GB2310087A - Push button latching and locking mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

An airbag connector 2 comprises resilient latches 26 that are inwardly biased in their natural state. Upon coupling of the connector to a complementary connector, a locking device 44 has locking extensions 52 that are inserted in a gap 32 behind the latches 26. The latches are thus outwardly biased such that latching protrusions 34 engage with the latching shoulder 38 of the complementary connector and simultaneously the locking extensions securely lock the latches in place. Low mating force and a single mating operation is thus provided.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH PUSH BUTTON LATCHING AND LOCKING MECHANISM This invention relates to an electrical connector, the connector having a latching mechanism with a latch locking member to ensure secure coupling with a mating connector.

A connector for an ignition device, for example, an automotive airbag ignition device, is described in US 4,170,939. Ignition of airbag devices in automobiles is an important safety function that requires a safe and reliable electrical connection. It is therefore important to ensure that an electrical connector for an ignition device, is fully coupled with its mating connector, and is securely locked in the coupled position even when subject to mechanical or thermal solicitation. In US 5,314,345, an electrical connector suited for airbag ignition applications, comprises a connector latchable to a mating pin connector by means of resilient cantilever beam latches that engage behind shoulders of the mating pin connector.In order to ensure that the resilient latches do not inadvertently uncouple, a locking clip comprising extensions insertable alongside and against the resilient latches is provided to ensure that the resilient latches remain in the locked position. The locking clip is attached to the housing, but is separately manipulated and assembled into the locking position once the connectors are coupled. Mating of the connector therefore requires a number of manipulations, and in certain circumstances a human operator may miss out one of the assembly steps or effect it in a faulty manner, for example forgetting to insert the locking clip or not inserting it fully.

It is a continuous requirement, for example,in the automotive industry, to simplify assembly procedures to reduce assembly time, whilst nevertheless increasing the reliability of assembly. The latter is not only important for reliability of safety features, such as airbag ignition devices, but also to reduce the cost of production. It would therefore be desirable to produce a reliable connector latching system with locking feature, that can be easily coupled to a mating connector with a minimum number of operations, low mating, and easy detection of faulty latching if this should occur.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a connector, for example, for automotive airbag ignition devices, that can be coupled in a simple but reliable manner.

It is an object of this invention to provide a connector that can be securely latched and locked to a complementary connector, the connector requiring low force to couple but nevertheless ensuring secure and reliable coupling and easy detection of incorrect coupling if this should occur.

Objects of this invention have been achieved by providing an electrical connector comprising latches engageable with complementary latching means of a complementary connector for latching the connectors together in a mated condition, the connector further comprising a latch locking device having extensions engageable behind the latches once the connectors are mated together to lock the latches in the latching position, wherein the latches in their natural state are substantially disengaged from the complimentary connector latching means prior to engagement of the locking extensions therebehind, whereby engagement of the locking extensions biases the latches into engagement with the complimentary connector latching means to ensure secure locking of the connectors.The latches could extend in a mating direction of the connectors, wherein the locking extensions are also insertable behind the latches in the mating direction of the connectors. The locking extensions could be attached to a push button extending above a top wall of the connector remote from the sating end, in the unlocked position, such that during mating the push button is merely depressed in order to effect the locking. The latches could be cantilever beam shaped resilient lances that are inwardly biased in their natural state such that they do not substantially engage the complimentary connector during coupling, but are outwardly biased by the locking extensions for secure latching and locking of the connectors. A low insertion force is thus provided due to the non-engagement of the latches during coupling.Furthermore, mating of the connectors in the insertion direction, and subsequent actuation of the locking extensions also in the insertion direction, for example by means of the push button extending beyond a top surface, requires only a single operation by an operator.

Faulty coupling is easily detected, because if the connector is not fully inserted, the locking extensions will not be able to bias the latch arms and thus the locking extension will remain in the uninserted position.

The push button provides easy visual detection of the unlocked state, as it can be provided flush with the top wall of the connector in the fully locked position, but projecting beyond the top wall in the unlocked position.

Embodimentsof this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the figures, whereby; Figure 1 is an isometric view of a connector according to this invention showing the mating side of the connector; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the connector of figure 1 but showing the top wall; Figure 3 is an isometric view of part of a complimentary connector to which the embodiments of figures 1 and 2 are matable; Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing part of the connectors of figure 1 and 3 mated together, but with the locking extension in an unlocked position; Figure 5 is a view similar to that of figure 4 but with the locking extension in a fully locked position; Figure 6 is a view towards a corner of the connector of figures 1 and 2; Figure 7 is an isometric view of another embodiment in the uncoupled state;; Figure 8 is a view similar to that of figure 7 but with the connector locking mechanism in the fully locked position.

Referring to figures 1-3, an electrical connector 2 is for mating to a complementary connector 3 which may, for example, be interconnected to an airbag ignition device. The complementary connector 3 comprises an insulative housing 4 surrounding a profiled cavity area 6 within which a pair of pin contacts 8 extend in an axial (mating) direction.

The connector 2 comprises an insulative housing 10 having a top wall 12 and opposed thereto a bottom wall 14, and side and end walls 15,16 respectively extending therebetween. The housing 10 further comprises a contact receiving section 18 extending axially below the bottom wall 14 towards a mating end 20. The contact receiving section 18 extends in a prismatic fashion and has an outer wall 22 profiled to be received in the cavity 6 of the complementary connector. The "dog-bone" shape of the profile 22 is common in the automotive airbag industry, and is shown for example in US 4,170,939. The contact receiving section 18, comprises cavities 24 for receiving receptacle contacts (not shown) for mating with the complimentary connector pin contacts 8.

