Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Coupling part for receiving edge of planar board moving...
Patent
1991-05-24
1992-11-10
Pirlot, David
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Coupling part for receiving edge of planar board moving...
H01R 1362
Patent
active
051619946
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, more specifically to an edge connector for a PCB (printed circuit board) and a board latching device to be used with such connector.
An edge connector mounted on a PCB for interconnecting another PCB contains a plurality of contacts along the longitudinal direction thereof for receiving the edge of the another PCB. The edge connector is provided with latching means to latchably hold both edges of the PCBs. Conventionally, the latching means is made from a plastic material and is integral with the connector housing. However, such latching means, made integrally with the housing, are plastic and have inherent problems in that frequent latching and unlatching causes the latching or engaging sections to wear and reduce the latching force to an impractical level.
One approach to solve the above problems may be the use of separate metal members to be mounted on a housing. A metal latch is generally stronger in latching force and more durable. However, it requires additional force when unlatching the PCB. It is especially difficult to unlatch a PCB in an electronic apparatus or the like having a plurality of closely disposed connectors.
It is now proposed to provide a connector having latching devices with improved latching force, durability and unlatching of the PCB and a board latching device for such connector.
The edge connector according to the present invention is an edge connector for interconnecting two PCBs comprising an insulation housing having a plurality of contacts along the longitudinal direction and openings at both ends, and a pair of board latching devices to be inserted and secured in the openings in the insulation housing. Each of the board latching devices is made of a metal plate member comprising a latching section to latch the second circuit board and an unlatching section to release the latching of the second circuit board.
Additionally, the board latching device for a connector according to the present invention is integrally made of a metal plate member. It features the provision of a retaining section to mount in an opening in an insulation housing of a connector, a board latching section to latch a circuit board and an unlatching section to externally release the latching of the circuit board by the board latching section. That is, the board latching devices are secured in the openings in the connector housing and provided with the unlatching section outside of the board latching section for releasing the latching of the PCB by the board latching section through external finger operation.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the housing for the edge connector according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the housing in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the housing having board latching devices and contacts installed therein;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line IV--IV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the right hand portion of the above housing;
FIG. 6 is the front view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is the right side view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view along the line VIII--VIII in FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view along the line IX--IX in FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the board latching device used in the above embodiment;
FIG. 11 is the right side view of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is the front view of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is the back view of FIG. 10;
FIG. 14 is the left side view of FIG. 10;
FIG. 15 is the bottom view of FIG. 10;
FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view along the line XVI--XVI in FIG. 11;
FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the edge portion of the housing having the board latching device secured in the opening thereof;
FIG. 18 is a central cross sectional view of the housing having the contacts and the board latching device installed therein (with the latching device hatched); and
FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 18 further having a circuit board mounted thereon.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereunder by reference to the accompanyin
REFERENCES:
patent: 4986765 (1991-01-01), Korsunsky et al.
patent: 4995825 (1991-02-01), Korsunsky et al.
patent: 5004429 (1991-04-01), Yagi et al.
patent: 5013257 (1991-05-01), Korsunsky et al.
Kamono Takashi
Nishimura Ryoji
Sato Yoshio
AMP Incorporated
LaRue Adrian J.
Pirlot David
Wolstoncroft Bruce J.
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