GB2208759A

GB2208759A - A pin register device

Info

Publication number: GB2208759A
Application number: GB8719508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Charles Martinek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-08-18
Filing date: 1987-08-18
Publication date: 1989-04-12
Also published as: GB8719508D0

Abstract

A pin register device (2) for preventing misalignment of the pins (6) of a multi-pin component (1). The pin register device (2) comprises a plate (3) having a plurality of through holes (5) therein in which the pins (6) of the component (1) are received and retaining means (4) for retaining the plate (3) at or towards the tips of the pins (6). The retaining means may frictionally engage with the component, or may comprise collapsible spacing members. In either case the retaining means ensures that the plate is retained at or towards the tips of the pins where it protects them from being bent out of alignment, until such time as the component is pushed into a mounting, when the plate simply slides along the pins as these enter the mounting. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION A PIN REGISTER DEVICE The present invention relates to a pin register device; that is to say, a device for ensuring that the pins or legs of a multi-pin connectors, sockets, integrated circuit, sub-module or the like, (hereinafter referred to generally as "components"), are not bent out of alignment between manufacture of the component and actual use.

The electronic and electrical industries make extensive use of multi-pin components. The pins facilitate direct mounting of the components in a circuit board, as, say, with integrated circuits, which can then be soldered in place, or, alternatively, allow the component to be plugged into a complimentary socket.

However, once constant problem which arises with all multi-pin components is misalignment of the pins between manufacture and actual use. This may arise during actual manufacture of the component, but is more commonly caused by mishandling of the component.

As will be readily apparent misalignment of the pins prevents the component from being properly mounted and gives rise to production problems, especially in automated production lines.

Currently various methods are employed to overcome this problem. Obviously careful packing and handling reduces the problem, but often this entails processing the pins of the components into a polystyrene block which may actually give rise to misalignment. Alignment correction tools are available which can force the pins into the correct position, but use of these gives rise to a further assembly operation which increases costs and militates against automation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pin register device which prevents misalignment of the pins occurring.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pin register device which is adapted in use to prevent misalignment of the pins of a multi-pin component occurring, said pin register device comprising a plate having a plurality of through holes therein corresponding in position to the pins of the said multi-pin component, which, in use, are received therein, and retaining means whereby, in use, the plate is retained at or towards the tips of the pins until the multi-pin component is mounted in place, whereupon the plate slides up the pins as the component is pressed into place.

In use, the pin register device of the present invention is positioned on the pins of a multi-pin component during or as soon as possible after manufacture. The retaining means ensures that the plate itself is retained at the tips of the pins of the component where it prbtects the pins from being bent out of alignment with one another. When the component is mounted in a circuit board or plugged into a complimentary socket, the multipin component is positioned over the receiving holes and pushed home. As it is pushed home the plate simply slides up the pins until it is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the component and its mounting.

Thereafter, it is left permanently in situ.

So as not to prevent the pins of the component from being fully received in the mounting the plate must be quite thin, but rigid enough to give full support to the pins. To this end it may be conveniently manufactured from a rigid plastics material which may be the same as the body of the component. The plastics material may be moulded or extruded with the holes punched through.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the retaining means comprises a plurality of legs which extend upwardly from the plate and frictionally engage against the sides of the component, or -in specially provided slots in the sides of the component. These legs retain the plate at the tips of the pins and also provide a rigid connection between the plate and the body of the component which helps to prevent transverse forces on the plate from being transmitted to the pins. Where slots are provided in the sides of the component to receive the upright legs this ensures a smoooth stream in lined finish when the component, register device and mounting are all assembled together.

Alternatively, the retaining means may comprise collapsible stand-off pins which collapse as the component is pushed down into its mounting through the holes in the plate. Springs, hinged frames or even a simple friction attachment of the plate to the pins may also be used. In the latter case, where a simple friction attachment is used, some or all of the holes in the plate are formed so as to only just accommodate the pins of the component therein. The tight fit ensures that the plate remains on the tips of the pins until the plate is positively pushed onto the pins The pin register device may be provided with mounting holes in the plate which correspond in position to mounting holes in the component. In addition, the pin register device may incorporate a metal earthing plate, a de-coupling capacitor or other electronic components.

