EP1081795A1 - Elément de blocage d'un connecteur électrique sur une plaquette de circuit imprimé en forme de flèche - Google Patents

Elément de blocage d'un connecteur électrique sur une plaquette de circuit imprimé en forme de flèche Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1081795A1
EP1081795A1 EP99117228A EP99117228A EP1081795A1 EP 1081795 A1 EP1081795 A1 EP 1081795A1 EP 99117228 A EP99117228 A EP 99117228A EP 99117228 A EP99117228 A EP 99117228A EP 1081795 A1 EP1081795 A1 EP 1081795A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit board
fastener
connector
electrical connector
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99117228A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Shyh-Lin Tung
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to SG9904244A priority Critical patent/SG87826A1/en
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Priority to EP99117228A priority patent/EP1081795A1/fr
Publication of EP1081795A1 publication Critical patent/EP1081795A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/7005—Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors
    • H01R12/7011—Locking or fixing a connector to a PCB
    • H01R12/7017—Snap means
    • H01R12/7029—Snap means not integral with the coupling device
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/7005—Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors
    • H01R12/7011—Locking or fixing a connector to a PCB
    • H01R12/7064—Press fitting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
    • H01R12/716—Coupling device provided on the PCB

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a device for anchoring a connector to a circuit board.
  • Circuit board connectors are widely used in electronic devices utilizing circuit boards. Typically, such a connector is used for mounting a secondary circuit board to a primary circuit board.
  • the connector includes a housing which holds conductive terminals that connect respective electrical contacts on the circuit boards.
  • a known type of circuit board connector is surface-mounted to the primary circuit board so that the terminals contact conductive pads on the primary circuit board. It is necessary to securely mount the connector to the primary circuit board in such a position for maintaining a proper connection to the secondary circuit board.
  • a conventional boardlock fastener has an anchoring section and a mounting section.
  • the anchoring section is held within the housing, and the mounting section extends from the anchoring section to project from the housing.
  • the conventional anchoring section has a plurality of barbs positioned to engage the housing for securing the boardlock fastener relative to the housing.
  • the mounting section of the boardlock fastener is inserted into a through-hole in a circuit board.
  • Known boardlock fasteners have a mounting section including a pair of generally parallel tines which project downwardly from the housing. When the connector is mounted to a circuit board by inserting the mounting section into the through hole, the tines resile outwardly and grip against the surface of the through hole for securing the connector onto the circuit board.
  • the present invention provides a boardlock fastener that engages and grips the through hole of a circuit board in an improved manner.
  • an electrical connector for connecting conductive pads on a daughter circuit board to conductors on mother circuit board.
  • the connector includes an insulative housing having side walls and a floor. An elongated groove is defined in the housing between the sidewalls for receiving a daughter circuit board therein.
  • the connector includes a plurality of conductive terminals positioned along the groove to provide an electrical connection between the daughter and mother circuit boards in a known manner.
  • the connector has a boardlock fastener for securing the connector to the mother circuit board.
  • the fastener has an anchoring section and a generally arrowhead-shaped mounting section. The anchoring section is mounted into a fastener-receiving slot of the housing, and the mounting section projects downwardly from the housing.
  • the mounting section includes a central leg for insertion into a through-hole in the mother circuit board and two arms upwardly diverging from the leg in a V-shape. Furthermore, each of the arms has a bend at an intermediate location along the arm, forming an inwardly-angled tine. The tines extend at an angle upwardly and inwardly so that the two tines converge toward each other. The tines are configured for abutting against walls of the through-hole in the circuit board to secure the connector to the board.
  • the arrowhead-shaped mounting section of the fastener can be easily inserted into a through-hole, causing the V-shaped arms to resiliently deflect inwardly.
  • the mounting section is inserted through the hole in the circuit board until the bends have passed beyond a lower edge of the circuit board.
  • the tines are held in biased contact against the bottom edge of the through-hole so that each of the tines applies an upward force component against the lower edge of the circuit board, resisting removal.
  • the mounting section advantageously provides a good securing force to retain the housing securely against the circuit board.
  • the resilient contact of the tines advantageously compensates for tolerance deviations.
  • An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved boardlock fastener for anchoring a circuit board connector.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a boardlock fastener which anchors a connector to a circuit board with an enhanced locking force.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a boardlock fastener which allows larger manufacturing tolerances and assembly deviations.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circuit board connector having a conventional boardlock fastener.
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of the boardlock fastener of the connector of FIG. 1, illustrating the surrounding connector housing in phantom lines.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the boardlock fastener of the conventional connector of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a circuit board connector having a boardlock fastener constructed in accordance with teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the boardlock fastener of the connector of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is an end view of the connector of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-section view showing the boardlock fastener of the present invention assembled with a circuit board.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional circuit board connector 5a.
