Panel mounted electrical connector

Details Panel mounted electrical connector Panel mounted electrical connector

1999-12-29

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

C439S607070, C439S939000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231385

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector mountable at a panel opening.
2. Description of Prior Art
A panel mounted electrical connector is known as an electrical connector mounted at an opening in a computer panel for mating with a complementary connector through the opening. The panel mounted connector can be either a receptacle connector or a plug connector. Such a connector is typically electrically connected to a printed circuit board fixed within a computer incorporating the panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,569 discloses a panel mounted connector
84
which is mounted to a conductive panel
82
by the help of a bracket
80
as shown in FIG.
5
. The bracket
80
is adapted to be attached to the conductive panel
82
for mounting the connector
84
thereto. The connector
84
is terminated to a cable
86
. The bracket
80
comprises upper and lower support sections
804
and
806
extending rearward from a panel mounting body
802
thereof. The connector
84
is received between the upper and lower support sections
804
and
806
with a shield
842
thereof being soldered to the support sections
804
and
806
thereby defining a connector-bracket subassembly. A pair of screwed holes
808
is defined in opposite ends of the panel mounting body
802
in alignment with holes
822
in the panel
82
for threadedly engaging with screws
88
extending through the holes
822
into the threaded holes
808
thereby securely attaching the connector-bracket subassembly to the panel
82
. A plug receiving cutout
809
is defined in the bracket
80
in alignment with an opening
824
in the panel
82
for exposing the connector
84
to an outside environment so that it can engage with a complementary connector (not shown). One problem with such a design is that a separate bracket must be stamped and formed, which complicates manufacturing and increases production cost. In addition, assembly and disassembly of the connector-bracket subassembly to and from the panel
82
is also time-consuming since the connector is mounted to the panel by a thread fastening mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,325 also discloses a panel mounted electrical connector with a pair of latch arms provided on opposite sides of a housing thereof for engaging edges of an opening in a computer panel. Each latch arm is integrally molded on the housing and is connected to the housing by a hinge. A gasket is sandwiched between the panel and a flange of the connector for providing good sealing characteristics. One problem with such a design is that the configuration of the latch arm is complicated and a separate gasket must be required. Furthermore, disassembly of the connector from the panel is inconvenient.
Therefore, a panel mounted electrical connector is desired which has reduced components and which facilitates assembly and disassembly of the connector to and from a computer panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a panel mounted electrical connector with reduced components for reducing manufacturing cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a panel mounted electrical connector for facilitating assembly and disassembly of the connector to and from a computer panel.
In order to achieve the objects set forth, a panel mounted electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing with a plurality of terminals received therein, a shield enclosing the housing, a cable having conductors terminated to the terminals, and an insulative casing injection molded to engage with a rear end portion of the housing and a front end of the cable.
The casing is made from resilient material and comprises a push portion at a top, front end thereof. The shield includes a top wall and a pair of opposite side walls downwardly extending from the top wall. The side walls are interferentially received in side slots defined between the housing and the casing, and the top wall is spaced from an upper surface of the housing. Each side wall defines a cutout extending rearward from a front edge thereof. A first latch is formed by each side wall of the shield and downwardly extends into the cutout for engaging with a second latch formed by the panel and located on each side of an opening in a computer panel.
The connector is mounted to the panel by engaging the first latches of the shield thereof with corresponding second latches of the panel. A support plate is provided by the panel at a bottom edge of the opening for extending into a lower slot defined between the casing and the housing thereby retaining the connector in position relative to the panel. When disassembly of the connector from the panel is desired, the first latches of the shield are unlatched from the second latches of the panel by simply depressing the push portion of the casing against the top wall of the shield.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5037325 (1991-08-01), Wirkus
patent: 5340329 (1994-08-01), Hirai
patent: 5599207 (1997-02-01), Lai
patent: 5709569 (1998-01-01), Buck et al.

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