EP0860036B1

EP0860036B1 - Mechanical coupling device

Info

Publication number: EP0860036B1
Application number: EP96941341A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Robert Baechtle; Raymond Robert Buchheister; Robert Everett Lorren Marcus; Nathan John Norris
Original assignee: Whitaker LLC
Current assignee: Whitaker LLC
Priority date: 1995-11-09
Filing date: 1996-11-11
Publication date: 2000-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-11
Also published as: CN1113436C; KR19990067431A; EP0860036A1; CN1201558A; DE69606424D1; DE69606424T2; WO1997017741A1; JP2000500272A; JP3865779B2

Description

The present invention is directed to electrical connectors and more particularly to devices for mechanically joining adjacent modular connectors.

Today's electronic technology often requires the use of high density connectors of relatively long lengths to handle the number of circuits required for the equipment. Long length connectors, for example, 10 inches or longer, are more difficult to mold than are shorter connectors. It is desirable, therefore, to have a cost effective way to interconnect a plurality of connectors to achieve the desired number of circuit positions while maintaining the desired grid array spacing of contacts in the housing.

U.S. Patent 4,790,763 shows one way of interconnecting modular connectors in which the sides of the housings have slots and latches to secure the connectors together. Typically the additional housing material required for the interlocking structure takes up extra space on the board thereby interrupting the desired grid array of contacts. It is desirable, therefore, to have a device to secure together connector housings without needing to design specific latches or to modify the housings in some manner.

U.S. Patent No. 4,343,528 discloses a connector assembly including a plurality of connectors, each having a housing and a plurality of terminals therein. The housings are coupled together by means of a cover.

The present invention is directed to a connector assembly comprising at least first and second adjacent end-to-end electrical connectors secured together by a coupling device. Each connector includes a housing having a plurality of terminals secured therein such that a portion of a body section of the terminals is exposed from the housing. Each of the first and second connectors have a respective selected group of terminals, each selected group being less than all thereof. Each selected group is adjacent an end of a respective housing that adjoins the adjacent connector. The coupling device is a dielectric member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough. At least a first group of openings in the device grips exposed body portions of the terminals of the selected group of the first connector and at least a second group of openings grip exposed body portions of terminals of the selected group of the second connector.

Upon placing the first and second connectors adjacent each other and positioning the device with the openings in a gripping relationship with the respective terminal body portions of the first and second connectors, the device mechanically secures together the first and second connectors adjacent each other.

In one preferred embodiment of the coupling device, the dielectric member includes an array of apertures extending therethrough, the apertures being arranged in rows and columns and having the same grid spacing as the arrays of terminals within the respective connector housings. The array includes a plurality of apertures adapted to grip body portions of a corresponding plurality of terminals within the first housing, and a second portion of apertures adapted to grip exposed body portions of the terminals in the second housing. Tne apertured device is suitable for use with terminals, each having an exposed contact portion at the leading end thereof that is smaller in width than the respective body portion of the terminal, thus the contact portions are dimensioned to pass through corresponding apertures of the device, until the apertures of the device grip the body portions of the terminals in an interference fit, and the contact sections of the respective terminals extend outwardly below the coupling device. The coupling device preferably is molded from thermoplastics or other suitable materials that can withstand soldering temperatures, as known in the art. In a second embodiment, the coupling device includes a plurality of slots adapted to be mounted to the connector terminals at right angles thereto such that they extend between adjacent terminals. In this embodiment of the present invention, the coupling device links the two connectors together and maintains spacing of the grid array of the contacts while allowing the housings to be molded in shorter units. The coupling device also permits joining together of different size connectors thus facilitating customized sizing without requiring additional molds for each of the different sizes.

In a third embodiment the coupling device includes two parts, the first being a clip for interlocking adjacent housing walls together and the second being a plate-like dielectric member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough adapted to be received by a first plurality of terminals in a first connector and a second plurality of terminals in a second connector. Alternative embodiments of the clip are also disclosed.

Embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the connector assembly of the present invention with the connectors and coupling device exploded from one another.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the assembled coupled connector assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the coupling device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of one of the connectors with the coupling device shown in cross-section and in alignment for positioning on the terminals.

