Importance

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Abstract

A connector housing molded of plastic includes a pair of latch arms along sides thereof which extend forwardly to latch with corresponding latching means of a housing of a mating connector, during connector mating. Each latch arm is joined integrally to the housing sides by hinge joints adapted to permit flexing during deflection of the latch arm during mating and unmating. The hinge joint includes a bight section spaced from the housing side and joined thereto by a pair of parallel upper and lower legs, with the bight section joined to the middle of the latch arm by a cross-shaped rib section. A horizontal rib component of the rib section joins to the bight section midway between the legs and is able to locally elastically deform the bight section inwardly at the rearward edge thereof and outwardly at the forward edge thereof, during latch arm deflection. The latch arms can have rearward portions deflectable inwardly toward the housing sides to enable delatching and unmating.

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First Claim