  • a connector may be used, for example, in a computer (not shown) for connecting a secondary circuit board to a primary circuit board.
  • the conventional connector 5a of FIG. 1 includes an elongated housing 2a having at least one boardlock fastener 1a on the bottom thereof.
  • the conventional connector 5a includes two fasteners 1a disposed at opposite ends of the housing 2a. The boardlock fasteners 1a can be clamped on a circuit board such that the connector can be mounted firmly on the circuit board.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the known type of boardlock fastener 1a in greater detail.
  • the conventional boardlock fastener 1a has a U-shaped anchoring section 12a and a mounting section formed by a pair of parallel legs 13a on the upper and lower end thereof.
  • the anchoring section 12a is embedded into the housing 2a whereby the boardlock fastener 1a is assembled on the housing 2a.
  • a groove 14a is formed on the center of the mounting section 13a to provide resiliency to the mounting section 13a.
  • the mounting section formed by the pair of generally parallel 13a is inserted into corresponding through-hole on the circuit board whereby the connector is fixed on the circuit board.
  • each of the legs 13a has a plurality of barbs 15a on an outwardly-directed side thereof to increase the locking strength between the legs 13a and the circuit board.
  • the mounting section 13a of the conventional boardlock fastener 1a loosens from the circuit board, it could undesirably reduce the integrity of electrical contact or even cause the connector to become unmounted from the circuit board.
  • the permissible tolerance of the parallel legs 13a relative to the through hole in the circuit board is small. If the assembling deviation substantially exceeds tolerance limits, the parallel legs 13a of the boardlock fastener 1a cannot grip the through hole in the circuit board with sufficient locking resistance, and the connector 5a will not be securely mounted.
  • FIG. 4 a connector 5 is illustrated including a boardlock fastener 1 constructed in accordance with teachings of the present invention for mounting the connector 5 to a mother circuit board 3 (FIG. 7).
  • the boardlock fastener 1 is described in greater detail in connection with FIGS. 5-7.
  • the connector 5, as illustrated in FIG. 4 includes an elongated insulative housing 2 having a pair of longitudinal sidewalls 20.
  • An elongated groove 22 is defined between the sidewalls 20 for receiving a secondary circuit board (not shown), in a manner generally known in the art.
  • the connector 5 further includes a plurality of conductive terminals 24.
  • the housing 2 is shaped to have a plurality of terminal cavities 26 which respectively receive the terminals in a seated manner.
  • Each of the terminals 24 has a contact portion in a respective terminal cavity 26 which extends in the groove 22 for contacting a conductive pad (not shown) on the daughter circuit board in a generally known manner.
  • each of the terminals 24 also has a tail portion 124 which extends out of the housing 2 for engaging a respective conductor (not shown) on the mother circuit board 3 (FIG. 7).
  • the boardlock fastener 1 has a U-shaped anchoring section 9 for anchoring the fastener 1 to the housing 2.
  • the anchoring section 9 is inserted into a slot 50 (FIG. 6) in the bottom of the housing 2.
  • the anchoring section 9 is formed by a generally transverse base 8 and a pair of beams 12 which respectively project upwardly from opposite ends of the base 8.
  • Each of the upwardly projecting beams 12 has one or more barbs 112 extending in a laterally outward manner for engaging and gripping the housing 2, as illustrated in FIG. 7, thereby anchoring the fastener 1 securely relative to the housing.
  • the boardlock fastener 1 also includes a generally arrowhead-shaped mounting section 11 which projects downwardly from the housing 2.
  • the mounting section 11 has a central leg 13 which extends downwardly from the base 8.
  • the central leg 13 has a widened proximal end 14 that joins the base 8, enhancing the inserting strength and rigidity of the mounting section 11.
  • the central leg 13 has a distal tip 15 located distally relative to the base 8 and opposite the proximal end 14 of the central leg 13.
  • the tip 15 is preferably generally tapered in shape for easy guidance during insertion of the mounting section 14 into a circuit board.
  • the mounting section 11 further includes two arms 16 which extend outwardly away from the central leg and upwardly toward the base 8, forming a V shape.
  • the central leg 13 has a widened end 14 which joins the base.
  • the mounting section 11 is integrally formed with the anchoring section 10.
  • the central leg 13 is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the anchoring section 10.
  • a freely-extending upper segment of each of the arms 16 has an inwardly-angled tine 18.
  • a clearance 17 is defined between each of the arms and the central leg 13 to allow flexible and resilient movement of the arms 16.
  • the mounting section 11 For mounting the connector 5, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting section 11 is inserted into a through-hole 30 disposed in the circuit board 3. As the mounting section 11 of the boardlock fastener 1 is inserted through the through-hole 30, the arms 16 resiliently flex inwardly.
  • the dimensions of the mounting section 11 are configured so that upon full insertion of the mounting section, at which point the connector housing 2 rests upon the circuit board 3, the bends in the arms 16 pass just beyond a lower surface of the board so that the inwardly-angled upper tines 18 contact the lower edge of the through hole 30.
  • the tines 18 resile outwardly against the circuit board 3 to pulled upwardly through the through hole 30. Due to the inward angle of the tines 18, the tines apply an upward force component against the circuit board 3, thereby fastening the connector 5 to the circuit board 3.
  • the resilient flexibility of the arms 16 compensate for deviations in manufacturing tolerances to allow secure fastening in the described manner.
  • upper ends of the upper tines 18 may actually catch or abut against a lower surface of relatively sufficiently thin circuit boards 3.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP99117228A 1999-09-01 1999-09-02 Elément de blocage d'un connecteur électrique sur une plaquette de circuit imprimé en forme de flèche Withdrawn EP1081795A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SG9904244A SG87826A1 (en) 1999-09-01 1999-09-01 Arrowhead-shaped boardlock fastener for mounting a connector
EP99117228A EP1081795A1 (fr) 1999-09-01 1999-09-02 Elément de blocage d'un connecteur électrique sur une plaquette de circuit imprimé en forme de flèche

