Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~AN EJECTOR LATCH FOR LATCHING FIRST AND SECOND CONNECTORS"
The present invention relates to an assembly of mating first and
second connectors and an ejector latch for latching the mating connectors
comprising first coupling means for coupling the ejector latch to the
first connector and second coupling means for coupling the ejector latch
to the second connector, in latched position of which assembly the
ejector latch is coupled to both the first and the second connector
whereas in unlatched position the ejector latch may be coupled to one of
the connectors.
Such an ~s~ hly is known from the prior art and ~~ ~~ly comprises
a "seahorse type" ejector latch, which can be used to latch various types
of male and female connectors. In order to unlatch the connectors, said
ejector latch has to be pushed outwards with respect to the first
connector. The first connector and the ejector latch are thereby
separated and the first connector is ejected from the second connector.
Reversely the mating connectors can be latched by pushine the ejector
latch towards the first connector.
The known ejector latch however enlarges the space required by the
assembly of which it forms a part during latching and unlatching
operations. In the scope of the miniaturization trend, as a result of
which the impact of space reguirements on design characteristics of all
kinds of hardware components has increased, this is an important
disadvantage.
The assembly according to the invention eli~inAtes this
disadvantage in that said second coupling means are constructed such as
to provide a detAchAhle coupling between said second connector and said
ejector latch and in that said first connector and/or said ejector latch
are constructed such as to provide sufficient space to enable the
unlatching of the connectors by moving the ejector latch towards the
first connector, thereby separating both the ejector latch and the first
connector from the second connector.
In a preferred embodiment said ejector latch comprises first
pushing means and second pushing means on which first pushing means a
force can be exerted in order to move the ejector latch towards the first
connector during which movement, by means of leverage of the ejector
latch, the second pushing means can push the ejector latch away from the
second connector thereby ejectin~ the first connector. This embodiment
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has the advantage that the connectors can be both unlatched and separated
with one single L~ nt.
In a further ~ t the first pushin~ means comprise at least
one projecting member and the second pushing means comprise at least one
projecting member, each projecting at in essence opposite ends of the
ejector latch. The assembly according to this embodiment provides a
simple and effective lever construction for the ejector latch which can
be produced at low costs.
In another E bo~i o~t of the assembly the second coupling means
comprise at least one ridge provided on the ejector latch that can be
moved into at least one matching slot provided on the second connector.
This ~ ho~; ~nt provides simple and solid coupling means which can be
produced at low costs.
In another c ho~ t of the assembly the first connector comprises
reception means for receiving the ejector latch. Said embodiment hss the
advantage that the first connector can incorporate the ejector latch so
that all latching and unlatching operations can be carried out within the
space occupied by the first and second connector, the ejector latch not
enlarging the required space.
In a further embodiment said first connector comprises first
blocking means which prevent a lateral shift of the first connector with
respect to the second connector in latched position of the assembly. In
an advantageous manner these first blocking means prevent any undesired
change of position of the ejector latch as a result of the shifting apart
of said connectors.
In a still further embodiment the ejector latch comprises second
blocking means which prevent the ejector latch from moving outwardly away
from the first connector once the connectors are latched. These blocking
means ensure, in a simple and inexpensive manner, that the ejector latch
does not enlarge the space required by the first and second connectors
when latched.
In another e~bo~i ?nt of the assembly the first coupling means are
arranged such that the ejector latch can be coupled pivotably to the
first connector. This embodiment facilitates the -v ~t required for
latching and unlatching operations.
In yet another c ~odi ~nt of the ejector latch the first coupling
means are arranged such that the ejector latch can be coupled detachably
to the first connector. This has the advantage that the ejector latch can
be produced separately from the first connector. Another advantage of
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this r~ho~;ment is that once the first connector and the second connector
are unlatched. e.g. to replace the first connector by another one, the
~ame ejector latc'n can be used to latch the replacement connector and the
second connector.
