EP0428259A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector assembly and method of constructing such an assembly
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
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Filing: 1990-09-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A method is described for installing contacts (12) with their rear tail ends (54) soldered to holes of a circuit board (56) and their front mating ends (60) in insulative housing layers, which facilitates inspection of the solder connections to the circuit board (56) and defluxing of the assembly after soldering. The front contact portions (60) are partially inserted into holes (14) in an elastomeric housing layer (50) until a first forwardly-facing shoulder (76) on each contact (12) abuts an abutment (92) on the elastomeric layer. The contact rear ends (54) are inserted into corresponding holes in the circuit board (56) until a second rearwardly-facing shoulder (72) on each contact (12) abuts the front face (74) of the board (56), and the contacts (12) are then soldered to the board (56). Finally, the contacts (12) are pushed further into the housing until the rear face (100) of the elastomeric layer lies facewise against the front face (74) of the board (56).
Inventors
- 👤 David Edward Welsh
- 👤 Albert Hueal Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/205; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49147; Y10T29/49149; Y10T29/49174; Y10T29/49179
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising a housing (16) with holes (14), an elastomeric insulative layer (50), and a more rigid forward insulative layer (52) lying forward of the elastomeric layer (50), a circuit board (56) with holes aligned with said housing holes (14) and a plurality of contacts (12) with forward mating portions (60) in the housing holes (14) and rearward tail portions (54) in the circuit board holes, characterised in that each of the contacts (12) has a middle portion between the forward and rearward portions, the middle portion (62) having forward and rearward enlargements (64,66) and a spacer (70) of smaller diameter than the enlargements (64,66) between them, the rearward enlargement (66) having a rearwardly-facing shoulder (72) abutting the circuit board forward face (74) to withstand mating forces; the holes in the elastomeric layer (50) each being narrow enough that the forward enlargement (64) of a corresponding contact (12) can be pushed forwardly into the rear of the elastomeric layer (50) to a fully installed configuration only by forcing the contact (12) forwardly with enough force to deform and displace elastomeric material at the walls of the hole, and each forward enlargement (14) having a forwardly-facing shoulder (76) large enough to abut a location on the elastomeric layer (50) to temporarily hold the contact (12) in a partially installed position at which the rearwardly-facing shoulder (72) on the rearward enlargement (66) lies a predetermined distance rearward of the rear face of the elastomeric layer (50).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising a housing (16) with holes (14), an elastomeric insulative layer (50), and a more rigid forward insulative layer (52) lying forward of the elastomeric layer (50), a circuit board (56) with holes aligned with said housing holes (14) and a plurality of contacts (12) with forward mating portions (60) in the housing holes (14) and rearward tail portions (54) in the circuit board holes, characterised in that each of the contacts (12) has a middle portion between the forward and rearward portions, the middle portion (62) having forward and rearward enlargements (64,66) and a spacer (70) of smaller diameter than the enlargements (64,66) between them, the rearward enlargement (66) having a rearwardly-facing shoulder (72) abutting the circuit board forward face (74) to withstand mating forces; the holes in the elastomeric layer (50) each being narrow enough that the forward enlargement (64) of a corresponding contact (12) can be pushed forwardly into the rear of the elastomeric layer (50) to a fully installed configuration only by forcing the contact (12) forwardly with enough force to deform and displace elastomeric material at the walls of the hole, and each forward enlargement (14) having a forwardly-facing shoulder (76) large enough to abut a location on the elastomeric layer (50) to temporarily hold the contact (12) in a partially installed position at which the rearwardly-facing shoulder (72) on the rearward enlargement (66) lies a predetermined distance rearward of the rear face of the elastomeric layer (50).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each of the contacts has an axis, and each forwardly-facing shoulder is tapered so most of it extends at an angle of less than 45° with said axis, to allow the forward enlargement to pass forwardly through at least part of the elastomeric layer while avoiding damage thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the contact tail portion is soldered to the circuit board hole in a fully assembled configuration of the connector assembly, the elastomeric layer has a hole enlargement (90) that receives the contact forward enlargement in a partially assembled connector assembly configuration, the contact forward enlargement and the walls of the hole enlargement respectively forming a forwardly-facing shoulder and a rearwardly-facing abutment that abut one another in said partially assembled configuration, and the distance (H) between the contact forwardly-facing shoulder and rearwardly-facing shoulder being at least 10% greater than the distance (G) between the elastomeric layer rearwardly-facing abutment and the elastomeric layer rear face, so the board front face is spaced rearwardly from the elastomeric layer rear face in the partially assembled configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A connector assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact mating portion has an elongated cylindrical shape with a tapered front end, and the elastomeric hole has a substantially constant diameter that is at least 1% smaller than the contact cylindrical portion, to assure a high frictional, holding face of the contact mating portion in the elastomeric layer in a partially assembled configuration of the connector assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
