Latch for electrical connectors

A flexible latch for latching an electrical connector to a complementary mating connecting device, comprising:

• an elongated flexible strip stamped and formed of sheet metal material and having front and rear ends fixed to a connector housing with the strip being spaced from and flexible relative to the housing between the front and rear ends and including,
• a generally planar body portion of a given width extending forwardly from and flexibly rotatable in a given direction about said rear end,
• a latching portion, having a consistent thickness and a total width less than said given width, extending rearwardly from and flexibly rotatable opposite said given direction about said front end, and
• a generally triangularly-shaped latch hook located at a juncture between the latching portion and the body portion of the flexible strip for movement into and out of latching engagement with the mating connecting device as the body portion and the latching portion flexibly rotate in opposite directions about said front and rear ends, respectively, the latch hook including a first corner joined to the latching portion, a second corner joined to the body portion and a third corner forming an apex for latching engagement with the mating connecting device, the apex having a reduced thickness to promote buckling thereat in the event that excessive forces are applied to the electrical connector in an unmating direction.

A flexible latch for latching an electrical connector to a complementary mating connecting device, comprising:

• an elongated flexible strip having front and rear ends fixed to a connector housing with the strip being spaced from and flexible relative to the housing between the front and rear ends and including,
• a body portion of a given width extending forwardly from and flexibly rotatable in a given direction about said rear end,
• a latching portion comprising at least two laterally spaced, generally parallel beams having a consistent thickness and a total width less than said given width and extending rearwardly from and flexibly rotatable opposite said given direction about said front end, and
• a latch hook on each beam for movement into and out of latching engagement with the mating connecting device as the body portion and the latching portion flexibly rotate in opposite directions about said front and rear ends, respectively, the latch hooks being generally triangular and including a first corner joined to the latching portion, a second corner joined to the body portion and a third corner forming an apex for latching engagement with the mating connecting device, the apex having a reduced thickness to promote buckling thereat in the event that excessive forces are applied to the electrical connector in an unmating direction.