Spring latch for latching together electrical connectors and improved latching system

An assembly of connector modules ganged together in side-by-side relationship to matingly engage a mating connector, said assembly comprising:

• a plurality of like connector modules each having opposed side surfaces and opposed end surfaces extending from a mating face to a cable face, said side surfaces of each said module adapted to be disposed adjacent to side surfaces of adjacent ones of said modules with said end surfaces of said modules being essentially disposed in common outwardly facing planes;
• and
• a pair of opposed spring latch members each disposed along a respective said common plane of said module end surfaces, and each comprising a like plurality of integrally joined segments corresponding to respective said module end surfaces, wherein each said segment comprises:
• a first free end including a latching means latchable with a cooperating latching means of a mating connector upon mating engagement of said modules with said mating connector;
• an outer body section extending substantially axially rearwardly from said first free end to a bight;
• an inner body section extending forwardly from said bight substantially along an inwardly facing surface of said outer body section to a fulcrum section at a location spaced rearwardly from said latching means of said first free end;
• and
• a second free end extending substantially transversely inwardly from said fulcrum section and including a securing means adapted to securely attach to a cooperating securing means along a said end surface of a respective said module to secure said module thereat to said spring latch segment, whereby
• said modules are each secured at respective said end surfaces to respective segments of said opposed spring latch members and are thereby ganged together in side-by-side relationship, and said opposed spring latch members define opposing arrays of first free ends disposed forwardly of said second free ends and spaced outwardly from said module end surfaces, said latching means of said opposing arrays of first free ends being simultaneously latchable to cooperating latching means on opposed ends of a said mating connector during mating of said ganged modules therewith.

A latching system for latching a first article and a second article when the articles are urged together along an axis to a fully mated relationship, the second article having a latching projection extending from a selected side surface thereof and the first article having a spring latch means including a free end extending forwardly with a latching recess therein associated with the latching projection, characterized in that;

• said latching recess has a selected axial dimension defined between forward and rearward tab sections extending transversely outwardly relative to said side surface of said second article, said tab sections having smooth facing surfaces spaced apart a selected distance proximate said latching projection, and said forward tab section extending outwardly at an angle greater than 90.degree. such that its rearwardly facing surface faces slightly outwardly;
• said latching projection comprises a convex smooth surface facing said first article and associated with said rearward tab section and a rearwardly facing surface associated with said forward tab section and having a latching surface portion spaced from said side surface of said second article facing slightly inwardly toward said side surface cooperable with said forward tab section to resist relative outward movement of said tab section, and further having an inner surface portion adjacent said side surface angled to face slightly outwardly, and said latching projection having a continuous range of axial dimensions defined between said inner surface portion and said convex surface adjacent said side surface which includes said selected said side axial dimension of said latching recess;
• and
• said spring latch means being adapted such that said free end retains a residual force against said side surface of said second article after latching engagement of said first and second articles, whereby said facing smooth surfaces of said latching recess are in continuous engagement with said latching projection surfaces after latching to resist inadvertent delatching and to resist degrading effects of shock and vibration affecting said first and second articles.