CA1237818A - Low profile stacking connector for printed circuit boards - Google Patents
Low profile stacking connector for printed circuit boardsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1237818A CA1237818A CA000544154A CA544154A CA1237818A CA 1237818 A CA1237818 A CA 1237818A CA 000544154 A CA000544154 A CA 000544154A CA 544154 A CA544154 A CA 544154A CA 1237818 A CA1237818 A CA 1237818A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- printed circuit
- connector
- board
- pin
- circuit boards
- Prior art date
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- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Disclosed is a connector arrangement for electrically inter-connecting adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards. The con-nector includes a housing having a mounting surface and passageway for receiving a pin-like male commoning element. The connector further includes a stamped, integral terminal mounted in the housing, which has a resilient female contact disposed in the pin-receiving passageway, and a board engaging portion which is secured to a first printed circuit board. A connector is provided on each printed circuit board to be electrically interconnected, and the pin-receiving passageways are aligned in registry. After installation of the connectors and printed circuit boards, the pin-like male commoning element is inserted through the passageways and apertures provided in each printed circuit board adjacent each passageway, so as to engage each female contact element of each connector to be interconnected. The connector arrangement allows heretofore unknown closer spacing of adjacent parallel spaced-apart printed circuit boards while requiring less mounting space.
Disclosed is a connector arrangement for electrically inter-connecting adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards. The con-nector includes a housing having a mounting surface and passageway for receiving a pin-like male commoning element. The connector further includes a stamped, integral terminal mounted in the housing, which has a resilient female contact disposed in the pin-receiving passageway, and a board engaging portion which is secured to a first printed circuit board. A connector is provided on each printed circuit board to be electrically interconnected, and the pin-receiving passageways are aligned in registry. After installation of the connectors and printed circuit boards, the pin-like male commoning element is inserted through the passageways and apertures provided in each printed circuit board adjacent each passageway, so as to engage each female contact element of each connector to be interconnected. The connector arrangement allows heretofore unknown closer spacing of adjacent parallel spaced-apart printed circuit boards while requiring less mounting space.
Description
123';~
This application is a divisional of our Canadian patent application Serial No. 488,353 filed August 8, 1985.
The present invention relates to low profile stacking connectors for use with printed circuit boards, and particularly to connector arrangements which provide electrical interconnection between parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards.
Various connector arrangements have been provided for interconnecting parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards.
These types of connectors have been referred to as "stacking connectors."
The earlier types of stacking connectors, located be-tween two adjacent printed circuit boards, were comprised of two telescopically interfitting members, with one member mounted on each board. The arrangement, however, required considerable spacing between the printed circuit boards to accommodate .
1~3'78~
the two connector members. As electronic components became miniaturized, a need arose for a low profile printed circuit board connector that allowed closer spacing between adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart interconnected printed circuit boards.
One particular e~ample of a low profile connector is given in United States Patent No. 4,232,923 - Otsuki, et al. Disclosed therein is a low profile connector having a terminal which is elongated in a direction parallel to the printed circuit board and perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the male commoning element. The elongated terminal has a plural-ity of bends which must be formed at close tolerances to accurately define the contact opening of the female connector element w}lich receives the male commoning member. If any of the bends are not accurately formed, contact pres-sure would be greatly affected. Also, this connector, elongated in a direction parallel to the printed circuit board mounting surface, consumes space on the printed circuit board which is becoming increasingly valuable as components are mounted in increasingly higher densities.
Further, while the connector described above is of a low profile design, even closer stacking of adjacent printed circuit boards is required in many applications.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an electrical comlector Eor intorconllacting prin~ed c.ircuil: bonrLIs, wlnicl allows close spacillg l)otwecll prilltc~l circuit l)oaldx.
Anotller object oE the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for interconnecting printed circ~lit boards wll:icll consistcntly pro-vides reLIuired contact pressures and whicllllas a unitary termin.ll member which is inexpensively fabricated form a stamped blank, with a minimuln nulllber of low tolerance forming steps.
~Z3'7~1~
A further object of the present invention is to provide a printed circuit board connector which allows close spacing of printed circuit boards while requiring less mounting space than was heretofore necessary.
Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the inven-tion, there is provided a printed circuit board assembly including:
at least three parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, each adjacent pair of boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom sur-face of one board and the top surface of the adjacent board; at least two stacking connectors, one between each pair of adjacent printed circuit boards, for electrically interconnecting at least two of said printed circuit boards, each connector having a housing with a pin receiving passageway and a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving passageway and a board engaging portion extending out of the hous-ing for electrical connection to a component securing surface of an adjacent printed circuit board; and pin connector means received within the pin receiving passageway of each connector for elec-trically connecting the connectors to one another; the .tmprovement comprising: the board engaging portlon oE each termlnal having an end extending through the securing surface of the printed cir-cuit board to which it is connected; and the housing of one stacking connector located between one pair of adjacent printed circuit boards including a cavity adapted to accommodate said 1~3~8 1 8 - ~ - 8491-36D
board engaging portion end of an adjacent stacking connector.
In accordance with another broad aspect of the invention there is provided a printed circuit board assembly including: a pair of parallel adjacent spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, said pair of printed circuit boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom surface of one board and top surface of the other, adjacent board; a stacking connector located between said pair of adjacent printed circuit boards for electrically interconnecting said pair of printed circuit boards to a pin connector means, said stacking connector having a housing with two opposed surfaces and a pin receiving passageway and further having a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving pass-ageway and at least two opposed board engaging portions extending out of the opposed surfaces of the housing for electrical connec-tion to a component securing surface of each printed circuit board, respectively; pin connector means electrically associated with a third printed circuit board, being received within the pin receiv-ing passageway for electrical connection to the stacking connector;
said printed circuit boards defining a pin receiving hole formed therein, said pin receiving holes and said stacklng connector pin receiving passageway being aligned in registry; and said pin connector means including a unitary elongated pin connector of sufficient length to be received through all of said pin receiving holes and said pin receiving passageway.
~Z3'7~
- 4a - 8491-36D
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
_ In the drawings, wherein like elements are referenced alike, Figure l is a sectional elevational view of a plurality of printed circuit boards interconnected by various connectors according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first connector according to the present invention for simultaneous mounting to two adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards;
Figures 3 and 4 are elevational views of the terminal member of the connector of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a cross-~ectional view of the connector of Figure 2, shown installed between two printed circuit boards.
This figure is an enlarged detail of a portion of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention which provides "top entry-l mounting of the connector on a printed circuit board;
Figure 7 an enlarged detail of a portion of Figure 1, shows two of the connectors of Figure 6 installed in two adjacent printed circuit boards;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention which prov:Ldes "bottom entry" mounting of the connector to a printed c:Lrcuit board; and ~Z3'7~:~8 Fig. 9, an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 1, shows the connector of Fig. 8 installed in a printed circuit Doard.
~2E~.~ DEq~ TF~ ~ E~BDL~
Referring ncw to the drawings, and especially to Fig. 1, an arrangement of several printed circuit boards designatea A, B, C, and D are electrically interconnected using various connectors according to the present invention. As will be explained more fully below, connection is made by inserting a conductive pin-like commoning element througn a series of printed circuit b~aras, so as to engage several of tne connectors of the present invention, which are mounte~ on each of the printed circuit boarGs to be interconnectea. To~, ~ottqm, or ~oth top and bottcm mounting is provided by various embcdiments or the present invention.
Referring now to Fig. 2, connector 10 includes an insulatiny housing 12 and a s~amped integral conductive terminal memDer, designated generally at 14, unted therein. As can be seen in Figs. 2-4, terminal 14 includes a remale portion, designated generally at 16~ and board enga~ing portions 18~20. Housiny 12 has mounting sur~aces 22, 24 an~ a ~lurality of pin-receiving passageways 26. For pur~oses of clarity, only one terminal member 14 is shown installed in housing 12. A pin-like or male commoning element is inserted in connector 10 in the direction of arrcw 30.
If additional terminals are installea in Aousing 12, then additional male commoning elements can be received in each terminal for a separate electrical connection.
lZ37~ 1~
Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the female portion 16 of terminal 1 includes a U-shaped support member, designated generally at 34, having a central portion 36 and two leg portions 38, 40. A struck-out finger member 42 is joined at a first end 44 to central portion 36, and has a contact camming surface 46 at its free end 48. As can be seen in Figure 2, finger member 42 is partially surrounded by support member 34, and is struck out therefrom in the direction of arrow 30~ i.e. the direction of insertion of the commoning element. Housing 12 includes a shoulder 50 which engages central support por-tion 36 so as to retain terminal 1~ in housing 12. Tangs 52, located adjacent leg portions 38, 40, also engage shoulder 50 to aid in terminal retention.
