GB2291282A

GB2291282A - Multipole terminal plug connector for a printed circuit board

Info

Publication number: GB2291282A
Application number: GB9512424A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Radde
Original assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1994-07-07
Filing date: 1995-06-19
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-19
Also published as: GB9512424D0; ITGE950049A0; GB2291282B; ITGE950049A1; IT1282469B1; FR2722341B1; FR2722341A3; DE9410919U1

Abstract

For a multipole terminal plug connector (1) for a printed circuit board, pairs of mounting blocks (5) (one shown partially exploded) are provided, each pair for supporting the connector at a different orientation with respect to the pcb. A contact surface (7) of each block engages the pcb and each block has a recess (6) to receive the respective first or last pole of the plug connector (1). The recesses (6) of each pair are angularly orientated with respect to the contact surfaces (7) so that a standard plug connector (1) can be fitted into two such mounting blocks (5) at the chosen orientation to the pcb, and latched to the blocks by T slots (4). The ends of the pins (3) of the plug connector (1) leading to the printed circuit board are bent according to this angular position. <IMAGE>

Description

MULTIPOr.E TERMINAL PLUG CONNECTOR FOR A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD The invention relates to a multipole terminal plug connector for a printed circuit board.

It is often necessary for such a terminal plug connector to be fitted onto a printed circuit board both mechanically and electrically, in different spatial orientations. In the case of terminals for fitting onto printed circuit boards it is known from Patent Specification DE 27 36 620 to configure a terminal housing such that it has several surfaces for contact with the printed circuit board, orientated in different spatial positions with respect to the receiving space of the terminals, and is provided with differently angled or offset terminal lugs which ensure vertical insertion of the relevant terminal lug with respect to the printed circuit board according to the various prevailing spatial positions. In a known terminal of this type, for example, three differently orientated spatial positions of the terminal are possible in relation to the printed circuit board.

It is difficult to embody many more than three different spatial positions on a housing of this type due to the requirements of the system. Particularly optimally matched special angular positions for various applications cannot be implemented.

According to the invention there is provided a multipole terminal plug connector for a printed circuit board, comprising mounting blocks to be fixed to a printed circuit board with a contact surface and provided with a recess to receive the respective first or last pole of a plug connector, the recesses being orientated in an angular position with respect to the contact surface pre-determined for the respective application, and the ends of pins of the plug connector leading to the printing circuit board being bent according to this angular position.

Such a terminal plug connector for a printed circuit board can be electrically and mechanically connected to the printed circuit board in a desired angular position, to a great extent adapted precisely to the current application.

Thus the idea behind the invention is to manufacture terminal plug connectors essentially only in a single, uniform, basic type, which by its very nature results in an extraordinary simplification of the manufacturing process. Only two separate mounting blocks are necessary for all types of fixing. This involves parts which are simple to manufacture and which, according to the requirements of the user, can be manufactured in the respective desired, optimum spatial orientation in relation to the application between the recess for the connector plug and the contact surface for the printed circuit board. These mounting blocks then ensure the desired inclined position of the connector plugs with respect to the printed circuit board. By receiving the respective first or last pole of the plug connector, attachment in the contact spacing is ensured.The mounting blocks additionally act as lugs and can also be used for mechanical locking onto the printed circuit board. In all cases, only two blocks are required for plug connectors with any number of poles. The plug connector only has to be adapted in a conceivably simple manner for the respective application, in that the pins projecting from it for connecting to the printed circuit board are bent in a simple bending device according to the pre-determined angular position, so that they can be inserted substantially vertically into the printed circuit board.

Further preferred configurations of a multipole terminal plug connector are characterised in the sub-claims appended hereto. A conceivably simple connection between plug connector and mounting block by latching should be emphasised. Also to be emphasised is a configuration of the mounting blocks, with the aid of which an external socket connector can be fixed.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first terminal plug connector according to the invention shown in perspective with partial cut-away representation of the mounting block; Figure 2 is a further side view in perspective of a mounting block of the plug connector according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view in perspective of a mounting block of a further plug connector according to the invention; Figure 4 is a front view of the further plug connector and mounting block of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a side view of the arrangement according to Figure 4.

Figures 1, 4 and 5 show an essentially standard multipole terminal plug connector 1, into housings 2 of which pins 3 are fitted. Each housing 2 additionally forms, in a conventional manner, a receiving space for the co-operating elements of a socket connector which is placed on one end of the pin 3. For all applications which will be described hereinafter, a uniform, basic configuration of the plug connector 1 is provided, wherein in this pre-determined form, as shown in Figure 5 by the dashed lines, the ends of the pins 3 to be connected to the printed circuit board are initially angled by 90" in the housing 2 and project therefrom at appropriate positions. The contour of the back of the housing includes, on the side opposite to where the pins project, the configuration of T-shaped grooves 4.