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SG9904244A SG87826A1 (en) 1999-09-01 1999-09-01 Arrowhead-shaped boardlock fastener for mounting a connector
EP99117228A EP1081795A1 (fr) 1999-09-01 1999-09-02 Elément de blocage d'un connecteur électrique sur une plaquette de circuit imprimé en forme de flèche

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1081795A1 true EP1081795A1 (fr) 2001-03-07

Family

ID=26153101

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99117228A Withdrawn EP1081795A1 (fr) 1999-09-01 1999-09-02 Elément de blocage d'un connecteur électrique sur une plaquette de circuit imprimé en forme de flèche

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1081795A1 (fr)
SG (1) SG87826A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2841731A1 (fr) * 2002-07-01 2004-01-02 Tokai Rika Co Ltd Dispositif et procede de fixation d'un composant electronique a une carte et composant electronique
CN102452410A (zh) * 2010-10-20 2012-05-16 株式会社山田制作所 转向装置中的操作杆

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4766652A (en) * 1986-04-02 1988-08-30 Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd. Board fastener
EP0718932A2 (fr) * 1994-12-22 1996-06-26 The Whitaker Corporation Dispositif de maintien en position basse de connecteurs montés sur panneaux
DE29823013U1 (de) * 1998-12-24 1999-02-25 Adels Kg Anschluß- und/oder Verbindungsklemme für ein elektrisches Gerät

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5336111A (en) * 1993-09-28 1994-08-09 The Whitaker Corporation Boardlock for an electrical connector

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4766652A (en) * 1986-04-02 1988-08-30 Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd. Board fastener
EP0718932A2 (fr) * 1994-12-22 1996-06-26 The Whitaker Corporation Dispositif de maintien en position basse de connecteurs montés sur panneaux
DE29823013U1 (de) * 1998-12-24 1999-02-25 Adels Kg Anschluß- und/oder Verbindungsklemme für ein elektrisches Gerät

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2841731A1 (fr) * 2002-07-01 2004-01-02 Tokai Rika Co Ltd Dispositif et procede de fixation d'un composant electronique a une carte et composant electronique
CN102452410A (zh) * 2010-10-20 2012-05-16 株式会社山田制作所 转向装置中的操作杆

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SG87826A1 (en) 2002-04-16

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