EP1098398B1 - Verrouillage pour connecteurs modulaires spécialement adapté pour des connecteurs du type plaquette et assemblage de connecteurs utisant un tel verrouillage - Google Patents

Verrouillage pour connecteurs modulaires spécialement adapté pour des connecteurs du type plaquette et assemblage de connecteurs utisant un tel verrouillage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1098398B1
EP1098398B1 EP20000123775 EP00123775A EP1098398B1 EP 1098398 B1 EP1098398 B1 EP 1098398B1 EP 20000123775 EP20000123775 EP 20000123775 EP 00123775 A EP00123775 A EP 00123775A EP 1098398 B1 EP1098398 B1 EP 1098398B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
engagement
retainer
elements
cavities
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP20000123775
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1098398A3 (fr
EP1098398A2 (fr
Inventor
Kent Regnier
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 claimed from US09/433,412 external-priority patent/US6273762B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/515,133 external-priority patent/US6361374B1/en
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Publication of EP1098398A2 publication Critical patent/EP1098398A2/fr
Publication of EP1098398A3 publication Critical patent/EP1098398A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1098398B1 publication Critical patent/EP1098398B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/516—Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing, hoods
    • H01R13/518—Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing, hoods for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/514—Bases; Cases composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to connectors and multiple-unit connector assemblies, and more particularly, to a retainer for aligning and maintaining a plurality of connector modules, such as wafer connectors, together as a unit.
  • cable assemblies are used to connector one electronic device to another.
  • the cable assemblies have at one or more of their ends, a plurality of connector modules, each of which serves to connect a plurality of individual wires to an opposing connector, such as a pin connector. It is desirable to somehow connect the individual connector modules together so that they may connected and disconnected from an opposing connector as a single unit, in order to save in time in making the connections, as well as for other reasons.
  • the present invention is therefore directed to a novel and unique retainer assembly for use with a plurality of connector modules, preferably wafer connectors, that does not increase the overall size of the unit of connector modules and which reliably aligns the connector modules together and maintains them in a unitary fashion.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a retainer for holding a series of connector modules such as wafer connectors together as a unit, by engaging the exterior surfaces of the wafer connectors without increasing the overall size of mass of the unit of connectors.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a retainer for aligning and holding together, a plurality of thin connector modules together wherein the retainer has two opposing engagement ends that engage two different portions of the wafer connectors and which is insertable into one set of cavities formed on the exterior surfaces of the connector modules and rotatable when engaged in order to exert a alignment effort on the connector modules and in order to bring the other end of the retainer into engagement with another set of cavities also formed on the exterior surfaces of the connector modules.
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide a retainer, or stiffener, that is used to hold a plurality of high speed cable connectors together by way of engaging the individual cable assembly connectors, each of the connectors having two engagement cavities formed along at least one side thereof, the engagement cavities being spaced apart from each and the retainer having a length that is approximately equal to the spacing between the cavities, the retainer further having two opposing engagement ends, a first engagement end thereof have a rounded engagement member that is insertable into a corresponding first engagement cavity of the connector and a second engagement end that is insertable into and engageable with a corresponding second engagement cavity of the connector, the first engagement end being rotatable within the connector first engagement cavity.
  • a retainer member is provided that has a length equal to a corresponding width of the assembly of connectors and it includes a plurality of individual retaining elements formed on it, each individual retainer element being positioned in order to engage the exterior surface of a corresponding individual connector.
  • the retainer member in the preferred embodiment, takes the form of an elongated member having two opposing engagement ends or edges that extend lengthwise of the retainer member and which engage two corresponding engagement portions disposed on each individual connector module, which in the preferred embodiment, take the form of engagement cavities.
  • each retainer element The two engagement ends of each retainer element are differently configured.
  • One engagement end of each retainer element is partially rounded and is adapted to fit into a semi-circular cavity formed on each connector and the engagement end includes a outstanding shoulder portion that is adapted to engage with a corresponding opposing shoulder, or stop portion formed in the semi-circular engagement cavity.