An interconnecting member 54 interconnects leg portion 38 of female portion 16 and board engaging members 18, 20. Barb-like projections 58, 60, formed adjacent the board-engaging members, engage the sidewalls 62 of a cavity 64 formed in housing 12, to further aid in retaining terminal 14 in positioll.
If needed for still additional retention, a second support member, designated generally at 66, integrally formed with terminal 14, can be pro-vided. The second support 66 is U-shaped, being substantially identical in appearance to support member 34, but for the omission of a finger like contact member. The second support 66 may be dimensioned so as to be frictionally engaged within second support cavity 68, or may engage a second, optional, should 69. As can be seen i.n Pi.gure 3, the socond support 66 :ix joinc~l ~o the re~nainder of tormi.~ througl~ torconllcctillg me~ or 5~1.
I~oforring nol~ to ~;igllre 5, connoctor 10 doscribcd above providcs both top and bottom mounting for attaclm~ent to two parallel closed-spaced printed circuit boards designated by thc lettors ~ and B. The cross-sectional view of Figure 5 s]~ows the installed connector 10 of Figure 1 in greater dctail.
123'7~ ~
Connector 10 provides both top and bottom entry of its board engaging members into the printed circuit boards, for solder or the like electric~l engagement therewith. In Figure 5, surface 70A is understood to be a component mounting side of printed circuit board A, and the opposite surface is the remote, or com-ponent securement side of that board to which the components are affixed by soldering or the like. Similarly, surface 70B is a component mounting side of printed circuit board B~ with the components being affixed to the opposing component securement surface. In Figure 5, the end of board engaging member 20 is soldered to the remote surface of printed circuit board A, and the ends of board engaging portion 18 is likewise soldered to the remote surface of printed circuit board B. As can be seen, board engaging members 18,20 extend out of board mounting surfaces 24, 22, of housing 12, respectively. After in-stallation of connector 10 and printed circuit boards A and B, a pin-like commoning element 72 is inserted in apertures 74, 76 of printed circuit boards A and B respectively. Insertion of pin 72 deflects finger contact 42, thereby establishing electrical contact with connector 10. Pin 72 is held in an engagement with connector 10, between the camming surface 46 of finger 42 and an adjacent side wall of housing 12. The stocking connector of this arrangement will typically provide electrical connection of a third printed circuit board, such as shown in Figure 1. I-lowever, connector 10 Call also provide electrlcnl connection to another type of extornnl e:lrcuit mombor, V:l;l COIlllOCt:Or ~'i,ll 72.
One example o~ tllis latter nlr~ gonlollt is ~oul~-l wlloro dlscrolo wlro :is conllect-ed between pin 72 and anotller printed Cil`CU:i~ portion wllicll nlay or mny not include a printed circuit board.
'rhe rcmaining two embodiments of the conllector of the present invention are substantially identical to connect.or 10, except Eor the omission 1~3'7l3 ~l~
of either board engaging member 1~ or 20. For cxample, if the second boards engaging member 20 is removed from the arrangemcnt of Eigure 2 by cutting at dotted line 92, the conncctor 10 of Figure 2 bccomcs a "top entry" connector 210 shown in Figure 6. Only mounting surface 24 will be employed in this embodiment for engagement with a printed circuit board. Except for the omission of board engaging member 20, connector 210 is identical to connector 10 described above.
Figure 7 shows two connectors 210 in a stacked, adjacent arrange-ment which interconnects printed circuit boards C and D. The heretofore unknown close spacing between adjacent printed circuit boards C and D is made possible by the "top entry" connector 210 of the present invention. As can be seen most 123'78il~
,-~3 ,~ _ 9 _ clearly in Fig. 6, a cavity ~4, locatea adjacent board engaging member 18, and communicating with housiny surrace 24, is provioed in housiny 12 for receiving an end of a board engaging memDer of another connector arrangement, such as another connector 210.
Cross member 54 is located Lmmediately adjacent board mounting surface 24, and board engaging member 18 is arranged to one side of interconnecting mem~er 54 so as not to extend into cavity 64.
