Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-08
2003-06-17
Nasri, Javaid (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S065000, C439S936000, C439S876000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06579125
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a connector for electrically connecting a part with another. The present invention particularly relates to a clip connector which is capable of clamping an edge of a printed board or the like. Further, the present invention relates to a method of attaching a clip connector to a support member such as a printed board, and also to an assembly of a clip connector and a support member.
BACKGROUND ART
An example of prior-art clip connector is shown in FIG.
8
. The illustrated clip connector B includes a housing
90
made of a synthetic resin, and a plurality of terminals
91
(only one is shown in this figure) which are formed of metal and carried by the housing. Each of the terminals
91
includes an outer portion
91
a
extending outward from the housing
90
. The outer portion
91
a
is bent as shown in this figure for clamping a printed board
92
. In clamping the printed board
92
, the outer portion
91
a
comes into contact with a connection pad
93
formed on the printed board
92
.
The clip connector B can be attached to the printed board
92
owing to the above-described clipping function of the outer portion
91
a.
However, with such an attachment, the outer portion
91
a
cannot be insulated and protected. Further the outer portion
91
a
is likely to be easily detached from the printed board
92
. To eliminate these problems, the outer portion
91
a
and nearby portions are coated with an insulating resin
94
.
Although the clip connector B having the above-described structure is convenient for electrically connecting two devices, it also has the following problems.
Firstly, the process for coating the outer portion
91
a
and the adjacent portion thereof with the resin
94
is troublesome. This is because, for appropriately coating the outer portion
91
a
and the adjacent portion thereof with the resin
94
, it is necessary to apply the resin
94
not only to an obverse portion Na but also to a reverse portion Nb of the printed board
92
. (Herein, it should be noted that it is difficult to apply the resin
94
to the reverse portion Nb from the obverse side of the printed board
92
. Thus, the resin
94
needs to be applied to the reverse portion Nb with the printed board
92
tuned over.)
Secondly, as will be easily understood from
FIG. 8
, when the clip connector B is attached to the printed board
92
, the housing
90
of the clip connector B largely projects laterally from the printed board
92
(See a reference sign L). This is not advantageous for reducing the size of an assembly utilizing the clip connector B.
The third problem derives from the fact that the distance between points P indicated in this figure and the housing
90
is relatively long. That is, with such a structure, even by a relatively small moment M exerted on the housing
90
, the clip connector B may be deviated relative to the printed board
92
. As a result, proper conduction between the outer portion
91
a
and the pad
93
may be broken.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention, which has been conceived under the circumstances described above, is to provide a clip connector which can be easily and reliably attached to a support member such as a printed board without becoming disadvantageously bulky.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip connector for attachment to a support member. The connector comprises a housing having an outer surface for engagement with the support member, and at least one terminal projecting from the housing. The terminal is so arranged that the support member is clamped between the terminal and the outer surface.
With such a structure, the support member contacts not only the terminal but also the outer surface of the housing. Therefore, it is possible to stably attach the clip connector to the support member. The support member may be a printed board for example.
Preferably, the outer surface of the housing may be irregular. Such a configuration may be provided by forming, on the outer surface of the housing, at least one projecting portion and at least one retreating portion.
Preferably, the terminal projects from the retreating portion.
Preferably, the terminal includes a straight portion projecting from the housing, and a bent portion connected to the straight portion for engagement with the support member.
Preferably, the straight portion of the terminal may be formed with a through-hole which is open toward the support member.
Preferably, the through-hole may be partially embedded in the housing.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of attaching a clip connector to a support member, the clip connector including a housing having an engaging surface and at least one terminal projecting from the housing. The method comprises a first step of inserting the support member between the engaging surface of the housing and the terminal, a second step of applying fluid resin for covering the terminal, and a third step of allowing the resin to harden. In the second step, part of the resin is allowed to enter a gap defined between the engaging surface and the support member.
With such a structure, the engaging surface of the housing is strongly bonded to the support member by the resin entering the gap. By allowing the resin to enter the gap, it is possible to apply the resin also to the reverse surface of the support member without turning over the support member.
Preferably, at least one of the engaging surface of the housing and the support member may be irregular.
Preferably, the terminal may be formed with a through-hole for allowing passage therethrough of the resin applied.
Preferably, the resin maybe an ultraviolet-setting resin. The resin entering the gap is hardened by ultraviolet irradiation via the through-hole.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly of a clip connector and a support member. The clip connector includes a housing having an engaging surface and at least one terminal projecting from the housing. The support member is clamped between the engaging surface of the housing and the terminal. The support member and the engaging surface defines therebetween a gap into which a resin is applied.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the detailed description of preferred embodiments given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3479634 (1969-11-01), Pritulsky
patent: 3697926 (1972-10-01), Krafthefer
patent: 3706954 (1972-12-01), Krafthefer
patent: 5049435 (1991-09-01), Uno et al.
patent: 5907347 (1999-05-01), Nagahata et al.
patent: 4-51781 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 08-037048 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 9-45438 (1997-02-01), None
patent: 10-334968 (1998-12-01), None
Kishimoto Yoshinobu
Nagahata Takaya
Nishi Koji
Ono Shigeyoshi
Wada Koichi
Bednarek Michael D.
Nasri Javaid
Rohm & Co., Ltd.
Shaw Pittman LLP
LandOfFree
Clip connector, method of attaching clip connector, and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Clip connector, method of attaching clip connector, and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Clip connector, method of attaching clip connector, and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3150994