DE202015106605U1 - Pin header and connector with a pin header - Google Patents

Abstract

A pin header (10) for a connector having a plurality of contact pins (15, 16) spaced apart in at least one row within a contact carrier (11), characterized in that a first and a second group of contact pins (15 , 16) is provided, wherein the contact pins (15) of the first group on a contact side of the pin strip (10) further protrude from the contact carrier (11) than the contact pins (16) of the second group.

Description

The invention relates to a pin header for a connector having a plurality of contact pins spaced from each other in at least one row within a contact carrier. The invention further relates to a connector with such a pin header.

Pin headers are often used in printed circuit board connectors. In the direction of the circuit boards from the contact carrier excellent contact pins are guided by the circuit boards and soldered to the underside. The contact pins protrude upward from the contact carrier, so that a female connector with female contacts can be placed as a mating connector for contacting.

The female connector may be soldered to the opposite side of the female contacts side in turn into a circuit board, if two printed circuit boards are connected to each other via the connector. In alternative embodiments, the female connector may have cutting contacts for contacting a ribbon cable. Furthermore, for example, from the document US 6,146,181 A an embodiment of the female connector known as a screw contact block, in which the socket contacts are connected to screw contacts or are integrated in this, wherein a cable connection via the screw contacts.

The contact pins of such a pin header may be arranged in one or more parallel rows. In particular, if a larger number of pins in one or more rows is present, plugging a female connector to the pin header may require high insertion forces. In a manual placement of the female connector to the header there is a risk to bend by uncontrolled application of force, the pins of the pin header.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pin header and a connector with such a pin header, where at the same contact forces a lower insertion force is required for attaching the female connector to the pin header.

This object is achieved by a pin header or a connector with the respective features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A pin strip according to the invention of the type mentioned above is characterized in that a first and a second group of the contact pins is provided, wherein the contact pins of the first group on a contact side of the pin strip further protrude from the contact carrier than the contact pins of the second group.

By on the contact side, so the side on which a corresponding female connector is placed, different far projecting pins contact when placing the female connector strip first, the longer contact pins of the first group, the female contacts of the female connector. Accordingly, these socket contacts are first widened by the contact pins of the first group on further plugging the socket strip. The necessary forces are lower than in prior art pin headers, in which all the pins protrude the same distance, causing all socket contacts must be expanded simultaneously.

Upon further attachment of the pin header according to the invention, the contact pins of the second group then come into engagement with the respective socket contacts and widen them, while the contact pins of the first group can penetrate further into the corresponding socket contacts without requiring much force. The distance over which the increased insertion forces are applied when expanding the socket contacts is thereby prolonged, however, the maximum necessary insertion force is reduced, whereby the risk of damage is reduced by high, poorly controlled insertion forces.

In an advantageous embodiment of the pin header contact pins of the first and second groups are arranged alternately within the at least one row. In this way, the required insertion forces distribute as evenly as possible over the length of the pin header.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the pin header, at least two preferably parallel rows of contact pins are provided. In this case, both contact pins of the first, as well as the second group are present in each of the rows. In this way, as much as possible large insertion forces are achieved for the various rows of pin headers, so that the occurrence of a tilting moment when plugging the pin header is prevented.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the pin header, the contact pins have at their free end a portion with obliquely extending side surfaces. The first group of contact pins protrudes by a length relative to the contact pins of the second group, which corresponds at least to the length of the section with the oblique side surfaces. The tapered pins at the end facilitate the expansion of the Socket contacts. Characterized in that the lengths of the different pins differ by at least the length of the tapered portion, it is achieved that the socket contacts associated with the contact pins of the second group are only expanded when the socket contacts, the contact pins of the first group is already substantially fully expanded.

An inventive connector has such a pin header and a female connector as a mating connector. This results in the advantages mentioned in connection with the pin header.

In an advantageous embodiment of the connector, the female connector socket contacts with at least two contact tongues, wherein stops are provided which limit a spring movement of the contact tongues. In this way, an excessive bending of the socket contact, for example, by an oblique placement on a pin header can be prevented. Excessive bending of a female contact can lead to plastic deformation of contact tongues of the female contact and thus subsequently to a reduction of the contact forces.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the connector, the female connector is formed as a contact block having screw contacts for connection to connecting cables, wherein the screw contacts are connected to female contacts of the female connector.