Only tr.e optional ~arD-like retaining projections 58, 60 are contained in cavity 64, and only at a lower most portion tnereof.
muS~ witn reference to Fiy. 7, the upper connector 210 can be locatea directly over lower connector 210, with the portion of tne upper boara engaging member extenaing below printed circuit b~ara C, being nested within cavity 64 of the lower connector 210. As can be seen with rererence to Fi~. 7, pinrlike commoning element 84 is inserted tnrouyh apertures 86B~ 86C, an~ 86D, so as to be received within up~er and lower connectors 210. As explaine~
above with reference to Fig. 5, pin 84 is hela captive between the spring-like finger contact 42 of each connector 210, ana tne aujacent side wall or each respective connector housins.
Re~erring now to Fig. 8, a "bottom entry" connector 310 is shcwn in Ferspective. If the Lirst bc~r~ engayiny member 18 of the connector o~ Fig. 2 is removea by cuttiny at aotteo line 94, the connector 310 will be realized. Connector 310 is in all otner respects iaentical to connector 10~ which was ex~lained above wit~
reference to Figs. 2-~. Referring to Fig. 9, a aetailea 1~37~
_ ~3 `~ -- 10 --enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1, connector 310 is mounted to the underside surface 83a of printed circuit board A. A free ena of board engaging member 20, which extends out of ~oard mounting surface 22, is secured to the op~osite side 83b of printed circuit board A by solder or the like connection means. As explainea aoove with reference to connectors 10 and 210, connector 310 retains a pin like commoning element 84 between the spring-like finger contact 42 ana the adjacent side wall 80 of connector housing 12.
In any event, tne mounting surface oî the connector of the present invention will be ~ositionea aajacent the component side of a printea circuit boara, with ~he board engagins member protruding through tne opposite side of the printed circuit board so as to be soldered or otherwise secured thereto. The pinr receiving passageways or the connectors to be electrically interconnected must be aligned in registry, so that the con~uctive pin-like com~oning element can engage the respective female contact fingers of each connector. As will be appreciated t~
those skilled in the art, the integral terminal of the ~resent invention need not necessarily be ~tamFed ~rom a flat blank.
However, the terminal of the preferred emboaiment is stampe~ for reasons of economy.
Thus it can be seen that the connector of the ~resent invention provides improved, consistent contact pressure in â
connector Eackage haviny reduced board-to-ooard spaciny and reduced mounting space requirements.
P~GE 10
This application is a divisional of our Canadian patent application Serial No. 488,353 filed August 8, 1985.
The present invention relates to low profile stacking connectors for use with printed circuit boards, and particularly to connector arrangements which provide electrical interconnection between parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards.
Various connector arrangements have been provided for interconnecting parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards.
These types of connectors have been referred to as "stacking connectors."
The earlier types of stacking connectors, located be-tween two adjacent printed circuit boards, were comprised of two telescopically interfitting members, with one member mounted on each board. The arrangement, however, required considerable spacing between the printed circuit boards to accommodate .
1~3'78~
the two connector members. As electronic components became miniaturized, a need arose for a low profile printed circuit board connector that allowed closer spacing between adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart interconnected printed circuit boards.
One particular e~ample of a low profile connector is given in United States Patent No. 4,232,923 - Otsuki, et al. Disclosed therein is a low profile connector having a terminal which is elongated in a direction parallel to the printed circuit board and perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the male commoning element. The elongated terminal has a plural-ity of bends which must be formed at close tolerances to accurately define the contact opening of the female connector element w}lich receives the male commoning member. If any of the bends are not accurately formed, contact pres-sure would be greatly affected. Also, this connector, elongated in a direction parallel to the printed circuit board mounting surface, consumes space on the printed circuit board which is becoming increasingly valuable as components are mounted in increasingly higher densities.
Further, while the connector described above is of a low profile design, even closer stacking of adjacent printed circuit boards is required in many applications.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an electrical comlector Eor intorconllacting prin~ed c.ircuil: bonrLIs, wlnicl allows close spacillg l)otwecll prilltc~l circuit l)oaldx.
Anotller object oE the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for interconnecting printed circ~lit boards wll:icll consistcntly pro-vides reLIuired contact pressures and whicllllas a unitary termin.ll member which is inexpensively fabricated form a stamped blank, with a minimuln nulllber of low tolerance forming steps.
