U.S. patent application number 10/367960 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-19 for connector system.
Invention is credited to Favareille, Laurent, Maini, Christian, Sahner, Andreas.
Application Number | 20040033714 10/367960 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22448089 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040033714 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maini, Christian ; et
al. |
February 19, 2004 |
Connector system
Abstract
Connector systems are provided for electrical connection of
multiple male and female contacts with one another, for both cable
connections and circuit board connections. For the cable
connections, latching elements are provided which axially latch the
connectors together against axial disconnection, for use with cable
connections. The latching members are configured to be detachable
so as to permit use of the same basic connector with both cable
connections and circuit board connections. In certain embodiments,
the latching members can be selectively disconnected and
reconnected to the connecting members to thereby improve the
options for use of the connectors.
Inventors: |
Maini, Christian; (Burlats,
FR) ; Sahner, Andreas; (Helecine, BE) ;
Favareille, Laurent; (Jodoigne, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CROWELL & MORING LLP
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
P.O. BOX 14300
WASHINGTON
DC
20044-4300
US
|
Family ID: |
22448089 |
Appl. No.: |
10/367960 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10367960 |
Feb 19, 2003 |
|
|
|
PCT/CH00/00439 |
Aug 17, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/357 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 13/765 20130101;
H01Q 25/00 20130101; H01Q 21/067 20130101; H01Q 1/2225 20130101;
H01Q 21/24 20130101; G01S 13/825 20130101; H01Q 1/246 20130101;
H01Q 1/125 20130101; G01S 7/4004 20130101; H01R 13/6273 20130101;
H01Q 21/10 20130101; G01S 13/4418 20130101; H01Q 21/245 20130101;
H01Q 19/28 20130101; H01Q 21/12 20130101; G01S 7/292 20130101; H01Q
21/29 20130101; H01Q 1/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/357 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/627 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A connector system comprising: a first connector having at least
a first contact and at least a first latching element; and a second
connector, which is connectable to the first connector, having at
least a second contact for engaging the at least a first contact,
and at least a second latching element for engaging the at least a
first latching element; wherein at least one of the latching
elements is a removable latching element that is selectively
removable from the connector to which it is attached.
2. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the at least a first
contact is a female contact.
3. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the at least a second
contact is a male contact.
4. The connector system of claim 1, further comprising a third
connector having at least a third contact and at least a third
latching element.
5. The connector system of claim 4, wherein the at least a third
contact is a female contact.
6. The connector system of claim 4, wherein the removable latching
element is a permanently removable latching element that cannot be
reattached to the connector once removed.
7. The connector system of claim 6, wherein the permanently
removable latching element is attached to a base element of the
connector and includes a predetermined breaking point in a
transition area between the base element and the permanently
removable latching element.
8. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the removable latching
element includes a v-shaped portion, and the connector to which the
removable latching element is attached includes a v-shaped channel
for removably receiving the v-shaped portion.
9. The connector system of claim 8, wherein the connector to which
the removable latching element is attached includes a base portion,
and the v-shaped channel is positioned proximate the periphery of
the base portion.
10. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the at least a first
latching element includes a tongue having one or more protrusions,
and the at least a second latching element includes a tongue having
one or more cavities for releasably receiving the one or more
protrusions, facilitating the connection of the first and second
connectors.
11. The connector system of claim 1, wherein: the first connector
includes a generally rectangular base portion and the at least a
first latching element includes two latching elements positioned on
opposite ends of the base portion; and the second connector
includes a generally rectangular base portion and the at least a
second latching element includes two latching elements positioned
on opposite ends of the base portion.
12. The connector system of claim 11, wherein each of the latching
elements of the first connector includes: a v-shaped portion; and a
tongue having one or more protrusions.
13. The connector system of claim 12, wherein the base portion of
the first connector includes a pair of v-shaped channels, each
configured to removably receive the v-shaped portion of one of the
two latching elements of the first connector.
14. The connector system of claim 12, wherein each of the latching
elements of the second connector includes: a v-shaped portion; and
a tongue having one or more cavities for releasably receiving the
one or more protrusions, thus facilitating the connection of the
first and second connectors.
