US 4,787,858 AGranted

Latching system for computer plug

AssigneeDigital Equipment Corporation

InventorJohn C. Killian, Jr.

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In a plug and socket as for a computer wherein the plug has tabular projections on opposed ends and the socket has wire latches pivotally mounted between raised members into bores therethrough for releasably engaging slots in the projections to hold the plug in the socket, a replacement latch for replacing one or both of the wire latches. A pivot rod is disposed through and between the bores in the raised members. A body portion is disposed between the bores in the raised member and pivotally mounted on the pivot rod with an engaging lip extending inward to snap over the projection, when the plug is seated in the socket, in a first locking position to hold the plug in the socket. The body portion is pivotable from the first position to a second retracted position wherein the engaging lip is removed from engagement with the projection so that the plug can be removed. An optional operating arm is carried by the body portion. An auxiliary member of spring metal is disposed under the body portion and includes a bias leaf spring operably connected to the body portion for urging the body portion towards the first position and a detent member operably connected to the body portion for releasably holding the body portion in a rotationally more distant third position against the bias force of the bias spring.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In an assembly including a plug and socket wherein the plug has a tabular projection on each of opposed ends and the socket has raised members having bores therein for pivotally mounting a latch for releasably engaging a said projection to hold the plug in the socket, a latch comprising:

(a) a pivot rod disposed in and between the bores in the raised members;
(b) a body portion disposed between the bores in the raised members and including a bore therethrough adjacent a front edge by means of which said body portion is pivotally mounted on said pivot rod, said body portion having an engaging lip extending towards the said projection when the plug is seated in the socket and disposed to snap over the said projection in a first locking position to hold the plug in the socket, said engaging lip forming a horizontal stop surface over the said projection and the pivot point formed by said bore in said body portion and said pivot rod therein, said body portion being pivotable to a second retracted position wherein said engaging lip is removed from engagement with the projection so that the plug can be removed;
and
(c) an operating arm carried by said body portion whereby said body portion can be moved between said first and second positions by said operating arm;
wherein
said operating arm is shaped to extend from said body portion alongside the plug to the opposite end of the plug when the plug is in the socket whereby said body portion can be moved between said first and second positions by said operating arm from the opposite end of the plug from said body portion.

3 more elements

A latch for releasably locking a plug having a tabular projection on each of opposed ends into a mating socket wherein the latch comprises:

(a) a pivot rod mounted adjacent and parallel to one end of the socket;
(b) a body portion having a bore therethrough adjacent a lower front edge by means of which said body portion is pivotally mounted on said pivot rod, said body portion having an engaging lip extending towards a said projection when the plug is seated in the socket and disposed to snap over the said projection in a first locking position to hold the plug in the socket, said engaging lip forming a horizontal stop surface over the said projection and the pivot point formed by said bore in said body portion and said pivot rod therein, said body portion being pivotable to a second retracted position wherein said engaging lip is removed from engagement with the said projection so that the plug can be removed, and
an operating arm carried by said body portion whereby said body portion can be moved between said first and second positions by said operating arm;
wherein;
said operating arm is shaped to extend from said body portion alongside the plug to the opposite end of the plug when the plug is in the socket whereby the latch can be operated from the opposite end of the plug from said body portion.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.