U.S. patent application number 09/728927 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for press-fit electrical connector.
Invention is credited to Goto, Kazuhiro, Gyimes, Andras, Luca, Dragos.
Application Number | 20010031566 09/728927 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22611683 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010031566 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goto, Kazuhiro ; et
al. |
October 18, 2001 |
Press-fit electrical connector
Abstract
An enclosure 10 is provided having a pin holder assembly 20
which may be latched into enclosure 10 via latching arms 24 and
latching shoulders 14. Fins 15 are inserted into slots 25 and
back-up press fit pins 21 in pin holder assembly 20. Fins 15 secure
press fit pins 21 so as to withstand insertion forces required to
attach enclosure 10 to a substrate. Pins 21 may be stitched into
pin holder assembly 20 and then bent at right angles within slots
25.
Inventors: |
Goto, Kazuhiro; (Markham,
CA) ; Gyimes, Andras; (Toronto, CA) ; Luca,
Dragos; (Don Mills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Tyco Technology Resources
4550 New Linden Hill Road, Suite 450
Wilmington
DE
19808-2952
US
|
Family ID: |
22611683 |
Appl. No.: |
09/728927 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60168485 |
Dec 2, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/585 20130101;
H01R 13/41 20130101; H01R 12/724 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/74 |
International
Class: |
H01R 012/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An electrical assembly comprising: pins having a body disposed
between a contacting portion and a press-fit portion; a pin holder
having apertures in communication with slots wherein the body of
each pin is disposed through one of the apertures and into one of
the slots, the press-fit portions extending beyond the apertures
outside the pin holder; and a housing secured to the pin holder,
the housing having fins which are disposed within the slots to
secure the bodies of the pins therein.
2. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the apertures are
disposed at right angles to the slots.
3. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the contacting
portions extend beyond the slots outside of the pin holder.
4. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the pin holder is
secured to the housing by latches.
5. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the fins disposed on
the housing are of varying heights.
6. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the slots are of
varying depths.
7. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly is
press-fitted to a circuit board by the press-fit portions of the
pins.
8. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the pin holder has
posts for locating and securing the assembly onto a printed circuit
board.
9. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the fins have guide
surfaces which cooperate with the pins to position the contact
portions of the pins.
10. An electrical connector assembly comprising: a housing having
at least one fin; at least one pin; and a pin holder having at
least one aperture in communication with at least one slot, the at
least one pin being disposed within the at least one aperture and
the at least one slot, wherein the pin holder is secured to the
housing such that the at least one fin is received within the at
least one slot thereby enclosing at least a portion of the at least
one pin between the pin holder and the at least one fin.
11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the at
least one pin has a press-fit portion projecting from the pin
holder.
12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the at
least one pin has a contacting portion projecting from the pin
holder.
13. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the pin
holder is secured to the housing by latches.
14. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the at
least one aperture is disposed at a right angle to the at least one
slot.
15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the
assembly is mounted to a printed circuit board.
16. An electrical assembly comprising: a pin holder having
apertures in communication with slots; pins having a body portion
disposed in each aperture and slot, the pins having press-fit
portions extending from the apertures; a housing having fins which
are disposed in the slots thereby capturing the body portions of
each pin in each slot; and a circuit board secured to the press-fit
portions of the pins.
17. The electrical assembly of claim 16 wherein the pin holder has
posts for aligning and securing the pin holder to the circuit
board.
18. The electrical assembly of claim 16 wherein the fins have guide
surfaces which position contact portions of the pins.
19. The electrical assembly of claim 18 wherein the contact
portions of the pins extend from the slots outside of the pin
holder.
20. The electrical assembly of claim 19 wherein the contact
portions project into a shroud disposed on the housing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to electrical connectors
and headers having press fit electrical terminals for connection to
a substrate, such as a printed circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Electrical connectors and headers having press fit
electrical terminals enjoy popularity, in part due to the ease in
which they may be assembled to a substrate such as a printed
circuit board. Such press fit components allow users to
electrically interconnect an electrical connector or header to a
substrate by merely inserting the press fit terminals through
plated through-holes provided on the substrate and firmly urging
the terminals into an interference fit with said through-holes. One
example of a press fit terminal is AMP Incorporated's ACTION
PIN.RTM. terminal. This type of an arrangement eliminates the need
for costly soldering procedures such as through-hole soldering or
surface mount soldering of the electrical terminals which are
mounted to the substrate. Of course, press fit terminals experience
significant forces upon insertion into a substrate. Because of
this, press fit electrical terminals are commonly secured within
the electrical connector or header by means of over-molding
processes which reliably secure the electrical terminals within the
connector or header housing. Unfortunately, over-molding press fit
electrical terminals is a difficult and costly process which adds
to the overall cost of the end product.
[0003] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an electrical
connector or housing equipped with press fit electrical terminals
which are reliably secured within the connector or header housing
and are capable of withstanding the significant insertion forces
required to assemble the device to a substrate, but which does not
require the expensive process of overmolding the press fit
electrical terminals within the connector or header housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides an
electrical assembly comprising pins having a body disposed between
a contacting portion and a press-fit portion. A pin holder is
provided having apertures in communication with slots wherein the
body of each pin is disposed through one of the apertures and into
one of the slots. The press-fit portions extend beyond the
apertures and outside of the pin holder. While a housing is secured
to the pin holder such that fins on the housing are disposed within
the slots to secure the bodies of the pins therein.
