Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6386924
-
Patent Number
6,386,924
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 31, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 14, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Luebke; Renee
- Gushi; Ross
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 701
- 439 79
- 439 607
- 439 532
- 439 5401
- 439 608
- 439 716
- 439 717
- 439 718
- 439 680
- 439 681
- 439 108
- 439 609
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A connector assembly (100) includes a housing (200) receiving electrical terminals (300) that accompany insulating modules (400). The housing includes a shroud (210) projecting in a rearward direction from the housing (200), the shroud (210) engaging the modules (400). The shroud (210) has flat portions (212A) and notches (212B) in spaced-apart rear edges (212) that interfit with flat surfaces (404A) and projecting wedges (404B) on the modules (400).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A connector assembly is disclosed as having electrical terminals that accompany insulating modules, and the modules are held in stabilized positions relative to the connector assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,212 and 5,496,183 disclose embodiments of a known connector assembly. The known connector assembly has electrical terminals that accompany insulating modules. Between the modules are ground referenced shield members in the form of thin plates that are held in place by being interlocked with lateral sides of the modules.
In the known connector assembly, the terminals that accompany each insulating module have parallel pins for connection to a circuit board. The terminals have mating ends extending at right angles relative to the pins. The mating ends project from the modules and are received within cavities that extend through an insulating housing. The mating ends extend toward a mating face of the housing, and are adapted for mating connection with mating pins that can be inserted through the mating face and into the cavities.
In the known connector assembly, the modules rely on the terminals being interlocked with the housing to hold the modules side by side with one another. The modules are held somewhat infirmly by the terminals, and are easily moved from their desired alignments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention arises from a need to hold the modules in stabilized positions. Further, the invention arises from a need to hold the modules in straight alignments as they project from the housing. According to an embodiment, a shroud on a rear of the housing engages the modules and stabilizes them in position. The shroud holds the modules in straight alignments as they project from the housing. The modules are aligned to position the terminals along precise centerline spacings for connection with a corresponding precise pattern of terminal locations on a circuit board. Thereby, the modules no longer need to rely on the terminals being interlocked with the housing to hold the modules in stabilized positions, and to hold the modules along straight alignments relative to the housing.
An embodiment includes, electrical terminals accompanying insulating modules, the modules projecting from a housing, the housing having cavities receiving the terminals, the housing having a shroud projecting in a rearward direction from the housing, and the shroud engaging the modules to hold the modules in stabilized positions and in straight alignments relative to the housing.
According to a further embodiment, latches for holding the shields are in view on rears of the modules, rather than being hidden from view on lateral sides of the modules.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, according to which:
FIG. 1
is an isometric view of a connector assembly having a housing and modules assembled to the housing;
FIG. 2
is an isometric view of a housing, as shown in
FIG. 1
, and further disclosing a shroud on the housing;
FIG. 2A
is an isometric view of a front of the housing, as shown in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 3
is a view of electrical terminals that accompany each module, as shown in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 4
is an isometric view of one of the modules of the connector assembly, as shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4A
is an isometric view of the module, as shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is an isometric view of the module, as shown in
FIG. 3
, together with a shield member, prior to being assembled in the housing; and
FIG. 6
is an isometric view of the connector assembly, as shown in
FIG. 1
, and further showing one of a number of shield members in position for assembly laterally beside a corresponding module of the connector assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of a connector assembly
100
is shown in FIG.
1
. The connector assembly
100
has a housing
200
and multiple modules
400
that assemble to the housing
200
, and that project from the housing
200
in a rearward direction. As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 2A
, the housing
200
is made of insulating material, and is of unitary molded construction. Multiple terminal receiving cavities
202
extend through the housing
200
from a front mating end
204
of the housing
200
to a rear
206
of the housing
200
. The cavities
202
are arranged in columns. Alternating with the columns of cavities
202
are columns of ground terminal receiving passages
208
. The passages
208
extend from the front mating end
204
to the rear
206
.
As disclosed in
FIGS. 2A and 5
, the housing
200
has a bipartite shroud
210
with a first portion
210
A and a second portion
210
B that are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the rearward direction. The first portion
210
A of the bipartite shroud
210
is deeper in the rearward direction than the second portion
210
B that is more shallow. The first and second portions
210
A and
210
B have corresponding, spaced-apart outer edges
212
. Because the first portion
210
A of the bipartite shroud
210
is deeper than the second portion
210
B, the first and second outer edges
212
are offset from each other in a rearward direction. Each of the outer edges
212
has an alternating series of flat portions
212
A and truncated V-shaped notches
212
B, which engage respective modules
400
. As shown in
FIG. 2A
, the notches
212
B in the first portion
210
A are aligned with module receiving tracks
214
, in the form of grooves, for example, for receiving top edges of the modules
400
.
FIG. 5
discloses that the second portion
210
B has shield member receiving tracks
216
, in the form of slots, for example, aligned with the notches
212
B.
FIG. 3
discloses an array of terminals
300
that accompany each module
400
. The terminals
300
are joined to a removable lead frame
302
, and are stamped from a strip of metal. The terminals
300
are sheared along their edges that are formed by stamping. The removable lead frame
302
partially encircles the terminals
300
. The terminals
300
are joined side to side by the removable lead frame
302
. The terminals
300
have parallel pins
300
A at first ends. The terminals
300
extend at right angles relative to the pins
300
A to mating ends
304
.
According to an embodiment, each mating end
304
is an electrical receptacle defined between a pair of resilient spring fingers
304
A and
304
B. One of the fingers
304
A of each pair has its unsheared surface turned ninety degrees to face a sheared edge of the other finger
304
B of the pair. Some of the mating ends
304
have rearward projecting barbs
306
.
With reference to
FIGS. 4 and 4A
, the terminals
300
accompany each module
400
. Each module
400
has an insulating body
402
. The insulating body
402
is overmolded, by a known molding process, onto the terminals
300
, without being overmolded onto the pins
304
A, the mating ends
304
and the lead frame
302
. Following the overmolding process, the lead frame
302
is severed and removed from the terminals
300
.
The terminals
300
project from a bottom of the insulating body
402
, and have the parallel pins
300
A for connection to a circuit board. According to an embodiment, the pins
300
A are slit to enable narrowing of the pins for compliant fit within apertures of a circuit board.
The mating ends
304
of the terminals
300
project from the insulating body
402
of the module
400
. When the module
400
is assembled to the housing
200
, the mating ends
304
are received within the cavities
202
that extend through the insulating housing
200
. The barbs
306
on some of the mating ends
304
impinge against the interiors of respective cavities
202
to hold the mating ends
304
in the respective cavities
202
.
With further reference to
FIGS. 4 and 4A
, each module
400
has a pair of spaced-apart alignment blocks
404
on the insulating body
402
. A top alignment block
404
of the pair is along a top
406
of the module
400
, and is spaced-apart from a bottom alignment block
404
of the pair that is along a bottom
408
of the module
400
. The alignment block
404
along the bottom
408
of the module
400
is relatively closer to the front of the module
400
than the other alignment block
404
. The alignment block
404
along the top
406
of the module
400
is relatively farther rearward from the front of the module
400
. Accordingly, the alignment blocks
404
are offset from each other in a rearward direction. A front edge of each alignment block
404
has a flat surface
404
A beside a projecting, truncated wedge
404
B.
Each module
400
has opposite lateral sides
406
and
408
. The lateral side
406
has stand off ribs
406
A. The lateral side
408
has air receiving recesses
408
A extending between the lengths of the terminals
300
, providing a composite dielectric, in part, insulating material, and in part, air, between the terminals
300
. The composite dielectric is of lower dielectric constant than that of the insulating body
402
without the air receiving recesses
408
A. The alignment blocks
404
project outward laterally from both of the lateral sides
406
and
408
. The insulating body
402
has a latch member
410
on a rear
412
of the module
400
.
As further disclosed by
FIGS. 1
,
5
and
6
, each module
400
is assembled with the housing
200
. The outer edges
212
of the shroud
210
engage each of the modules
400
, which holds each of the modules
400
in a stabilized position and in straight alignment relative to the housing
200
. Specifically, the outer edges
212
of the shroud
210
, being offset relative to each other in a rearward direction, engage the alignment blocks
404
of each module, and align each module
400
in the rearward direction. The outer edges
212
, being spaced apart in a vertical direction, engage the alignment blocks
404
of each module
400
, and align each module
400
in the vertical direction that is transverse to the rearward direction. Thus, the modules
400
are aligned to project or extend straight from the housing
200
to position the terminals
300
along precise centerline spacings for connection with a corresponding precise pattern of terminal locations on a circuit board. The top alignment blocks
404
of the modules
400
engage one another side to side, which braces the modules
400
against one another.
The flat portions
212
A of the outer edges
212
, as well as, the truncated V-shaped notches
212
B of the outer edges
212
, interfit with each of the modules
400
. Specifically, the flat portions
212
A interfit with the flat surfaces
404
A on the alignment blocks
404
of the modules
400
. The truncated V-shaped notches
212
B interfit with the projecting truncated wedges
404
B on the alignment blocks
404
of the modules
400
. Each alignment block
404
has a three point support provided by the flat surfaces
404
A and the wedge
404
B being interfitted with the outer edges
212
. Thus, the shroud
210
interfits with each of the modules
400
, whereby the shroud
210
holds the modules
400
in stabilized positions.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, a ground referenced shield member
500
is received along the lateral side
408
and under the top alignment block
404
. A clip
502
is on a rear
504
of the shield member
500
. The clip
502
has a loop that receives and latches to the latch member
410
. The clip
502
latches to the latch member
410
to hold the shield member
500
in position.
FIG. 5
shows that each shield member
500
can be assembled to a module
400
, prior to being assembled to the housing
200
together with the module
400
.
FIG. 6
discloses the shield member
500
of unitary metal plate construction, with unitary, parallel ground pins
504
. According to an embodiment, the ground pins
504
are slit to enable narrowing of the ground pins
504
for compliant fit within apertures of a circuit board. The shield member
500
has unitary ground terminals
506
extending at right angles relative to the ground pins
504
. When the shield member
500
is assembled to the housing
200
, the ground contacts
506
are received along the passages
208
of the housing
200
.
FIG. 6
shows that each shield member
500
is constructed and arranged for assembly to a connector assembly
100
. The connector assembly
100
has unshielded modules
400
assembled to the housing
200
. To convert the unshielded modules
400
to shielded modules
400
, each shield member
500
is easily inserted in a lateral space beside each module
400
of the connector assembly
200
. Further, each shield member
500
is removable from the connector assembly
100
for repair and replacement without having to disturb the modules
400
that remain assembled to the housing
200
.
Each shield member is easily latched and unlatched with a module
400
. The latch
410
and the clip
502
are in view for easy manipulation, to latch them together, or to separate them. Specifically, the latches
410
for holding the shield members
500
are in view on rears
412
of the modules
400
, rather than being hidden from view by being on lateral sides
406
and
408
of the modules
400
.
Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed, other embodiments and modifications of the invention are intended to be covered by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A connector assembly comprising:electrical terminals accompanying insulating modules, a housing having a front mating end and a rear, and cavities receiving mating ends of the terminals through the rear of the housing, the housing having a first shroud projecting in a rearward direction, the first shroud having a rear edge and notches along the rear edge, each of the modules having a forwardly projecting wedge that is interfitted with a respective one of the notches, whereby the first shroud holds the modules in straight alignments relative to the housing, and positions the terminals along precise centerline spacings for connection with a corresponding precise pattern of terminal locations on a circuit board, each of the modules having a rearwardly projecting latch, and shield members each disposed beside a respective one of the modules, each of the shield members having a clip at a rear end thereof, each of the clips being formed as a loop with an opening therethrough, the clips extending laterally along rears of the modules, wherein the clips are engaged with the latches to hold the shield members to the modules.
- 2. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a second shroud projecting in the rearward direction, the second shroud has a rear edge and notches along the rear edge, and each of the modules has a forwardly projecting wedge that is interfitted in a respective one of the notches along the rear edge of the second shroud.
- 3. The connector assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the rear edges of the first and the second shrouds are spaced-apart from each other in a direction transverse to the rearward direction.
- 4. The connector assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the rear edges of the first and the second shrouds are offset from each other in the rearward direction.
- 5. The connector assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the rear edges of the first and the second shrouds are offset from each other in the rearward direction, and are spaced-apart from each other in a direction that is transverse to the rearward direction.
- 6. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the rear edge of the first shroud has flat portions disposed in an alternating series with the notches.
- 7. The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the modules includes an alignment block, and the wedge of each said module projects forwardly from the alignment block of each said module.
- 8. The connector assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the alignment blocks on the modules laterally abut one another.
- 9. A connector assembly comprising:electrical terminals accompanying insulating modules, a housing having a front mating end and a rear, and cavities receiving mating ends of the terminals through the rear of the housing, the modules projecting from the rear of the housing, the housing having a first shroud projecting in a rearward direction from the housing, the first shroud having a rear edge that is interfitted with the modules to hold the modules in straight alignments relative to the housing, and shield members each disposed beside a respective one of the modules, the shield members having clips at rear ends thereof, each of the clips being formed as a loop with an opening therethrough, the clips extending laterally along rears of the modules, each of the modules having a rearwardly projecting latch that extends through the opening of a respective said clip, wherein the clips are engaged with the latches to hold the shield members to the modules.
- 10. The connector assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the housing includes a second shroud projecting in the rearward direction, and the second shroud has a rear edge that is interfitted with the modules.
- 11. The connector assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the rear edges of the first and the second shrouds has notches that interfit with projecting wedges on the modules.
- 12. The connector assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the rear edges of the first and the second shrouds are spaced-apart from each other in a direction that is transverse to the rearward direction, and the edges are offset from each other in the rearward direction.
- 13. A connector assembly comprising:electrical terminals accompanying insulating modules, a housing having a front mating end and a rear, and cavities receiving mating ends of the terminals through the rear of the housing, each of the modules having a rearwardly projecting latch, and shield members each disposed beside a respective one of the modules, the shield members having clips at rear ends thereof, each of the clips being formed as a loop with an opening therethrough, the clips extending laterally along rears of the modules, wherein the clips are engaged with the latches to hold the shield members to the modules.
- 14. The connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the housing has a first shroud projecting in a rearward direction, the first shroud has a rear edge and notches along the rear edge, and each of the modules has a forwardly projecting wedge that is interfitted with a respective one of the notches.
- 15. The connector assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the housing has a second shroud projecting in the rearward direction, the second shroud has a rear edge and notches along the rear edge, and each of the modules has a forwardly projecting wedge that is interfitted in a respective one of the notches along the rear edge of the second shroud.
- 16. The connector assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the rear edges of the first and the second shrouds are spaced-apart from each other in a direction transverse to the rearward direction.
- 17. The connector assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the rear edges of the first and the second shrouds are offset from each other in the rearward direction.
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