15. The connector system of claim 14, wherein the base portion of
the second connector includes a pair of v-shaped channels, each
configured to removably receive the v-shaped portion of one of the
two latching elements of the second connectors.
16. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the connectors are
color coded to accommodate selective matching of respective
connectors to be latched together.
17. The connector system of claim 1, wherein latches of the
respective connectors are provided with color codes to accommodate
selective matching of respective connectors to be latched
together.
18. The connector system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
latching elements is part of bar shaped members which is adapted to
be selectively attached to and detached from a respective
connector.
19. A connector system comprising: a first connector having at
least a first contact and at least a first latching element; and a
second connector, which is connectable to the first connector,
having at least a second contact for engaging the at least a first
contact, and at least a second latching element for engaging the at
least a first latching element; wherein at least one of the
latching elements is a permanently removable latching element that
cannot be reattached to the connector once removed.
20. The connector system of claim 19, wherein the permanently
removable latching element is attached to a base element of the
connector and includes a predetermined breaking point in a
transition area between the base element and the permanently
removable latching element.
21. A connector with female and/or male contacts, which connector
has a base element, having cavities on a side opposite a plugable
side of the connectors, said cavities being configured for
receiving respective latching elements operable in use to latch the
connector to another connector.
22. A connector according to claim 21, wherein the recesses are
v-shaped.
23. A connector according to claim 21, wherein said recessed are
configured to facilitate selective attachment and detachment of
respective latching elements.
24. A connector assembly comprising: a first connector member
having a plurality of contacts, a second connector member having a
plurality of second contacts, configured to accommodate engagement
of the respective ones of the second contacts with the first
contacts when said first and second connector members are connected
to one another by movement of said connector members toward each
other in an axial direction, first latching means provided at said
first connector member, and second latching means provided at said
second connector and operable to latchingly engage respective ones
of said first latching means to latch said connector members
together so as to prevent separation of said connecting members
unless at least one of the latching means is moved transverse to
said axial direction, wherein said latching means are selectively
removable to thereby permit connection and disconnection of said
connector members without latching of said connector members to one
another, whereby said connector members can be selectively used to
connect cables having sets of said contacts and circuit boards
having sets of said contacts.
25. A connector assembly according to claim 24, comprising color
coding at respective ones of at least one of respective sets of
said latching means, sets of said contacts to facilitate matching
of respective connector members.
26. A connector assembly according to claim 24, wherein at least
one of said latching means is permanently detachable from its
associated connecting member.
27. A connector assembly according to claim 24, wherein at least
one of said latching means is part of a detachable member which can
be selectively attached to and detached from its associated
connecting member.
28. A connector assembly according to claim 27, wherein said at
least one latching means is part of a strip shaped member
insertable into a recess provided on its associated connecting
member.
29. A connector for assembly according to claim 28, wherein said
strip shaped member and said recess are configured to accommodate
selective interlocking of said strip shaped member and connector
member to prevent relative movement thereof in said axial
direction.
30. A connector for assembly according to claim 25, wherein said
latching means include a plurality of latching members at each of
said connecting members.
31. A connector for assembly according to claim 30, wherein said
latching members are strip shaped bent members which can be
selectively attached to and detached from their respective
associated connecting members.
32. A connector assembly according to claim 31, comprising color
coding at respective ones of at least one of respective sets of
said latching means, sets of said contacts to facilitate matching
of respective connector members.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
PCT Application PCT/CH00/00439, filed in Switzerland on Aug. 17,
2000.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is related to a connector set and
connectors of a connector set that is usable for connecting
multi-contact electrical cables with one another, as well as to
connect cables with single system boards and multiple system boards
with each other.
[0003] In order to connect electrical cables, cables with system
boards or single system boards with each other, a multitude of
connector systems are being offered. These connector systems are
all characterized in that, for each connection type, a special
connector or a special connector system is being used.
[0004] A connector system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,261,
which connector system consists of four connectors of which the
first connector shows female contacts, the second connector shows
male contacts, the third connector again shows female contacts and
the forth connector again shows male contacts. Furthermore, the
connectors are provided with discriminating elements in such a way
that, while connecting, the first connector latches with the
second, the second connector latches with the third, and the third
connector latches with the first. Although the contacts of the
third and the forth connector can be connected together, they
cannot latch.