  • the rounded profile of the engagement end and the semi-circular profile of the engagement cavity cooperatively permit the first engagement end to be inserted and rotated within the first engagement cavity of the connectors. This action exerts a slight alignment force on all of the connector elements to align them as a block and facilitates the engagement of the retainer member second end into the connector element second engagement cavities.
  • the second engagement cavity formed on each connector element includes a generally rectangular cavity having an undercut formed therein that defines another shoulder or stop.
  • the second engagement end of the retainer member includes a flexible latch member having a latching hook formed thereon in opposition to the stop of the second engagement cavity.
  • the round configuration of the retainer member first end permits the retainer member to be initially located in the first engagement cavities and then rotated.
  • the rotational movement serves to align the plurality of connector elements lengthwise of the connector elements, while lugs that may be formed in the one or both of the two engagement cavities of the connector elements may be engaged by corresponding opposing slots formed in the engagement ends of the retainer member so that the connector elements are thereby aligned in widthwise of the connector elements, and transverse to the lengthwise direction.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a connector assembly 20 in the form of a "block” or “unit” that is made up of a plurality of individual connector elements, or modules 21.
  • Each such connector element 21 has a relatively thin connector body 22, and hence the name “wafer”connector has been commonly applied to such connector elements in the art.
  • Each connector element 21, as is known in the art has a connector body 22 through which conductive elements (not shown) extend in order to provide conductive paths between individual connector cables 23 disposed at one end 24 of the connector element 21, each of which typically contains a pair of conductive wires, and a like number of conductive terminals 25 (shown in phantom) that are typically embedded in another end 26 of the connector element 21 spaced apart from the cable end 24 of the connector element 21.
  • This engagement, or terminal end 26, is typically received within an opposing connector member 27, such as a pin header, that is typically mounted to a backplane (not shown).
  • the opposing connector member 27 typically has a plurality of conductive pin terminals 28 that extend on both sides of a base 29 of the opposing connector body, certain ends 30 of which are received within corresponding openings in the backplane member and the other ends of which are received within openings formed in the terminal ends 26 of the connector elements 21 and which engage the interior terminals 25 thereof.
  • Each connector element 21 may be considered as having a number of distinct sides, faces or edges with four such sides 31, 32, 33 & 34 being shown in FIG. 1.
  • connector elements 21 it is important to retain the connector elements 21 together in alignment, as a single unit, or block, of connector elements 21 in order to facilitate the insertion thereof into an opposing connector member 27 and connection of the conductive terminals 25 to opposing terminals 28.
  • the small size of these type of connector elements and the tolerances involved in making their conductive terminals 25 are some of the reasons why alignment of such wafer connector assemblies is important, because when aligned, it is easier to insert and connector an aligned assembly without fear of misalignment of the terminals or wafer connector elements.
  • the present invention provides a simple, reliable and inexpensive means for aligning a series of wafer, or other connector elements that may be trimmed to an appropriate size to match the corresponding size of an assembly 20 of wafer connector elements 21 by an installer, and which aligns and retains a plurality of wafer connector elements 21 together as a single mass in a preselected spacing. This is accomplished by way of a connector retainer member 100 that engages the plurality of wafer connector elements 21. As illustrated in FIG.
  • the retainer members 100 of the present invention may be used on two distinct, but adjacent, sides 31, 32 of the wafer connector assembly 20, although other constructions are contemplated, such as the use of a single retainer member 100 or two such retainer members 100 being used along one side of the wafer connector element 21, or the cables 23 of the connector elements being oriented along one side 32 opposite the terminal end 34 of the connector elements 21 and the retainer members 100 being used on the two remaining opposing sides 31 & 33 of the connector elements 21.