FIGURE 5 is an assembled view of the connector and device of Figure 4.

FIGURE 6 is a back plan view of the connector assembly of Figure 2.

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the coupling device.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of a connector using the coupling device of Figure 7.

FIGURE 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the connector assembly of the present invention with the connectors and an alternate embodiment of the coupling device exploded from one another.

FIGURE 10 is an end view of one of the connectors of Figure 9 with the coupling device in alignment for positioning on the terminals and housing.

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in Figure 9.

FIGURE 12 is a side view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in Figure 9.

FIGURE 13 is an end view of a further embodiment of the connector and coupling device made in accordance with the present invention with the coupling device in alignment for positioning on the terminals and housing.

FIGURE 14 is a side view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in Figure 13.

FIGURE 15 is an end view of another embodiment of the connector and coupling device made in accordance with the present invention with the coupling device in alignment for positioning on the terminals and housing.

FIGURE 16 is a side view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in Figure 15.

For purposes of illustrating the invention, coupling device 20 is illustrated, being used with two

right angle connectors

40, 70 as best seen in Figures 1, 2, and 6. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of right angle connectors nor to the geometric configuration of the device shown herein.

First connector 40 includes a housing 42 having a top wall 44, a mounting face or bottom wall 46, a mating face 48, an assembly or rear face 50, and endwalls 52. Housing 42 further includes a plurality of terminal receiving passageways 56 having first terminals 60 disposed therein. Each first terminal 60 includes a first contact portion (not shown) exposed at the mating face 48 for mating with a complimentary connector (not shown), a second contact portion 64 extending outwardly from the housing 42 at the mounting face 46 thereof, and intermediate body section 66 extending- therebetween. A portion 68 of the body section 66 is exposed along the assembly or rear face 50 of the connector housing 42.

The second connector 70 includes a housing 72 having a top wall 74, a mounting face or bottom wall 76, mating face 78, an assembly or rear face 80, and endwalls 82. Housing 72 includes a plurality of terminal receiving passageways 86 extending from the mounting face 76 to the mating face 78, each passageway 86 having a second terminal 90 therein. Each second terminal 90 has a first contact portion (not shown) exposed at the mating face 78 for mating with a complimentary connector (not shown), a second contact portion 94 extending outwardly from the housing 72, and an intermediate body section 96 extending therebetween. Body section 96 includes a body portion 98 exposed at the assembly or rear face 80 thereof.

Coupling device 20 is a dielectric member having a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24, a front wall 26, rear wall 28, and opposed end walls 30. Coupling device 20 includes a plurality of apertures 32 arranged in rows in columns and at the same spacing as the array of terminals in the connector to which it will be attached as best seen in Figure 3. The array of apertures 32 has a first portion 34 adapted to grip exposed body portion 68 of a first electrical connector 40 and a second portion of apertures 36 adapted to grip exposed body portions 98 of a second connector 70. In the embodiment shown

connectors

40 and 70 are of identical lengths. In some connector configurations, portions of the housings may need to be removed between adjacent terminals such as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It is to be understood that different lengths of connectors may be joined and, in fact, additional modules also may be joined with use of additional coupling devices 20.

The connector assembly 110, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, is formed by placing the first and

second connectors

40, 70 adjacent to each other such that the

corresponding endwalls

52, 82 abut one another. The coupling device 20 is positioned such that a plurality of the second contact portions 64 of first terminals 60 are aligned with corresponding apertures 32 of the first device portion 34 and the second terminal contact potions 94 of second terminals 90 are aligned with the apertures 32 of second device portion 36. The coupling device 20 is then moved toward the

top wall

44, 74 of the first and

second connector housings

40, 70 until the apertures 32 grip the respective exposed

body portion

68, 98 in an interference fit. The coupling device 20 is dimensioned so that upon full assembly the

