US 7,682,181 B1Granted

Latch securing member

AssigneeTyco Electronics Corporation

InventorsRoyal Curtis Jones, Jr., Roy Kenneth Whitaker, Jr.

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Abstract

A latch securing member for use in maintaining a first connector having at least one latching arm in latching engagement with a second connector having at least one latch projection. The latch securing member has an inclined member which extends from proximate a front face to a rear wall, with the inclined member being positioned proximate a bottom wall at the front face and inclined toward a top surface. At least one securing arm extends from the rear wall toward the front face and is positioned proximate the top surface. The inclined member is positioned to cooperate with the latching arm of the first connector to prevent the latching arm from disengagement from the latching projection of the second connector. The securing arm cooperates with the latching arm to maintain the latch securing member in position relative to the latching arm.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A connector assembly having a first connector housing, a second connector housing and a latch securing member, the connector assembly comprising:

the first connector housing having a latch member which extends from a first wall of the first connector housing, the latch member has a latch projection engagement section and a disengagement section;
the second connector housing having a latch projection which extends from a second wall of the second connector housing and cooperates with the latch projection engagement section of the first connector when the first and second connector are mated together;
the latch securing member having an inclined member and a securing arm, the inclined member extends from proximate a front face of the latch securing member to a rear wall and is positioned proximate a bottom wall at the front face and is inclined toward a top surface, the inclined member cooperates to maintain the disengagement section of the first connector in position when the latch securing projection is properly mated to the first connector housing and the securing arm cooperates with the disengagement section to prevent the inadvertent removal of the latch securing member from the latch member;
whereby in the fully mated position, the latch projection engagement section of the first connector housing engages the latch projection of the second connector housing to form a locking member and the disengagement section of the first connector housing engages the inclined member of the latch securing member which prevents the disengagement section from being moved to a disengagement position, thereby ensuring that the latch projection engagement section will remain in contact with the latch projection, preventing the disengagement of the first connector housing from the second connector housing.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.