Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

1998-11-19

2001-03-20

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06203381

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and in particular to a ready-to-assemble firm structure of the electrical connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors are widely used to establish electrical and signal connection between two devices, such as two telecommunication devices. With the development of high frequency transmission technology, the number of the contact points in an electrical connector has been significantly increased which enhances the data transmission capability of the connector; however, the manufacture thereof becomes more complicated. An increase in the number of pins within a limited space is a difficult obstacle for the connector manufacturers to overcome because the pitch of the pins is reduced thereby increasing the likelihood that the pins will accidentally contact each other.
Conventional multiple contact point connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,294 and Taiwan Patent Application No. 85100751. The Taiwan patent teaches to stack the pins in rows and form a modularized component which is then secured to an insulator by means of retention means. Such a structure increases the assembly efficiency of the connector, but the retention means may not be effective in securing the modularized pin component to the insulator whereby the pins may be moved out of and even detached from the insulator during connection/disconnection of the connector to/from a mating connector. A conventional connector structure is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. The conventional connector comprises a stack of pin modules
50
fixed together by means of a tapered section
52
extending in the direction of the stack. The pin module
50
forms a conic configuration
54
on a lateral side thereof for forming an interferential fit between the pin module
50
and an insulator. However, the conic configuration
54
extends in the same direction as a force applied thereto for connecting the connector to a mating connector whereby an increase in the number of contact engagements between the connector and the mating connector causes the pin module
50
to gradually disengage from the insulator.
Furthermore, in multiple contact point connectors, each pin has a mounting section for being mounted to a circuit board. To prevent unexpected contact from occurring between the mounting sections of two adjacent pins, a spacer is usually provided, for receiving the mounting sections of the pins in holes defined therein. Such a spacer is disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 81210871 and 84207642 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,853. With the increase in the number of the pins, it becomes difficult to simultaneously insert the mounting sections of the pins into the holes of the spacer. To overcome such a problem, an additional jig is used. This increases costs and is not effective in enhancing assembly efficiency.
It is thus desirable to provide an improved electrical connector structure which simplifies the assembly thereof while providing a firm construction so as to overcome the disadvantages encountered in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector structure having pin modules securely fixed therein whereby the likelihood of detachment of the pin module from an insulator of the connector is remarkably reduced thereby providing stable data and signal transmission.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector having a structure which facilitates assembly and has a firm construction thereby ensuring the quality of the connector.
To achieve the above objects, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulator defining an interior space for receiving a pin module therein. The pin module is formed by embedding conductive pins in an insert for reception in the interior space of the insulator. Retention members are provided in the interior space between the insulator and the pin module. Each retention member includes a first bound for limiting movement of the pin module in a first direction and a second bound for limiting movement of the pin module in an opposite second direction thereby effectively retaining the pin module in the insulator. The modularization of the pins facilitates efficient assembly thereof into the insulator while the retention members effectively prevent the pin module from separating therefrom.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a connection system comprises a plug-type connector and a socket-type connector matingly engaged with each other wherein both have the structure described above.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5725397 (1998-03-01), Fukamachi et al.
patent: 5975917 (1999-11-01), Wang et al.

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