The present invention also relates to an ejector latch for use in
the assembly, in which the second pushing means comprise two spaced
members, each having an inner and an outer side, projecting at one end of
the ejector latch, the first couplin~ means being arranged ~t the outer
sides of the projecting members and the second coupling means being
arranged at the inner sides of the projecting members. By means of said
projecting members this ejector latch fills the existing space between
the first and the second connector thereby clamping said connectors in an
advantageous manner.
The assembly according to the invention will be described in more
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure l shows a schematic view of an assembly according to the
present invention comprising an ejector latch and a first and second
connector, of which the connectors are only partly shown;
Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the ~s~ bly shown in figure l,
the ejector latch now latching the mating first and second connectors;
Figure 3 shows the sectional ~iew according to figure 2 during the
unlatching operation, the ejector being pushed towards the first
connector;
Figure 4 shows the sectional view shown in figures 2 and 3 after
the unlatching has been completed;
Figures 5a and 5b show an assembly according to the prior art
comprising a "seahorse type" ejector latch and an assembly according to
the present invention, both in latching position, respectively;
Figures 6a and 6b show the assemblies shown in figures 5a and 5b,
respectively, during the unlatching operation.
Figure l shows a schematic view of an assembly according to the
present invention comprising an ejector latch l and a first and second
connector, 3, 5 respectively, which are only partly shown. The ejector
latch l comprises two spaced. parallel projecting, flat members 6, 7 on
whose outer sides first coupling means 2 are provided for coupling the
ejector latch l to the first connector 3. In the embodiment shown the
first coupling means 2 comprise two ridges which fit into two matching
slots 9 provided on the first connector 3, which enables a detachable
coupling, preferrably by means of a snap-in construction. Furthermore.
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the ridges 2 are round 8S to provide a pivotably coupling of the ejector
latch 1 and the first connector 3. On the inner sides of said projecting
members 6, 7 second co~pl ir.g means 4 are provided for detnchnhly coupling
the ejector latch 1 to the second connector 5. The second coupling means
4 comprise two ridges which are able to fit into two matching slots 10
provided on the second connector 5. A further projecting member 12, which
is mainly projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of the
members 6. 7, is provided for exerting a force thereon in order to
unlatch the two mating connectors 3 and 5. In order to facilitate ssid
exertion of force member 12 preferrably comprises ribs 13. First blocking
means 14 are provided on the first connector 3 to prevent a latersl shift
of said first connector 3 with respect to the second connector 5 in
latched position of the assembly. Second blocking means 8 are provided on
the ejector latch 1 to prevent said ejector latch 1 from moving outwardly
away from the first connector 3 when the first and second connector sre
latched.
In order to latch the connectors 3 and 5 the ejector latch 1 is
first coupled to the first connector 3. Therefore it is moved in the
direction of the arrows P, the ridges 2 mating with the slots 9.
Reception means 11 are provided on the first connector 3 for receiving
the ejector latch 1. The first connector 3, which now incorporates
ejector latch 1, can then be slided over the second connector 5, the
ridges 4 mating with the slots 10 thereof. It will be evident to any
person skilled in the art that the ejector latch 1 may also comprise only
one projecting member 6 or 7, the first and second coupling means, 2, 4
respectively, being arranged at opposite sides thereof. The necessary
adaptations to the connectors following from that alternative embodiment
will also be clear to any person skilled in the art.
Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the assembly shown in figure 1,
the ejector latch 1 now latching the mating first and second connectors
3, 5 respectively. In this position the ejector latch 1 is almost
completely incorporated in the first connector 3, thus using no more
space than is required for the two connectors alone. From figure 2 it can
clearly be seen that in latched position of the assembly the first
blocking means 14 and the second blocking means 8 cooperate to retain the
ejector latch 1 in position.
