US 2017/0175938 A1 · LATCHING CONNECTOR WITH RADIAL GROOVES

Abstract

A latching connector having a pin, a housing, and a canted coil spring is disclosed. The housing has an opening that slidably receives the pin. The housing and the pin each have a groove that is sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of the canted coil spring. The pin groove and housing groove have a curved surface with a radius that is equal to or larger than the major axis of the canted coil spring. The canted coil spring has an outer diameter that is equal to or larger than the diameter of the housing groove. Together, the pin, housing, and canted coil spring provide a latching connector with a reliable and consistent connect force and disconnect force. The latching connector provides improved electrical conductivity from the pin to the housing by providing multiple contact points with the canted coil spring.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A connector comprising:

a pin having an insertion end and a pin groove disposed radially around the pin, wherein the pin groove has a curved surface;
a housing having an opening sized and dimensioned to slidably receive the pin, and a housing groove disposed radially within the opening, wherein the housing groove has a curved surface that has a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the pin groove;
a canted coil spring having an outer diameter, a major axis, and a minor axis, wherein the outer diameter is equal to or greater than a diameter of the housing groove and wherein the major axis is sized and dimensioned to fit in the housing groove.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Latching connector with radial grooves

Life of this patent

Latching connector with radial grooves

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10