The present invention relates generally to cable connectors, and more particularly to cable connector that mate with circuit board connectors that have a structure which eliminates the need for a shielding cage or guide frame to be utilized with a mating circuit board connector.
It is a common practice in the electronic arts to connect cables to a circuit board by terminating the cables to a connector, typically a plug connector, and then mating the connector to a receptacle connector that is mounted on a circuit board. A well-known problem with connecting cables to circuit board-mounted connectors is the tendency for the cable's weight and movement to loosen the points of attachment of the receptacle connector to the circuit board, thereby breaking signal pathways and causing the circuit board to fail.
This may be prevented by the use of a large guide frame that is mounted to the circuit board to enclose the receptacle connector and which defines an opening into which a plug or similar connector may be inserted. However, such guide frames are large and take up valuable space on the circuit board that could be used for additional circuits or terminations. Additionally, such guide frames are typically die cast and are prone to breakage when dropped.
Problems also arise when mating such plug connectors to their associated receptacle connectors in that in small, confined spaces, it is difficult to orient the plug for proper mating and in small spaces debris and contaminants may easily come into contact with the receptacle connector terminals.
Connector receptacle strain is also a problem and may be caused by the weight, size and movement of the cable(s). Still further, a connector plug and its mating connector receptacle can sometimes be misaligned with respect to each other, needlessly complicating an assembly process and in high-speed connectors, portions of terminals are usually exposed to the exterior of the connector housing, where the terminals may become contaminated. Accordingly, a plug connector which includes means integrated therewith for aligning itself to mate with an opposing connector without occupying much space on a circuit board is desirable.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a plug connector that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and also provides the aforementioned desired benefits.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a plug connector that is guided into engagement with an opposing connector by way of a guide member.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector that mates to a surface mount receptacle connector, the receptacle connector including a recess disposed along a bottom face thereof and the plug connector having at least one projecting flange that assists in aligning the plug connector with the receptacle connector and which fits into the receptacle connector recess.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector for mating with the aforementioned receptacle connector, the plug connector including means for engaging a guide member which aligns and guides the plug connector into mating engagement with the receptacle connector, the plug connector having a mating projection that takes the form of a circuit card and the plug connector further including a pair of protective flanges that are spaced apart from the circuit card and which extend outwardly above and below the circuit card, the plug connector flanges covering opposing surfaces of the receptacle connector and protecting portions of terminals of the receptacle connector which are exposed, from contact by exterior materials, such as contaminants.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector for use with the aforementioned receptacle connector and guide member, the plug connector including a mating face with forwardly projecting mating blade that fits into a corresponding slot in the receptacle connector, the plug connector further including at least one projecting tab that extends above and forward of the plug connector mating face, the tab having a recess that receives a corresponding prong, or tab, of the guide member therein and the plug connector tab extending above the housing of the receptacle connector when mated thereto.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a connector for mating with a receptacle connector mounted to a circuit board, the receptacle connector including a widthwise slot disposed therein, the receptacle connector slot including a plurality of conductive terminals that are supported in place therein by way of exterior slots that receive the terminals, the terminals extending into the slot of the receptacle connector, the connector including an edge card projecting therefrom and received in the slot when the two connectors are mated together, the connector further including a body with at least one flange extending therefrom over the circuit card, the flange extending over portions of at least one set of the terminals of the receptacle connector, the flange including an angled lead-in configuration for guiding the connector into alignment with the receptacle connector.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector that mates with a receptacle connector mounted to a circuit board and which first passes through a guide positioned on the circuit board ahead of the receptacle connector, the plug connector having one or more stops in the form of lugs extending out from the plug connector body, the lugs engaging corresponding means formed on the guide to limit the insertion travel of the plug connector into the receptacle connector.
The present invention accomplishes these and other objects and aspects by virtue of its structure, which in one principle aspect includes a plug connector with a housing that is insertable into a guide member associated with the receptacle connector and it directs and aligns the plug connector plug with the receptacle connector.
The receptacle connector utilized with the present invention will usually have a body, with a card-receiving slot that extends width-wise of the connector body and conductive terminals are inserted into the connector body and contact portions thereof extend into the slot. The plug connectors of the present invention include a circuit card, in their preferred embodiments as a mating blade and the circuit card projects from a forward face of the plug connector in order to extend into the slot of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector may include a recess disposed on its underside, between mounting legs thereof and beneath the card-receiving slot. The plug connector preferably includes a lower, or first flange that extends forwardly from the forward face. This flange is received within the recess and so serves as a guide for properly mating the plug connector to the receptacle connector. The lower flange also preferably has a length sufficient so that it extends at least partly over some of the terminals exposed along a bottom surface of the receptacle connector and serves to protect them from debris an contamination accumulation. The lower flange also preferably has a width that is less than that of the circuit card so the lower flange will not encounter any interference when entering the lower recess defined between the receptacle connector and the circuit board.
