JP3865779B2 - Mechanical coupling device - Google Patents

Description

【Technical field】
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an apparatus for mechanically coupling adjacent modular connectors.
[Background]
Recent electronic circuit technology often requires the use of relatively long, high density connectors to handle the large number of circuits required for the device. For example, a long connector with an overall length of 25.4 cm (10 inches) or longer is more difficult to mold than a relatively short connector. Therefore, an inexpensive method of coupling a plurality of connectors together is desired in order to achieve a predetermined number of circuit arrangements while maintaining a predetermined grid array of contacts within the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,763 shows one way of coupling modular connectors together, whereby slots and latches are provided on the sides of the housing to couple the connectors together. . In the typical case, the additional housing material required for the interlocking structure requires additional space on the substrate and thus is not provided with the required grid array of contacts. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that couples connector housings together without the need to design specific latches or to change the housing in any way.
European Patent No. 0696091 (or U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,250) specification discloses a terminal strip including a plurality of front module and rear module but the rear module is placed offset from the front module laterally All the modules are fixed to each other. All terminal portions projecting outward from the front module are received in corresponding slots in the rear module.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates a connector assembly having at least first and second electrical connectors that are secured together by a coupling device such that the ends are in close proximity. Each connector includes a housing that fixes a plurality of terminals therein, and a part of the body portion of the terminals is exposed from the housing. Each of the first and second connectors has a selected group of terminals, each of which is a number less than the total number. Each of the selected groups is located near the end of the respective housing adjacent to the proximity connector. The coupling device is an insulating member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough. At least a first group of openings in the device grips an exposed body portion of a selected group of terminals of the first connector, and at least a second group of openings is a selected group of terminals of the second connector. Grip the exposed body part of.
The first and second connectors are arranged close to each other, device, when the opening is placed so as to grip the respective terminal body portions of the first and second connectors, devices close to each other the first and second connector mechanically fixed to each other.
In a preferred embodiment of the coupling device, the insulating member includes columns of apertures therethrough that are arranged to form rows and columns and are equally spaced in the array of terminals in the respective connector housing. The array is configured to grip a plurality of openings configured to grip body portions of corresponding terminals in the first housing and a second configured to grip body portions of exposed terminals in the second housing. It has the opening part. Devices with openings are made applicable to the terminals, each of which has an exposed contact portion at its tip that is narrower than the respective body portion of the terminal, The device is dimensioned to pass through the corresponding opening of the device until the contact portion of each terminal extends below the coupling device such that the opening of the device frictionally engages the body portion of the terminal. The coupling device may preferably be molded from a thermoplastic material or other material that can withstand the soldering temperature as is known in the art.
According to a second embodiment, the coupling device includes a plurality of slots for being mounted to the connector terminals from the orthogonal direction and placed between the adjacent terminals. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coupling device couples the two connectors together, allowing the molded housing to be in a relatively short unit while maintaining the spacing of the grid array of contacts. The coupling device also allows connectors of different dimensions to be coupled together, thereby achieving the required dimensioning without the need for additional molding for each of the different dimensions.
According to a third embodiment, the coupling device comprises two parts, the first part is a clip that couples adjacent housing walls together, and the second part is a plurality of first parts of the first connector. And a plurality of second terminals of the second connector. The plate-like insulating member has a plurality of openings extending therethrough so as to be received. Further variations of the clip are also shown.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments are illustrated with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
For purposes of illustrating the present invention, it is shown that the coupling device 20 is used with two right angle (or right angle mounting) connectors 40, 70 as best shown in FIGS. . It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the right-angle connector or device geometry shown.
The first connector 40 has a housing 42 that includes a top wall 44, a mounting or bottom wall 46, a mating surface 48, an assembly surface or rear surface 50, and an end wall 52. The housing 42 further includes a plurality of terminal receiving passages 56 in which the first terminals 60 are disposed. Each of the first terminals 60 is a first contact portion (not shown) that is exposed to a fitting surface 48 for fitting to a complementary connector (not shown), and a second contact that extends outward from the housing 42 at its mounting surface 46. A portion 64 and an intermediate body portion 66 positioned between the two. A portion 68 of the body portion 66 is exposed along the assembly surface or the rear surface 50 of the connector housing 42.
The second connector 70 includes a housing 72 having a top wall 74, a mounting or bottom surface 76, a mating surface 78, an assembly or rear surface 80, and an end wall 82. The housing 72 includes a plurality of terminal receiving passages 86 extending from the mounting surface 76 to the mating surface 78, each passage 86 having a second terminal 90 therein. Each of the second terminals 90 has a first contact portion (not shown) exposed on a fitting surface 78 for fitting to a complementary connector (not shown), a second contact portion 94 extending outward from the housing 72, and both Intermediate body portion 96 extending between the two. Body portion 96 includes a body portion 98 that is exposed on its assembly or rear surface 80.
The coupling device 20 is an insulating member having a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24, a front wall 26, a rear wall 28, and an opposed end wall 30. As best shown in FIG. 3, the coupling device 20 comprises a plurality of openings 32 that are arranged in rows and columns and are spaced at the same spacing as an array of terminals secured to the connector. The array of apertures 32 includes a first portion 34 configured to grip the exposed body portion 68 of the first electrical connector 40 and a second portion aperture that grips the exposed body portion 98 of the second connector 70. 36. In the embodiment, the connectors 40, 70 are shown as the same length. Depending on the connector shape, the housing portion may need to be cut between adjacent terminals as shown in FIGS. It should be understood that connectors of different lengths can be coupled and indeed additional modules can be coupled using the additional coupling device 20.
The connector assembly 110, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, positions the first and second connectors 40, 70 so that the corresponding end walls 52, 82 abut against each other. Consists of. In the coupling device 20, the plurality of second contact portions 64 of the first terminal 60 are aligned with the corresponding openings 32 of the first device portion 34, and the second terminal contact portion 94 of the second terminal 90 is the second contact portion 94. It is arranged to be aligned with the opening 32 of the second device part 36. The coupling device 20 is then moved toward the top walls 44, 74 of the first and second connector housings 40, 70 until the opening 32 frictionally engages and grips the respective exposed body portions 68, 98. . As best shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the coupling device 20 has second contact portions 64, 94 extending below the coupling device 20 when assembly is complete. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the second contact portion 64 of the terminal 60 in the housing 40 opens to allow the coupling device 20 to slide upward without damaging the plating on the contact surface 64. Must be smaller than 32. The coupling device 20 according to the present embodiment is designed to use these connectors having contact portions smaller than the intermediate body portion and to be able to grip each body portion with which the opening 32 is frictionally engaged. When the coupling device 20 is fully inserted, the connector assembly 110 can be handled as a unit attached to a backplane board or circuit board.