[0005] Therewith, all requirements, which arise from connecting
cables with each other, from connecting system boards (i.e. so
called PCB--Printed Circuit Boards) with each other and for
connecting of a cable with a system board, can be met. These
requirements result, besides other facts, from the fact that for
cable connections and for connections between cables and system
boards, the connecting pairs must latch. For the connection of
system boards, a latching is not desired.
[0006] As already has been mentioned, the teaching according to
U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,261 meets the aforementioned requirements by
providing four connector types. However, the known teaching is
relatively expensive in view of the high number of units which are
particularly necessary for computer systems. In addition, the
flexibility of the known connector system is considerably limited
due to the fix guidelines. Implementations in small assembly spaces
are only possible in a limited manner.
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a
connector system which does not have the aforementioned
drawbacks.
[0008] This object is achieved according to certain preferred
embodiments of the invention by providing latching elements which
can be selectively used for cable connections and can be detached
or removed for system or circuit board connections.
[0009] The present invention has the following advantages: By using
latching elements which are removable from at least one connector,
the number of connectors of a connector system can be reduced to a
minimum of two connector types while, at the same time, the
requirements to be met are fulfilled. Therefore, the assembly of
the connectors and the selection can be simplified considerably. In
particular, it is an advantage that the properties can still be
adjusted after the assembly of a connector.
[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention will be further explained referring to
drawings showing exemplified embodiments as follows:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a connector
system including first and second connectors for removably
connecting cables to one another, constructed according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view depicting a latching arrangement
for latching the first and second connectors of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a third
connector mounted at a circuit board and removably connectable with
both a cable connector according to FIG. 1 and a modified form of
that cable connector to be connected with a second circuit board,
constructed in accordance with other preferred embodiments of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically depicting the
latching connection between the third connector shown in FIG. 3 and
the other connectors of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0016] FIGS. 5A to 5B depict further arrangements of the connector
and latching arrangements for connectors according to preferred
embodiments of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing another
preferred embodiment of the present invention, utilizing
selectively detachable and attachable latching members in the form
of strip shaped members, formed for selectively latching the
connectors together;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a further perspective view, taken in a different
direction, of the system of FIG. 6;
[0019] FIG. 8 schematically depicts one of the connectors of FIGS.
6 and 7, with one of the strip shaped latching members detached;
and
[0020] FIG. 9 depicts the other of the connecting members of FIGS.
6 and 7 with one of the strip shaped latching members in a detached
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In FIG. 1, a first connector 1 of the connector system
according to the present invention is represented in a perspective
view, which connector 1 is removably connectable to a second
connector 2a of the connector system according to the present
invention. The connector 1 has a rectangular shaped connecting body
14 with female contacts 10 on its contact side. Accordingly, the
second connector 2a also has a rectangular shaped connecting cavity
(not shown in FIG. 1) which receives the connecting body 14 while
the connectors 1, 2a are joined up, and, accordingly, the second
connector 2a is provided with male contacts 11 (not shown in FIG.
1, but visible in FIG. 3). The male and female contacts are
arranged in such a manner that the connectors 1 and 2a match when
connected together. In addition, the outer shapes of the connectors
1 and 2a are in line, the connecting body 14 matches to the
connecting cavity, and the connecting body 14 and the connecting
cavity have guiding grooves G or lines, respectively, in order that
it is impossible to connect the connectors 1 and 2a in a wrong
manner.
[0022] Furthermore, the connectors 1 and 2a have latching elements
which prevent that the connectors 1, 2a are releasable
automatically after the coupling when forces act to pull the
connectors 1 and 2a apart. That is, the latching elements provide
for special releasing in addition to tension forces for pulling the
connector 1 and 2a apart from one another.
[0023] The latching elements of the first connector 1 include
tongues 6 arranged on the respective opposite lateral sides of the
rectangular shaped connecting body 14. Each tongue 6 has two
gudgeons 8 pointing outwards at its end on the contact side.