These electronic components are arranged to contact the pins of the multi-pin component thereby obviating the need to provide separate electronic components.

Where the component has a large number of pins it may be convenient to use a plurality of pin register devices in combination to cover them all. The pin register devices may be independent of one another or connected together to form a single unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-pin component comprising a pin register device in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a pin register device embodying the present invention positioned on the tips of the pins of multi-pin dual in line component.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a multi-pin dual in line component 1, such as an integrated circuit, an alpha-numeric display module or the like, and a pin register device 2 embodying the present invention.

The pin register device 2 comprises a thin plastics plate 3 having four upright legs 4 (only three of which are visible) disposed around the edge thereof and a plurality of through holes 5 which correspond in position to the pins 6 of the component 1. Elongate slots 7 are provided in the sides of the component 1 which each receive a respective one of the upriqht leqs 4.

During or as soon as possible after manufacture of the component 1 the pin register device 2 is attached to it. In this respect, the through holes 5 in the plate 3 are engaged over the tips of the pins 6 and upright legs 4 are engaged in the elongate slots 7. The upright legs 4 form a tight, but slidable, fit within the elongate slots 7 and so the plate 3 is retained in the position shown in the accompanying drawing at the tips of the pins 6 and spaced from the bottom of the component 1.

In actual use, the component 1 is positioned adjacent its mounting and pushed towards the mounting to engage the pins 6 therein. As the pins 6 are received into the mounting the plate 3 slides up the pins 6 and the upright legs 4 slide into the elongate slots until the pins 6 are fully received within the mounting and the plate 3 is sandwiched between the component 1 and the mounting.

It will be appreciated that the pin register device of the present invention provides a simple, cheap, yet highly effective protection against the pins of a multipin component being damaged. The pin register device can be incorporated at any convenient stage of the manufacturing process of the component, or fitted shortly after manufacture of the component, and can be retained on the pins of the component throughout its useful life.

Should it ever be necessary to remove a component from its mounting the pins can be protected from damage by cliding the pin register device back down to the taps of the pins.

Claims

1. A pin register device for preventing misalignment of the pins of a multi-pin component1 said pin register device comprising a plate having a plurality of through holes therein in which the pins of the said multi-pin component are received, and retaining means for retaining the plate at or towards the tips of the pins until such time as the multi-pin component is pushed into a mounting, whereupon the plate slides up the pins.

2. A pin register device according to claim l, wherein the retaining means frictionally engage with the multi-pin component to prevent free movement of the plate along the pins.

3. A pin register device according to claim 2, wherein the holes in the plate are so formed as to frictionally engage with the pins of the component received therein.

4. A pin register device according to claim 2, wherein the retaining means comprises a plurality of legs which extend upwardly from the plate and frictionally engage with the sides of the component.

5. A pin register device according to claim 4, wherein the legs are received in slots in the sides of the component.

6. A pin register device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises at least one collapsible spacing member which lies between the plate and the component and which is adapted to collapse when the plate and the component are positively pushed together.

7. A pin register device according to claim 6, wherein the collapsible spacing member comprises a collapsible stand off pin.

8. A pin register device according to claim 6, wherein the collapsible spacing member comprises a spring.

9. A pin register device according to any preceding claim, wherein the plate is comprised of a rigid plastics material.

lO. A pin register device according to any preceding claim, wherein an electrical or electronic circuit is incorporated in the plate and connecting means are provided in the through holes of the plate to connect the said electrical or electronic circuit to the pins of the component.

11. A multi-pin component comprising a pin register device in accordance with any of the preceding claims.

12. A pin register device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A multi-pin component comprising a pin register device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.