To connect the plug connector 1 in a spatial position desired for the current application, in particular the inclined position desired of the receiving space for the socket connectors, mounting blocks 5, 5' are provided each of which has a laterally open recess 6, 6' in which the first or last pole of the respective plug connector 1 can be inserted. The mounting blocks 5, 5' have contact surfaces 7, 7' for placing on the printed circuit board.Figures 2 and 3 show two different types of blocks 5, 5', the recesses 5, or respectively 5' of which have a differently orientated angular position with respect to the contact surfaces 7, 7', with the result that when the plug connector 1 is fixed onto the printed circuit board with the aid of the mounting blocks 5 according to Figure 2 it has a different inclined position, which is that shown in Figure 1, in relation to the printed circuit board, than the plug connector 1 which is mounted with the aid of the blocks 5' according to Figure 3, the spatial position of which with respect to the printed circuit board can be seen in Figures 4 and 5.

The ends of the pins 3 to be inserted in the printed circuit board, initially angled at 900 in the plug connectors 1 have to be bent in a manner appropriate for their purpose in the area projecting from the housing 2 so that they can be fitted into the printed circuit board vertically in this application. This can be done with a simple bending device. This process is shown in Figure 5 by the representation of the actual position required for the application (solid lines) and illustration of the original position of this end of the pin 3 in dashed lines.

For mounting onto the printed circuit board, two mounting blocks 5 or respectively 5' are always needed per multipole plug connector 1. The mounting blocks 5, 5' additionally act as lugs. They have an access aperture 8, which leads to a fixing hole 9 with the aid of which, for example by means of a screw, the attachment of the mounting block 5, 5' onto the printed circuit board is effected. The blocks 5, 5' in this case define a lug area 10 which as a whole serves a function of fixing to the printed circuit board, as well as the mechanical connection of an external socket connector. Additionally, a channel 11 for a square nut 12 is formed in this lug area 10, and a feeder aperture 13 in the lug area 10 of the block 5, 5' to receive the fixing screw for affixing the socket connector leads to the receiving channel 11.

The width of the lug area 10 is selected according to the contact spacing of the multipole plug connector 1 in order to guarantee a further attachment capability in the contact spacing.

The recesses 6, 6' of the blocks 5, 5' are delimited by the adjacent lateral surfaces concerned of the lug area 10 as well as by upper, lower and rear junction plates 14, 15, 16. As shown in particular in Figure 3, the upper junction plates 14 additionally carry on their rear area a latch 17. This latch 17 can latch into the Tshaped groove 4 of the respective first or last pole of the plug connector 1 and thereby allows a latchable connection between the respective ends of the plug connector 1 and the mounting block 5, 5' concerned.

In a transitional area between the lower and rear junction plates 15 and 16 a laterally open insertion aperture 18 is provided which, when the respective end of the plug connector 1 is inserted, can make contact with the respective end area of the pin 3 of the respective first or last pole leading to the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A multipole terminal plug connector for a printed circuit board, comprising mounting blocks to be fixed to a printed circuit board with a contact surface and provided with a recess to receive the respective first or last pole of a plug connector, the recesses being orientated in an angular position with respect to the contact surface pre-determined for the respective application, and the ends of pins of the plug connector leading to the printing circuit board being bent according to this angular position.

2. A multipole terminal plug connector according to claim 1, in which the mounting blocks are provided with a lug area contained within the contact spacing of the plug connector.

3. A multipole terminal plug connector according to claim 2, in which in the lug area of the mounting blocks, access apertures and fixing holes are provided for fixing to the printed circuit board by means of a fixing means.

4. A multipole terminal plug connector according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which in the lug area of the mounting blocks a receiving channel is provided for a nut and a feeder aperture for a fixing screw leads to the receiving channel.

5. A multipole terminal plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first or respectively last pole of the plug connector can be latched into the recess of each of the mounting blocks.

6. A multipole terminal plug connector according to claim 5, in which the recess of each of the mounting blocks is provided with an upper junction plate on which a latch is moulded to co-operate with a T-shaped groove in the respective pole of the plug connector.

7. A multipole terminal plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, in which between a lower and a rear junction plate of the recess of each of the mounting blocks an insertion aperture is provided to receive the end of the pin of the respective first or last pole of the plug connector, leading to the printed circuit board.

8. A multipole terminal plug connector substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.