US 12,413,028 B2
Panel mount electrical connector
Michael James Horning, Landisville, PA (US); and Brian Patrick Costello, Scotts Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
Filed by TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/867,583.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/253,776, filed on Oct. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0114958 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 13/504 (2006.01); H01R 13/74 (2006.01); H01R 13/26 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/743 (2013.01) [H01R 13/504 (2013.01); H01R 13/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connector for mounting to a panel, the electrical connector comprising:
a connector housing having a base at a rear of the connector housing, a flange extending from the base, and a plug extending forward of the base and the flange at a front of the connector housing for mating with a mating electrical connector, the connector housing having a contact channel through the base and the plug;
a contact received in the contact channel, the contact having a mating end and a cable end, the cable end of the contact configured to be terminated to a cable;
a latch member integral with the connector housing and located within the flange for latchably coupling to the panel, the latch member including a latch arm located within the flange being deflectable relative to the connector housing, the latch member including a latching finger extending forward from the latch arm to be received in a latch pocket of the panel to latchably couple the latch member with the panel;
wherein the plug of the connector housing is configured to be inserted into a panel opening of the panel in a loading direction, the connector housing being movable laterally relative to the panel in a latching direction to a latched position, the latching direction differing from the loading direction, the plug movable in the panel opening in the latching direction, the latching finger engages an inner edge of the panel opening when the housing is in the latched position to hold the connector housing in the latched position.
 
14. An electrical connector system comprising:
a panel having an inner edge defining a panel opening, the panel opening including a main pocket and a latch pocket extending from the main pocket; and
an electrical connector mounted to the panel, the electrical connector including a connector housing having a base at a rear of the connector housing, a flange extending from the base, and a plug extending forward of the base and the flange at a front of the connector housing for mating with a mating electrical connector, the connector housing having a contact channel through the base and the plug, the electrical connector including a contact received in the contact channel having a mating end and a cable end configured to be terminated to a cable, the electrical connector including a latch member integral with the connector housing and located within the flange for latchably coupling to the panel, the latch member including a latch arm located within the flange being deflectable relative to the connector housing, the latch member including a latching finger extending forward from the latch arm to be received in a latch pocket of the panel to latchably couple the latch member with the panel;
wherein the plug of the connector housing is inserted into the main pocket of the panel opening in a loading direction, the connector housing being movable laterally relative to the panel in a latching direction to a latched position, the latching direction differing from the loading direction, the plug movable in the main pocket in the latching direction, the latching finger being received in the latch pocket in the latched position and engaging the inner edge of the panel opening in the latched position to hold the connector housing in the latched position.