Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-05-15
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
06231383
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 electrical connector 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.
This invention is a variation of the invention of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/449,108 filed Nov. 24, 1999 and with the same assignee and inventor as the instant application, entitled “PANEL MOUNT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, which introduces a pair of specific screws movable built in an panel mount electrical connector assembly enclosing a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector for firmly and speedily screwing the connector assembly to the panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a panel mount electrical connector assembly having a fixture securement aiding a specific screw for easily, firmly 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 with the fixture securement capable to save the usage of an additional screw and to be laborsaving in assembly, which only one screw have to be driven in.
To fulfill the above mentioned objects, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a panel mount electrical connector assembly mounted on a panel of an instrument for coupling with a mating connector, includes an insulative outermost housing, a movable built-in screw, and a traditional connector unit linking with a bunch of cables.
A fixture securement integrally formed with the outer housing, including a neck and a fixture head formed at a distal end of the neck and dimensioned larger than the neck in width.
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 assembly, said heads of the fixture securement and the screw are respectively moved to the wide regions of the corresponding cutouts of the panel and enter through the wide regions of the cutouts. Then, the heads are through the same cutouts and moved to the narrow regions of the same cutouts but restricted by the cutouts from being removed out of the cutouts thereby accurately driving only the screw in for easily and speedily securing the connector assembly to the panel.
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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