second contact sections

64, 94 extend below the coupling device 20 as best seen in Figures 2, 5 and 6. As can be appreciated from Figure 5, the second contact portions 64 of terminals 60 in housing 40 must be smaller than the aperture 32 such that the coupling device 20 will slide upwardly into position without damaging any plating on the contact surface 64. The embodiment 20 of the coupling device is designed for use with those connectors having contact sections that are smaller than the intermediate body portions so that the apertures 32 can grip the respective body portions in an interference fit. Upon full insertion of the coupling device 20, the connector assembly 110 may be handled as a unit to be mounted to a back plane or circuit board.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a further embodiment 120 of the coupling device in which the openings are a plurality of slots 132 configured to be inserted between adjacent terminals such that the slots 132 will grip the intermediate body portion in an interference fit. The embodiment 120 includes a top wall 122, a bottom wall 124, a front face 126, a rear face 128, and a plurality of slots 132. In the embodiment shown there are four rows of slots. Depending on the configuration of the housing and the size of the contact section with respect to the body section of the terminals, - embodiment 120 may be more appropriate since it is inserted into the back of the housing and slides directly onto the exposed body portions.

Another embodiment of

connectors

140, 170 and accompanying coupling device 220 is illustrated in Figures 9 through 12. First connector 140 includes a housing 142 having a mating face 144, a mounting face 146, sidewalls 148, ends 150, and floor 152, which together define a mating cavity 154 dimensioned to receive a complementary plug connector (not shown). Housing sidewalls 148 include a latching tab 149 extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof proximate at least one of said ends. Each tab 149 defines a latching channel 151 dimensioned to cooperate with the coupling device 220, as explained below. Housing 142 further includes a plurality of first terminals 160 disposed therein. Each first terminal 160 includes a first contact portion 162 exposed in the mating cavity 154 for mating with a complimentary connector (not shown), a second contact portion 164 extending outwardly from the housing 142 at the mounting face 146 thereof, and an intermediate body section (not shown) extending therebetween and secured in said floor 152.

The second connector 170 is similar to first connector 140 and includes a housing 172 having a mating face 174, a mounting face 176, sidewalls 178, ends 180, and floor 182, which together define a mating cavity 184 dimensioned to receive a complementary plug connector (not shown). Housing sidewalls 178 include a latching tab 179 extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof proximate at least one of said ends. Each tab 179 defines a latching channel 181 dimensioned to cooperate with the coupling device 220, as explained below. Housing 172 further includes a plurality of first terminals 190 disposed therein. Each first terminal 190 includes a first contact portion 192 exposed in the mating cavity 184 for mating with a complimentary connector (not shown), a second contact portion 194 extending outwardly from the housing 172 at the mounting face 176 thereof, and an intermediate body section (not shown) extending therebetween and secured in said floor 182.

Coupling device 220 is a two part device, the first being a clip 222 for interlocking adjacent housing walls together on the outside surfaces thereof, and the second being a plate-like dielectric member 228. Clip 222 is U-shaped and includes two resilient legs 224 joined together at one end by a strap 225 and free ends defining inwardly directed projections defining rearwardly facing latch surfaces 227 that almost converge at the other end thereof, altogether defining a slot 226 dimensioned to be received in respective channels 151,181 defined by the

tabs

149, 179, on the respective housings sidewalls 148, 178. Dielectric member 228 includes opposed upper and

lower surfaces

229, 230 and a plurality of apertures 232 extending therethrough. Apertures 232 are arranged in rows and columns at the same spacing as the respective arrays of terminals in the connectors that are to be coupled. The array of apertures 232 have a first portion 234 adapted to be received by a first plurality of terminals 160 in first connector 140 and a second portion 236 adapted to be received by a second plurality of terminals 190 in second connector 170. In the embodiment shown

connectors

140 and 170 are of identical lengths. It is to be understood that different lengths of connectors maybe joined and, in fact, additional modules also may be joined with use of additional coupling devices 220.

