EP0682387B1 - Header assembly for connection to a complementary connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a base of connection of the type comprising an insulating block front, elbow electrical contact elements having front contact regions housed in openings in the front insulating block, as well as elbow regions and terminations rear contact, a rear insulating block, said insulating block having a central region and two side branches, and a metal casing before shielding and connection with a connector or plug complementary.

In what follows, all the so-called 'rear' elements are found in contact with the PC printed circuit board. All the so-called 'front' elements are mounted there in the direction of the front connection face.

This type of base is intended to be fixed on a flat support, and more particularly on a plate printed circuit board. Contact terminations rear are then Forcibly inserted into holes made in said brochure.

When forcefully inserting terminations, it various constraints are exerted, in the first place on the terminations, but also on the rear insulating block and finally on the front insulating block.

These undesirable constraints can be translated on the one hand, by the separation of the front insulating blocks and rear, and on the other hand, by the deformation of contacts, if they are poorly supported and / or guided as a result of said separation. There is, in particular, a risk deformation of the tail of the contact during the operation insertion and from there a bad connection.

Different connector bases of the type above are known.

French patent FR-B-2 684 810 (SOURIAU ET CIE S.A.) describes a connector in which we use a rear insulator comprising grooves defining upper, rear and side support faces for contact queues. This insulation is snapped with vertical clearance in the grooves carried by the front insulation.

Contacts are forcibly pre-inserted or overmolded in the contact support insulator (i.e. the insulator front), then arched, the positioning of the insulation rear being the last operation performed on contact before delivery.

However, there remains a risk of dissociation insulation during the force insertion operation contacts in the printed circuit, the insertion force typically amounting to 10 N per contact.

US-A-4 512 618 (AMP INC.) Describes a connector made of a one-piece insulation in which contacts are maintained. This one-piece insulation supports on its front part a shielding screen extended by at least one contact tab of ground allowing electrical continuity between the connection face to an additional connector and the printed circuit.

However, the problem previously mentioned, linked to the forced insertion of contacts is not resolved. This is not the object that this invention sets itself: the goal being to provide a shielding screen. He ... not not suggest that this shielding can participate in the solution of the problem posed and, in particular that it armor can provide sufficient rigidity to keep the front and rear insulators of the connector during the force insertion operation contacts in the printed circuit.

The invention aims to avoid the drawbacks of known art devices, some of which come to be called back.

To do this, unlike the configurations adopted for the devices of the known art which come to be mentioned, the front case is secured to the rear insulating block, so as to trap the block front insulator, i.e. the contact carrier insulating block.

Preferably, the front housing is secured to the rear insulating block by crimping. This operation, simple to make, neither increases the manufacturing cost, nor the complexity, in notable proportions.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing front is also secured to the insulating block before, in a similar way.

The invention therefore relates to a base of type connection according to claim 1.

• La figure 1 illustre un éclaté d'un exemple de réalisation d'une embase de connexion selon l'invention;
• Les figures 2a et 2b illustrent le montage du boítier avant sur le bloc isolant avant, respectivement en vue de trois-quarts dessus et de trois-quarts dessous;
• Les figures 3a et 3b illustrent le couplage final du boítier avant et du bloc isolant avant sur le bloc isolant arrière, respectivement en vue de trois-quarts dessus et de trois-quarts dessous.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows with reference to the appended figures, and among which:

• Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a connection base according to the invention;
• Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the mounting of the front housing on the front insulating block, respectively for three-quarters above and three-quarters below;
• Figures 3a and 3b illustrate the final coupling of the front housing and the front insulating block on the rear insulating block, respectively in view of three-quarters above and three-quarters below.

Figure 1 shows, in exploded view, an example of realization of a base 1 according to the invention. This base 1 has common parts with art known, and in particular a rear insulating block 2, guide of elbowed electrical contacts 5, an insulating block front 3 contact carriers and a front shielding box 4.

The rear insulating block 2 has a central zone 20 and two wings, 21 and 22. The faces of these wings intended to rest on a printed circuit board (not shown) are referenced 210 and 220. They are shown vertical in the example illustrated.

They are provided with orifices, 2100 and 2200, intended to allow free passage to elements of fixing (not shown) of the base 1, and more precisely of the rear insulating block 2, on said plate printed circuit board. It can conventionally be screws, rivets, etc.

Still in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the "rear" side of the rear insulating block 2 (also vertical) is set back from the "rear" faces, 210 and 220, wings 21 and 22. The rear insulating block 2 is provided, in its central zone 20, with longitudinal grooves, 201 and 202, serving as guides for electrical connection elements 5. More specifies, we slide the bent parts 53 and all or part of the rear terminations, 54 and 54 '. In the example illustrated, it has been assumed, without this being limiting whatever the scope of the invention, that the base included two rows of elements of electrical connection. The grooves 201 and 202 are then alternated, in the sense that they have a first and second depth. We will call, in the following, the row of grooves of lower depth, "top" row and the other row, "lower" row.