  • the retainer member 100 includes an elongated member 101 having a preselected length L, and which may be considered as incorporating therein, a plurality of individual retainer elements 102, with each retainer element 102 having a preselected width W (FIGS. 3 & 5) that preferably corresponds to the width w (FIG. 1) of the connector element 21.
  • the individual retainer elements 102 that make up the overall retainer member 100 may be separated from each other by a series of intervening indentations 103 so as to facilitate trimming the retainer member 100 when assembling it to a connector assembly 10 in order to match the overall width of the connector assembly 10.
  • These indentations are preferably of a depth that will not weaken the structural integrity of the retainer member 100, but are sufficiently deep to facilitate the trimming of a retainer member 100 by an installer.
  • the retainer member 100 can be seen to have two opposing end portions 106, 107 that run lengthwise of the retainer member 100 and which are separated and interconnected by an intervening body portion 108.
  • One end portion 106 serves as a pivoting end and the other end 107 serves as a latching end that holds the retainer member in place on the connector assembly 20.
  • the length L of the retainer member 100 will typically correspond to the overall width W T of the connector assembly 20.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates one edge 31 of a series of individual connector elements 21 and how the edges 31 of the connector elements 21 are modified to accommodate the retainer member 100.
  • Two different engagement portions 40, 41 are disposed on the edges 31 of the connector elements 21 and are illustrated as cavities that are formed in the connector body portion 22 of each connector element 21.
  • the engagement cavities 40, 41 are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance D that corresponds to a distance between the end portions 106, 107 of the retainer member 100.
  • FIG. 8 best illustrates the two engagement cavities 40, 41 and their particular structure.
  • the first engagement cavity 40 is rounded, with a generally semi-circular profile defined by a curved sidewall 43 that extends beneath the side edge 31 of the connector element 21.
  • a post portion 44 extends from connector body past the level of the side edge 31 and a portion 43 of the first engagement cavity 40 undercuts the post portion 44 to form a stop surface 45 that faces into the first engagement cavity 40, the purpose of which shall be explained in greater detail below.
  • the second engagement cavity 41 has an overall rectangular configuration and is also formed in the connector body portion 22. This cavity 41, as with the first engagement cavity 40, also opens along the side edge 31 of the connector element body portion 22. It also has an undercut portion 46 that defines a stop surface 47 that faces into the engagement cavity 41 and which is engaged by the second end 107 of the retainer member 100. The far sidewall 48 of the cavity 41 may have a ramped surface 49 for interacting with the corresponding engagement end 107 of the retainer member 100.
  • Each of the engagement cavities 40, 41 may further have formed therein, a central wall or lug 50, 51, that is preferably centrally disposed therein and which are engaged by the retainer member 100 in the manner described in greater detail below.
  • the retainer member ends 106, 107 are specially configured to engage and interact with the engagement cavities 40, 41 of the connector elements 21.
  • the first end 106 of the retainer member 100 forms what may be aptly termed as a "pawl" portion that has an overall rounded configuration with two distinct, inner and outer curved surfaces 108, 109 disposed thereon. Each such surface 108, 109 has a distinct radius R 1 , R 2 associated with it from the center point C of the pawl 106 with the radius of the outer surface 109 being greater than the radius of the inner surface 108.
  • This difference in radii defines a shoulder, or stop edge 110, in the pawl portion 106 of the retainer which opposes the shoulder 45 of the first engagement cavity 40 of the connector element 21 and which interconnects the two curved surfaces 108, 109 together.
  • the engagement end 106 is easily insertable into the first engagement cavity 40 and the two curved surfaces 109, 43 permit rotation of the pawl end 106 in the cavity 40. This rotation occurs until the stop edge 110 of the pawl end abuts the stop surface 45. At this full extent of rotation, the second end 107 of the retainer member 100 is itself inserted into its corresponding and opposing second engagement cavity 41.