The connector 2 further comprises resilient latches 26 extending from the bottom wall 14 towards the mating end 20, and positioned proximate opposing sides 28,29 of the contact receiving section 18. The latches 26 are in the shape of cantilever beams attached to the housing substantially at the bottom wall 14 and extending in the direction of the mating end 20 to free ends 30. The latches 26 are separated from the sides 28,29 of the terminal receiving section 18 by a gap 32.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, but more particularly figure 4, the latch 26 is shown comprising a locking protrusion 34 that provides a locking shoulder 36 for engagement with a locking shoulder 38 of complementary latching means 40 along end walls of the cavity 6 of the complementary connector housing 4. The latches 26 are inwardly biased as shown in figure 4 in their natural state (i.e. when no forces are applied).

The connector 2 is mated to the connector 3 by plugging the connector contact receiving section 18 into the complimentary cavity 6, whereby the latch protrusions 34 do not substantially engage the end walls 42 of the complementary connector cavity 6, although they may rub lightly thereagainst. A low insertion force is thus provided. Upon full insertion of the connectors 2 and 3 together, the latching protrusion 34 are lined with the complementary latching means 40 (in this embodiment a recess).

The connector 2 further comprises a locking device 44 comprising an actuation member 46 (see figures 1 and 2) in the form of a push button 48 and finger grips 50, the actuation member 46 being attached to locking extensions 52. In the unlocked position, the locking extensions 52 are only slightly engaged with their free ends 54 in the gap 32 as shown in figure 4. Locking protrusions 56 are provided on the extensions approximate the free ends 54 to hold the locking device in the unlocked position by engagement in complementary notches 55 in the latch and/or receiving section side wall 28.

As best seen in figure 2, when the locking device is in the unlocked position the push button 48 and finger grips 50 project above the top wall 12 in a clearly visible manner. The push button 48 is positioned above (in the mating direction) the contact receiving section 18. An operator coupling the connectors 2 and 3, would therefore first insert the contact receiving section 18 into the complementary connector cavity 6 until the mating position, whereby continued axial depression on the button 48 pushes the locking extensions into the gap 32 as shown in figure 5. The latter causes the latch 26 to bias outwardly such that the protrusion 34 enters the locking recess 40. Latching of the connectors is thus effected simultaneously with the locking of the latch in the latched position.In this fully latched and locked position as shown in figure 5, the push button 48 is flush with the top wall 12 (as also shown in the embodiment of figure 8) such that the fully latched end locked state is clearly identified. The push button could also be made to go below the surface of the top wall.

If the connectors are not fully inserted together prior to depression of the push button 48, the extension 52 can not be fully inserted into the gap 32 because the locking protrusion 34 of the latch 26 would abut against the side wall 42 of the complementary connector. The latch would thereby project into the gap 32 and block insertion of the extension 52 of the locking lance as can be best deduced from figures 4 and 5. Incomplete depression of the push button 48 would thus be clearly seen. Disconnection of the connector can be effected by pulling up on the finger grips 50 alongside the housing side walls 15, whereby the latches 26 bias back into their natural state to allow uncoupling as shown in figure 4.

Referring to figures 7 and 8, another embodiment of the connector 2 is shown as 2' and incorporates the same features (some numbering used but with a prime) as the previous embodiment except for the differences that are described herebelow. Instead of finger grips, the connector 2' is provided with a slide member 60 that moves transversely to the mating or axial direction of the terminal receiving section 18'. The slide 60 is interconnected via a camming mechanism to the push button 48'. Upon depression of the push button 48' (and consequently the locking extensions which are not shown) the slide 60 is cammed transversely into a locked position as shown in figure 8 where grips 62 at an end 64 of the slide abut against the end wall 16' of the connector housing 10'. In order to release the connector, the slide 60 must be pulled transversely in the direction of arrow A, thereby lifting the push button 48' and locking extensions by means of the camming mechanism (not shown).

Advantageously therefore, an operator can mate the connector with little insertion force and in a single movement in the mating direction until the actuation member is fully depressed. Simple and low insertion force coupling whereby faulty coupling is easily detected, is thus provided.

Claims (8)

1. An electrical connector for mating to a complementary connector having a cavity and complementary terminals therein, comprising an insulative housing having a contact receiving section extending below a bottom wall of the housing, in a mating direction of the connector, to a mating end, at least one latch extending in the mating direction alongside the contact receiving section and separated therefrom by a gap, and a locking device comprising at least one locking extension insertable alongside the latch for locking the latch when the connector is coupled to the complementary connector, the or each latch being positioned, in its natural state, such that it will not substantially engage the complementary connector, and being resiliently biasable into a locked state for engaging the complementary connector, by full insertion of the locking extension alongside the latch.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the locking extension is insertable into the gap, and the latch is biased, in its natural state, towards the contact receiving section.

3. The connector of claim 1 or 2 wherein the or each latch is in the shape of a cantilever beam, attached at one end to the housing proximate the bottom wall thereof and extending to a free end positioned towards the mating end of the contact receiving section.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein the or each latch extends substantially parallel to the mating direction in the fully locked position, but obliquely with respect to the mating direction in its natural state, where the free end of the latch is closer to the contact receiving section than the attached end.

5. The connector of any preceding claim wherein the locking device comprises a push button extending above a top wall of the housing in the unlocked state and attached to the or each locking extension for depressing the or each locking extension into the locked state.

6. The connector of claim 5 wherein the push button is flush with, or below, the top wall when pushed into the locked state.

7. The connector of claim 5 or 6 wherein the push button is situated substantially in line with the contact receiving section, with respect to the mating direction.

8. An electrical connector constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.