7 and 8 show a further embodiment of a coupling device 120, in which the opening is a plurality of slots 132 shaped to be insertable between adjacent terminals, and these slots 132 friction against the intermediate body portion. It can be engaged and gripped. According to embodiment 120, it has a top wall 122, a bottom wall 124, a front wall 126, a rear wall 128, and a plurality of slots 132. In that embodiment, four rows of slots are provided. According to the shape of the housing and the size of the contact portion of the terminal with respect to the body portion, the embodiment 120 may be further preferred because it is slid directly onto the exposed body portion inserted behind the housing. .
Another embodiment of connectors 140 and 170 and a coupling device 220 attached thereto are shown in FIGS. The first connector 140 includes a housing 142 having a mating surface 144, a mounting surface 146, a side wall 148, an end wall 150, and a floor 152, which are sized to receive a complementary plug connector (not shown). A cavity 154 is formed. The housing sidewall 148 includes a latch tab 149 extending outwardly from its outer surface near at least one end. Each tab 149 forms a latch groove 151 sized to cooperate with the coupling device 220 as described below. The housing 142 further includes a plurality of first terminals 160 therein. Each first terminal 160 is a first contact portion 162 exposed in a fitting cavity 154 for fitting with a complementary connector (not shown), and a first contact portion 162 extending outward from the housing 142 at its mounting surface 146. Two contact portions 164 and an intermediate body portion (not shown) extending between the two contact portions 164 and fixed to the floor portion 152.
The second connector 170 is similar to the first connector 140 and has a mating surface 174, a mounting surface 176, a side wall 178, an end 180, and a floor 182 that can receive a complementary plug connector (not shown). A sized mating cavity 184 is formed. The housing sidewall 178 includes a latch tab 179 that extends outwardly from its outer surface near at least one end. Each tab 179 defines a latch groove 181 sized to cooperate with the coupling device 220 as described below. The housing 172 further includes a plurality of first terminals 190 therein. Each first terminal 190 extends outward from the housing 172 by a first contact portion 192 exposed in a fitting cavity 184 for fitting with a complementary connector (not shown) and its mounting surface 176. Two contact portions 194 and an intermediate body portion (not shown) extending between them and fixed to the floor portion 182.
The coupling device 220 is a two-part device. The first part is a clip 222 that engages adjacent housing walls on the outer surface of the housing wall, and the second part is a plate-like insulating member 228. The clip 222 is U-shaped and has two elastic legs 224 whose one ends are connected to each other by a strap 225, and a protrusion that determines the latch surface 227 that protrudes inward and faces rearward, and substantially converges at the other end. Forming a slot 226 that is sized to be received in grooves 151, 181 formed by tabs 149, 179 on each housing sidewall 148, 178 as a whole. The insulating member 228 has opposing upper and lower side surfaces 229, 230 and a plurality of openings 232 extending therethrough. The apertures 232 are arranged at a spacing equal to the spacing of the respective array of connector terminals to be joined to form rows and columns. The array of apertures 232 includes a first portion 234 for receiving a plurality of first terminals 160 in the first connector 140 and a second portion received by a plurality of second terminals 190 in the second connector 170. It has a portion 236. In this embodiment, connectors 140 and 170 are shown to have the same length. It should be understood that connectors of different lengths can be coupled and indeed additional modules can be coupled using the additional coupling device 220.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the connector assembly 210 places the first and second connectors 140, 170 in close proximity to each other such that the corresponding ends 150, 180 abut each other. It is constituted by. By placing the insulating member 228 of the coupling device 220, the plurality of first contact portions 162 of the first terminal 160 are aligned with corresponding openings of the first portion 234, and the first terminal of the second terminal 190. The contact portion 192 is aligned with the corresponding opening 232 of the second portion 236. Insulation member 228 is then moved down in mating cavities 154, 184 until it contacts each floor 152, 182. The clip 222 is assembled on both sides of the connectors 140, 170, one leg 224 is inserted into each side wall groove 151, 181, and the slot 226 receives the tabs 149, 179. The clip 222 moves toward the mounting surfaces 146, 176 of the connectors 140, 170 until the latch projections are placed under the tabs 149, 179 so that the latch surface 227 faces the lower surface of the tabs 149, 179 Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, the side walls 148 and 178 of the connectors 140 and 170 are supported together. Clip 222 may be manufactured from a metallic material or an insulating material.
According to yet another embodiment of the connector assembly 310, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the clip 322 extends outward from one side thereof and ends of the side walls 248, 278 of the connectors 240, 270. A plate-like member having at least two protrusions 323 frictionally engaged with cooperating holes 251 and 281 extending in the vicinity of the portion. Insulating member 228 is assembled to the adjacent connector of this embodiment in the manner described above.
According to yet another embodiment of the connector assembly 410, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the housing side walls 348 and 378 have projections 351 and 381 that protrude outward at least near one end thereof, respectively. Including. According to this embodiment, the clip 422 is a plate-like member having at least two openings 423 that can penetrate and receive the respective protrusions 351 and 381 by friction engagement, thereby fixing the housing to each other. . The insulating member 228 is assembled to the connector of this embodiment in the manner described above.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly of the present invention including a connector and a coupling device, and is an exploded view of them.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled connector assembly.
3 is a plan view of the coupling device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an end side view of the connector, showing the coupling device in cross section and aligned with the terminals.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an assembled state of the connector and the device of FIG. 4;
6 is a rear view of the connector assembly of FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the coupling device.
8 is a cross-sectional view of a connector using the coupling device of FIG.
FIG. 9 is a side view of a connector assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the connector and the coupling device according to another embodiment are disassembled from each other;
10 is an end side view of the connector of FIG. 9, showing the coupling device placed in alignment with the terminal and housing. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 9 in an assembled and coupled state.
12 is a side view of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 9 in an assembled and coupled state. FIG.
FIG. 13 is an end side view of a further preferred embodiment of the connector and coupling device according to the present invention, showing the coupling device positioned and positioned on the terminal and the housing.
14 is a side view of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 13 in an assembled and coupled state.
FIG. 15 is an end side view of another preferred embodiment of the connector and coupling device according to the present invention, showing the coupling device positioned and placed on the terminal and housing.
16 is a side view of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 15 in an assembled and coupled state.

