Latch assemblies for connector systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9356390-B2
Application number	US-201514708863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2015
Priority date	May 14, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A connector system includes a cartridge having at least one cavity configured to hold connector modules therein. The connector system also includes at least one slider latch housed in the cartridge. The at least one slider latch is movable in a longitudinal direction and has at least one groove configured to receive a cam of a corresponding connector module to secure the connector modules to the cartridge. The at least one slider latch has a biasing member operably coupled thereto. The biasing member biases the slider latch in a biasing direction. The biasing member forces the at least one slider latch to return to a latched position after the cam is received in the profiled groove. The connector system also includes a discharge mechanism configured to move a discharge slider.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector system comprising:
a cartridge having at least one cavity configured to hold connector modules therein, the cartridge having at least one port therein, the cartridge receiving the connector modules through the corresponding at least one port;
at least one slider latch housed in the cartridge, the at least one slider latch being movable in a longitudinal direction and having at least one profiled groove configured to latchably receive a cam of the corresponding connector module to secure the connector modules to the cartridge,
wherein the at least one slider latch has a biasing member operably coupled thereto, the biasing member biasing the at least one slider latch in a biasing direction, the biasing member forcing the at least one slider latch to return to a latched position after the cam is received in the profiled groove;
at least one disengage slider operable on the corresponding slider latch, movement of the disengage slider forces the slider latch to move from the latched position to a discharge position to release the cam from the corresponding profiled groove to eject each of the connector modules from the cartridge; and
a discharge mechanism configured to move the at least one disengage slider.

2. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge mechanism includes an ejector button operatively coupled to the disengage slider to move the disengage slider when the ejector button is pressed.

3. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge mechanism includes a manual discharge mechanism operably coupled to the disengage slider, the manual discharge mechanism configured to move the disengage slider.

4. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge mechanism includes an electrical discharge mechanism operably coupled to the disengage slider, the electrical discharge mechanism configured to move the disengage slider.

5. The connector system of claim 4 , wherein the electronic discharge mechanism includes a control box having a control interface configured to energize the discharge mechanism on demand.

6. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge mechanism includes a rotatable handle having a geared portion circumferentially surrounding a pivot axle extending through the cartridge, the geared portion engaging a corresponding linear gear portion of the disengage slider such that rotation of the handle causes the disengage slider to move from the resting position to the discharge position.

7. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a keyway configured to receive a harness key coupled to the connector module, the harness key and the keyway governing access to the port by the connector module.

8. The connector system of claim 7 , wherein the connector module further comprises a housing having one or more stations, the harness key being reconfigurably attached to the one or more stations.

9. The connector system of claim 7 , wherein the connector module further comprises a housing having a top shell and a bottom shell, the harness key comprising a top harness key coupled to the top shell, a bottom harness key being coupled to the bottom shell.

10. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge and the connector module create an indication when the cam is secured within profiled groove.

11. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the profiled groove includes a latching area in which the cam is captured to secure the connector module, the profiled groove including a first inclined surface engaging the cam and ejecting the connector module from the cartridge when the slider latch moves from the discharged position to the latched position.

12. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the profiled groove includes a latching area in which the cam is captured to secure the connector module, the profiled groove includes an ejection area from which the cam is ejected from the profiled groove as the slider latch is moved to the unlatched position, the cam being moved from a holding area to the ejection area and then being ejected from the profiled groove as the discharge mechanism is activated.

13. The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the profiled groove include a blocker between a latching area and an ejection area, the profiled groove including an inclined surface extending along the ejection area, the blocker stopping the cam from returning to the latching area and the inclined surface forcing the cam to ride along the inclined surface.

14. A connector system comprising:
one or more connector modules having a housing including one or more stations configured to hold a harness key at a plurality of locations,
a cartridge having at least one cavity configured to hold the connector modules therein, the cartridge having at least one port therein, the port having a keyway configured to receive the harness key, the cartridge receiving the connector modules through the corresponding at least one port;
at least one slider latch housed in the cartridge, the at least one slider latch being movable in a longitudinal direction and having at least one profiled groove configured to latchably receive a cam of the corresponding connector module to secure the connector module to the cartridge,
wherein the at least one slider latch has a biasing member operably coupled thereto, the biasing member biasing the at least one slider latch in a biasing direction, the biasing member forcing the at least one slider latch to return to a latched position after the cam is received in the profiled groove;
at least one disengage slider operably connected to the corresponding slider latch, movement of the disengage slider forces the slider latch to move from the latched position to a discharge position to release the cam from the corresponding profiled groove to eject each of the connector modules from the cartridge; and
a discharge mechanism configured to move the disengage slider.

15. The connector system of claim 14 wherein the harness key is reconfigurably attached to the one or more stations.

16. The connector system of claim 14 wherein the harness key and the keyway govern access to the port by the connector module.

17. The connector system of claim 14 wherein the housing further comprises a top shell and a bottom shell, the harness key comprising a top harness key coupled to the top shell and a bottom harness key coupled to the bottom shell.

18. A connector system comprising:
a cartridge having at least one cavity configured to hold connector modules therein, the cartridge having at least one port therein, the cartridge receiving the connector modules through the corresponding at least one port;
at least one slider latch housed in the cartridge, the at least one slider latch being movable in a longitudinal direction and having at least one profiled groove configured to latchably receive a cam of the corresponding connector module to secure the connector modules to the cartridge,
wherein the at least one slider latch has a biasing member operably coupled thereto, the biasing member biasing the at least one slider latch in a biasing direction, the biasing member forcing the at least one slider latch to return to a latched position after the cam is received in the profiled groove;
wherein the profiled groove includes a latching area in which the cam is captured to secure the connector module, the profiled groove includes inclined surfaces to guide the cam into the groove;
a disengage slider operably connected to a corresponding slider latch, movement of the diseng

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Annis Kyle Gary
• Thackston Kevin Michael
• Mcalonis Matthew Richard
• Tsang Albert
• Belack Dustin Carson
• Ruffini Nicholas Paul
• Yi Chong Hun

Classifications

• H01R13/62905

  comprising a camming member (H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/62961

  Pivoting lever having extendable handle · CPC title

• H01R13/635

  by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force · CPC title

• H01R13/62977

  Pivoting levers actuating linearly camming means · CPC title

• H01R13/62911 Primary

  U-shaped sliding element · CPC title