Module connector protection cap

Details Module connector protection cap Module connector protection cap

1998-12-31

2001-01-09

Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With contact preventer or retractable cover part

Prong cover

C439S509000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06171119

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to retainers for the terminals on an electrical connector, and, more particularly, to a cap for protecting the terminals on an electrical connector module during shipping, storage, and installation.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1
illustrates a typical connector module
2
fitted with a conventional tie bar
4
on the ends of the terminals, or contact tails,
6
for protecting the terminals during shipping and storage, and for maintaining tail registration and co-planarity during installation of the connector
2
onto a circuit board. The tie bar
4
is preferably made from brass in order to allow it to be easily fitted to the terminals
6
and to minimize the effects of static electricity on the connector module
2
.
During manufacturing, the tie bar
4
is crimped onto the end of the terminals
6
with pliers or other crimping tools. During subsequent installation of the connector, the terminals
6
are soldered to a circuit board, or other device, with the tie bar
4
in place. The free ends of the terminals
6
between the solder connection and the tie bar
4
are then trimmed in order to remove the tie bar
4
and terminal stubs from the soldered connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Such conventional tie bars have several drawbacks. For example, they are not reusable. The narrow width of the tie bar
4
also prevents it from adequately covering the entire length of the terminals
6
while the crimping process can otherwise bend or stress the terminals. Furthermore, since the tie bar
4
is fixed to the ends of the terminals
6
, it can only be removed by pulling the terminals against the solder or trimming the ends of the terminals after the connector module
2
has been soldered onto the board. Often the connector module
2
must be installed in an inconvenient position relative to other components on the board. Consequently, removing the tie bar
4
after the connector
2
has been installed requires a significant amount of time and skill to complete without damaging the connector module
2
.
These and other drawbacks associated with the prior art are addressed by providing a protection cap for an electrical connector having a plurality of terminals extending from one side of one end. The cap includes a body having a cavity for releasably receiving a second end of the connector which is opposite from the first end. At least one arm extends from the body for wrapping partially around the connector. A terminal retainer is then arranged on the free end of the arm for engaging and at least some of the connector terminals.
The cap may be formed from a contiguous sheet of material having hinges or folds which rotatably separate the body, arm, and terminal retainers from each other. The terminal retainer may include a plurality of wells, slots, holes, or terminal receiving cavities which each receive and protect one, or more, of the terminals. These slots may also extend all the way through the walls of the terminal retainer for providing access to the terminals through a wall in the retainer.
In another embodiment, the cap may further include means for releasably securing the terminal retainer to the connector. For example, the securing means may include a fastener arranged on the side or top of the terminal retainer for attaching to the side or top of the connector. The fastener may include a tab, latch, snap-clamp, adhesives, or other easily-releaseable devices. Alternatively, the terminal retainer may be secured to the connector without a fastener by the frictional force created between the terminals and the walls of the slots inside the terminal retainer.


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