U.S. patent number 3,924,916 [Application Number 05/443,307] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-09 for connector adapter.
This patent grant is currently assigned to A & P Products Incorporated. Invention is credited to John T. Venaleck.
United States Patent |
3,924,916 |
Venaleck |
December 9, 1975 |
Connector adapter
Abstract
An adapter for coupling different size multiple conductor
electrical cable terminations, which have respective connector pins
and contacts located in different size arrays or spaced-apart
positional patterns, includes a printed circuit board to which a
plurality of contacts are attached at one edge for receiving the
connector pins from one of the cable terminations and to which a
corresponding plurality of connector pins are attached in
plated-through holes for connection with the contacts in the other
cable termination. The spacings of the contacts and connector pins
in the adapter correspond to the spacings, respectively, of the
connector pins and contacts in the cable terminations to be coupled
thereby. Electrically conductive paths are printed on the printed
circuit board between respective contacts and connector pins
thereon to effect fanning in or fanning out between the same, and
the printed circuit board, including the connector pins and
contacts thereon, is located in a housing, which facilitates
coupling between the same and conventional cable terminations.
BACKGROUND
Inventors: |
Venaleck; John T. (Mentor,
OH) |
Assignee: |
A & P Products Incorporated
(Painesville, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23760280 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/443,307 |
Filed: |
February 19, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/76.1; 439/80;
439/687 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
12/722 (20130101); H01R 31/02 (20130101); H01R
12/75 (20130101); H05K 1/117 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
31/02 (20060101); H01R 31/00 (20060101); H05K
1/11 (20060101); H05K 001/00 (); H01R 013/50 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/17R,17C,17L,17LC,176MP,176MF,149R,15R,15T,151R,151M,193R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Assistant Examiner: Feinberg; Craig R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Donnelly, Maky, Renner &
Otto
Claims
I claim:
1. A connector adapter for electrical and mechanical connection of
a plurality of electrically conductive pins arranged in a first
array pattern respectively to a plurality of electrically
conductive contacts arranged in a second array pattern, comprising
an electrically non-conductive housing, a substantially planar
electrically non-conductive support surface in said housing, a
plurality of electrically conductive paths on said support surface,
a plurality of connector contacts arranged in first spaced-apart
positions on said support surface and extending in a direction
substantially parallel to the plane of said support surface, each
connector contact having a first portion electrically connected to
a respective electrically conductive path and a second portion
positioned for mechanical engagement with a respective electrically
conductive pin that is inserted in a direction substantially
parallel to the plane of said support surface to effect substantial
mechanical engagement, a plurality of upstanding electrically
conductive connector pins supported by said support surface at
second spaced-apart positions and extending substantially
perpendicular to the plane of said support surface, each of said
connector pins having a first portion electrically connected to a
respective electrically conductive path and a second portion
positioned for mechanical engagement with a respective electrically
conductive contact that is inserted in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the plane of said support surface to effect
substantial mechanical engagement, said second portions of said
connector pins being positionally arranged with respect to each
other in such second array pattern, said plurality of electrically
conductive paths on said support surface thus electrically
connecting respective connector contacts and connector pins, and at
least a portion of each of said connector contacts and connector
pins being retained in said housing.
2. A connector adapter for electrical and mechanical connection of
a plurality of electrically conductive pins arranged in a first
array pattern respectively to a plurality of electrically
conductive contacts arranged in a second array pattern, comprising
a substantially planar electrically non-conductive support surface,
a plurality of electrically conductive paths on said support
surface, a plurality of connector contacts arranged in first
spaced-apart positions on said support surface, each connector
contact having a first portion electrically connected to a
respective electrically conductive path and a second portion
positioned for mechanical engagement with a respective electrically
conductive pin, a plurality of upstanding electrically conductive
connector pins supported by said support surface at second
spaced-apart positions and extending substantially perpendicular to
the plane of said support surface, each of said connector pins
having a first portion electrically connected to a respective
electrically conductive path and a second portion positioned for
mechanical engagement with a respective electrically conductive
contact, said second portions of said connector pins being
positionally arranged with respect to each other in such second
array pattern, said plurality of electrically conductive paths on
said support surface thus electrically connecting respective
connector contacts and connector pins, and an electrically
non-conductive housing within which at least a portion of each of
said support surface, connector contacts and connector pins are
retained.
3. A connector adapter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
substantially planar support surface comprises a printed circuit
board and said plurality of electrically conductive paths comprises
respective printed circuits printed thereon, and wherein said first
portion of each of said connector pins is electrically connected to
a respective printed circuit in a plated-through hole.
4. A connector adapter as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first
portion of each of said connector contacts is soldered to a
respective printed circuit on said printed circuit board.
5. A connector adapter as set forth in claim 3, wherein said
printed circuits fan in from said connector contacts to said
connector pins.