The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with reference to figures. The figures show:

1 an isometric view of a connector with pin header and socket connector in a non-mated condition;

2 the connector off 1 in a mated condition;

3 an isometric exploded view of the female connector according to 1 and 2 ; and

4 a contact insert of the socket strip according to 3 in two different representations:

1 shows in a schematic isometric view of a connector with a pin header 10 and a female connector 20 in a non-mated condition. 2 shows the connector in a mated condition.

The pin header 10 includes a contact carrier 11 , which is preferably manufactured in one piece from a plastic in an injection molding process. In the present case, the contact carrier 11 U-shaped, with the upstanding legs of the U-shaped contact carrier 11 are executed differently long. The U-shaped configuration of the contact carrier 11 serves to guide the socket strip 20 when plugging in and also prevents that on the socket strip 20 acting forces of contact pins 15 . 16 the pin header 10 or from female contacts of the female header 20 must be included.

At a bottom of the contact carrier 11 are webs 12 formed, with which the contact carrier 11 for example, can be placed on the surface of a circuit board.

In the in 1 front leg of the contact carrier 11 is a positioning notch 13 arranged, the correct positioning of the patch female connector 20 serves. At the socket strip 20 is a head start for this purpose 23 formed in the assembled state of the connector in the positioning notch 13 intervenes. At the rear leg of the contact carrier 11 is a catch 14 provided behind a housing projection 24 the socket strip 20 engages and accidentally releasing the socket strip 20 from the pin header 10 prevented.

The pin header 10 has the contact pins in the illustrated embodiment 15 . 16 on, which are spaced apart in this case arranged in a row. The contact pins 15 . 16 are preferred by the material of the contact carrier 11 overmolded and in this way in the contact carrier 11 attached. In the 1 not visible is that the contact pins 15 . 16 down over the footbridges 12 protrude so that they can penetrate a circuit board through corresponding holes and can be soldered to tracks of the circuit board.

Upwards, ie in the direction of the female header to be plugged on 20 , the pins protrude 15 . 16 free with a contact portion of the contact carrier 11 out. According to the application are two different groups of pins 15 . 16 provided: Next from the contact carrier 11 outstanding contact pins 15 and less far from the contact carrier 11 outstanding contact pins 16 , For ease of illustration, the contact pins 15 the first group below as long contact pins 15 and the contact pins 16 the second group as short contact pins 16 designated.

In the in the 1 and 2 illustrated embodiment alternate for a long time contact pins 15 and short pins 16 within the row of contact pins 15 . 16 from. This ensures that over the length of the pin header 10 that is, in a direction along the row of contact pins 15 . 16 , as even as possible insertion forces act. As an alternative to the illustrated embodiment, the contact pins 15 . 16 be arranged in several, then preferably parallel rows. In the case is advantageous, long contact pins 15 as well as short pins 16 to provide within each of the rows to achieve as even as possible insertion forces in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the rows, which is an occurrence of the overturning moment when plugging the female connector 20 prevent.

As in 1 it can be seen, are the contact pins 15 . 16 Beveled at its upper free end so that they taper slightly. This form facilitates the insertion of the contact pins 15 . 16 in the corresponding socket contacts. The difference in the length of the contact carrier 11 outstanding contact portions of the contact pins 15 . 16 is preferably at least as long as the length of the tapered portion of the contact pins 15 . 16 , This ensures that the longer contact pins 15 associated socket contacts are already fully expanded when the shorter pins 16 expand their associated socket contacts. In this way, those for plugging the socket strip 20 on the pin header 10 necessary plug-in forces best possible distributed over the entire insertion path.

In the illustrated embodiment, two groups of different length contact pins 15 . 16 educated. It is possible in alternative embodiments to use more than these two groups, for example three groups of pins each having different lengths.

The in the 1 and 2 illustrated socket strip 20 is formed in this embodiment as a contact block with screw contacts. In the female connector in these figures invisible female contacts are formed, which the contact pins 15 . 16 are assigned and each with one of these pins 15 . 16 contact if the female header 20 on the pin header 10 is attached. Each socket contact is connected to a screw contact to connect a connection cable to the corresponding socket contact.

