Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-04-03
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
C439S564000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210215
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and particularity to a panel mount connector electrical assembly for securing to a panel of an electric instrument.
2. The Prior Art
In conventional connector assemblies mounted to a panel of an electric instrument like a computer chassis, a first type connector as introduced in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,820,180, 4,988,308, 5,017,151, 5,049,092, 5,249,982, 5,514,000, 5,525,074, 5,575,673, 5,632,648, 5,766,041, 5,895,289, 5,931,688 and RE 34,430 presents the claw-like or sealed securement of the connector to the panel. However, the process of interference-fitting the connector through an opening defined on the panel may have the claw/seal permanently deformed in fitting dimension. The incorrect/change of fitting tolerance may loose the securement of the connector to the panel. A mating action of an external connector may forcedly push the connector assembly out of the panel, consequently.
A second type connector as introduced in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,678,259, 5,228,865, 5,254,010, 5,709,569, 5,772,471, 5,924,877, and Des. 415,106 presents the direct-screwed securement of the connector to the panel for enhancement of the retention. However, the manual pre-alignment among several different screwed holes defined on the connector assembly, the mating connector and the panel, and the usage of the external and separate screws easily causes the securement of the connector inconvenient and time-consuming.
A third type connector as introduced in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,035 presents two lugs 8
a
, 8
b
for pre-alignment of the connector with the panel before being screwed thereto. However, it is anticipated that its corresponding mating connector must be a specific one additionally installed with two screws. Other common mating connectors without additional screws are not suitable for the third type connector. Also, the screws solely driven inside the mating connector are possibly lost in delivery because of the removability of the screws from the mating connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a panel mount electrical connector assembly having at least a specific screw moveably secured therein for firmly, conveniently and speedily securing the electrical connector to a panel of an electrical instrument like a computer chassis.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the panel mount electrical connector assembly having the movable built-in specific screws without possibility of loss.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a panel of an electrical instrument like a computer chassis with a plurality of cutouts for cooperation with the screw of the connector assembly for conveniently and speedily screwing the electrical connector to the panel.
To fulfill the above mentioned objects, according to several embodiments of the present invention, a panel mount electrical connector assembly for mounting on a panel of an instrument, includes an insulative outermost housing, a pair of specific screws, and a traditional connector unit linking with a bunch of cables.
The outer insulative housing is defined with an upper and lower covers each which has a pair of first passageways for reception of the screws. A stop portion is integrally swelled within each of the first passageways and has a deep cave defined thereon. Each of the specific screw has a threaded shaft and two heads at opposite ends of the threaded shaft. A fixture portion is screwed on the shaft but restricted between the heads of each screw.
When the specific screws are assembled within one of the covers, the front head of each of the screws is exposed out of the cover for being driven. And, the rear head is movably restricted within the corresponding first passageway by the stop portion from removal of the entire screw out of the outer housing. The fixture portion is fixedly located within the cave of the outer housing thereby cooperating with the threaded shaft of the corresponding screw to adjustably move the screw in/out. Therefore, these screws are movably built in the outer housing of the connector assembly without possibility of loss.
The panel consists of opposite front and rear surfaces, a first cutout and a second cutout respectively defined through both surfaces of the panel. Each of the cutouts is divided into a wide region and a narrow region communicated and dimensioned with regard to the wide region.
In attachment of the electrical connector assembly to the panel, the front heads of the specific screws are firstly moved to removably enter through the wide regions of the corresponding cutouts. Then, the front heads are successively moved along but restricted from being removed out the narrow regions of the same cutouts thereby easily and speedily screwing the electrical connector assembly to the panel as long as driving the screws in.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5306175 (1994-04-01), Swanstrom
patent: 5320554 (1994-06-01), Freer et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
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