6. A connector adapter as set forth in claim 2, wherein said
plurality of connector contacts are positioned on both the upper
and lower surfaces of said substantially planar support
surface.
7. A connector adapter as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second
portion of each of said connector contacts is bow-shaped, and such
bow-shaped portion is adapted for flattening upon engagement with
an inserted pin to effect a relatively large contact area
therebetween.
8. A connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing
comprises upper and lower parts fastened together, and each housing
part including a respective portion cooperable with each other for
firm retention of said support surface.
9. A connector adapter as set forth in claim 2, wherein said
electrically conductive pins and contacts in said respective first
and second array patterns are located in respective male and female
multiple conductor electrical cable terminations, said connector
pins being recessed in said housing and located within an opening
of a shape to receive such female termination, said connector
contacts being fully recessed within said housing and respective
openings in said housing providing access for said pins to
respective connector contacts, and said first and second
spaced-apart positions correspond to the spacing in respective
arrays, whereby pins in one of such cable terminations are
connected to respective connector contacts in said adapter and
contacts in the other cable termination are connected to respective
connector pins in said connector adapter for electrical connection
between respective conductors coupled to said respective cable
terminations.
10. A connector adapter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second
portion of each of said connector pins comprises two such portions,
each extending substantially in a perpendicular direction away from
the respective opposed surfaces of said support surface.
Description
THE INVENTION
This invention relates, as indicated, to a connector adapter for
coupling two or more multiple conductor electrical cable
terminations, which have, respectively, connector pins and contacts
located in different spaced-apart patterns or arrays, and more
particularly relates to such a connector adapter which uses printed
circuits on a printed circuit board to fan in and to fan out and to
which respective contacts and connector pins are directly
attached.
Conventional techniques for electrically connecting respective
electrical conductors in two multiple conductor electrical cables
have included individually splicing respective conductors, which
task is long and tedious. Another technique for such connection is
to connect wires from one of the cables, for example by soldering,
to a plurality of respective wire wrapping posts and then to wrap
the respective conductors in the second cable about such posts, and
the time required for such connections is also quite lengthy.
A more efficient method for electrically connecting respective
conductors in two multiple conductor electrical cables is by the
addition of respective male and female cable terminations at the
ends of both such cables, the male termination having a plurality
of extending connector pins connected to respective conductors in
one cable and the female termination having a plurality of contacts
therein connected to respective conductors in the other such cable.
Insertion of respective connector pins into corresponding contacts
when the two terminations are coupled together forms effective
electrical connections between corresponding conductors in the two
cables. This technique is useful when respective cable terminations
are of the same size, i.e., the contacts and connector pins are
located at positions in same size patterns or arrays as opposed to
overall termination dimensions, but such technique has been
ineffective when the respective cable terminations are of different
sizes, i.e., the connector pins and contacts in the respective
cable terminations are located in different size positional
patterns or arrays.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the instant invention an adapter is provided to couple two
different size cable terminations by using respective printed
circuits on opposed surfaces of a printed circuit board to fan in
or to fan out between respective contacts and connector pins
located thereon. The contacts are preferably soldered to terminal
pads of respective printed circuits, and the connector pins are
preferably soldered in respective plated-through holes for both
electrical connection to the respective printed circuits and
mounting relative to the printed circuit board. Moreover, the
contacts and connector pins are conveniently located in different
size positional arrays or patterns for connection with cable
terminations of respective sizes corresponding thereto, the
reference to size hereafter referring to contact and connector pin
spacing or to size of connector pin and contact arrays as opposed
to overall dimensions of the connector adapter or cable
terminations. The printed circuit board, including the contacts and
connector pins thereon, is retained in an electrically
non-conductive housing for facilitating manipulation thereof and
connection with cable terminations to provide for electrical
connection between corresponding conductors to which the latter are
connected.
Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a
connector adapter improved in the noted respects.
Another object of the invention is to facilitate coupling between
male and female cable terminations of different size, which have
respective connector pins and contacts arranged in different size
arrays or patterns.
A further object of the invention is to connect a plurality of pins
arranged in a first array pattern in a first cable termination with
a corresponding plurality of contacts arranged in a second array
pattern in a second cable termination.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an adapter for
coupling multiple electrical conductor cable terminations having a
corresponding number of connector pins and contacts, respectively,
arranged in different arrays or patterns.
These and other objects and advantages of the instant invention,
which comprises a connector adapter which provides for electrical
connection between the plurality of contacts positioned in a first
array or pattern in a female cable termination and the plurality of
connector pins positioned in a second array or pattern in a male
cable termination, such cable terminations being otherwise
incompatible for direct coupling and electrical connection
therebetween, will become apparent as the following description
proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described
in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims,
the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in
detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this
being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which
the principles of the invention may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the annexed drawing:
FIG. 1 is a top view of a connector adapter in accordance with the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector adapter illustrated in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a section view of a portion of the connector adapter
taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a printed circuit board, including
contacts and connector pins affixed thereto, used in the connector
adapter of the invention, such figure being on a slightly larger
scale than the other figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer
to like elements in the several figures, and particularly to FIGS.
