Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Comprising or for use with supporting panel
Patent
1996-07-12
1998-09-01
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Comprising or for use with supporting panel
H01R 1373, H02B 101
Patent
active
058002090
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present device relates to components used to affix or mount an electrical connector to a printed circuit board, in particular, to components of the electrical connector used to affix the housing of the electrical connector to the board.
2. Description of Related Art
Affixing members of electrical connectors for mounting or affixing the housing of the electrical connector to a printed circuit board generally include a plurality of legs extending from the housing. One known type of affixing member of an electrical connector includes a pair of elastically deformable plastics legs which are integrally formed at both ends of the housing of the electrical connector. Each plastic leg has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of a corresponding insertion hole of the board. In practice, the plastic leg is forcibly inserted into an corresponding insertion hole of the board thus reducing the diameter of the plastic leg to the diameter of the insertion hole so that the plastic leg and correspondingly, the housing, is affixed to the board.
Another known affixing member of an electric connector includes a pair of forked metal legs which are attached to both ends of the housing of the electrical connector where each forked metal leg has two tines. The two tines of the metal legs are configured to have a greater width or diameter than the diameters of corresponding insertion holes of a board. The metal legs are forcibly inserted into the corresponding insertion holes of the board thus reducing the diameter of the metal legs to diameters of the insertion holes so that the metal legs and correspondingly, the housing, are affixed to the board. Further, a latching claw may be provided at the forward end of the tines of each forked leg. In operation, the latching claw is used to latch the rear surface of the board so that the metal legs and correspondingly, the housing, are more positively affixed to the board.
The known affixing members using or including plastic legs or metal legs may be disadvantageous when a substantial force or power is required to forcibly insert one of the legs into an insertion hole of a board. In this situation, the operation of mounting the electrical connector to the board is difficult because only one leg of the pair of legs may be inserted at a time due to the substantial force or power required.
In addition, known affixing members including plastic legs tend to be deformed when inserted into the hole in the board due to the excessive stress produced by reducing the diameter of the legs to the diameter of the board. Known affixing members including metal legs, on the other hand, tend to damage the area near the insertion hole of the printed circuit board or the inner wall of the insertion hole due to rigidity of the metal legs and latching claws (if used) and the pliable nature of the printed circuit board.
Further, the known affixing members including plastic legs and metal legs require mounting space greater than the thickness of the printed circuit board. In particular, the legs, when inserted, project below the printed circuit board so that it becomes necessary to secure space below the printed circuit board for the legs. The additional space required for these affixing members does not meet the demands for reduced space consumption of printed circuit boards, in particular, in such applications as notebook computers, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector or an affixing member of an electrical connector which overcomes the above mentioned problems of known affixing members. In particular, it is, an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector or an affixing member for an electrical connector which requires a small insertion force to be inserted into insertion holes of a board to prevent or reduce damage to the board or the affixing member. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector or an affi
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Abrams Neil
Berg Technology Inc.
Davis Katrina
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