GB2159345A

GB2159345A - An assembly for releasably securing an electronic component to a printed circuit board

Info

Publication number: GB2159345A
Application number: GB08506925A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hartmut Schmode
Original assignee: CA Weidmueller GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1984-04-03
Filing date: 1985-03-18
Publication date: 1985-11-27
Also published as: DE8410243U1; GB8506925D0; FR2563960A1; FR2563960B3; GB2159345B

Abstract

An assembly for releasably securing an electronic component (5) on a printed circuit board, includes a plug base (1) which has connecting lugs which are solderable to a printed circuit board (3). Disposed in a housing part of the plug base (1) and accessible by way of plug openings (4) are plug sockets for receiving connecting plug members (6) of the electronic component (5). The assembly includes a mechanical positive retaining means (7,9) for releasably connecting the plug base (1) and an electronic component (5,5') fitted thereon. When not is use a spring detent clip (9) may be retained on the plug base. Clip (9) has a hook (10) at one end to engage component (5) and two spring arms 11 which engage in an opening in the plug base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An assembly for releasably securing an electronic component to a printed circuit board This invention relates to an assembly for releasably securing an electronic component to a printed circuit board.

Electronic components such as for example photo-electronic relays and the like are usually provided with plug-in lugs, and are frequently secured to a printed circuit board by the plugin lugs being fitted into predetermined bores in the printed circuit board, and then being soldered thereto. With this kind of securing arrangement, the replacement of components is an extremely difficult operation. The components must be removed from the printed circuit board by breaking the solder connection.

In carrying out that operation, an excessive amount of damage is caused in many cases to the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board.

In order to provide a remedy in that respect, spring sockets or sleeves have already been fitted into the printed circuit boards, to act as contacts, into which are then inserted the components which are provided with suitable plug-type connections. Although, with that kind of design, replacement of the components involved does not give rise to any problems, the components are insufficiently mechanically secured to the printed circuit board, in spite of the fact that spring sockets or sleeves are employed. In addition, this arrangement does not provide any tolerance compensation effect as the sockets or sleeves are rigidly soldered in position.

In order to remedy that disadvantage, a screw-type securing arrangement has also been proposed. In such an arrangement, a screw is fitted through a corresponding plug opening in the component and through a correspponding plug opening in the printed circuit board, and the screw is secured in position by a nut or by a soldered screwthreaded sleeve on the underside of the printed circuit board. However, this construction suffers from the disadvantage that, as a result of the screw and the nut, in the region of the printed circuit board, considerable binding or bonding occurs insofar as the conductor tracks must be taken really widely around the region of the through opening for the screw. In addition, as the mechanical securing effect is essentially produced by the screw, when more substantial mechanical loadings are involved, damage may be caused to the printed circuit board material.

There is thus a need for a generally improved assembly for releasably securing an electronic component to a printed circuit board, which facilitates quick and easy replacement of the components, while enabling the component to be securely fixed in a bonding-free and action-free manner, with respect to the printed circuit board.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly for releasably securing an electronic component to a printed circuit board, including a plug base having connecting lugs solderable to the printed circuit board, and containing in a housing part of the plug base, and accessible by way of plug openings, plug sockets for receiving connecting plug members of an electronic component, and including a mechanical positive arresting means for removably securing the plug base to an electronic component when fitted thereon.

By virtue of a plurality of connecting lugs being soldered to the printed circuit board, the plug base can be mechanically secured thereto in an extremely reliable and secure fashion. The plug base then provides a receiving means for the various electronic components which are to be connected thereto, but in turn remains fixed to the printed circuit board.

The plug sockets or sleeves which are disposed floatingly in the housing of the plug base for the purposes of tolerance compensation ensure that various electronic components can be easily fitted in position and replaced.

The mechanical positive arresting means which is additionally provided between the plug base and the repsective component further ensures that the respective electronic component is reliably mechanically and removably secured on the plug base. In the event of mechanical loading on the component, such loading primarily is transmitted to the plug base. The multiple solder connection between the plug base and the printed circuit board permits relatively high loading forces to be transmitted from the plug base to the printed circuit board.

In an advantageous embodiment, the positive or form-locking arresting means preferably is a detent spring clip which at one end has a hook for engaging over the electronic component and at its other end, on each of two spring arms, has a respective detent hook for cooperating with support means formed on the housing of the plug base, in conjunction with a plug opening. Besides securely mechanically fixing the electronic component on the housing of the plug base, this ensures ease of handling when securing the components in position or when replacing same. In another advantageous embodiment, plug openings and support means may be provided on the housing of the plug base at the two longitudinal edges thereof. This therefore gives a choice of which of the two longitudinal sides the respective electronic component is to be fixed on from one situation to another.

It is also possible to provide a positive or form-locking arresting means in the form of a screw for which a screw-threaded sleeve or socket is provided in the plug base. Such arresting means may be provided in addition to the positive arresting means formed by the detent spring clip, thus giving a further option in that respect.

In a further advantageous embodiment, formed on the housing of the plug base is a receiving means for receiving the detent clip in its entirety, said receiving means being within the contour of the housing of the plug base. The detent spring clip can be kept in a condition of readiness therein, when it is not required for use, without causing any difficulty or trouble.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly of the invention with part of a printed circuit board, showing a plug base of the assembly is secured thereto, an electronic component which is to be fixed onto the plug base, and one form of positive arresting means and Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically different ways of securing two electronic components of different sizes, viewing from the narrow or end side of an assembly of the invention.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, an assembly of the invention for removably securing an electronic component on a printed circuit board includes a plug base 1, with connecting lugs 2 projecting from a housing part of the plug base, at the underside thereof. The connecting lugs 2 are inserted into a printed circuit board 3 and fixedly soldered therein so that the plug base 1 is then durably and permanently mechanically and electrically connected to the printed circuit board 3.