In order to simplify the figure, we have shown as two contact elements 5. The configuration double row of contacts requires that rear terminations, 54, of a first series be shorter than the rear terminations, 54 ', of the second series.

Advantageously, the "rear" face 200 of the central zone 20 of the insulating block 2 comprises spacers 203 whose length ℓ is equal to said withdrawal so as to rest on the printed circuit board (not shown). These spacers are arranged between two grooves 201 of the upper row. Their number is generally lower than the number grooves making up this row, in the example illustrated, a spacer is provided for three grooves, except at the ends (one for two).

The electrical connection elements include three main regions: a first linear region 52, comprising contacts 50 at the end, said "front", and a bulged part 51; a bent region 53 and a termination region, 54 or 54 ', called "back". The end of this last region has bulged contact pins 55. These are these regions which are going to be forcefully inserted into holes drilled in a printed circuit board (not shown).

In the example illustrated, the "front" contacts 50 are female type contacts. However, he could just as easily be type contacts male.

The bulged part 51 of said first linear zone advantageously has a flattened shape and substantially rectangular, for the reasons that will be explained below.

The front insulating block 3 comprises a body 30, or "upper" part (in FIG. 1), provided with transverse orifices 300. These orifices are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis Δ1 of the rear insulating block 3 and pierce the body 30 along an axis Δ _H, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Δ1. More specifically, they are arranged in staggered rows, the number of orifices in one of the rows usually being lower than that in the other row. This arrangement is linked to the generally asymmetrical shape of the housing which serves as a polarizing device. Each orifice 300 receives one of the contact elements 5. It is therefore necessary that its dimensions are determined in such a way that it allows free passage to the contacts 50, of substantially circular section (in the example illustrated). By cons, in the area flush with the upper face (in the figure), there are provided cells 3000, of substantially rectangular section. Their dimensions are adapted to the dimensions of the bulged parts 51 of the contact elements 5. This arrangement prevents the latter from rotating in their housing, once inserted.

The "lower" part (in FIG. 1) 31 of the block insulation 3 has a rounded profile and a "lower" face plane 310 on which the ends of the contacts 50 are flush.

Finally, a metal housing is provided before 4 serving as armor. It has a flat support 40 pierced with a central hole 400 in which is threaded the insulating block before 3, or more exactly the " lower 31 of this block. The plane support 40 is extended by a peripheral skirt 41 intended to wrap said "lower" part 31. This skirt 41 is itself pierced with a hole 410 in its bottom, adapted to the dimensions of the flat face 310.

The arrangement which has just been described is in large part common to those presented by devices of known art.

According to the invention, provision is made for to reinforce, on the one hand, the resistance of the insulating blocks front 3 and rear 2 when forcibly inserting terminations, 54-55 or 54'-55, and on the other hand, allowing to avoid the deformation of the elements of contact 5 during this same operation.

To do this, provision is made for hooking notches. or similar organs, on the one hand in the block front insulator 3: notches 301, on the other hand, in the rear insulating block: notches 2210, 2211 and 2110. From more precisely, with regard to the insulating block before 3, these notches are made at the periphery, along the length of the body 30 (in the example illustrated). In the same way, the notches associated with the block rear insulator 2, are made in zones 211 and 221, side wings 21 and 22. It should be understood that, although the only notches 2210, 2211, 2110 and 301 are shown, notches are provided in the corresponding parts insulating blocks 2 and 3 not visible in the figure 1.

It also provides on the front housing 4, also on the periphery, an equal number of tabs or the like. A first series of tabs, 42, is intended, during the assembly of the parts constituting the connection base 1, to be slid in the notches 301 of the front insulating block 3 and a second series of tabs, 43, are intended to be slid into the notches 2210, 2211, 2110. Then, we fix all the constituent parts of the base 1 by crimping, by folding the tabs, 42 and 43, in their respective homes: 301 and 2210.2211.2110.

It is easy to see that the provisions which just described do not entail neither complexity increasing, nor significant additional cost in the process of manufacturing. Only a crimping operation is necessary, this operation is also replacing other similar assembly operations in the case of devices of known art.

To complete the description, we will now describe the main operations in more detail of assembly of the various constituents of the base 1 according to the invention, with reference to the figures 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b. In the following, the elements identical to those already described have the same references and will only be re-described as necessary.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the mounting of the housing front 4 on the front insulating block 3, respectively with a view to three-quarters above and three-quarters below. It was assumed that the operation of inserting contact elements 5, entirely common to art known, is already done. The whole thus constituted, front insulating block 3 and contact elements 5, is threaded in the receptacle that constitutes the front housing 4. Then, fold the tabs 42 into the notches 301. This operation secures the case together.

