Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-01
2001-11-20
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319023
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to electrical connectors and headers having press fit electrical terminals for connection to a substrate, such as a printed circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors and headers having press fit electrical terminals enjoy popularity, in part due to the ease in which they may be assembled to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. Such press fit components allow users to electrically interconnect an electrical connector or header to a substrate by merely inserting the press fit terminals through plated through-holes provided on the substrate and firmly urging the terminals into an interference fit with said through-holes. One example of a press fit terminal is AMP Incorporated's ACTION PIN® terminal. This type of an arrangement eliminates the need for costly soldering procedures such as through-hole soldering or surface mount soldering of the electrical terminals which are mounted to the substrate. Of course, press fit terminals experience significant forces upon insertion into a substrate. Because of this, press fit electrical terminals are commonly secured within the electrical connector or header by means of over-molding processes which reliably secure the electrical terminals within the connector or header housing. Unfortunately, over-molding press fit electrical terminals is a difficult and costly process which adds to the overall cost of the end product.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an electrical connector or housing equipped with press fit electrical terminals which are reliably secured within the connector or header housing and are capable of withstanding the significant insertion forces required to assemble the device to a substrate, but which does not require the expensive process of overmolding the press fit electrical terminals within the connector or header housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical assembly comprising pins having a body disposed between a contacting portion and a press-fit portion. A pin holder is provided having apertures in communication with slots wherein the body of each pin is disposed through one of the apertures and into one of the slots. The press-fit portions extend beyond the apertures and outside of the pin holder. While a housing is secured to the pin holder such that fins on the housing are disposed within the slots to secure the bodies of the pins therein.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical connector assembly comprising a housing having at least one fin. At least one pin is disposed in a pin holder having at least one aperture in communication with at least one slot. The pin holder is secured to the housing such that the at least one fin is received within the at least one slot thereby enclosing at least a portion of the at least one pin between the pin holder and the at least one fin.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical assembly comprising a pin holder having apertures in communication with slots. Pins having a body portion are disposed in each aperture and slot such that press-fit portions of the pins extend from the apertures. A housing is provided having fins which are disposed in the slots thereby capturing the body portions of each pin in each slot. And, a circuit board is secured to the press-fit portions of the pins.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4857017 (1989-08-01), Erk
patent: 4955819 (1990-09-01), Harting et al.
patent: 5249974 (1993-10-01), Wang
patent: 5252080 (1993-10-01), Pesson
patent: 5833475 (1998-11-01), Mitra
Goto Kazuhiro
Gyimes Andras
Luca Dragos
Sircus Brian
Tyco Electronics Canada Ltd
Webb Brian S.
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