Latch for IC card connector
US5554045A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 19, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S439/953
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A plug connector is provided that has a latching mechanism for locking to a receptacle connector at the rear of an IC card, wherein the latching mechanism occupies a minimum of space which otherwise could be occupied by additional contacts. The latch mechanism includes a pin-shaped latch (40, FIG. 3) which is rotatable about a latch axis (80) and which has a pair of radial projections (84, 86) at its forward end, so when the projections are inserted into the receptacle housing and turned 90.degree., the projections prevent withdrawal of the latch and therefore prevent withdrawal of the plug connector. An actuator (44) for operating the latch, includes a pair of handles (46, 48) at opposite side edges of the plug connector and a crossbar (104) that connects them and that has a pin (106) which extends into a helical groove (102) at the rear of the latch. The hole (116, FIG. 10) in the receptacle connector housing is an undercut hole which forms a pair of forwardly-facing shoulders (112) for abutting shoulders (90) at the rear ends of the projections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.