During a subsequent assembly operation, more particularly illustrated by FIGS. 3a and 3b, we have the rear insulating block 2 above the block front insulator 3, contact elements 5, parts cubits 53 and terminations 54-54 ', slid into their respective housing 201-202 (see Figure 1).

All that remains is to fold the tabs 43 in notches 2210, 2211 and 2110 (the fourth notch not visible in these figures).

Finally, once the complete assembly has been completed, the base 1 according to the invention, will be mounted on a plate PC circuit board, shown in the figure 3b in dotted lines. To do this, the endings 55 of the contact elements 5 are inserted at force in drilled holes (not shown) in the PC printed circuit board, just like the one adopted for the rows of contact elements 5.

Part 210 of wing 21, intended to be placed in contact with the PC printed circuit is also visible in this figure, as well as the hole 2100 drilled in this one.

Base 1 is permanently fixed to the plate PC circuit board using ports 2200 and 2100. Corresponding orifices (not shown) are made in the PC printed circuit board. The fixing is obtained, conventionally, using screws, rivets or the like.

The provisions adopted within the framework of the invention, advantageously allow to integrate in the rear insulating block 2, fixing wings of accessories 221 and 211. These wings are provided with orifices 2201 and 2101, which correspond to orifices, 400 and 401, practiced in the support 40 of the housing before 4. In a variant not illustrated, it is possible to provide these nut holes intended to receive screws associated, for example, with paired connectors at base 1. In the example illustrated, it will be male contact connectors.

It should be clear that the invention is not limited to the only examples of achievements precisely described, especially in relation to Figures 1 to 3b.

As already mentioned, the type of contact can be either female (example described) or male. The shapes and configurations of the different elements constituting the base according to the invention can be adapted as necessary to various applications without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the number of rows of contacts (two in the example described) is not critical. He can go single row to a specified maximum number by technological considerations alone at the scope of the Tradesman.

Although particularly interesting, because this layout reinforces the solidity of the structure in as a whole there is no need, absolutely, that the front box is secured to the insulating block before. Indeed, the structure being of the sandwich type, it suffices that the rear insulating block is secured to the housing before, according to an essential characteristic of the invention.

Finally, although we have equipped the front housing, in the illustrated example, of an asymmetrical shape, which allows you to play the role of a key in addition to its essential shielding function, it is clear that a form fully symmetrical can also be adopted.

The technical characteristics that come to be called back: number of contacts, arrangement of these contacts, dimensions, etc .; are the most often imposed by norms or standards, except to manufacture specific components.

Claims (9)

1. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) of the type comprising a front insulating block (3), bent electrical contact elements (5) having front contact regions (50) lodged in openings (300) made in said front insulating block (3) as well as regions forming elbows (53) and rear contact terminations (54, 54', 55), a rear insulating block (2), said rear insulating block (2) having a central region (20) and two lateral branches (21, 22), and a front metallized housing (4), characterized in that said front insulating block (3), said rear insulating block (2) and said front housing (4) are separated elements and said front housing (4) includes a central opening (400) for receiving the said front insulating block (3) therein and in that at least said front housing (4) and rear insulating block (2) are provided with complementary attachment means (43, 2211, 2210, 2110) so that the said rear insulating block and said front housing can be joined by a crimping operation.
2. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claim 1, further characterized in that said complementary attachment means are made up, on the one hand, of tabs (43) arranged peripherally on front housing (4), and on the other hand, by anchoring notches (2211, 2210, 2110) arranged peripherally on said two lateral branches (21, 22) of said rear insulating block (2).
3. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claim 1, further characterized in that said front housing (4) and said front insulating block (3) are also provided with complementary attachment means (42, 301) so as to be able to join them by a crimping operation.
4. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claim 3, further characterized in that said complementary attachment means are made up, on the one hand, of tabs (42) positioned peripherally on front housing (4), and on the other hand, by anchoring notches (301) positioned peripherally on said central region (30) of rear insulating block (2).
5. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claim 1, further characterized in that said two lateral branches (21, 22) are provided with means (2201, 2101) permitting mechanical receptacle for a receptacle for a of specified accessories to said receptacle for a coupling connector (1).
6. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claims 5, further characterized in that said means comprise openings (2201, 2101) hollowed out in said two lateral branches (21, 22).
7. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claim 1, further characterized in that said contacts (5) are of the female type.
8. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claim 1, further characterized in that said contacts (5) are of the male type.
9. Receptacle for a coupling connector (1) according to claim 1, further characterized in that it has several parallel rows of contacts (5).

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