Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Supporting plural – independent coupling parts
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-19
2001-08-21
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Supporting plural, independent coupling parts
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276963
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an adapter frame assembly for mounting at least a pair of connectors in a stacked array with one connector mounted above another connector at different spacings between the connectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from simple connecting interfaces between hard conductor wiring to more sophisticated applications involving such components as printed circuit boards, flat flexible cables and optical fibers. Basically, electrical connectors include some form of contacts, terminals or other conductors which interconnect one electrical device to another electrical device. The electrical connectors may involve systems whereby the connectors provide receiver-transmitter functions which, in addition, can convert high speed signals from solid (copper) cables or fiber optic cables to high speed signals on a system printed circuit board. As used herein, the terms “electrical” or “electrical connectors” or “electrical cable” are intended to include optical devices.
For instance, in the telecommunications industry, switching systems or circuitry may be provided on a rather sizable mother board at a particular location. A plurality of high speed electrical converter modules are mounted by appropriate frame structures on the mother board. Mating “plug-in” connector modules are plugged into the converter modules from outside the switching system. The incoming signals from the cables attached to the plug-in modules are at high speed, such as in the gigabit range, and the converter modules transfer and maintain the signals at high speed and transmit them to the circuitry on the mother board. Continuing problems have been encountered in the design and manufacturability of such systems. One of the problems involves providing a system wherein the connector modules can be mounted above the mother board at different spacings between the connectors. Heretofore, completely different frame structures had to be provided to afford different stacked spacings. The present invention is directed to solving these problems by simple modifications which allow for the use of the same frame structures for differently spaced connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved adapter frame assembly of the character described.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adapter frame assembly is provided for receiving at least a pair of connectors in a stacked array with one connector mounted above another connector at different spacings between the connectors. At least a pair of frame structures include at least a top frame structure and a bottom frame structure each including a receptacle for receiving a respective one of the stacked connectors. Mounting means are provided on the frame structures to mount the top frame structure directly on top of the bottom frame structure and, thereby, space the receptacles and the respective connectors at a first spacing therebetween. A spacer means is selectively mountable between the frame structures to thereby space the receptacles and the respective connectors at a second, increased spacing therebetween.
As disclosed herein, the spacer means and the frame structures have aligned abutting brace members which include at least one set of aligned apertures for receiving a common elongated fastener, such as a rivet. Therefore, if the connectors are to be mounted at the first spacing therebetween, the spacer means simply is removed and shorter rivets are used to mount the top frame structure directly on top of the bottom frame structure. In the disclosed embodiment, the bottom frame structure is mounted on a printed circuit board.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of stamped and formed sheet metal gaskets about the respective receptacles of the top and bottom frame structures. Each gasket includes a plurality of outwardly projecting fingers for engaging a panel about a pair of apertures in the panel aligned with the receptacles. The fingers of the two gaskets between the receptacles are offset relative to each other to allow the frame structures to be relatively closely spaced at least in the first spacing therebetween.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4386814 (1983-06-01), Asick
patent: 5194018 (1993-03-01), Lopata et al.
patent: 5546281 (1996-08-01), Poplawski et al.
patent: 6095862 (2000-08-01), Doye et al.
Avery Hazelton P.
Banakis Emanuel G.
Doye Dennis Lee
Miskin Michael J.
Molex Incorporated
Sircus Brian
Tirva A. A.
Webb Brian S.
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