Claims (5)

At least first and second electrical connectors (140, 240; 170, 270), each connector including a housing (142; 172) having a plurality of terminals (160; 190) secured therein; Each terminal has a body portion, and each housing of each of the connectors exposes a part of the body portion of at least one of the terminals, and the first and second connectors (140, 240; 170, 270). In a connector assembly having at least one coupling device (220) for securing them in close proximity to each other,
The housing (142; 172) has a mating cavity (154; 184) for receiving a complementary plug connector;
Each of the first and second connectors (140, 240; 170, 270) has a respective group of selected terminals;
The selected group is made smaller than the total number;
The selected group is located near each end of the housing adjacent to the proximity connector;
The coupling device (220) includes at least one clip for mutually engaging a first part, which is a plate-like insulating member (228) having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and a proximity housing wall of each connector. A second part that is (222,322,422),
At least a first of said openings gripping said first connector (140, 240) is also at least one of said pin, at least a second of said openings at least one of the said second connector (170, 270) gripping the pin,
The plate-like insulating member (228) is located on the floor (152, 182) of the fitting cavity (154; 184), and the clip (222, 322, 422) is the floor of the fitting cavity. (152,182) said to engage the side wall of the housing spaced in the height direction the first and second connector from; connector, characterized in that it is assembled on both sides of the (140, 240 170, 270) pair Solid. Each housing (140, 170) includes a latch tab (149, 179) projecting outwardly at least near one end, and each tab is latch groove (151) sized to cooperate with one of the at least one clip. , 181), each of the clips (222) extending away from the strap (225) away from the strap (225) with a free end that is deflectable upon insertion into the latch groove (151, 181). Arms (224), the free ends projecting from the face of each spring arm to be seated in a corresponding one of the grooves for latching engagement of the clip to the first and second connectors The connector assembly of claim 1 including a latching projection (227). The connector assembly of claim 1, comprising two of said clips (222), each engaged with a respective aligned sidewall of said first and second housing pairs. Each of the clips (322) includes a pair of protrusions (323) that extend together from a lateral base that is received in frictional engagement with openings in the housings of the first and second connectors. The connector assembly according to claim 1. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said clips (422) defines an opening for receiving and frictionally engaging therethrough a projection (351) of said first and second connector housing. .

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