~Z3'7~1~
A further object of the present invention is to provide a printed circuit board connector which allows close spacing of printed circuit boards while requiring less mounting space than was heretofore necessary.
Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the inven-tion, there is provided a printed circuit board assembly including:
at least three parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, each adjacent pair of boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom sur-face of one board and the top surface of the adjacent board; at least two stacking connectors, one between each pair of adjacent printed circuit boards, for electrically interconnecting at least two of said printed circuit boards, each connector having a housing with a pin receiving passageway and a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving passageway and a board engaging portion extending out of the hous-ing for electrical connection to a component securing surface of an adjacent printed circuit board; and pin connector means received within the pin receiving passageway of each connector for elec-trically connecting the connectors to one another; the .tmprovement comprising: the board engaging portlon oE each termlnal having an end extending through the securing surface of the printed cir-cuit board to which it is connected; and the housing of one stacking connector located between one pair of adjacent printed circuit boards including a cavity adapted to accommodate said 1~3~8 1 8 - ~ - 8491-36D
board engaging portion end of an adjacent stacking connector.
In accordance with another broad aspect of the invention there is provided a printed circuit board assembly including: a pair of parallel adjacent spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, said pair of printed circuit boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom surface of one board and top surface of the other, adjacent board; a stacking connector located between said pair of adjacent printed circuit boards for electrically interconnecting said pair of printed circuit boards to a pin connector means, said stacking connector having a housing with two opposed surfaces and a pin receiving passageway and further having a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving pass-ageway and at least two opposed board engaging portions extending out of the opposed surfaces of the housing for electrical connec-tion to a component securing surface of each printed circuit board, respectively; pin connector means electrically associated with a third printed circuit board, being received within the pin receiv-ing passageway for electrical connection to the stacking connector;
said printed circuit boards defining a pin receiving hole formed therein, said pin receiving holes and said stacklng connector pin receiving passageway being aligned in registry; and said pin connector means including a unitary elongated pin connector of sufficient length to be received through all of said pin receiving holes and said pin receiving passageway.
~Z3'7~
- 4a - 8491-36D
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
_ In the drawings, wherein like elements are referenced alike, Figure l is a sectional elevational view of a plurality of printed circuit boards interconnected by various connectors according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first connector according to the present invention for simultaneous mounting to two adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards;
Figures 3 and 4 are elevational views of the terminal member of the connector of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a cross-~ectional view of the connector of Figure 2, shown installed between two printed circuit boards.
This figure is an enlarged detail of a portion of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention which provides "top entry-l mounting of the connector on a printed circuit board;
Figure 7 an enlarged detail of a portion of Figure 1, shows two of the connectors of Figure 6 installed in two adjacent printed circuit boards;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention which prov:Ldes "bottom entry" mounting of the connector to a printed c:Lrcuit board; and ~Z3'7~:~8 Fig. 9, an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 1, shows the connector of Fig. 8 installed in a printed circuit Doard.
~2E~.~ DEq~ TF~ ~ E~BDL~
Referring ncw to the drawings, and especially to Fig. 1, an arrangement of several printed circuit boards designatea A, B, C, and D are electrically interconnected using various connectors according to the present invention. As will be explained more fully below, connection is made by inserting a conductive pin-like commoning element througn a series of printed circuit b~aras, so as to engage several of tne connectors of the present invention, which are mounte~ on each of the printed circuit boarGs to be interconnectea. To~, ~ottqm, or ~oth top and bottcm mounting is provided by various embcdiments or the present invention.
Referring now to Fig. 2, connector 10 includes an insulatiny housing 12 and a s~amped integral conductive terminal memDer, designated generally at 14, unted therein. As can be seen in Figs. 2-4, terminal 14 includes a remale portion, designated generally at 16~ and board enga~ing portions 18~20. Housiny 12 has mounting sur~aces 22, 24 an~ a ~lurality of pin-receiving passageways 26. For pur~oses of clarity, only one terminal member 14 is shown installed in housing 12. A pin-like or male commoning element is inserted in connector 10 in the direction of arrcw 30.