The number of seven pins shown in this example 15 . 16 and accordingly seven socket contacts is purely exemplary. The application according pin header 10 may be more or less than the illustrated seven pins. The achieved reduction of the insertion force is particularly advantageous in headers with a large number of pins.

The socket strip 20 has a two-part housing, which consists of a housing body 21 and a front of this patch housing cover 22 consists. In the front housing cover openings for insertion of the said connection cables are present. In the housing body 21 Each of the openings is assigned a compartment 25 (see. 3 ), which forms a contact insert described in more detail below 30 (see. 3 and 4 ). At an upper side of the case body 21 are openings for screws 35 of the contact insert 30 provided with which the connection cables in the corresponding contact inserts 30 can be screwed.

3 shows the socket strip 20 according to the 1 and 2 in an exploded view. In this illustration, the arrangement of the contact inserts 30 within the socket strip 20 visible, noticeable. The individual contact inserts 30 each have a contact cage 31 on, preferably a one-piece injection molded part, in the above from the above-mentioned screw 35 is screwed in.

From the front housing cover 22 the socket strip 20 opposite side is as the actual contact material, a three-dimensionally shaped contact plate 32 in the contact cage 31 plugged in. The contact sheet 32 is preferably manufactured in one piece in a stamping and bending process. At the contact plate 32 is pointing down the socket contact 27 educated. At the top of a contact tab protrudes 34 in the contact cage 31 into it. Against this contact lug 34 the contact cage 31 by means of the screw 35 pulled, with an inserted connecting wire between this contact cage 31 and the contact tab 34 is trapped and thus on the contact tab 34 the socket contact 33 contacted.

4 shows the contact insert 30 with inserted contact plate 33 in more detail in two different representations, left isometric and right in a plan view of the socket contact 33 ,

In the 4 is in particular the design of the socket contact 33 to recognize with two mutually bent contact tongues. Made of the material of the contact sheet 32 are also attacks 36 formed. The attacks 36 are laterally next to the contact tongues of the socket contact 33 positioned, causing an expansion of the socket contact 33 limit. The contact tongues of the socket contact 33 thus can not have a certain predetermined gap between the respective stop 36 and the respective contact tongue are moved outwards. This prevents that obliquely inserted contact pins 15 . 16 the contact tongues of the socket contact 33 so far can bend that they are plastically deformed and subsequently a lower contact force on inserted pins 15 . 16 muster.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

pin header

11

contact support

12

web

13

positioning notch

14

locking lug

15

Contact pin (short)

16

Contact pin (long)

20

receptacle

21

housing body

22

housing front

23

head Start

24

housing shoulder

30

contact insert

31

contact cage

32

contact sheet

33

female contact

34

Contact tab

35

screw

36

attack

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 6146181 A [0003]

Claims (9)

Pin header ( 10 ) for a connector having a plurality of contact pins ( 15 . 16 ) spaced apart in at least one row within a contact carrier ( 11 ), characterized in that a first and a second group of the contact pins ( 15 . 16 ) is provided, wherein the contact pins ( 15 ) of the first group on a contact side of the pin header ( 10 ) further from the contact carrier ( 11 ) protrude than the contact pins ( 16 ) of the second group. Pin header ( 10 ) according to claim 1, wherein the contact pins ( 15 . 16 ) of the first and second groups are arranged alternately within the at least one row. Pin header ( 10 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two rows of contact pins ( 15 . 16 ) are provided, wherein in each of the rows both pins ( 15 ) of the first group, as well as contact pins ( 16 ) of the second group are present. Pin header ( 10 ) according to claim 3, wherein the at least two rows are parallel. Pin header ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the contact pins ( 15 . 16 ) have at their free end a portion with inclined side surfaces. Pin header ( 10 ) according to claim 5, wherein the first group of contact pins ( 15 ) by a length opposite the contact pins ( 16 ) of the second group, which corresponds at least to the length of the section with the oblique side surfaces. Connector with a pin header ( 10 ) and a female header ( 29 ), characterized in that the pin header ( 10 ) is formed according to one of claims 1 to 6. Connector according to claim 7, wherein the female connector ( 20 ) Socket contacts ( 33 ) having at least two contact tongues, whereby stops ( 36 ) are provided which limit a spring movement of the contact tongues. Connector according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the female connector ( 20 ) is formed as a contact block having screw contacts for connection to connection cables.

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