hole of the first housing; and a second terminal provided in a second terminal hole of the second housing and suitable for electrical contact with the first terminal. ### Claim 13 A connector, comprising: a housing in which a terminal hole for placing a terminal is formed, wherein the housing is provided with an elastic latch suitable for locking a mating housing; wherein when the housing is inserted into the mating housing along an axial direction of the mating housing, the elastic latch cooperates with a latch safety to hold the housing and the mating housing in a mating position; wherein the housing is provided with a pushing part, which is suitable for pushing the latch safety to a pre-locking position before the housing is inserted into the mating housing, so as to allow the housing to be inserted into the mating housing; wherein the pushing part is provided with a guide slope inclined to the axial direction, and the pushing part is adapted to contact and push the latch safety through the guide slope, so as to drive and guide the latch safety to move from a safety position to the pre-locking position along the circumference of the mating housing. ### Claim 14 A connector assembly, comprising: a first connector comprising a first housing; and a second connector adapted to mate with the first connector and comprising a second housing, wherein the first housing is adapted to be partially inserted into the second housing along an axial direction of the second housing, and an elastic latch for locking the second housing is formed on the first housing, wherein a latch safety is installed on the second housing and movable along a circumferential direction of the second housing between a safety position to prevent the elastic latch from being unlocked and a pre-locking position to allow the elastic latch to be unlocked, wherein a pushing part is formed on the first housing and adapted to push the latch safety to the pre-locking position at which the first housing is allowed to be inserted into the second housing; wherein a guide slot extending along the circumferential direction is formed on the outer wall of the second housing; wherein a sliding plate slidably of the latch safety is installed in the guide slot, the sliding plate having a limiting part; wherein an opening is formed on the second housing, and the limiting part extends into the second housing through the opening, wherein front and rear edges of the opening in the axial direction are slidably held between the limiting part and the sliding plate to limit the movement of the latch safety in a radial direction of the second housing.