If additional terminals are installea in Aousing 12, then additional male commoning elements can be received in each terminal for a separate electrical connection.
lZ37~ 1~
Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the female portion 16 of terminal 1 includes a U-shaped support member, designated generally at 34, having a central portion 36 and two leg portions 38, 40. A struck-out finger member 42 is joined at a first end 44 to central portion 36, and has a contact camming surface 46 at its free end 48. As can be seen in Figure 2, finger member 42 is partially surrounded by support member 34, and is struck out therefrom in the direction of arrow 30~ i.e. the direction of insertion of the commoning element. Housing 12 includes a shoulder 50 which engages central support por-tion 36 so as to retain terminal 1~ in housing 12. Tangs 52, located adjacent leg portions 38, 40, also engage shoulder 50 to aid in terminal retention.
An interconnecting member 54 interconnects leg portion 38 of female portion 16 and board engaging members 18, 20. Barb-like projections 58, 60, formed adjacent the board-engaging members, engage the sidewalls 62 of a cavity 64 formed in housing 12, to further aid in retaining terminal 14 in positioll.
If needed for still additional retention, a second support member, designated generally at 66, integrally formed with terminal 14, can be pro-vided. The second support 66 is U-shaped, being substantially identical in appearance to support member 34, but for the omission of a finger like contact member. The second support 66 may be dimensioned so as to be frictionally engaged within second support cavity 68, or may engage a second, optional, should 69. As can be seen i.n Pi.gure 3, the socond support 66 :ix joinc~l ~o the re~nainder of tormi.~ througl~ torconllcctillg me~ or 5~1.
I~oforring nol~ to ~;igllre 5, connoctor 10 doscribcd above providcs both top and bottom mounting for attaclm~ent to two parallel closed-spaced printed circuit boards designated by thc lettors ~ and B. The cross-sectional view of Figure 5 s]~ows the installed connector 10 of Figure 1 in greater dctail.
123'7~ ~
Connector 10 provides both top and bottom entry of its board engaging members into the printed circuit boards, for solder or the like electric~l engagement therewith. In Figure 5, surface 70A is understood to be a component mounting side of printed circuit board A, and the opposite surface is the remote, or com-ponent securement side of that board to which the components are affixed by soldering or the like. Similarly, surface 70B is a component mounting side of printed circuit board B~ with the components being affixed to the opposing component securement surface. In Figure 5, the end of board engaging member 20 is soldered to the remote surface of printed circuit board A, and the ends of board engaging portion 18 is likewise soldered to the remote surface of printed circuit board B. As can be seen, board engaging members 18,20 extend out of board mounting surfaces 24, 22, of housing 12, respectively. After in-stallation of connector 10 and printed circuit boards A and B, a pin-like commoning element 72 is inserted in apertures 74, 76 of printed circuit boards A and B respectively. Insertion of pin 72 deflects finger contact 42, thereby establishing electrical contact with connector 10. Pin 72 is held in an engagement with connector 10, between the camming surface 46 of finger 42 and an adjacent side wall of housing 12. The stocking connector of this arrangement will typically provide electrical connection of a third printed circuit board, such as shown in Figure 1. I-lowever, connector 10 Call also provide electrlcnl connection to another type of extornnl e:lrcuit mombor, V:l;l COIlllOCt:Or ~'i,ll 72.
One example o~ tllis latter nlr~ gonlollt is ~oul~-l wlloro dlscrolo wlro :is conllect-ed between pin 72 and anotller printed Cil`CU:i~ portion wllicll nlay or mny not include a printed circuit board.
'rhe rcmaining two embodiments of the conllector of the present invention are substantially identical to connect.or 10, except Eor the omission 1~3'7l3 ~l~
of either board engaging member 1~ or 20. For cxample, if the second boards engaging member 20 is removed from the arrangemcnt of Eigure 2 by cutting at dotted line 92, the conncctor 10 of Figure 2 bccomcs a "top entry" connector 210 shown in Figure 6. Only mounting surface 24 will be employed in this embodiment for engagement with a printed circuit board. Except for the omission of board engaging member 20, connector 210 is identical to connector 10 described above.
Figure 7 shows two connectors 210 in a stacked, adjacent arrange-ment which interconnects printed circuit boards C and D. The heretofore unknown close spacing between adjacent printed circuit boards C and D is made possible by the "top entry" connector 210 of the present invention. As can be seen most 123'78il~
,-~3 ,~ _ 9 _ clearly in Fig. 6, a cavity ~4, locatea adjacent board engaging member 18, and communicating with housiny surrace 24, is provioed in housiny 12 for receiving an end of a board engaging memDer of another connector arrangement, such as another connector 210.