1 and 2, the connector adapter of the invention is illustrated
generally at 1. The connector adapter 1 includes a molded housing 2
of plastic, phenolic or other electrically non-conductive material,
having a top 3 and a bottom 4 and front and rear walls 5, 6; and in
the top and bottom, respectively, are formed relatively wide
openings 7, 8, the latter being seen, however, only in FIG. 3, of a
size designed to receive a first female cable termination.
The top 3 and bottom 4 of the connector adapter 1 have a number of
strengthening ribs 9 integrally molded therein, and the molded
housing 2 is preferably formed of substantially identical upper and
lower halves 10, 11 for convenience of assembly. Moreover, front
wall 5 includes a plurality of contact access openings 12, the
forward-most portions of which are beveled at 13, for receiving
connector pins located on a male cable termination. The relatively
wide openings 7, 8 in the upper and lower halves 10, 11 of the
molded housing provide access to the connector pins 14, which are
preferably mounted on a substantially planar substrate 15, such as
a printed circuit board.
Turning now more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector
adapter 1 is illustrated in section in the former and the printed
circuit board 15 is illustrated in the latter. The printed circuit
board is preferably a planar electrically non-conductive member
positionally retained in the molded housing 2 by a cut-out groove
21 formed in the rear wall 6 and by a pair of retaining ribs 22, 23
formed on the upper and lower housing halves, whereby the printed
circuit board is retained in such housing in abutment at 24 with
the front wall 5.
Respective channels 24, 25 are defined between the front wall of
each of the housing halves and the respective retaining ribs 22, 23
to accommodate bowed portions 26, 27 of respective contacts 28, 29,
and access to such channels is provided by way of respective
contact access openings 12. A conventional connector pin 30 from a
male cable termination, not shown, is illustrated in phantom in
FIG. 3 inserted through the access opening 12 into the channel 25
in connection with the contact 29 causing the same to flatten as is
also shown in phantom, whereby a good electrical connection is made
between such pin and contact and the frictional forces between the
two, as well as between the pin and the surface 31, effect
retention of the pin.
The connector pins 14 are attached to the printed circuit board
substrate 15 in plated-through holes 32 formed therein, and printed
circuit electrically conductive paths 33 between respective pins
and contacts provide electrical connection therebetween, while
fanning in or out between the same. The tail portions 28', 29' of
the contacts 28, 29 are preferably soldered to printed terminal
pads 34, for example, forming extensions of the respective printed
circuit electrically conductive paths 33, as illustrated in FIG. 4;
since the thickness of the printed circuits 33 is substantially
less than that of the contacts 28, 29, the terminal pads 34, are
not seen in FIG. 3.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention the connector pins 14
are arranged in two rows 36, 37, and those in the forward-most row
36 are electrically connected by printed circuits 33 to respective
contacts 28 located on the top surface 38 of the printed circuit
board 15, while those in the rearwardmost row 37 are electrically
connected by printed circuit 33' to the contacts 29 on the lower
surface 39 of the printed circuit board. If desired, however, other
patterns of connection between connector pins and contacts may
alternatively be utilized. Moreover, although the connector pins 14
extend through the plated-through openings to both sides of the
printed circuit board 15 for facilitating connection with one or
even two cable terminations, such connector pins may alternatively
be adapted to extend only on one side of the printed circuit board
or they may alternately extend to opposite sides thereof. Also, if
desired, the contacts 28, 29 may be located only on a single side
of the printed circuit board 15 for connection with connector pins
on a male cable termination located in a single row, or more than
two such rows of contacts may be built into the connector adapter 1
simply by effectively duplicating the same to provide for more than
two rows of contacts 28, 29 and access openings 12, while still
remaining within the scope of the invention. A still further
modification of the invention envisions duplicating to the right of
the connector pins 14 that portion of the connector adapter 1 shown
in FIG. 3 to the left of the connector pins 14, thus providing for
coupling to two male terminations of the same, or, if desired,
different size.
In using the connector adapter 1 to couple two different size male
and female cable terminations, the female termination would be
fitted into one of the wide openings 7, 8 in the top or bottom of
the connector adapter, whereby the contacts of the former will
engage respective connector pins 14 of the latter. Moreover, the
connector pins on the male cable termination would be fitted into
respective access openings 12, facilitated by the bevels 13, for
engagement with respective contacts 28, 29. Such connections being
completed, the printed circuits 33 provide electrically conductive
paths for connection between respective conductors in the connected
multiple conductor cables.
* * * * *