A connector assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing includes a shell lying about the elastomeric layer and having an inside surface facing the elastomeric layer and lying adjacent therewith, and fasteners for pressing the elastomeric layer against the circuit board, the elastomeric layers extending rearwardly further than the shell when not compressed in thickness, the elastomeric layer lying close enough to the shell that when the screws are fully tightened the elastomeric layer is compressed sufficiently in thickness that it expands sidewardly into a vapour tight sealing relationship with the shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A connector assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing includes a second insulative layer lying forward of the first mentioned elastomeric layer, the second layer having holes aligned with the holes in the first layer, the first elastomeric layer having a tubular portion extending forwardly into each of the holes in the second layer, each tubular portion being deformable to expand against the walls of the corresponding hole in the second layer when the front end of the tubular portion is pressed rearwardly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electrical connector comprising a housing (120) with an elastomeric insulative layer (122) and a forward insulative layer (124), the layers having aligned holes (116), a plurality of contacts (114) lying in the holes (116) with pin type front mating portions (136) in the forward layer (124), the holes (116) in the forward layer (124) being large enough to receive socket contacting elements that surround and mate with the contact mating portions (136), characterised in that the elastomeric layer (122) has a plurality of tubular portions (170) extending forwardly into rearward portions of the forward layer holes (172) and surrounding the contacts, the tubular portions (170) having extreme forward ends, each tubular portion (170) being deformable by rearward forces against its extreme front end by one of the socket contacting elements to seal thereagainst.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electrical connector comprising a housing (120) with an elastomeric insulative layer (122) and a forward insulative layer (124), the layers having aligned holes (116), a plurality of contacts (114) lying in the holes (116) with pin type front mating portions (136) in the forward layer (124), the holes (116) in the forward layer (124) being large enough to receive socket contacting elements that surround and mate with the contact mating portions (136), characterised in that the elastomeric layer (122) has a plurality of tubular portions (170) extending forwardly into rearward portions of the forward layer holes (172) and surrounding the contacts, the tubular portions (170) having extreme forward ends, each tubular portion (170) being deformable by rearward forces against its extreme front end by one of the socket contacting elements to seal thereagainst.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A connector as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that each of said contacts has an enlargement of greater diameter than the forward mating portion of the contact and lying within one of the forwardly-extending tubular portions of the elastomeric layer to help control expansive deformation fo the tubular portion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for the construction of an electrical connector assembly, comprising providing a housing having a rear face and holes therein that can be aligned with holes in a circuit board, providing an elastomeric housing layer with the holes, providing a plurality of contacts, inserting rear tail ends of the contacts into the holes in the circuit board through a front face of the board and soldering the contacts to the board, and inserting front mating ends of the contacts into the holes in the housing, characterised by providing each contacts so it has a first forwardly-facing shoulder and a second rearwardly-facing shoulder lying behind the first shoulder, initially inserting each contact front end only partially into one of the housing holes, until the first contact shoulder abuts a rearwardly-facing surface in the elastomeric layer and the housing rear face lies a distance forward of the board front face, performing the step of soldering only after each contact rear end lies in a board hole and each contact front end lies in the partially inserted position, and after the step of soldering, pushing each contact front end forwardly further into the elastomeric layer until the front face of the circuit board substantially abuts the housing.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for the construction of an electrical connector assembly, comprising providing a housing having a rear face and holes therein that can be aligned with holes in a circuit board, providing an elastomeric housing layer with the holes, providing a plurality of contacts, inserting rear tail ends of the contacts into the holes in the circuit board through a front face of the board and soldering the contacts to the board, and inserting front mating ends of the contacts into the holes in the housing, characterised by providing each contacts so it has a first forwardly-facing shoulder and a second rearwardly-facing shoulder lying behind the first shoulder, initially inserting each contact front end only partially into one of the housing holes, until the first contact shoulder abuts a rearwardly-facing surface in the elastomeric layer and the housing rear face lies a distance forward of the board front face, performing the step of soldering only after each contact rear end lies in a board hole and each contact front end lies in the partially inserted position, and after the step of soldering, pushing each contact front end forwardly further into the elastomeric layer until the front face of the circuit board substantially abuts the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the step of providing contacts includes providing contacts with first and second enlargements respectively forming the first and second shoulders and with a spacer of smaller diameter than the enlargements lying between them, the step of forming holes in the elastomeric layer includes forming each hole therein with a hole enlargement having a forward end that forms the rearwardly-facing abutment, and the step of inserting includes initially inserting each contact into the elastomeric layer until the second enlargement lies in the hole enlargement, and after the step of soldering, pushing each contact forwardly until the second enlargement lies forward of the elastomeric layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, characterised in that the elastomeric layer has a rear face and the rearwardly-facing abutments are formed by the rear face of the elastomeric layer, the step of providing contacts includes providing them with first and second enlargements respectively forming the first and second shoulders, and providing the contact front ends with larger diameters than the holes in the elastomeric layer, and the step of inserting includes initially inserting each contact forwardly into the elastomeric layer until the first enlargement abuts an abutment at the rear face of the elastomeric layer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