Cross member 54 is located Lmmediately adjacent board mounting surface 24, and board engaging member 18 is arranged to one side of interconnecting mem~er 54 so as not to extend into cavity 64.
Only tr.e optional ~arD-like retaining projections 58, 60 are contained in cavity 64, and only at a lower most portion tnereof.
muS~ witn reference to Fiy. 7, the upper connector 210 can be locatea directly over lower connector 210, with the portion of tne upper boara engaging member extenaing below printed circuit b~ara C, being nested within cavity 64 of the lower connector 210. As can be seen with rererence to Fi~. 7, pinrlike commoning element 84 is inserted tnrouyh apertures 86B~ 86C, an~ 86D, so as to be received within up~er and lower connectors 210. As explaine~
above with reference to Fig. 5, pin 84 is hela captive between the spring-like finger contact 42 of each connector 210, ana tne aujacent side wall or each respective connector housins.
Re~erring now to Fig. 8, a "bottom entry" connector 310 is shcwn in Ferspective. If the Lirst bc~r~ engayiny member 18 of the connector o~ Fig. 2 is removea by cuttiny at aotteo line 94, the connector 310 will be realized. Connector 310 is in all otner respects iaentical to connector 10~ which was ex~lained above wit~
reference to Figs. 2-~. Referring to Fig. 9, a aetailea 1~37~
_ ~3 `~ -- 10 --enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1, connector 310 is mounted to the underside surface 83a of printed circuit board A. A free ena of board engaging member 20, which extends out of ~oard mounting surface 22, is secured to the op~osite side 83b of printed circuit board A by solder or the like connection means. As explainea aoove with reference to connectors 10 and 210, connector 310 retains a pin like commoning element 84 between the spring-like finger contact 42 ana the adjacent side wall 80 of connector housing 12.
In any event, tne mounting surface oî the connector of the present invention will be ~ositionea aajacent the component side of a printea circuit boara, with ~he board engagins member protruding through tne opposite side of the printed circuit board so as to be soldered or otherwise secured thereto. The pinr receiving passageways or the connectors to be electrically interconnected must be aligned in registry, so that the con~uctive pin-like com~oning element can engage the respective female contact fingers of each connector. As will be appreciated t~
those skilled in the art, the integral terminal of the ~resent invention need not necessarily be ~tamFed ~rom a flat blank.
However, the terminal of the preferred emboaiment is stampe~ for reasons of economy.
Thus it can be seen that the connector of the ~resent invention provides improved, consistent contact pressure in â
connector Eackage haviny reduced board-to-ooard spaciny and reduced mounting space requirements.
P~GE 10
Claims (11)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A printed circuit board assembly including:
at least three parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, each adjacent pair of boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom surface of one board and the top surface of the adjacent board;
at least two stacking connectors, one between each pair of adjacent printed circuit boards, for electrically interconnect-ing at least two of said printed circuit boards, each connector having a housing with a pin receiving passageway and a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving passageway and a board engaging portion extending out of the housing for electrical connection to a component securing surface of an adjacent printed circuit board; and pin connector means received within the pin receiving passageway of each connector for electrically connecting the con-nectors to one another;
the improvement comprising:
the board engaging portion of each terminal having an end extending through the securing surface of the printed circuit board to which it is connected; and the housing of one stacking connector located between one pair of adjacent printed circuit boards including a cavity adapted to accommodate said board engaging portion end of an ad-jacent stacking connector.
at least three parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, each adjacent pair of boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom surface of one board and the top surface of the adjacent board;
at least two stacking connectors, one between each pair of adjacent printed circuit boards, for electrically interconnect-ing at least two of said printed circuit boards, each connector having a housing with a pin receiving passageway and a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving passageway and a board engaging portion extending out of the housing for electrical connection to a component securing surface of an adjacent printed circuit board; and pin connector means received within the pin receiving passageway of each connector for electrically connecting the con-nectors to one another;
the improvement comprising:
the board engaging portion of each terminal having an end extending through the securing surface of the printed circuit board to which it is connected; and the housing of one stacking connector located between one pair of adjacent printed circuit boards including a cavity adapted to accommodate said board engaging portion end of an ad-jacent stacking connector.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said printed circuit boards define pin receiving holes formed therein, said pin receiv-ing holes and said pin receiving passageways being aligned in registry; and said pin connector means includes a unitary elongated pin connector of sufficient length to be received through all of said pin receiving holes and said pin receiving passageways.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the connector terminal comprises an integral stamped terminal and said female terminal portion includes a struck out resilient member which engages said pin connector means.