In another principal aspect of the present invention, the plug connector includes a housing with a defined mating face from which the circuit card and the first flange project. A second flange may be provided, and this second flange is spaced apart from the first flange and the circuit card so that the two flanges flank the circuit card. In the usual application of the invention, this second flange will serve as a top flange to the plug connector while the first flange will serve as a lower, or bottom, flange of the plug connector. The second flange also extends forwardly of the mating face and preferably has a length and width sufficient to cover the circuit card. This second flange initially serves as a primary guide to guide the plug connector into mating alignment with the receptacle connector and as such it may include angled lead-in edges that may contact the receptacle connector guide. As the plug connector is pushed further forwardly and the circuit card begins to contact the receptacle connector card-receiving slot, the second flange will cover portions of the exposed terminals on the upper surface of the receptacle connector.
The guide member that is used with the receptacle connector may also include an extension in the form of a press, or spring, arm that extends preferably toward and over the top surface of the receptacle connector plate thereof. A slot, or channel, may be formed on the top surface of the plug connector second flange and this channel, receives a portion of the guide member press arm, preferably a detent or the like so that an audible or tactile click may be heard or felt when the plug connector properly mated to the receptacle connector. The channel in the top flange assist in keeping the top flange in place over a portion of the top surface of the receptacle connector.
In yet another principal aspect of the present invention, the plug connector body may include one or more features for effecting a secondary alignment between the plug connector and the receptacle connector. These features may take the form of projections, or lugs that are disposed on the outer side surfaces of the plug connector body. In the preferred embodiment, these lugs have a T-shape with the leg of each such T extending lengthwise or parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plug connector body and the top of each T extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector body. These T-shaped lugs engage corresponding slots formed in the leading edges of the receptacle connector guide member and also serve as stop members that limit the forward travel of the plug connector into the guide member and receptacle connector.
The plug connectors of the present invention may be provided with a latch mechanism, which uses a simple “push” action to latch and unlatch the plug connector from engagement with the receptacle connector guide member. The plug connector body, or housing, is preferably provided with a latch frame in the top surface of the plug connector body. This frame defines a space that is occupied by a metal latch mechanism the frame may include one or more undercuts, into which portions of the latch mechanism fit. In the preferred embodiment, the latch member is formed from a metal plate which is folded upon itself along a leading edge to define an anchor, or base portion and a latch portion, the base portion fitting into the latch frame and skiving into the housing material to maintain it in place. The latch portion has one or more engagement tabs that are formed thereon and a press surface for pressing the latch portion down.
In an alternate embodiment, the plug connector may be used in a vertical orientation in association with a vertical receptacle connector, in which instance the first and second flanges are not considered as to and bottom flanges, but may be considered as either front and back or left and right flanges.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.
The invention, together with its objects and the advantage 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:
Electrical and mechanical connection to the front-side 16 accessible contacts 20 in the receptacle connector 8 is made by extending a mating connector of the plug type 100 into contact with the receptacle connector 8. The plug connector 100 has its own set of conductive contacts that are preferably arranged along a mating blade and these contacts mate with the receptacle connector contacts 20. In such an assembly shown in
As shown in
As seen in
Typically, the guide member 24 will be stamped and formed from a metal blank by which there is formed an extension of the guide member which takes the form of a tab or spring arm 64 that extends rearwardly. In the drawings, it is shown as extending in a cantilevered fashion, and, it is preferably formed at a slight downward angle that creates a bias or preload in the arm 64. This bias forces a plug engagement portion, shown as ridge or catch 62, located near the distal end of the spring arm 64, into engagement with a corresponding slot or recess 102 that is formed in a corresponding portion of the plug connector.
The edge card 120 has a plurality of conductive traces 125 disposed along its leading edge which are intended to mate with the contacts 20 of the receptacle connector when the plug connector 100 is inserted into the receptacle connector 8. The plug connector housing may also include an extension portion 130 that extends forward from the mating face 121 and over the edge card 120. This extension portion 130 is illustrated as a first flange that also extends widthwise for at least the full width of the edge card 120, and preferably has a width greater than that of the edge card 120. This first flange serves to firstly protect the edge card 120 from stubbing and extends over a portion of the top of the receptacle connector 8 to cover portions of the exposed terminals supported therein. It also provides a support for the recess 102.