[0024] The latching elements of the second connector 2a include two
tongues 7 on each lateral side. Each tongue 7 has cavities 9 in
which the corresponding gudgeon 8 of the connector 1 engage when
the two connectors 1, 2a are pushed together. To release the
connection, the tongues 6 will be pressed inwards, i.e., laterally
towards the connector body 14, to be precise, so far until the
gudgeons 8 leave the cavities 9. Only then, the connection can be
released by pulling of the connectors 1, 2a in opposite
directions.
[0025] In FIG. 2, a detailed view of a section at a right angle to
the latching elements is represented for connectors 1, 2a connected
together. From this representation, it can be seen that both
tongues 6 and 7 end in a tip seen in a cross section. The tips of
the tongues 6 and 7 are arranged in a displaced manner for aligned
connectors 1, 2a not connected together. This allows a perfectly
merging and latching of the latching elements of the connector 1
and 2a.
[0026] FIG. 3 schematically depicts an arrangement according to
preferred embodiments of the invention, including use thereof to
connect connectors mounted at a circuit board. The connector 3 in
FIG. 3 is similar to the connector 1 in FIG. 1 in that it includes
a connector body 14 with female contacts 10. The connector 2
differs from connector 1 in that only one latching tongue 6A is
included on each lateral side of the connector body 14, which
latching tongues are offset vertically with an upper latching
tongue 6A shown on the left side and a lower latching tongue 6B
shown on the right side. Also, the latching tongues 6A and 6B
include laterally inwardly facing gudgeons 8A, rather than lateral
outwardly facing gudgeons 8 as in the connectors 1 of FIG. 1.
[0027] The connector 3 having female contacts 10 will preferably be
positioned at the edge of the system board 13 in order that the
merging or releasing of a connector 2a (shown on the right side of
FIG. 3) can take place in an easy way, which connector 2a is
connected to cables 12, according to the explanations to FIG. 1. It
is also contemplated that the connector 3 is arranged at any
position on the system board 13. In this case, one must consider
that enough moving clearance is available in the area of the
contacts of the connector 3 mounted on the system board 13 for the
coupling or releasing of the connector 2a to or from, respectively,
the connector 13.
[0028] The connector 3 again comprises latching elements of the
kind as have already been provided for the connector 1. In
contrast, the gudgeons 8 are now pointing inwards, i.e. in
direction towards the contacts 10. As a result, the gudgeons 8 of
the tongue 6 engage with the cavities 9 of the tongue 7 from the
outside. FIG. 4 shows the latching elements in detail for coupled
connectors 3 and 2a.
[0029] The connectors 2a and 3 are also suitable for connecting of
two system boards 13. For this arrangement, the connector 2a is
modified as shown at 2b on the left side of FIG. 3 and connected to
the system board 13 in a fixed manner. For this type of connection,
it is desired that no latching element becomes active. According to
the present invention, the connector 2a is implemented in such a
way that the latching elements are removable to form the
configuration 2b. The embodiment according to FIG. 3 provides that
the tongues 7, which latch with the tongues 6A or their gudgeon 8A,
respectively, will be removed. Thereto, the tongue 7 comprises a
predetermined breaking point in the area of the base. When
overshooting the permissible strain of the tongue by pushing
sideways, it is guarantied that the tongue breaks at the desired
position in the base area. Therewith, the tongue 6A reaches with
its gudgeon 8 into empty space such that no releasing action is
needed for releasing the connectors 2b, 3.
[0030] For the preferred embodiment of the connector 2a, all
tongues 7 comprise a predetermined breaking point such that any
combination with or without latching element emerge.
[0031] It is also conceivable that the tongues 6A of the connector
3, as well as the tongues 6 of the connector 1, are removable.
Therewith, further combination possibilities are obtained for
which, depending on the removable tongue, a connector is latching
with one connector but not with another.
[0032] In FIGS. 5A to 5F, a further preferred embodiment of a
connector system according to the present invention is shown.
Therein, the basic connector type again consists of a rectangular
shaped form. It goes without saying that the principle according to
the present invention can also be applied on connector types which
have no rectangular shaped form as already shown with the
embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 3.
