Spring latching connectors

A connector for latching components comprising:

• a pin disposed inside a bore of a housing, said pin comprising an elongated body defining a pin longitudinal axis with a pin diameter, a pin insertion end comprising an end surface extending across the pin longitudinal surface and a tapered surface relative to the pin longitudinal axis for lifting a radial canted coil spring upon insertion of the pin into the bore of the housing in a first direction to latch the pin to the housing in a latched position, and a pin groove disposed on an outside surface of the elongated body and comprising a groove edge defining a groove opening and at least one tapered surface comprising an upper taper section near an edge defining the pin groove, a middle taper section, and a lower taper section spaced from the upper taper section;
• the pin groove structured to permit disconnection of the pin from the housing when moving the pin in a second direction relative to the housing, which is opposite the first direction, so that the at least one tapered surface below the upper taper surface lifts the canted coil spring against a housing groove;
• the housing groove located inside the bore of the housing and said housing groove comprising a housing groove bottom having at least one tapered surface and two sidewalls defining a housing groove width;
• the radial canted coil spring comprising a spring inside diameter, a spring outside diameter, a plurality of coils each comprising a major axis, a minor axis, and a wire diameter cooperating with the pin groove and the housing groove and latching the pin to the housing with the plurality of coils simultaneously contacting the at least one tapered surface of the pin groove and the at least one tapered surface of the housing groove to apply a biasing force against the groove bottom of the housing groove and the at least one tapered surface of the pin groove;
• wherein the plurality of coils each has a first canting angle in the latched position and a second canting angle when compressed along the minor axis between the bore and the pin groove or between the housing groove and the elongated body of the pin during movement of the pin in the second direction opposite the first direction to disconnect the pin from the housing;
• wherein the pin groove comprises a V-groove;
• and
• wherein an angle of the tapered insertion end is less than an angle of the at least one tapered surface of the pin groove such that disconnect forces are higher than connect forces.

A connector for latching components comprising:

• a pin comprising an elongated body defining a pin longitudinal axis with a pin diameter, a pin insertion end with a tapered surface that is tapered relative to the pin longitudinal axis, and an external pin groove comprising at least one tapered surface;
• a housing comprising a housing bore with a bore diameter having the pin disposed therein by moving the pin in a first direction relative to the housing so that the tapered surface of the pin lifts a plurality of coils of a canted coil spring and then latch the pin to the housing with the canted coil spring located therebetween;
• said housing bore comprising a lengthwise housing axis, a housing groove comprising two tapered surfaces and two sidewalls defining a housing groove width disposed on an inside surface of said housing bore;
• said housing groove structured to permit disconnection of the pin from the housing when moving the pin in a second direction relative to the housing, which is opposite the first direction;
• each coil of the plurality of coils comprising a major axis, a minor axis, and a wire diameter disposed in the housing groove and the pin groove in a latched position with the plurality of coils simultaneously compressed by and contacting the two tapered surfaces of the housing groove and the at least one tapered surface of the pin groove;
• wherein the tapered surface of the pin insertion end lifts the plurality of coils during insertion of the pin in the first direction into the housing bore to produce connect forces;
• wherein said canted coil spring is compressed by the housing groove and a side of the elongated body of the pin or by the pin groove and a surface of the housing bore after the latched position and when the pin moves in the second direction to disconnect from the housing;
• and
• wherein the connector for latching is an electrical connector configured for electric current flow through the housing, the canted coil spring, and the pin.