Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Having resilient means engaging panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-05
2004-11-30
Gushi, Ross (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Having resilient means engaging panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
active
06824424
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector fixed to a board, and particularly to a structure for fixing a connector to a board.
When a connector is fixed to a board, screws or pins are used as fasteners. Today, pins are used predominantly as fasteners. This is because using pins reduces time required for fixing a connector to a board compared to a case where screws are used.
FIG. 13
illustrates a prior art connector
101
fixed to a printed board
104
. The connector
101
is made of synthetic resin and has a pair of brackets
102
. A through hole
102
a
is formed in each bracket
102
. When fixing the connector
101
to the printed board
104
, metal pins
103
are used. The pins
103
each have a head
103
a
, a pair of elastic axial portions
103
b
extending from the head
103
a
, and stopper claws
103
c
at the distal ends of the axial portions
103
b.
Each pin
103
is inserted into the through hole
102
a
of one of the brackets
102
and into one of a pair of through holes
104
a
formed in the printed board
104
. The head
103
a
of the inserted pin
103
engages with a part of the top surface of the bracket
102
about the through hole
102
a
. The stopper claws
103
c
are engaged with a part of the bottom surface of the printed board
104
about the through hole
104
a
. This fixes the connector
101
to the printed board
104
and prevents the connector
101
from being loosely held in a direction perpendicular to the printed board
104
.
When a connector
101
is fixed to a printed board that has a different thickness from that of the printed board
104
, pins having a different length of the axial portions
103
b
are used. If the connector
101
is fixed to a printed board that is thinner than the printed board
104
with the pins
103
, there will be a gap between the stopper claws
103
c
of each pin
103
and a part of the bottom surface of the printed board about the through hole
104
a
, and the connector
101
will be loosely held in a direction perpendicular to the printed board. Also, if the connector
101
is fixed to a printed board that is thicker than the printed board
104
, the pins
103
are too short to be used to fix the connector
101
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a structure for fixing a connector to a board which structure permits a connector to be stably fixed to boards having different thicknesses with common fasteners.
To achieve the foregoing and other objectives and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a fixing structure of a connector and a board is provided. The fixing structure includes a fastener for fixing the connector to the board, and a space maintaining mechanism located between the connector and the board. The fastener extends from a first member to a second member. The first member is one of the connector and the board, and the second member is the other one of the connector and the board. The fastener includes a engaging portion that is engaged with the second member. When the engaging portion is engaged with the second member, a predetermined space is created between a facing side of the connector and a facing side of the board. The facing sides face each other. The space is varied in accordance with the thickness of the board. The space maintaining mechanism determines the position of the connector relative to the board such that the space in accordance with the thickness of the board is maintained.
In another aspect of the present invention, a connector fixed to a board with a fastener is provided. The fastener extends from a first member to a second member. The first member is one of the connector and the board, and the second member is the other one of the connector and the board. The fastener includes a engaging portion that is engaged with the second member. When the engaging portion is engaged with the second member, a predetermined space is created between a facing side of the connector and a facing side of the board. The facing sides face each other. The space is varied in accordance with the thickness of the board. A projection is formed on the facing side of the connector. The cross-sectional area of the projection decreases as the distance from the facing side of the connector increases. The projection determines the position of the connector relative to the board such that the space in accordance with the thickness of the board is maintained.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
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Hattori Tetsuya
Hayashi Shigeru
Itou Keiichi
Nishida Atsushi
Crompton Seager & Tufte LLC
Gushi Ross
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
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