The connector assembly 210, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, is formed by placing the first and

second connectors

140, 170 adjacent to each other such that the corresponding ends 150, 180 abut one another. The dielectric member 228 of coupling device 220 is positioned such that a plurality of the first contact portions 162 of first terminals 160 are aligned with corresponding apertures 232 of the first portion 234 and the first terminal contact potions 192 of second terminals 190 are aligned with the corresponding apertures 232 of second portion 236. Dielectric member 228 is then moved down into the

mating cavities

154, 184 until it engages the

respective floors

152, 182. A clip 222 is assembled on both sides of the

connectors

140, 170 with one leg 224 being inserted into the

respective sidewall channels

151, 181 with slot 226 receiving portions of

tabs

149, 179. The clips 222 are moved toward the mounting faces 146, 176 of

connectors

140, 170 until the latching projections seat beneath tabs 149,179 for latch surfaces 227 to face the lower surfaces of tabs 149,179, thereby holding the

sidewalls

148, 178 of the connectors 140,170 together, as shown in Figure 12. Clip 222 may be made from metal or dielectric material.

In the further alternative embodiment 310 of connector assembly, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, clip 322 is a plate-like member having at least two projections 323 extending outwardly from one side thereof and adapted to be received in an interference fit in cooperating

holes

251, 281 extending into

housing sidewalls

248, 278 of

connectors

240, 270 proximate the ends thereof. Dielectric member 228 is assembled to the adjacent connectors of this embodiment in the manner previously described.

In the still further alternative embodiment 410 of connector assembly, as shown in Figures 15 and 16,

housing sidewalls

348, 378 include

respective projections

351, 381 extending outwardly therefrom proximate at least one end thereof. In this embodiment, clip 422 is a plate-like member having at least two apertures 423 extending therethrough and adapted to receive

respective projections

351, 381 therein in an interference fit, thereby securing the housings together. Dielectric member 228 is assembled to the connectors of this embodiment in the manner previously described.

Claims

An electrical connector assembly (110) comprising:

at least first and second adjacent end to end electrical connectors (40,140;70,170) each connector including a housing (42,142;72,172) having a plurality of terminals (60,160;90,190) secured therein, each of said terminals including a body section (66,96), said housing of each of said connectors (40,70) exposing a portion of said body section (66,96) of said terminals thereof;

each of said first and second connectors having a respective selected group of terminals, each said selected group being less than all thereof, said selected group being adjacent an end of a respective said housing that adjoins said adjacent connector; and

a coupling device (20,120) securing together said first and second connectors (40,140;70,170) adjacent each other, said device including a dielectric member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, at least a first croup of said openings gripping said exposed body sections (66, 96) of the terminals of said eelected group of said first connector (40,120), and at least a second group of said openings gripping a body portion of the terminals of said selected group of said second connector (70,170).
The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said coupling device is a further housing (20) having said openings (32) therein dimensioned to receive respective exposed body sections of said terminals of each selected group in said first and second connectors such that respective board contact sections (64,164) extend below outwardly of respective ones of said openings (32) and are aligned for mounting in through-holes of a circuit board.
The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said openings are apertures (32) extending between opposed top and bottom faces of said further housing (20).
The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said openings are slots (132) extending into and through said further housing from a forward face to a rearward face thereof.
The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said openings of said further housing are in an array having several rows and several columns complementary to the rows and columns of said terminals of said first and second connectors (40,70).
The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said coupling device (220) includes first and second parts, the first part (228) being a plate-like dielectric member and the second part being at least one clip (222,322,422) for interlocking together adjacent housing walls of the respective connectors.
The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein each housing (140,170) includes an outwardly extending latching tab (149,179) proximate at least one end thereof, each tab defining a latching channel (151,181) dimensioned to cooperate with one of said at least one clip, and wherein each said clip (222) comprises a pair of stiff spring arms (224) coextending from a strap (225) to free ends deflectable thereapart during insertion along said latching channels (151,181), and said free ends include latching projections (227) protruding from facing surfaces of respective said spring arms to seat in corresponding ones of said channels to latch said clip to said first and second connectors.
The connector assembly of claim 6 including two said clips (222), each associated with a respective aligned pair of side walls of the first and second housings.
The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein each said clip (322) includes a pair of projections (323) coextending from a transverse body to be received in an interference fit in respective apertures of housings of said first and second connectors.
The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein each said clip (422) defines apertures therethrough for receipt therethrough of projections (351) of the housings of the first and second connectors in an interference fit.