Locking mechanism for coupling and uncoupling electrical connectors
 This invention relates to a locking mechanism for coupling anduncoupling electrical connectors. In the prior art, because of the large number of electrical contacts contained within the male and female connector parts, the insertion and extraction forces for coupling and uncoupling the connector parts are often sufficiently high to damage the supports for the connector parts. This is especially true with printed circuit boards wherein the insertion and extraction forces are applied normal to the flat surface of the board. The present invention overcomes this deficiency by providing an improved locking mechanism for coupling together and uncoupling mating electrical connector parts. One connector part is provided with an actuator pivotally mounted for applying force in both an insertion and an extraction direction as the actuator pivots. A projection on the other electrical connector part receives the insertion and extraction forces for coupling and uncoupling the connector parts, respectively. The actuator is also provided with a latch member which cooperates with a locking piece on the second connector part for latching the two connector parts together when the actuator is pivoted in the insertion direction until the connector parts are fully coupled together. 
Bunker Ramo Corporation
H
H05K
inventional
Hiroaki Hiromasa Matsuo
Ito Inouye Kato