It can also be seen best in
Although illustrated in
In this embodiment, the plug connector 240 is for the most part merely oriented in a vertical direction and has an insulative housing 250 from which an edge card and a first flange extend. The first flange extends partially over the exposed terminals of the receptacle connector 201 and it has a slot that is intended to engage the catch member 220 of the vertical guide member.
The shroud 1100 also serves to retain the plug connector 1200 in place after mating. In this regard, the shroud 1100 includes an elongated extension 1117 that extends forwardly of the top wall 1102 of the shroud and it may further preferably include one or more alignment slots 1135 that are disposed in the sidewalls 1104, 1105 of the shroud 1100 and which extend longitudinally forwardly, the purpose of which shall be explained in more detail below. Additional means 1119 for guiding the plug connector 1200 may also be provided on the shroud 1100, and make take the form of tabs 1118 that are bent inwardly and extend for a predetermined distance from the sidewalls 1104, 1105.
The plug connector 1200, as best illustrated in
The shroud press tab 1117 is bent downwardly to impart a slight bias to it so that it will slidingly or abuttingly contact the top surface 1202 of the mating connector 1200, and in particular, the top extension 1215 thereof. This type of engagement is shown best in
The shroud 100 may further include one or more slots or recesses 1130 disposed in its top wall 102 that are engaged by means such as lugs, 1220 that are preferably formed on the plug connector 200 as part of a latching mechanism. These lugs 220 may be moved in and out of engagement with the slots 1130 by means of a push-type button 1225, shown as formed from an extent of sheet metal that is bent upon itself along a line to form distinct base or anchor and actuating portions, as explained in greater detail below.
As mentioned above, the shroud 1100 may also include a pair of alignment slots 1135 that are formed in the shroud sidewalls 1104, 1105 and preferably along the outwardly facing edges thereof. These notches 1135 engage corresponding structure, shown as lugs 1226 that are formed on the exterior of the plug connector housing 1200. These lugs 1226 have an overall T-shape when viewed from the side, with a center leg 1227 that is received within the corresponding shroud alignment slot 1135 and two other legs that form a base 1228 that is perpendicular to the center leg 1227. The base 1228 serves as a stop when it abuts the edge of the sidewalls 1104, 1105. With the present invention, the tabs 1118 of the shroud 100 are received in notches 1207 that extend lengthwise along the plug connector exterior and these tabs 1118 and notches 1207 serve to first orient and position the plug connector 1200 in the interior of the shroud 1100, and the notches 1135 and lugs 1226 cooperate to secondly orient the circuit card 1212 of the plug connector 1200 in opposition to card-receiving slot of the receptacle connector 1150.
As shown in
This embodiment 300 also includes a latch mechanism 325 that includes a frame member 326 that is preferably formed as part of the connector body portion 309. This frame member 326 defines a slot 327 which receives a latch member 328. The latch member 328 is best shown in
One or more upturned latch tabs 346 are formed in the latch member 328 and these tabs 346 engage corresponding openings or recesses formed in the guide member as shown best in
The forward end 345 of the frame member 326 may be formed as a solid abutment on the top surface of the plug connector body portion and it may also have angled side edges 346. This forward end 345 can thus serve as another keying feature in addition to the body portions notches 1207 and the top and bottom flanges previously described. In order to effect such a keying function, the guide member may include a channel that will guide and accommodate the frame member forward end 345. The top flange 310 may also be provided with a transverse recess 311 that is spaced away from the front edge of the top flange 310. This recess receives the corresponding detent of a guide member press tab as described earlier.
In this embodiment, the circuit card alignment means 350 takes a slightly different form. This alignment means includes the projecting lugs 351 that extend outwardly from the side surfaces of the plug connector body portion 309, but instead of the lugs being single projections, the rear portion of the connector body portion 309a has an increased width so that two stop surfaces 352 are defined on each side of the lug 351. The overall T-shape remains the same, but the lugs/stop are made stronger against shearing forces in that the stop surfaces are cut into the plug connector. In this regard, the area forward of the lugs 351 may be considered as being recessed with respect to the enlarged rear 209a of the connector body portion.
The present examples and embodiments therefore are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The invention should not be limited to the details given herein but is instead defined by the claims set forth below.
This application claims priority of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60,637,013, filed Dec. 17, 2004, 60/655,673, filed Feb. 23, 2005 and 60/704,698, filed Aug. 2, 2005.
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