Figure 3 shows the sectional view according to figure 2 during the
unlatchin~ operation. In order to move the ejector latch 1 towards the
first connector 3 a force is exerted on the projecting member 12, as
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in~icAted by a horizontal arrow Q. By leverage of the ejector latch 1 the
projecting members 6 and 7 (of w~ich only 6 is shown) subsequently exert
a force on the second connector 5, as indicated by a vertical arrow R,
thereby freeing the ridges 4 from the slots 10, as a result of which the
ejector latch 1 pushes itself away from the second connector 5. As the
ejector latch 1 and the first connector 3 are still coupled by means of
the first coupling means 2, at the same time said first connector 3 is
ejected from said second connector 5. The preferred embodiment of the
ejector latch 1 thus advantageously enAhles the unlatching as well ss the
ejection of the first connector from the second connector in one
v~ ent. It must be noted that whereas on one hand the material of the
ejector latch 1 should be chosen sufficiently flexible as to enable the
ridges 4 to be freed of the slots 10 during the above described inward
movement of the ejector latch 1, on the other hand said material should
be chosen sufficiently rigid as to enable the above described ejection of
the first connector 3.
In the reverse latching operation, wherein the first connector 3
incorporating the ejector latch 1 is slided over the second connector 5,
the projecting members 6, 7 first get clamped between the first connector
3 and the second connector 5. Next, at a certain point during said
sliding, the projecting members 6. 7 will contact the second connector 5.
By means of leverage of the ejector latch 1 the projecting member 12 of
the ejector latch 1 will subsequently be pushed outward with respect to
the first connector 3, which can be facilitated by means of the specific
shape of the projecting members 6 and 7. The latching of the connectors
is further facilitated by means of recess 15 provided on the ejector
latch 1, which recess can be adapted to the shape of ejector latch 1. The
combination of forces as discussed above results in the coupling of
ridges 4 and slots 10.
Figure 4 shows the sectional view of figures 2 and 3 after the
unlatching has been completed. From figure 4 it is clear that ejector
latch 1 can be completely incorporated by first connector 3 according to
its preferred embodiment.
Figure 5a shows an assembly according to the prior art comprising a
"seahorse type" ejector latch 20 that latches mating first and second
connectors 21, 22 respectively. Figure 5b shows an alternative embodiment
of an assembly according to the present invention comprising ejector
latch 1' which latches mating first and second connectors 21', 22'
respectively. It must be noted that all components equal to components
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described above are indicated with equal reference numerals provided with
a quotation mark. First connector 21' of the slternative embodiment
deviates from first connector 3 as shown in figures 1 through 4 in that
it has no reception means for reception of the ejector latch. Ejector
latch 1' resembles ejector latch 1 as shown in figures 1 through 4 in
many aspects (e.g. blocking means 8', ridges 4' mating with slots 10'),
but is adapted to the specific shape of first connector 21'. However,
both the ejector latch 1' and the first connector 21' are constructed
such as to provide sufficient space to enable the unlatching of the first
and second connectors, 21' and 22' respectively, by moving the ejector
latch 1' towards the first connector 21', just as in the assembly shown
in figures 1 through 4.
As can be seen from figures 5a and 5b the first connectors 21, 21'
are in essence equal, apart from a few necessary adaptations to the type
of ejector latch used (this also applies for second connectors 22, 22').
In their latching position both Acs~ blies occupy an equal amount of
space, as is indicated by the two dotted lines.
Figures 6a and 6b show the ejector latches shown in figures 5a and
5b, respectively, dur~ng the unlatching operation. In order to perform
the unlatching of the two mating connectors in the known assembly the
ejector latch 20 must be moved outward with respect to the first
connector 21, the assembly thereby occupying the amount of space
indicated by the left dotted line in figure 5a. Contrary to this the
ejector latch 1' being part of the assembly according to the present
invention must be moved inwardly with respect to the first connector 21'
in order to unlatch the connectors, as described above. In this case the
unlatching operation can be carried out within the space already occupied
by the assembly, as becomes apparent from figure 6b. The assembly
according to the present invention therefore min; i7es space requirements
in comparison with the assembly known in the prior art.
The invention is, of course, not limited to the embodiments shown,
but can be modified in various ways and extended without deviating from
the inventive idea as formulated in the accompanying claims.