4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said connector housings each have a pair of opposed surfaces which abut the facing sur-faces of adjacent printed circuit boards.
5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said board engaging portions of said terminals are aligned in registry.
6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein at least one of said connectors further includes another board engaging portion extend-ing out of the housing in a direction opposite to said one board engaging portion for electrical connection to a component securing surface of the other adjacent printed circuit board.
7. The assembly of claim 3 further including means for retaining said terminal in said housing.
8. A printed circuit board assembly including:
a pair of parallel adjacent spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, said pair of printed circuit boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom surface of one board and top surface of the other, adjacent board;
a stacking connector located between said pair of ad-jacent printed circuit boards for electrically interconnecting said pair of printed circuit boards to a pin connector means, said stacking connector having a housing with two opposed surfaces and a pin receiving passageway and further having a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving passageway and at least two opposed board engaging portions ex-tending out of the opposed surfaces of the housing for electrical connection to a component securing surface of each printed circuit board, respectively;
pin connector means electrically associated with a third printed circuit board, being received within the pin receiving passageway for electrical connection to the stacking connector;
said printed circuit boards defining a pin receiving hole formed therein, said pin receiving holes and said stacking connector pin receiving passageway being aligned in registry; and said pin connector means including a unitary elongated pin connector of sufficient length to be received through all of said pin receiving holes and said pin receiving passageway.
a pair of parallel adjacent spaced-apart printed circuit boards, each board having opposed top and bottom surfaces, with at least one surface defining a component securing surface, said pair of printed circuit boards having facing surfaces defined by the bottom surface of one board and top surface of the other, adjacent board;
a stacking connector located between said pair of ad-jacent printed circuit boards for electrically interconnecting said pair of printed circuit boards to a pin connector means, said stacking connector having a housing with two opposed surfaces and a pin receiving passageway and further having a terminal mounted in said housing with a female portion mounted in the pin receiving passageway and at least two opposed board engaging portions ex-tending out of the opposed surfaces of the housing for electrical connection to a component securing surface of each printed circuit board, respectively;
pin connector means electrically associated with a third printed circuit board, being received within the pin receiving passageway for electrical connection to the stacking connector;
said printed circuit boards defining a pin receiving hole formed therein, said pin receiving holes and said stacking connector pin receiving passageway being aligned in registry; and said pin connector means including a unitary elongated pin connector of sufficient length to be received through all of said pin receiving holes and said pin receiving passageway.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the connector housing opposed surfaces abut the facing surfaces of the pair of printed circuit boards.
10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the connector terminal comprises an integral stamped terminal and said female terminal portion includes a struck out resilient finger member which engages said pin connector.
11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said pin connector is electrically associated with a third printed circuit board which is parallel to, and spaced-apart from, said pair of printed circuit boards.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000544154A CA1237818A (en) | 1984-08-11 | 1987-08-10 | Low profile stacking connector for printed circuit boards |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB848420472A GB8420472D0 (en) | 1984-08-11 | 1984-08-11 | Stacking connectors |
| GB8420472 | 1984-08-11 | ||
| CA000488353A CA1229178A (en) | 1984-08-11 | 1985-08-08 | Low profile stacking connector for printed circuit boards |
| CA000544154A CA1237818A (en) | 1984-08-11 | 1987-08-10 | Low profile stacking connector for printed circuit boards |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000488353A Division CA1229178A (en) | 1984-08-11 | 1985-08-08 | Low profile stacking connector for printed circuit boards |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1237818A true CA1237818A (en) | 1988-06-07 |
Family
ID=25670764
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000544154A Expired CA1237818A (en) | 1984-08-11 | 1987-08-10 | Low profile stacking connector for printed circuit boards |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1237818A (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-08-10 CA CA000544154A patent/CA1237818A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |