This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a floating panel mounting system for electrical connectors.
It is known to provide a variety of systems for mounting an electrical connector on or in a panel, such as at a rear side of a panel. Panel mounted electrical connectors usually include a non-conductive or dielectric housing having a plurality of electrically conductive terminals mounted therein. The housing also includes some form of means for mounting the connector to a panel. The panel mounted connector may be mounted to a rear side of a panel, for instance, and is mateable with other electrical apparatus, such as another connector at a front side of the panel. The other connector, in turn, may be mounted to a second panel, a circuit board, a cable or discrete electrical wires.
Quite often, the mating of a panel mounted electrical connector to another connector or circuit component is carried out under blind
mating conditions such that precise alignment of the panel mounted connector with the other connector cannot be assured. Blind mating of panel mounted connectors may occur in a wide variety of applications ranging from computer equipment to automotive applications. Attempts to forcibly blind mate improperly aligned electrical connectors can damage the housings of the connectors, the fragile terminals mounted in the housings or, in some instances, even the panels to which the connectors are mounted. Improper alignment also may prevent complete mating, thereby negatively affecting the quality of the electrical connection.
Various prior art panel mounted electrical connectors have been provided with means for permitting a controlled amount of float between the connector housing and the associated panel to solve the above problems in blind mating of panel mounted connectors. Many such connectors have been fairly complex multi-component structures which may even be manufactured separately from the electrical connector and require assembly and installations. Most other floating mounts for panel mounted connectors do little in centering the connector in its through hole in the panel. The present invention is directed to solving these various problems in such panel mounted connectors.
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved panel mounted electrical connector system of the character described.
Another object of the invention is provide a new and improved floating panel mounting system for electrical connectors.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, an electrical connector system includes a panel having a front face, a rear face, a hole through which a connector can mate with a complementary connecting device at the front face of the panel, and an opening spaced from the hole. A connector includes a dielectric housing insertable into the hole in the panel and mateable with the complementary connecting device at the front face of the panel. The housing mounts a plurality of terminals and is sized smaller than the hole to allow for controlled floating movement of the connector relative to the panel. At least one locking arm projects from the housing and has a locking protrusion for engagement in the opening in the panel to prevent excessive movement of the connector in a direction generally parallel to the panel. The opening is larger than the locking protrusion to allow for said controlled floating movement of the connector relative to the panel. At least one flange projects from the rear face of the panel over a rear portion of the connector housing to prevent excessive movement of the connector in a direction generally perpendicular to and rearwardly of the panel. The terminals have flexibly stiff elongated portions projecting rearwardly of the housing to a fixed support structure for supporting the housing generally centrally in the hole in the panel but allowing said controlled floating movement of the connector relative to the panel.
According to one aspect of the invention, the hole in the panel comprises a recess at an edge of the panel, whereby the connector housing is inserted into the recess in a direction generally parallel to the panel. The flange is generally L-shaped, whereby the rear portion of the connector housing moves within the flange automatically as the connector housing is inserted into the recess generally parallel to the panel. In the disclosed embodiment, the flange is integral with the panel. Specifically, the panel is stamped and formed of sheet metal material, and the L-shaped flange is stamped and formed therefrom.
According to another aspect of the invention, the locking arm is flexible whereby the locking protrusion snaps into the opening automatically as the connector housing is inserted into the recess generally parallel to the panel. Preferably, the locking arm is integral with the connector housing. Specifically, the connector housing is molded of plastic material, and the locking arm is molded integrally therewith.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the flexibly stiff elongated portions of the terminals comprise elongated pin sections of the terminals. The terminals have mating ends forwardly of the pin sections and terminating ends rearwardly of the elongated pin sections. The terminating ends comprise solder tails for connection to a printed circuit board.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to
Panel mounted connector 20 (
Header connector 22 of connector assembly 36 includes an inverted U-shaped housing, generally designated 48, which defines a pair of vertical leg portions 48a joined by a horizontal cross portion 48b. A horizontal flange 50 is formed at the bottom of each leg portion 48a for abutting the top of printed circuit board 16 as seen in
Each terminal 24 of connector assembly 36 (
A
which is generally parallel to panel 18. During insertion or mounting of the connector assembly, mounting posts 52 of header connector 22 will be aligned with the mounting holes in printed circuit board 16. Correspondingly, housing flange 40 of connector 20 will be aligned generally coplanar with panel 18. When the connector assembly is mounted in the direction of arrow
A
, chamfered surfaces 46a at the bottom of locking projections 46 on locking arms 48 will engage the top edge of recess 28 to bias the locking arms inwardly in the direction of arrow
B
.
snap
into openings 32 in panel 18. It can be seen that housing flange 40 of panel mounted connector 20 is generally coplanar with panel 18, and locking projections 46 prevent connector 20 from being lifted out of recess 28.
It should be understood that panel mounted connector 20 is mounted within recess 28 for controlled floating movement of the connector relative to the panel. Specifically, it can be seen in
Finally, it can be seen in
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.