Electrical connectors – With guiding means for mating of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-08
2001-10-16
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With guiding means for mating of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302722
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a system for facilitating mating and unmating of a pair of connectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical electrical connector assembly includes a pair of electrical connectors which are mateable to interengage conductive terminals on the connectors to establish electrical circuits through the connector interface. Each connector typically includes a dielectric housing within which the terminals are mounted. The connectors are mateable in a given mating direction.
The mating connectors of a connector assembly often have some form of alignment system to facilitate aligning the connectors during mating. An example is in a holding frame or cradle and a portable data entry device. One connector of the connector assembly is mounted on the holding frame or cradle, and the other connector of the assembly is mounted on the portable data entry device. The holding frame has what is called a “docking port” for receiving the portable data entry device. It is desirable to provide some form of alignment system to guide the portable data entry device in the docking port of the holding frame to maintain the electrical connectors in proper alignment during mating. However, the portable data entry device must be able to easily be removed from the docking port of the holding frame, and this creates a dilemma. During mating, users are more careful in attempting to insert the portable data entry device into the docking port, and the alignment system can be fairly rigid for these purposes. On the other hand, users quite rapidly and less carefully pull the portable data entry device out of the docking port and at angles to the given mating direction. Often, the removing or unmating forces are excessive. Repeated cycles of use of the device or a single undue use of excessive forces at angles to the given mating direction often causes damage to the components. The present invention is directed to solving these problems by providing an alignment system in which the connectors can be easily aligned for mating in a given direction but allows for ready removal or unmating of the connectors at an angle to the given mating direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved mating and unmating system between a pair of connectors of an electrical connector assembly.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing for mounting a plurality of terminals. Means for aligning the connectors on the housing extend in a given mating direction. A second connector includes a dielectric housing for mounting a plurality of terminals, and second connector is mateable with the first connector in the given mating direction. Receptacles are provided on the housing of the second connector for receiving the alignment means on the housing of the first connector when the connectors are mated. The receptacles include at least one flexible wall allowing the connectors to be unmated and the alignment means to move out of the receptacle means at an angle to the given mating direction.
As disclosed herein, the receptacles are provided by a groove extending in the mating direction. The groove is open-sided transversely of the mating direction. The alignment means is provided by a rib extending in the mating direction.
The dielectric housings of the first and second connectors may be fabricated of molded plastic material. In the preferred embodiment, the alignment means and the receptacles on the first and second connectors, respectively, are provided on separate metal clips mounted on the respective connector housings. The metal clips not only compensate for wear on the connectors, but good flexing action is provided for the flexible wall of the receptacle means on the second connector which receives the alignment means on the first connector.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4986765 (1991-01-01), Korsunsky et al.
patent: 5120256 (1992-06-01), Walden
patent: 5472354 (1995-12-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5885088 (1999-03-01), Brennan et al.
patent: 6074230 (2000-06-01), Comerci et al.
patent: 6146210 (2000-11-01), Cha et al.
Molex Incorporated
Nasri Javaid
Sircus Brian
Weiss Stephen Z.
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