  • the second engagement end 107 includes two members 120, 121 that extend out from the body portion 105 of the retainer member 100 in a cantilevered fashion. These two members 120, 121 may be considered as flexible members having respective free ends that are spaced apart from each other in a first predetermined spacing S 1 .
  • the one member 120 acts as an engagement lug that enters the second engagement cavity 41 to engage the adjacent and opposing surface 55 of the cavity 41. This engagement is in the nature of a "slip fit".
  • the engagement of the second engagement end 107 is assisted by a latching member 121.
  • This latching member 121 is spaced apart from the lug member 120 by the spacing S 1 (FIG. 7) and has a body portion 123 that is relatively thin as compared to the thickness of the lug member 120 and thus is more flexible in nature.
  • This spacing S 1 is greater than the spacing S 2 between the two sidewalls 55, 58 of the second engagement cavity 41 so that when the second engagement end 107 is inserted into the second cavity 41 the latch member 121 is flexed toward the lug member 120 in the direction of the arrow "B 1 " in FIG. 7.
  • This flexing is somewhat like a pivoting action where the free end of the latching member 121 pivots about a point B 2 .
  • the latching member 121 preferably has an engagement member, illustrated in FIGS.
  • the cavity 41 includes an overhanging portion 49 with an engagement shoulder or surface 47 formed thereon that opposes the bottom of the cavity 41.
  • the pawl end 106 of the retainer member 100 is located in the first engagement cavity 40, it is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 6 & 9, thereby bringing the latching end 107 of the retainer member 100 into alignment with and opposition to the second engagement cavity 41.
  • the tops 48, 59 of the sidewalls 49, 55 of the second cavity sidewalls are preferably either rounded or slanted as shown. This configuration 59 facilitates the entry of the lug member 120 of the latching end 107 into the second cavity.
  • the slanted surface 8 of the other sidewall 49 serves as a reaction, or cannoning surface that engages the latching member 121, and particularly the hook end 122 thereof.
  • the hook end 122 rides upon this surface 48 which causes the latching member 121 to flex or deflect inwardly (toward the lug member 120) so that it rides along the sidewall 49.
  • the inherent flexibility of this latching member 121 will cause the hook end 122 to spring outwardly when it reaches the undercut 57.
  • the two stop surfaces 47, 125 oppose and engage each other to hold the latching end 107 in place within the second cavity 41.
  • the pawl end 106 of the retainer member has been rotated within the first cavity to an extent as shown in FIG. 10, where its shoulder portion 110 abuts against the first cavity stop surface 45.
  • the retainer member 100 acts as a clip to hold the individual connector elements 21 together as a unified block, or assembly 20 of connector elements.
  • the retainer member 100 not only stiffens the block or unit of connector elements 21, but also aligns the connector elements within the block 20.
  • the insert and rotate action of the pawl end 106 serves to initially align the connector elements 21 lengthwise along the unit 20 of connector elements 21 (along the arrow L c in FIG. 6). This is effected by the contact of the plurality of rounded engagement ends 106 of the retainer member 100. Pairs of the engagement ends 106 will ride on the curved surfaces 43 of the first cavities 40 of each connector element 21.
  • the curvature of the outer sections 109 of the engagement pawl 106 will serve to move individual connector elements 21 slightly forward or backward along the direction L c of the connector unit 20. This will serve to align the engagement end or terminating face of the mass 20 of connector elements 21 into a planar engagement/terminating face.
  • each cavity 40, 41 preferably includes an alignment member, such as the lugs 60, 61 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 & 6.
  • These lugs 60, 61 extend lengthwise within their respective cavities 40, 41 and are centrally disposed therein so as to present points of reference, or reaction surfaces on the connector elements 21 that may be engaged by portions of the retainer member 100.
  • the corresponding first and second engagement ends 106, 107 are provided with associated slots 62, 63 that are respectively disposed in the pawl and latch ends 106, 107 of the retainer member 100. These slots are best shown in FIGS.