[0005] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an
electrical connector assembly comprising a housing having at least
one fin. At least one pin is disposed in a pin holder having at
least one aperture in communication with at least one slot. The pin
holder is secured to the housing such that the at least one fin is
received within the at least one slot thereby enclosing at least a
portion of the at least one pin between the pin holder and the at
least one fin.
[0006] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an
electrical assembly comprising a pin holder having apertures in
communication with slots. Pins having a body portion are disposed
in each aperture and slot such that press-fit portions of the pins
extend from the apertures. A housing is provided having fins which
are disposed in the slots thereby capturing the body portions of
each pin in each slot. And, a circuit board is secured to the
press-fit portions of the pins. Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way
of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of one embodiment of a
pin holder assembly and enclosure of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an enclosure
of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of a pin holder
assembly of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an isometric partial cut away view of a pin holder
assembly of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of a pin holder
assembly and enclosure of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 is an isometric partial cut away view of a pin holder
assembly of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a pin holder assembly
attached to an enclosure as described in the present invention;
and
[0014] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of an enclosure
attached to a pin holder assembly and secured to a substrate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an enclosure 10 having a shroud 12 which
surrounds an array of passageways 13. A pin holder assembly 20 is
shown having a plurality of pins 21 housed therein; each pin being
configured with press fit terminals 22 suitable for attachment to a
substrate. Pin holder assembly 20 is configured such that pins 21
are received through passageways 13 and pin holder assembly 20 is
secured to an interior of the enclosure 10 by way of latch arms 24
and complimentary latching shoulders 14, best shown in FIG. 2. Pin
holder assembly 20 is further comprised of a plurality of pin
receiving apertures 23 which receive pins 21. The pins 21 extend
through apertures 23 into slots 25. In one embodiment, pin holder
assembly 20 is configured for right angle orientation of the pins
within the pin holder assembly. FIG. 4 more clearly shows how pins
21 are situated within slots 25 after insertion through pin
receiving apertures 23. Each slot 25 has a pin receiving surface 26
upon which pins 21 are fitted. In the present embodiment, pins 21
are bent at a right angle after insertion through pin receiving
apertures 23 such that pins 21 bear against pin receiving surfaces
26 within slots 25.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 5, enclosure 10 is furnished with fins 15
which extend from passageways 13 and along enclosure base 11 toward
an interior of the enclosure 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5,
fins 15 have guide surfaces 16 which are configured to create a two
row presentation of the pins upon insertion through passageways 13.
That is, upon attachment of the pin holder assembly 20 to the
enclosure 10, pins 21 become inserted through passageways 13 and
fins 15 become situated within slots 25 such that pins 21 are
secured between fins 15 and pin receiving surfaces 26. Pins 21
follow guide surfaces 16 through passageways 13 and, in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 5, extend within the shroud 12 in a two
row configuration. FIG. 6 shows a cut away view of pin holder
assembly 20 wherein pin receiving surface 26 does not extend
entirely within slot 25. This allows pins 21a to be offset from
pins 21b which, as shown in FIG. 4, will be received within slots
25 having pin receiving surfaces 26 which extend through the entire
slots 25. By extending pin receiving surface 26 only partially
through slots 25 for receiving pins 21a, pins 21a may be influenced
by guide surfaces 16 such that they are offset to provide a two row
pin configuration within shroud 12.
[0017] Attachment of pin holder assembly 20 to enclosure 10 is
completed by latching arms 24 deflecting and then resiling into
latched engagement with latching shoulders 14, as best shown in
FIG. 7. Once pin holder assembly 20 is securely attached to
enclosure 10, a substrate may be press fit upon press fit terminals
22, as shown in FIG. 8. Posts 27 may be employed to further secure
the substrate to the pin holder assembly.
[0018] The arrangement of the present invention will protect pins
21 from being damaged upon insertion of the press fit terminals 22
into substrate 30 and will firmly secure the pins so that a
reliable electrical connection can be made. As shown in FIG. 8,
fins 15 backup pins 21 so that they are not displaced during
insertion of the press fit terminals 22 into the substrate 30. Pins
21 are presented in two rows within shroud 12, as earlier
described. FIG. 8, however, shows an alternative embodiment wherein
guide surfaces 26 extend through slots 25 at varying depths, as
further shown in FIG. 3. Fins 15, as best shown in FIG. 2, are
complimentarily formed at varying heights to fit within slots 25.
In such a configuration, tapered guide surfaces 16, as shown in
FIG. 5, are unnecessary.
[0019] Although a two row pin presentation has been discussed
herein, it should be apparent that single row or multirow
presentations may be adapted by adjusting fin heights and slot
depths accordingly. Furthermore, it should be apparent that the
present invention is suitable for alternative orientations of pins
21 such that they are not configured at a right angle.
Additionally, the configuration of enclosure 10 may be modified in
many ways. For instance a planar surface adapted with fins would
suffice to backup pins 21 which are fitted within a pin holder
assembly.
[0020] The press fit electrical connector of the present invention
and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the
foregoing description. It is apparent that changes may be made in
the form, construction and arrangement of parts thereof without
departing from the spirit of the invention, or sacrificing all of
its material advantages.
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