Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Means to utilize direct fluid action
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-19
2001-07-03
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Means to utilize direct fluid action
C439S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254410
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector of the type where a plug electrode is fitted into a receptacle electrode, and more particularly to a connector assembly in which a plug can reliably be pulled out of the connector by using air pressure without imposing a load on the connector or a board on which the connector is mounted.
2. Description of Related Art
In personal computers (PCs) and office automation (OA) equipment, a great number of connectors with an array of plugs (i.e., pins) have recently been employed. Such a plug array is used, for example, when electronic devices are connected to a device support circuit board or when an exchange circuit board for an upgrade is connected to a system circuit board. Normally, the plug array is provided in an electronic device or an exchange circuit board, while a receptacle array for receiving the plug array is provided in a device support circuit board or a system circuit board.
With an advancement in the performance and a reduction in the size of PCs or OA equipment, the dimensions of the plug are being reduced while the number of plugs and the density are increasing. As a result, the connector of the type where a plug array is connected to a receptacle array has several problems which need to be solved.
For example, an increase in the number of plugs results in an increase in the force required for inserting and pulling out the plugs. Particularly, a great force is required when a plug array is pulled out of a receptacle array. Therefore, in the case where excessive stress is produced in plugs, receptacles, an electronic device or circuit board on which these are mounted, or a circuit board on which plugs and receptacles are mounted, there is a possibility that they will be damaged. Therefore, for the connector in which the plug is connected to the receptacle, the pull-out operation must be easy without damaging the connector main body or the circuit board.
To facilitate the connection and disconnection between the plug and the receptacle, a method of using a connector incorporated with an auxiliary tool has been proposed. The conventional connector with the auxiliary tool, however, is unsuitable for the environment where an array of high-density plugs is used. Of course, such a connector with an auxiliary tool must not require a large space and it must not be so expensive that the connector cannot be used.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which the plug can be pulled out of the receptacle without producing stress in the connector itself or a circuit board on which the connector is mounted.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel connector assembly which takes advantage of air pressure to pull out the plug array of the receptacle array.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The connector of the present invention is one in which a receptacle and a plug are coupled together. The plug is inserted into the receptacle so that the side wall of the plug makes contact with the interior wall of the receptacle. When the plug and the receptacle are coupled, a fitting space is formed therebetween. If compressed air is injected into this fitting space, the plug will be pushed up by a rise in the air pressure and therefore the plug can be pulled out of the receptacle. The pullout of the plug by air pressure in the fitting space is advantageous because it can be implemented without producing biased stress in the plug or the receptacle. In other words, the connector of the present invention has no bending of the pin of the connector and also prevents solder cracks and pad land peeling in a circuit board on which the connector is mounted.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly which includes a first member with an array of plugs and a second member with an array of receptacles disposed so that the plugs can be fitted into the receptacles and a fitting space is formed between the plug and the receptacle. The plug array is disconnected from the receptacle array by injection of compressed air into the fitting spaces.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly which includes a first member with an array of plugs and a second member with an array of receptacles. The plug array is pulled out of the receptacle array by expansion of an air tube interposed between the first member and the second member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1580825 (1926-04-01), Griffith
patent: 3249012 (1966-05-01), Clickner, Jr.
patent: 3627941 (1971-12-01), Wrathall
patent: 3835441 (1974-09-01), Harmon
patent: 4669791 (1987-06-01), Savill
patent: 5329693 (1994-07-01), Smith
patent: 5621197 (1997-04-01), Bender et al.
Sugiyama Masahiko
Yoshikawa Yasushi
International Business Machines - Corporation
Magistrale Anthony N.
Nguyen Khiem
Schelkopf J Bruce
Zarroli Michael C.
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