  • Each slot 62, 63 is disposed on the retainer member 100, typically on the underside thereof and is aligned with the centers of their opposing cavities 40, 41.
  • the first slots 62 those disposed in the pawl engagement end 106 of the retainer member 100, will assist in aligning the pawl end 106 in the first cavities 40. Insertion of the pawl end and imposition of pressure upon it will cause the slots 62 to engage their opposing lugs 60, thereby exerting an alignment force on the connector elements 21 widthwise of the connector unit 20, or in other words, in a direction transverse to the length of the connector elements 21.
  • the retainer members 100 have a low profile that permits them to engage the connector elements 21 along the surfaces of their body portions 22 rather than at or along their engagement end portions 70 which extend from the body portions 22 and which are received within an opposing connector 27.
  • the opposing connector 27 typically includes two sidewalls 73, 74 that define a cavity of the connector 27 and which engage the connector elements 21, whether alone, or as a block or unit of connector elements. Because the opposing connector 27 typically has its sidewalls 73, 74 engage the block of connector elements at its engagement end portions 75 (FIG.
  • the low profile of the retainers 100 of the invention do not require a retention shroud or a separate retainer that encompasses both the block 20 of connector elements 21 and the opposing connector 27 as in the prior art, thereby maintaining the original footprint of the opposing connector on the backplane and not sacrificing additional space thereon to support the connector block.
  • the retainer members 100 are low profile and in essence hug the sides of the connector elements 21 at a location well above the location where the connector elements 21 engage the opposing connector 27, thereby not requiring modification of the opposing connector 27 as in the prior art.

Claims (20)

  1. Assemblage de connecteur comportant :
    une pluralité d'éléments individuels (21) de connecteur, chacun des éléments de connecteur ayant une partie de corps (22) de connecteur, chaque partie de corps de connecteur ayant une pluralité de côtés distincts (31-34), lesdits éléments (21) individuels de connecteur étant agencés en un bloc (20) d'éléments (21) de connecteur dans un ordre côte à côte avec une largeur globale (WT) du bloc (20) telle que lesdits côtés distincts desdites parties de corps (22) de connecteur desdits éléments individuels (21) de connecteur définissent en coopérant des côtés distincts dudit bloc (20) d'éléments (21) de connecteur,
    chacun des éléments individuels (21) de connecteur ayant une pluralité de câbles (23) s'étendant depuis un premier desdits côtés de parties de corps de connecteur,
    une pluralité de bornes conductrices (25) disposées le long d'un second des côtés de parties de corps de connecteur, lesdites bornes étant connectées électriquement auxdits câbles ;
    au moins un organe de retenue (100) destiné à retenir lesdits éléments (21) de connecteur assemblés en tant que ledit bloc (20),
    caractérisé en ce que
    l'organe de retenue (100) a une longueur prédéterminée (L) correspondant à ladite largeur globale (WT) du bloc (20) et des premier et second bords opposés (106, 107) qui s'étendent longitudinalement audit organe de retenue et qui sont séparés par une partie de corps intermédiaire (108), et
    et en ce que
    chacun desdits premier et second bords (106, 107) de l'organe de retenue comprend en outre, respectivement, une pluralité de premiers et seconds éléments distincts (102) d'engagement, des paires desdits premiers et seconds éléments (102) d'engagement engageant des côtés correspondants desdits éléments individuels (21) de connecteur.
  2. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits premiers éléments d'engagement comprennent des cliquets (106) et lesdits seconds éléments d'engagement comprennent des éléments de verrouillage (107).
  3. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel chacun desdits éléments individuels (21) de connecteur comprend une paire de premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement formées sur lui, lesdits cliquets de retenue (106) étant reçus dans lesdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement et lesdits éléments de verrouillage (107) de retenue étant reçus dans lesdites secondes cavités (41) d'engagement.
