Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means with distinct movement-actuating means to...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-09-11
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means with distinct movement-actuating means to...
C439S928100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287135
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connector engaging/disengaging device for engaging and disengaging a plurality of electrical connectors (which will simply be referred to as “connectors”) to and from a plurality of mating connectors and, in particular, to a connector engaging/disengaging device for engaging and disengaging a plurality of connectors connected to a plurality of cables to and from a plurality of mating connectors mounted on a printed circuit board for the purpose of data transmission between electronic components.
In existing electronic apparatus, electrical cables (which will simply be referred to as “cables”) are used for transmitting signals between electronic parts and connectors are used for making electronic connection between the cables and the parts. For example, in order to electrically connect a particular one of many printed circuit boards with other ones of the printed circuit boards and/or electrical elements through cables, connectors are mounted on the particular circuit board, while the cables are led out from the other printed circuit boards and the electrical elements and mounted with cable connectors at their ends. The cable connectors are engaged with corresponding ones of the connectors mounted on the particular printed circuit board. Each of the cables often has a plurality of conductor lines, although it might have a single conductor line. Accordingly, each of cable connectors has a plurality of contacts or a single contact. In a case, a plurality of cables are accommodated in a single cable connector having a plurality of contacts. Each of the connectors mounted on the particular printed circuit board has a number of contacts equal to the number of contacts in the corresponding one of the cable connectors.
When carrying out wiring operation in a housing of an electronic apparatus, it is necessary to engage and connect connectors to each other. Since the engaging operation is usually performed by a use of hands, the housing is required to have a relatively large space sufficient to enable the manual operation in the housing. This results in a demand for a relatively large-size housing to be used.
In recent electronic apparatus., especially, computers, electronic parts used have been increased in number, and therefore, cables and connectors have also been increased in number. Further, for the demand of small-size of the apparatus itself and of reduction of signal transmission time, it is required that the housing is small-sized, parts being mounted in small mounting density, and cables being reduced in length. Therefore, on one hand, the wiring operation becomes more difficult because manual operation for engaging connectors to each other must be an reduced space in the housing, and, on the other hand, insurance of the manual operation of the wiring make it difficult to small size the apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a connector engaging/disengaging device which is capable of carrying out an engaging/disengaging operation for a number of connectors and a number of mating connectors accommodated in a small frame.
It is another object of this invention to provide a connector engaging/disengaging device which is capable of easily carrying out an engaging operation for connecting a connector or connectors and a mating connector or connectors after provisional completion of a wiring operation of a cable.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a connector engaging/disengaging device which enables a reduction in the length of a cable for connecting between electronic parts and/or elements.
This invention provides a connector engaging and disengaging device for electrically connecting a plurality of first connectors having first engaging sides with a plurality of second connectors having second engaging sides by mating the first engaging sides with the second mating sides, respectively, and for disconnecting the first connectors from the second connectors by separating the first engaging sides from the second engaging sides. The device comprises: a hollow frame open at front and rear ends; a supporter fixed to the frame for fixedly supporting the first connectors in a condition where the first connectors are disposed in the rear open end with the first engaging sides being directed to the front open end. A connector carrier is mounted slidable in frontward and rearward in the frame. The connector carrier comprises a connector holding portion disposed in front of the first connectors disposed in the rear open end of the frame for holding the second connectors with the second engaging sides directed to the rear open end, and an operating portion projecting out of the frame for moving the connector carrier in frontward and rearward directions. The second connectors are held on the connector holding portions when the connector carrier is positioned at a first position at the front open end. The second connectors are brought into electrical connection with the first connectors when the connector carrier having the second connectors thereon is pulled to a second position at the rear open end to engage the first engaging sides with the second engaging sides, respectively. The second connectors are electrically disconnected from the first connector when the connector carrier is pulled from the second position to the first position.
Further, this invention provides a connector assembly having a connector engaging/disengaging mechanism for engaging and disengaging a plurality of first connectors to and from a plurality of second connectors in one-to-one correspondence, the first connectors being mounted on a printed circuit board, the second connectors being connected to a plurality of cables, respectively. The assembly comprises: a panel having an opening; a frame member fixedly mounted on the a panel along a periphery of the opening; the printed circuit board fixed onto the frame member inside the opening; the first connectors mounted on the printed circuit board; the second connectors; and the connector engaging/disengaging mechanism. The mechanism comprises a plurality of plate-like connector carriers mounted on the frame member and being slidable in a connector engaging disengaging direction perpendicular to the panel. Each of the connector carriers comprises a plurality of seating plate portions for seating plural ones of the second connectors, a plurality of connector holding portions formed on the seating plate portions to hold the second connectors seated thereon, and a pair of operating portions for moving the connector carrier the connector engaging and disengaging direction to engage and disengage the first connectors to and from the second connectors. The mechanism further comprises a plurality of guide portions for guiding of the connector carrier moving in the engaging and disengaging direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5388995 (1995-02-01), Rudy, Jr. et al.
patent: 5402310 (1995-03-01), Penniman
patent: 5823815 (1998-10-01), Takata
European Search Report (The Hague) completed May 19, 2000 (Examiner D. Corrales); application No. EP 00 10 6873.
European Patent Office Communication dated May 26, 2000; Reference No. AG 439-14292.7 re application No. 00106873.3-2308.
German Patent No. DE 298 22 734 U 1 dated Feb. 25, 1999.
Hashiguchi Osamu
Kamiyamane Shin
Maeda Toshihiko
Mizusawa Yoshinori
Nagase Satoru
Japan Aviation Electronics Industries Ltd.
Laff, Whitesel & Saret, Ltd.
Nasri Javaid
Sircus Brian
Whitesel J. Warren
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