[0033] Basically, the connector system according to FIGS. 5A to 5F
only consists of two connector types of which one has female and
the other has male contacts. The connectors according to the
detailed views of FIGS. 5C and 5D have male contacts and the
connectors according to the detailed views of FIGS. 5E and 5F have
female contacts. The two connectors with male contacts as well as
the two connectors with female contacts only differ in that
different base elements 22 are used which have different shapes,
depended on the use either as a cable connection or as a system
board connection. On the side of the contacts, the connectors
having male contacts and the connectors having female contacts,
respectively, are shaped identically.
[0034] For the different uses and connection types, the two
connector types have pre-manufactured selective latching elements
consisting of removable latches and tongues corresponding to the
ones according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, the
pre-manufactured latching elements being adjusted to the required
use at the final assembly by removing single or several tongues 6,
6A, 7. Therewith, it becomes possible according to the present
invention that, besides the selective latching, also the
possibility of combining the used connectors can be adjusted. The
differentiation, or the possible or the wanted connections, can
further be characterized in that the single connectors are provided
with color codes, then the connectors having tongues 6, 6A, 7 with
the same color codes are to be combined.
[0035] The tongues 6, 6A, 7 of the latching elements 20,
represented in FIGS. 5E and 5F, have, in contrast to the ones
according to FIGS. 1 to 4, no predetermined breaking point. In
turn, the latching elements 20 (detailed view of FIG. 5C) are
removably connectable to the base element 22 of the connector as a
whole. Thereto, the latching elements 20 have a V-shaped foot 21 at
its distant end regarding the tongue 7 which is--again in relation
to the tongue 6, 6A, 7--arranged sideways or preferably in a
rectangular manner. The V-shaped foot 21 is received by
corresponding V-shaped cavities 23 which can be found in the base
element 22. The V-shaped cavities 23 are arranged on the connecting
side of the cables or the system board, respectively. Thereby, in
order to release the latching elements 20, they must be moved from
the base element 22 in direction away from the connecting side.
Therewith, it is ensured at the same time that the latching
elements 20 of coupled and latched connectors can be set under
stress without releasing the latching elements 20 from the base
element 22.
[0036] As it can be seen from FIGS. 5A-5F, in particular the
detailed view of FIG. 5A, in which a view on a base element 22 is
shown on the side of a cable or system board connection--a
connector, having female or male contacts, can have four latching
elements 20 with V-shaped feet 21 as a maximum, to be precise,
preferably according to the arrangement represented in the detailed
view of FIG. 5A, for which arrangement two latching elements 20 are
arranged on each side of the rectangular shaped connector body 14.
Because all of the latching elements 20 are preferably removable, a
connector can have one to four or also no latching elements 20.
Therewith, the different combinational possibilities can be
obtained: For example, it can be provided that one of the
connectors is latching with another, although in combination with a
further connector no latching occurs. The possible combinations
resulting out of it can further be emphasized by a corresponding
coloring close to the connectors or close to the latching elements,
respectively.
[0037] FIGS. 6 to 9 depict other preferred embodiments of the
invention where the latching members 106, 107 are bar type latches
which can be selectively connected to and disconnected from their
respective connectors 101, 102.
[0038] FIG. 7 shows a first connector 101, having male contacts and
latching members 107 in the form of bent strip shaped members
detachably connected in openings or recesses or the connector body
101. In FIG. 6 the female contacts are provided on a second
connector member 102, which includes latching members 106, which
are also strip shaped bent members, detachably engagable in
recesses in the member 102.
[0039] FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically depict the connector members,
showing one of the latching members in a detached position.
[0040] With this arrangement of FIGS. 6 to 9, as with the
arrangement of FIGS. 5A-5C, the latching members are selectively
detachable and attachable to the respective connector members such
that the connector members can be used for cable to cable
connections, board to cable connections and board to board
connections. In the board to board connections, the respective
latching members will be removed so that there is no latching,
while in the cable connections the associated latching members will
be in place and operable to latch the connected members against
disconnection by movement in an axial direction of their
contacts.
[0041] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to
illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be constructed to include everything
within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents
thereof.
* * * * *