Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Having resilient means engaging panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-03-06
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Having resilient means engaging panel opening
C439S571000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196870
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a board lock for securing an electrical connector to a circuit board.
2. The Prior Arts
Electrical connectors that connect an external device to a circuit board are usually fixed to the circuit board by means of soldering. To have the soldering operation properly carried out, the electrical connector has to be retained in position on the circuit board. This is commonly done by means of a board lock. Examples of board locks are disclosed in Taiwan patent application Nos. 78204719, 79203382 and 80213095. The conventional board lock comprises a base plate defining a hole therein for receiving a fastener. The fastener extends through and engages with a bore defined in the connector thereby securing the board lock to the connector. The conventional board lock further comprises a pair of spaced resilient legs. Each resilient leg has a barb for engaging with a hole defined in the circuit board thereby retaining the connector on the circuit board.
The conventional board lock is a fixed member which is generally incapable of adjustment to accommodate variation in the position of the hole of the circuit board.
In addition, the conventional board lock requires the connector to be completely located on or above the circuit board. This does not promote conservation of occupied spaced of the connector on the circuit board.
Hence, it is desirable to have a board lock that addresses the problems encountered in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a board lock for securing an electrical connector to a circuit board, the board lock comprising a leg inserted into and engaging with a hole defined in the circuit board, the leg defining an adjustable spatial relationship with respect to the connector thereby accommodating a positional variation of the hole of the circuit board.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a board lock for securing an electrical connector to a circuit board, wherein the board lock has a leg inserted into and engaging with a hole defined in the circuit board, the leg being supported by a deformable member which allows the spatial relationship between the leg and connector to be adjusted as desired.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector comprising the board lock discussed above, wherein the spatial relationship between the leg and the connector is adjusted to allow the connector to be positioned against an edge of the circuit board with a portion thereof located below the circuit board, thereby reducing the space occupied by the connector above the circuit board.
To achieve the above objects, a board lock in accordance with the present invention comprises a first panel positioned against an electrical connector and a second panel spaced from the first panel. A fastener having an expanded end received between the first and second panels extends through a hole defined in the first panel and into a bore defined in the connector thereby securing the first panel of the board lock to the connector. A transverse panel extends from the second panel. The transverse panel has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second panel thereby enhancing the deformability of the transverse panel. A leg having barbs formed thereon is mounted to the transverse panel for inserting in and engaging with a hole defined in the circuit board. The leg defines a spatial relationship with respect to the first panel which is adjustable by means of the deformation of the transverse panel. The second panel may have an opening defined therein which reduces the cross-sectional area of the second panel, thus rendering the second panel to be more deformable. This facilitates the adjustment of the spatial relationship of the transverse panel with respect to the first panel.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an electrical connector comprises a nonconductive casing having two bores defined therein, each having a board lock in accordance with the present invention associated therewith.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4943244 (1990-07-01), Teck et al.
patent: 5085589 (1992-02-01), Kan
patent: 5407364 (1995-04-01), Tzeng et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
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