Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Patent
1998-10-26
2000-09-19
Nguyen, Khiem
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
439680, 439362, H01R 13502
Patent
active
061203327
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for connecting at least one electrical connector to at least one complementary connector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
WO 95/20252 A2 discloses an electrical connector, a housing for such a connector and a contact for such a connector. The connectors described in this patent application have a single row of contacts. They are stackable and are fastened to one another by being welded together to form a connector stack. A strain relief element is part of the connector housing. Since these connectors are intended to be mated to a complementary connector, it is desirable to provide a device, which facilitates connection to complementary connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to specify an apparatus for connecting an electrical connector stack to a complementary connector where the apparatus can assist such a connection.
If two complementary connectors are to be connected to one another, it is advantageous if the first connector can be fastened to the second connector. The fastening structure serves to fix the two connector halves to one another, but can also serve to assist in joining the two connector halves together.
It is often an additional requirement that a connector can be mated with a complementary connector only in a specific orientation. This is referred to as polarization. For example, the connector is intended to be introduced into the complementary connector only in one orientation and not in an orientation that is rotated with respect thereto. Furthermore, coding of the connector pair may also be required. Such coding satisfies the purpose that only the electrical connector that should be inserted into the complementary connector will be accepted and another electrical connector, bearing a different coding, will not be able to be inserted.
Since the coding with which a connector is supposed to be provided is often not known, nor whether a connector is also supposed to have means for fastening, it would be extremely helpful if it is possible to interchange the fastening or coding apparatus on a connector.
When a connector is constructed modularly and comprises a whole series of individual connectors, a connector stack, then it is expedient that not every one of these individual connectors bears fasteners, or coding structure, rather the entire connector module can be equipped with these features.
An electrical connector having an apparatus for connecting the electrical connector to at least one complementary connector is disclosed which serves both for connecting an individual electrical connector to an individual complementary connector, and for connecting an electrical connector formed as a stacked module of a plurality of electrical connectors, to a complementary connector, possibly also of modular construction.
In the modularly constructed electrical connectors, each of the individual connectors have housings. These housings include a cutout on at least one side and the cutout is of identical configuration in the individual housings and the cutouts are aligned. A connection component is configured to be pushed into the aligned cutouts perpendicularly to the mating direction of the connector and parallel to that side of the connector in which the cutout is situated. The connection component can also be removed from the cutout in this direction. If a plurality of connectors are combined in a module, then it is expedient to provide only one connection component for a series of cutouts lying adjacent one another. The height of this connection component then corresponds to the height of the entire module.
Either a fastening member or a coding member or both can be provided on the exchangeable connection component. For example, a latching arm having a latching hook, or a latching lug may be used as the fastening member, if corresponding, complementary structure is provided on the complementary connector or housing, wall or printed circuit board containing the complementary
REFERENCES:
patent: 3289145 (1966-11-01), Ruehlemann et al.
patent: 3656086 (1972-04-01), Debaigt
patent: 4484792 (1984-11-01), Tengler et al.
patent: 4611879 (1986-09-01), Bullard
patent: 5387130 (1995-02-01), Fedder et al.
Bertens Aloysius Antonius
Broeksteeg Johannes Marcelus
Roosen Johannes Theodorus Maria
Van Brunschot Lambertus Johanna Gerardus
Nguyen Khiem
The Whitaker Corporation
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