US 5,174,781 A · Connector bail latch

Abstract

First and second connectors are provided, wherein when the connectors are mated a wire bail on the first connector is pivoted to a position over the second connector, which more securely retains the bail and facilitates its release. The bail (20B, FIG. 1) has arms (22, 24) with lower ends (30) forming shaft parts received in holes in the first connector housing. Accidental pullout of the shaft parts is prevented by a bail retainer (60) that lies beyond the shaft part and prevents it from pulling out except when the bail is in an open position (20A) wherein a crossleg (26) at its top lies beyond an end (44) of the first connector. The top of the second connector includes latch and stop walls (36, 38) that form a recess (34) therebetween which receives the crossleg of the bail. The latch wall forming a laterally-extending ramp (100). When the bail in its closed position is twisted so its crossleg (at 26A in FIG. 7) extends at an angle (A) from the lateral position, the crossleg can advance up the ramp (100) to clear the latch wall and move to the open position.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A connector system which includes a first connector which has an upper part that can mate with a second connector, wherein each connector has a housing with longitudinally spaced ends and with laterally-spaced opposite sides, with first connector opposite sides forming shaft-receiving holes, and said first connector includes a wire bail with opposite arms lying beside its connector sides, wherein said arms have upper ends connected by a crossleg of said bail and said arms have lower ends forming shaft parts extending laterally into said holes to pivotably mount said bail on said housing about a pivot axis, to enable said bail to pivot between a closed position wherein said crossleg lies over said second connector when mated to said first connector and an open position wherein said crossleg lies substantially beyond a first of said housing ends, characterized by:

said connector housing sides each includes a housing side surface and a bail retainer, with each bail retainer having a retainer wall laterally spaced from said side surface to leave a retainer passage therebetween along which one of said arms moves during bail pivoting about said shaft parts when said bail is in said closed position, with said retainer wall lying close enough to said housing side surface to prevent a corresponding shaft part from moving laterally completely out of a corresponding shaft-receiving hole.

A connector system, comprising:

first and second mateable connectors, each having a housing with upper and lower parts, longitudinally spaced opposite ends, and laterally-spaced opposite sides, said connectors being constructed so the upper part of said first connector mates with the lower part of said second connector;
said first connector including a bail having opposite arms with upper and lower ends, with said arms lying at said opposite sides of said first connector housing, said bail having a crossleg extending in said lateral direction and connecting said upper arm ends, and each bail lower end being pivotally mounted on said first connector housing to enable said bail to be pivoted between an open position wherein said crossleg lies at a first of said ends of said first connector housing and a closed positions.
said second connector housing upper part having latch and stop walls forming a laterally-extending recess therebetween for receiving said crossleg when said bail is in said closed position, said latch wall located so said base passes over it during movement toward said closed position, and said stop wall located to prevent movement of said base away from said open position past said closed position;
said latch wall forming a ramp surface extending in a downward-lateral direction toward an adjacent one of said second connector sides, and said bail being twistable to orient said crossleg at an angle to said lateral direction so said crossleg can ride up along said ramp away from said closed position toward said open position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Connector bail latch

Life of this patent

Connector bail latch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12