Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-01-09
Patel, T. C. (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S080000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171116
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to connection modalities between the pin terminals of a header assembly and a printed circuit board (PCB), and more particularly to pin alignment devices for the pin terminals. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a rigid pin terminal alignment system which provides precise pin terminal alignment and indexable spacing features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As shown at
FIG. 1
, a header assembly
10
is used to interconnect between wiring harness connectors and a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown). The header assembly
10
is typically constructed of aluminum and has four receptacles, arranged as an upper left receptacle
12
, a lower left receptacle
14
, and upper right receptacle
16
and a lower right receptacle
18
. Within each receptacle of the header assembly
10
, a plurality of pins
20
are affixed by a plastic inset and epoxy as an upper row and a lower row, wherein the upper and lower rows of pins of each receptacle provide a bank of pins particular to that receptacle. For example, given that the upper and lower rows each have twenty pins, then each receptacle has a bank of forty pins. The receptacles receive, respectively, a corresponding connector of one or more wiring harnesses so as to electrically contact the pins. At the rear side of the header assembly
10
, the pins
20
horizontally project to a predetermined bend location respectively for each of the upper and lower rows of each of the receptacles, respectively, whereupon the pins are vertically oriented and terminate as pin terminals
22
at a common plane.
Problematically, the pin terminals
22
of the pins
20
are distantly separated from the header assembly
10
, resulting in the precise alignment of the pin terminals being subject to misalignment with the application thereto of lateral forces. However, in order for the pin terminals
22
to properly interface with corresponding connection locations of a PCB, it is necessary to restrain the pin terminals from being free to move relative to one another so that pin terminal alignment will remain precise.
In the prior art, it is known to utilize a perforated mylar sheet
24
to restrain movement of the pin terminals, wherein each pin terminal passes through a respective perforation
26
. In this regard, a first mylar sheet is used to alignably interface with the two banks of pin terminals associated with the upper and lower left receptacles
12
,
14
, and a second mylar sheet is used to alignably interface with the two banks of pin terminals associated with each of the upper and lower right receptacles
16
,
18
.
While the mylar sheets can aid to restrain the pin terminals from relatively moving, the inherent flexibility of a mylar sheet cannot prevent an untoward force from misaligning the pin terminals, whether individually, collectively, or as a bank. Further, the need to precisely align the perforations with each respective pin terminal prior to placement of the mylar sheets onto the pin terminals is an undesirably critical assembly step. Further, mylar sheets cannot serve to space the pins with respect to the header assembly and to the PCB. Yet another problem of mylar sheet is that it can slip up the pins or down and off the pins, since it has no ability to indexably space itself relative to the header assembly. Still further, mylar sheets become increasingly incapable of serving their intended pin spacing maintenance function in high pin density applications in which the spacing between the pins is very small.
Accordingly, what remains needed in the art is a pin terminal alignment article which serves to fix pin terminal spacing, provide indexable spacing and provide ease of installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a pin terminal alignment system which serves to fix pin terminal spacing, provide indexable spacing and provide ease of installation.
The pin terminal alignment system according to the present invention includes a pair of alignment bodies, each having a generally planar, elongated shape and preferably formed of plastic. Each alignment body has a plurality of alignment holes formed therein, each alignment hole being allocated to a respective pin terminal of a header assembly. The system preferably includes an abutting interaction between the alignment bodies and the header assembly which indexably spaces the bodies with respect to the header assembly.
At a top side of each alignment body, the alignment holes are each provided with a guide cone for providing guided pin insertion into the alignment holes without risk of pin distortion, even where the insertion operation is performed manually. A pair of header index spacers are provided on both of the alignment bodies which indexably interface with the header assembly to provide precise location of the alignment bodies with respect to the header assembly, and as an inherent consequence thereof, precise geometrical dimension and tolerance of the pin terminals with respect to the header assembly and the PCB to which the terminals pins are to be electrically connected. A PCB index leg on one of the alignment bodies provides an indexable interface with a PCB so as to ensure a proper interfit between parts. Stand-offs are provided on the bottom side of both of the alignment bodies to ensure a predetermined minimum spacing between the PCB and the alignment bodies, thereby preventing the alignment bodies from resting upon solder joints of the PCB and ensuring prevention of entrapped moisture therebetween.
The rigidity and locating features provided by the terminal pin alignment system serve to ensure geometrical dimension and tolerance precision of the pins as a whole, and the pin terminals in particular, with respect to both the header assembly and the PCB.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pin terminal alignment system which rigidly aligns the pin terminals in a predetermined arrangement prior to connection to a PCB.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a pin terminal alignment system as aforementioned, further featuring rigid alignment bodies having alignment holes for retaining the pin terminals in a predetermined pattern.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pin terminal alignment system as aforementioned, further featuring guide cones at each alignment hole for guiding initial entry of each pin terminal into its respective alignment hole.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a pin terminal alignment system as aforementioned, further featuring indexable location features with respect to the alignment bodies and the header assembly and selectively with respect to the PCB.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pin terminal alignment article as aforementioned, further featuring stand-off features with respect to the PCB.
These, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5468154 (1995-11-01), Yip et al.
patent: 5591036 (1997-01-01), Doi et al.
patent: 5692912 (1997-12-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5827076 (1998-10-01), Chen
patent: 5921789 (1999-07-01), Makano et al.
Nemetz Raymond A.
Wicks John L.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Griffin Patrick M.
Patel T. C.
LandOfFree
Pin terminal alignment system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pin terminal alignment system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pin terminal alignment system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2542225