Disposed in a floating condition in the plug base 1 in side-by-side relationship are a multiplicity of conventional plug sockets or sleeves (not shown) which are accessible from the top side of the plug base 1 by way of corresponding plug openings 4. The respective electronic components 5 which are to be fixed on the plug base 1 are each provided with corresponding connecting plug members 6 which project from the underside thereof and which can then be fitted into the plug sockets or sleeves for making the electrical connection.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes three different possible ways of providing a mechanical positive or form-locking arresting action between the plug base 1 and the electronic component which is fitted thereto.

One means for providing a mechanical positive arresting action for securely and releasably mechanically fixing the component on the plug base 1, includes a screw 7 for which electronic components of this kind conventionally have a through opening and for which the plug base 1 has a screwthreaded sleeve or socket (not shown) which is accessible through a plug opening 8 in the surface of the plug base 1.

Another positive arresting means is a detent spring clip 9 which at its one upper end has a hook 10 for engaging over the surface of an electronic component, while at its other end carries outwardly facing detent hooks 12 which are provided on respective ones of two spring arms 11 which are resiliently movable towards each other. The detent spring clip 9, in its entirety, is made of material which is resilient to such a degree that, when it is fixed with its detent hooks 12 in the plug base, it can be resiliently bent back at its upper end portion, to such a degree that the detent hook 10 then releases the top side of the electronic component and the component can then be withdrawn upwardly from the plug base 1 for the purposes of replacement, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

For the purposes of latching engagement with the detent hooks1 2 on the detent spring clip 9, the illustrated embodiment is provided, on the plug base 1, with respective separate cooperating support means, at each of its two longitudinal edges. On one side, formed at the longitudinal edge of the plug base 1 and projecting beyond the surface thereof is a small cantilever or projecting portion 13 which in its middle region has an outwardly curved plug-in guide means 14 which opens freely downwardly and there permits the spring arms 11 with the detent hooks 12 at the outside of the plug base 1 to pass through the plug-in guide means 14, as can be seen from the right-hand part of Fig. 2. When they are passed through the plug-in guide means 14, the spring arms 11 are pressed towards each other somewhat. When they are released, the detent hooks 12 then come into latching engagement against the underneath surface of the portion 13. The portion 13 projects somewhat outwardly with respect to the outside wall of the plug base 1, which is disposed beneath the portion 13.

Disposed in the region of the other longitudinal edge of the plug base 1, in the surface of the plug base 1, is a plug opening 15 through which the spring arms 11 of the detent spring clip 9 can be passed. Disposed at a lower position in the plug base 1 is a cooperating support means (not shown) for the two detent hooks 12, whereby the detent hooks can come into latching engagement under said support means, after they have been fitted into position. The fact that the detent spring clip 9 is introduced into the plug base 1 to a somewhat greater depth means that for example somewhat smaller electronic components 5' can be fixed on that longitudinal side of the plug base 1, than on the other side which has the portion 13 and the guide means 14, as can be seen from a comparison between the right-hand and lefthand parts of Fig. 2.

It will be appreciated that it is possible to provide embodiments of the assembly of the invention in which there are one or more of the above-described mechanical positive arresting means.

For when the detent spring clip 9 is not in use, the illustrated embodiment has a receiving means 16 on the plug base 1, the receiving means 16 lying within the contour of the housing. The receiving means 16 is essentially formed by the outside wall 17 of the plug base 1, which is disposed beneath the raised portion 13 and which is set back in relation thereto. A number of small projection abutment portions 18 are provided at the lower edge of the plug base 1, at the lower end of the wall 17. Disposed in the corner regions of the above-mentioned outside wall of the plug base 1 are cut-out portions 19, in one of which in particular the hook 10 on the detent spring lip 9 can be accommodated, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Claims

1. An assembly for releasably securing an electronic component to a printed circuit board, including a plug base having connecting lugs solderable to the printed circuit board and containing in a housing part of the plug base, and accessible by way of plug openings, plug sockets for receiving connecting plug members of an electronic component, and including a mechanical positive arresting means for removably securing the plug base to an electronic component when fitted thereon.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positive arresting means is a detent spring clip which at one end has a hook for engaging over the electronic component and which at its other end, on each of two spring arms has a respective detent hook for cooperating with support means formed on the plug base, in conjunction with a plug opening.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, including two such plug openings with corresponding support means provided on the plug base at its longitudinal edges.

4. An assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the or one of the plug opening(s) for the detent spring clip is provided in the plug base in the vicinity of its one longitudinal edge in the side thereof which is in use directed away from the printed circuit board, and the cooperating support means for the detent hooks is provided at a deep location in the plug base in the interior thereof.

5. An assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the positive arresting means includes an outwardly and upwardly projecting cantilever portion formed at one longitudinal edge of the plug base, with an outwardly curved plug-in guide means being formed in the cantilever portion and the guide means opening downwardly outside the respective outside wall of the plug base.

6. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positive arresting means is in the form of a screw for which a screwthreaded sleeve or socket is provided in the plug base, accessible by way of a plug opening.

7. An assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 5, wherein formed on the housing of the plug base, on the outside thereof, is a receiving means for accommodating the detent spring clip in its entirety, said receiving means being within the contour of the housing part of the plug base.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, when appended to claim 5 wherein the receiving means is formed by the outside wall of the plug base, said outside wall being disposed beneath the cantilever portion and being set back in relation thereto, cooperating abutment means which project with respect to said wall at the edge wall of the plug base, adjacent in use the printed circuit board, and cut-out portions in the respective corners of the plug base.

9. An assembly for releasably securing an electronic component to a printed circuit board, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference fo Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.