Connector with latch

1. A connector ( 100 ), comprising:

a connector body ( 110 ) with a connector axis (X), the connector body ( 110 ) being comprised of:

an interface ( 112 ) at a first distal end ( 110 a ) of the connector body ( 110 );

an opening ( 114 ) at a second distal end ( 110 b ) of the connector body ( 110 ); and

a conduit ( 116 ) extending from the interface ( 112 ) to the opening ( 114 ) along the connector axis (X);

a latch ( 120 ) that moves relative to the connector body ( 110 ) to selectively engage a plug connector ( 200 ), the latch ( 120 ) being comprised of:

a pivot end ( 122 ) coupled to the connector body ( 110 );

a manually operable end ( 124 ); and

a latching feature ( 126 ) disposed between the pivot end ( 122 ) and the manually operable end ( 124 ); and

a plate ( 140 ) coupled to the first distal end ( 110 a ) of the connector body ( 110 ) and directly attached to the pivot end ( 122 ) of the latch ( 120 ), the plate ( 140 ) comprising a surface (W) that is substantially perpendicular to the connector axis (X),

wherein at least a portion of the connector body ( 110 ) and at least a portion of the latch ( 120 ) are formed as a single integral piece of material.

2. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the latch ( 120 ) is pivotable about the pivot end ( 122 ) when a force is applied to the manually operable end ( 124 ).

3. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the latch ( 120 ) is adapted to selectively engage the plug connector ( 200 ) with the latching feature ( 126 ).

4. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the latch ( 120 ) moves the latching feature ( 126 ) into or out of the connector body ( 110 ) to selectively engage the plug connector ( 200 ).

5. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the latch ( 120 ) has a latch length (Y) extending from the pivot end ( 122 ) to the manually operable end ( 124 ), wherein the latch length (Y) is substantially parallel to the connector axis (X) of the connector body ( 110 ).

6. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the brace ( 130 ) further comprises a brace length (Z) extending from the base end ( 132 ) and the bracing end ( 134 ), where the brace length (Z) is substantially parallel to the connector axis (X) of the connector body ( 110 ).

7. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the brace ( 130 ) limits the movement of the latch ( 120 ) to ensure that the latch ( 120 ) only elastically deforms.

8. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the connector body ( 110 ) further comprises a groove ( 116 a ) formed in the connector body ( 110 ).

9. The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a brace ( 130 ) comprised of:

a base end ( 132 ) coupled to the first distal end ( 110 a ) of the connector body ( 110 ); and

a bracing end ( 134 ) that is proximate the manually operable end ( 124 ) of the latch ( 120 ).

10. A method of using a connector ( 100 ), the method comprising:

providing a connector body ( 110 ) with a connector axis (X), the connector body ( 110 ) being adapted to receive a plug connector ( 200 ) in a direction substantially parallel with the connector axis (X);

providing a latch ( 120 ) comprised of:

a pivot end ( 122 ) coupled to the first distal end ( 110 a ) of the connector body ( 110 );

a manually operable end ( 124 );

a latching feature ( 126 ) disposed between the pivot end ( 122 ) and the manually operable end ( 124 )

providing a plate ( 140 ) coupled to the first distal end ( 110 a ) of the connector body ( 110 ) and directly attached to the pivot end ( 122 ) of the latch ( 120 ), the plate ( 140 ) comprising a surface (W) that is substantially perpendicular to the connector axis (X); and

manually operating the latch ( 120 ) to selectively engage the latch ( 120 ) with a plug connector ( 200 ) in the connector body ( 110 ),

wherein at least a portion of the connector body ( 110 ) and at least a portion of the latch ( 120 ) are formed as a single integral piece of material.

11. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein the step of manually operating the latch ( 120 ) comprises pivoting the latch ( 120 ) about the pivot end ( 122 ) by applying a force to the latch ( 120 ).

12. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein the step of manually operating the latch ( 120 ) comprises moving the latching feature ( 126 ) into or out of the connector body ( 110 ) to selectively engage the plug connector ( 200 ).

13. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein manually operating the latch ( 120 ) comprises pressing the plug connector ( 200 ) against the latching feature ( 126 ).

14. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein manually operating the latch ( 120 ) comprises pressing against the manually operable end ( 124 ) of the latch ( 120 ).

15. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein the operator moves the latch ( 120 ) towards the brace ( 130 ) until the brace ( 130 ) stops the movement of the latch ( 120 ) to ensure that the latch ( 120 ) only elastically deforms.

16. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of one claim 10 , wherein the step of pivoting the latch ( 120 ) about the pivot end ( 122 ) comprises utilizing the elasticity of the latch ( 120 ) to move the latching feature ( 126 ) towards the connector body ( 110 ).

17. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein moving the latching feature ( 126 ) to engage the plug connector ( 200 ) retains the plug connector ( 200 ) within the connector body ( 110 ).

18. The method of using the connector ( 100 ) of claim 10 , further comprising providing a brace ( 130 ) coupled to the connector body ( 110 ), wherein the brace ( 130 ) comprises a bracing end ( 134 ) that is proximate the manually operable end ( 124 ) of the latch ( 120 ), wherein the operator braces against the bracing end ( 134 ) while pressing against the manually operable end ( 124 ) of the latch ( 120 ).

19. A method of forming a connector ( 100 ), the method comprising:

forming a connector body ( 110 ) adapted to receive a plug connector ( 200 ) in a direction substantially parallel to a connector axis (X) of the connector body ( 110 ); and

forming a latch ( 120 ) comprised of:

a pivot end ( 122 ) coupled to the connector body ( 110 );

a manually operable end ( 124 ); and

a latching feature ( 126 ) disposed between the pivot end ( 122 ) and the manually operable end ( 124 )

forming a plate ( 140 ) coupled to the first distal end ( 110 a ) of the connector body ( 110 ) and directly attached to the pivot end ( 122 ) of the latch ( 120 ), the plate ( 140 ) comprising a surface (W) that is substantially perpendicular to the connector axis (X); and

wherein at least a portion of the connector body ( 110 ), at least a portion of the latch ( 120 ), plate ( 140 ) are formed as a single integral piece of material and wherein the latch ( 120 ) is adapted to elastically deform when the latch ( 120 ) moves relative to the connector body ( 110 ).

20. The method of forming the connector ( 100 ) of claim 19 , wherein the step of forming the connector body ( 110 ) comprises forming an interface ( 112 ) at a first distal end ( 110 a ) of the connector body ( 110 ), wherein the interface ( 112 ) and the at least the portion of the connector body ( 110 ) are formed as a single integral piece of material.

21. The method of forming the connector ( 100 ) of claim 19 , wherein the step of forming the interface ( 112 ) comprises encapsulating at least a portion of a pin ( 150 ) that extends through the interface ( 112 ).

22. The method of forming the connector ( 100 ) of claim 19 , further comprising:

forming a brace ( 130 ) with:

a base end ( 132 ) that is coupled to the connector body ( 110 ); and

a bracing end ( 134 ) that is proximate the manually operable end ( 124 ) of the latch ( 120 ); and

wherein at least a portion of the brace ( 130 ), the at least the portion of the latch ( 120 ), and the at least the portion of the connector body ( 110 ) are formed as the single integral piece of material.