  4. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 3, dans lequel chacune desdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement comprend une paroi latérale courbe d'un premier rayon présélectionné (R2) et chacun desdits cliquets (106) de retenue comprend une première surface courbe (109), également dudit premier rayon présélectionné (R2), afin que lesdits cliquets de retenue puissent tourner dans lesdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement.
  5. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 4, dans lequel chacune desdites secondes cavités (41) d'engagement comprend des première et seconde parois latérales, une partie (46) en contre-dépouille étant formée dans la première paroi latérale, et chacun desdits éléments de verrouillage (107) de retenue comprenant une patte (120) et un bras de verrouillage (121), la patte (120) engageant ladite seconde paroi latérale (55) d'une seconde cavité (41) d'engagement et ledit bras de verrouillage (121) s'étendant dans ladite partie en contre-dépouille (46) afin d'engager ladite première paroi latérale de la seconde cavité, lorsque ledit organe de retenue est engagé en place sur ledit bloc d'éléments de connecteur.
  6. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, comprenant en outre un second organe (100) de retenue engageant lesdits éléments individuels de connecteur, ledit second organe de retenue étant espacé sur ledit bloc d'éléments de connecteur dudit premier organe de retenue (100).
  7. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 6, dans lequel ledit premier organe de retenue et ledit second organe de retenue engagent chacun des côtés différents (31, 32) desdits éléments (21) de connecteur.
  8. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 7, dans lequel chacun desdits cliquets (106) de retenue présente une seconde surface courbe (108) d'un second rayon présélectionné (R1) qui est inférieur audit premier rayon présélectionné (R2), lesdites première et seconde surfaces courbes étant reliées entre elles par une surface d'arrêt (110).
  9. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 8, dans lequel lesdites surfaces d'arrêt (110) des cliquets de retenue limitent l'étendue du mouvement desdits cliquets (106) de retenue dans lesdites premières cavités d'engagement (40).
  10. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 9, dans lequel lesdits seconds éléments (107) d'engagement comprennent chacun une partie de pattes fixes (120) s'étendant depuis ledit organe de retenue et un bras de verrouillage flexible (121), s'étendant aussi depuis ledit organe de retenue et espacé de ladite partie de pattes fixes, lesdites parties de pattes fixes (120) engageant des secondes parois latérales (55) desdites secondes cavités (41) d'engagement et lesdits bras de verrouillage (121) engageant des premières parois latérales (58) desdites secondes cavités d'engagement.
  11. Assemblage de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 10, dans lequel chacune des premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement desdits éléments de connecteur comprend une partie de paroi (60, 61) s'étendant longitudinalement à travers elle, et les premiers et seconds éléments d'engagement de retenue présentent des fentes (62, 63) s'étendant longitudinalement à travers eux, lesdites parties de parois (60, 61) des premières et secondes cavités d'engagement étant reçues dans lesdites fentes (62, 63) des premiers et seconds éléments d'engagement de retenue lorsque ledit organe de retenue est engagé avec lesdits éléments de connecteur.
  12. Connecteur destiné à être utilisé avec des câbles électriques à conducteurs multiples, comportant :
    une pluralité d'éléments individuels (21) de connecteur assemblés entre eux en une masse d'éléments de connecteur, chacun des éléments individuels (21) de connecteur ayant une partie de corps (22) avec une extrémité (24) pour câble dans laquelle au moins l'un desdits câbles (23) s'étend, une extrémité (25) pour bornes ayant une pluralité de bornes conductrices (25) disposées sur sa longueur, lesdites bornes (25) et lesdits câbles (23) étant connectés électriquement à l'intérieur desdites parties de corps (22) desdits éléments (21) de connecteur ;
    un premier organe de retenue (100) destiné à maintenir tous lesdits éléments individuels (21) de connecteur ensemble de façon solidaire pour former une masse d'éléments de connecteur dans une relation prédéterminée les uns avec les autres, avec leurs extrémités (26) pour bornes alignées entre elles pour former une extrémité pour bornes de ladite masse d'éléments de connecteur pour une connexion à un connecteur opposé (27) ;
    les parties de corps (22) de chacun desdits éléments (21) de connecteur comprenant des premières paires de premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement, les premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement de chaque élément de connecteur étant espacées entre elles d'une distance prédéterminée (D) sur des longueurs desdites parties de corps (22) des éléments de connecteur,
    le premier organe de retenue (100) ayant un corps allongé de longueur (L) qui correspond approximativement à une largeur (WT) d'un côté de ladite masse d'éléments de connecteur, le corps ayant des premières et secondes extrémités opposées (106, 107) d'engagement qui s'étendent longitudinalement à l'organe de retenue, les premières et secondes extrémités d'engagement (106, 107) de l'organe de retenue comprenant chacune respectivement une pluralité de premiers et seconds éléments individuels d'engagement destinés à engager respectivement les premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement des éléments de connecteur, l'un desdits premiers éléments (106) d'engagement de l'organe de retenue étant reçu dans l'une desdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur, et l'un desdits seconds éléments d'engagement (107) d'organe de retenue étant reçu dans l'une desdites secondes cavités (41) d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur, lesdits premiers éléments (100) d'engagement de l'organe de retenue pouvant tourner à l'intérieur desdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur sur un arc d'une longueur suffisante pour amener lesdits seconds éléments (107) d'engagement de l'organe de retenue en engagement avec lesdites secondes cavités (41) d'engagement des éléments de connecteur.
  13. Connecteur selon la revendication 12, dans lequel ledit organe de retenue (100) présente une série d'empreintes (103) formées sur une surface de ladite partie de corps de l'organe de retenue, lesdites empreintes définissant des segments discrets (102) dudit organe de retenue ayant une largeur approximativement égale à la largeur d'un élément de connecteur.
  14. Connecteur selon la revendication 12 ou 13, comprenant en outre un second organe de retenue (100) ayant des premières et secondes extrémités opposées (106, 107) d'engagement s'étendant longitudinalement au second organe de retenue, et une pluralité de premiers et seconds éléments individuels d'engagement disposés respectivement le long desdites premières et secondes extrémités d'engagement de l'organe de retenue, lesdits éléments de connecteur présentant chacun des secondes paires de premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement disposées sur eux, lesdits premiers et seconds éléments d'engagement de l'organe de retenue engageant respectivement les secondes paires desdites premières et secondes cavités d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur, lesdites premières et secondes paires desdites premières et secondes cavités d'engagement étant espacées les unes des autres sur lesdits éléments de connecteur.
  15. Connecteur selon la revendication 14, dans lequel lesdites premières paires desdites premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement sont disposées sur un côté (31) desdits éléments (21) de connecteur, et lesdites secondes paires desdites premières et secondes cavités (40, 41) d'engagement sont disposées sur un autre côté (32) desdits éléments (21) de connecteur.
  16. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 15, dans lequel lesdits premiers éléments d'engagement dudit premier organe de retenue comprennent des parties de cliquet (106), et lesdits seconds éléments d'engagement dudit premier organe de retenue comprennent des éléments de verrouillage (107).
  17. Connecteur selon la revendication 16, dans lequel chacune desdites parties de cliquet (106) présente au moins une surface courbe (109) destinée à engager une partie desdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement d'un élément de connecteur, et dans lequel chacun desdits éléments de verrouillage (107) comprend une patte fixe (120) et un bras flexible (121) de verrouillage, les pattes et les bras engageant des côtés opposés d'une seconde cavité (41) d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur lorsqu'ils y sont insérés.
  18. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 17, dans lequel chacune desdites parties de cliquet (106) présente au moins une surface courbe (109), et chacune desdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur présente une surface courbe complémentaire (43), sur lesquelles lesdites surfaces courbes des parties de cliquet se déplacent lorsque lesdites premières extrémités (106) d'engagement de l'organe de retenue sont insérées et tournées dans lesdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement de l'élément de connecteur.
  19. Connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 18, dans lequel chacun desdits seconds éléments (107) d'engagement d'organe de retenue comprend un élément flexible (121) de verrouillage s'étendant depuis ledit corps de l'organe de retenue et chacune desdites secondes cavités (41) d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur comprend un évidement (57) disposé dans une paroi latérale de cette cavité, lesdits bras de verrouillage (121) s'étendant au moins partiellement dans lesdits évidements (57) lorsque lesdits seconds éléments (107) d'engagement de l'organe de retenue sont totalement insérés dans lesdites secondes cavités (41) d'engagement de l'élément de connecteur.
  20. Connecteur selon la revendication 18 ou 19, dans lequel chacune des parties de cliquet (106) du premier organe de retenue comprend une surface d'arrêt (110) intersectant ladite surface courbe (109), chacune desdites premières cavités (40) d'engagement d'éléments de connecteur comprenant un épaulement (45), ladite surface d'arrêt (110) engageant ledit épaulement lorsque lesdites parties de cliquet (106) sont tournées, ladite surface d'arrêt (110) et ledit épaulement (45) limitant par coopération le mouvement de ladite partie de cliquet (106) à l'intérieur de ladite première cavité d'engagement (40).
EP20000123775 1999-11-03 2000-11-01 Verrouillage pour connecteurs modulaires spécialement adapté pour des connecteurs du type plaquette et assemblage de connecteurs utisant un tel verrouillage Expired - Lifetime EP1098398B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US433412 1999-11-03
US09/433,412 US6273762B1 (en) 1999-11-03 1999-11-03 Connector module retainer especially suitable for wafer connectors and connector assembly utilizing same
US09/515,133 US6361374B1 (en) 2000-02-29 2000-02-29 Connector module retainer especially suitable for wafer connectors and connector assembly utilizing same
US515133 2000-02-29

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EP1098398A2 EP1098398A2 (fr) 2001-05-09
EP1098398A3 EP1098398A3 (fr) 2003-04-16
EP1098398B1 true EP1098398B1 (fr) 2007-01-10

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NL1019122C2 (nl) * 2001-10-05 2003-04-08 Framatome Connectors Int Connectorsamenstel, vergrendelclip en werkwijze voor het samenstellen van een connector.
FR2874132B1 (fr) * 2004-08-03 2012-06-01 Infra Sa Element de jonction pour assembler deux supports de connecteurs adjacents et ensemble de support de connecteur comprenant un tel element de jonction
CN105655778B (zh) * 2014-12-01 2021-06-08 安费诺富加宜（亚洲）私人有限公司 用于电连接器的组织器
CN106252968B (zh) * 2016-07-29 2019-06-07 中航光电科技股份有限公司 电连接器
DE102019121801A1 (de) * 2019-08-13 2021-02-18 Harting Electric Gmbh & Co. Kg Steckverbindermodul für modulare Steckverbinder

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GB1542972A (en) * 1976-01-23 1979-03-28 Bowthorpe Hellermann Ltd Electrical connector module mounting system
US4984992A (en) * 1989-11-01 1991-01-15 Amp Incorporated Cable connector with a low inductance path
US5199886A (en) * 1991-11-19 1993-04-06 Amp Incorporated Shrouded connector assembly
US5385490A (en) * 1993-08-24 1995-01-31 The Whitaker Corporation Modular connector for use with multi-conductor cable
US5807119A (en) * 1996-11-08 1998-09-15 Baechtle; David Robert Mechanical coupling device

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EP1098398A3 (fr) 2003-04-16
DE60032856D1 (de) 2007-02-22
EP1098398A2 (fr) 2001-05-09
JP2001313112A (ja) 2001-11-09
DE60032856T2 (de) 2007-10-25
JP3433253B2 (ja) 2003-08-04

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