247 words
A method of installing a plurality of contacts that each have a forward mating portion and a rearward tail portion, in the holes of a circuit board, in the holes of an elastomeric layer, and in the holes of a more rigid and more forward layer, with each contact tail portion soldered to the circuit board, and with a rear shoulder on each contact abutting a forwardly-facing board surface, characterised by forming each of the holes in the elastomeric layer with a partially rearwardly-facing forward abutment spaced a predetermined first distance (G) forward of a rear face of the elastomeric layer, forming each of the contacts with a partially forwardly-facing forward shoulder that is spaced forwardly of the contact rear shoulder by a second distance (H) that is more than 10% greater than the first distance, inserting the contact forward portions into the housing and the contact rearward portions into the circuit board, with each contact rear shoulder lying against a board surface and with each contact forward shoulder lying against one of the forward abutment, and with the board and elastomeric layers separated so there is a wide gap between them, soldering the contact tail portions to the board while the gap lies between the board and elastomeric layer, after the step of soldering, moving the board and contacts forwardly with respect to the elastomeric and rigid layers, including pushing the contacts forwardly to the contact forward shoulders move forwardly of the elastomeric layer forward abutment.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
247 words
A method of installing a plurality of contacts that each have a forward mating portion and a rearward tail portion, in the holes of a circuit board, in the holes of an elastomeric layer, and in the holes of a more rigid and more forward layer, with each contact tail portion soldered to the circuit board, and with a rear shoulder on each contact abutting a forwardly-facing board surface, characterised by forming each of the holes in the elastomeric layer with a partially rearwardly-facing forward abutment spaced a predetermined first distance (G) forward of a rear face of the elastomeric layer, forming each of the contacts with a partially forwardly-facing forward shoulder that is spaced forwardly of the contact rear shoulder by a second distance (H) that is more than 10% greater than the first distance, inserting the contact forward portions into the housing and the contact rearward portions into the circuit board, with each contact rear shoulder lying against a board surface and with each contact forward shoulder lying against one of the forward abutment, and with the board and elastomeric layers separated so there is a wide gap between them, soldering the contact tail portions to the board while the gap lies between the board and elastomeric layer, after the step of soldering, moving the board and contacts forwardly with respect to the elastomeric and rigid layers, including pushing the contacts forwardly to the contact forward shoulders move forwardly of the elastomeric layer forward abutment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the step of providing the contacts includes providing a forward enlargement on each contact which forms the forward shoulder and which also forms a third shoulder (96) which faces rearwardly, each contact having an axis and the forward shoulder extending at an angle K of no more than 45° from the contact axis, the step of providing the holes in the elastomeric layer includes providing each hole to have an enlarged portion with walls including the forward abutment, that substantially abut both of the flange shoulders.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
219 words
A method of installing a plurality of contacts that each have a forward mating portion and a rearward tail portion, in the holes of a circuit board, in the holes of an elastomeric insulating layer, and in the holes of a more rigid and forward insulative layer, with each tail portion soldered to the walls of a circuit board hole, and with a rearwardly-facing shoulder on each contact abutting a forwardly-facing board surface, characterised by forming each contact with a contact forward mating portion having a cylindrically shaped of a diameter greater than each corresponding hole in the elastomeric layer, with a partially forwardly-facing forward shoulder of greater diameter than the cylindrical shape forward mating portion, and with the rearwardly-facing shoulder spaced behind the forwardly-facing shoulder, inserting each contact mating portion forwardly into a hole in the elastomeric layer, until the contact forwardly-facing shoulder abuts the rear face of the elastomeric layer, inserting each contact rearward tail portion rearwardly into a hole in the circuit board until the contact rearward shoulder abuts the forwardly-facing board surface and then soldering the contact to the board, after the step of soldering, pushing each contact forwardly more deeply into a corresponding elastomeric layer until the forwardly-facing shoulder lies in the elastomeric layer and the contact mating portion lies in the forward layer.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
219 words
A method of installing a plurality of contacts that each have a forward mating portion and a rearward tail portion, in the holes of a circuit board, in the holes of an elastomeric insulating layer, and in the holes of a more rigid and forward insulative layer, with each tail portion soldered to the walls of a circuit board hole, and with a rearwardly-facing shoulder on each contact abutting a forwardly-facing board surface, characterised by forming each contact with a contact forward mating portion having a cylindrically shaped of a diameter greater than each corresponding hole in the elastomeric layer, with a partially forwardly-facing forward shoulder of greater diameter than the cylindrical shape forward mating portion, and with the rearwardly-facing shoulder spaced behind the forwardly-facing shoulder, inserting each contact mating portion forwardly into a hole in the elastomeric layer, until the contact forwardly-facing shoulder abuts the rear face of the elastomeric layer, inserting each contact rearward tail portion rearwardly into a hole in the circuit board until the contact rearward shoulder abuts the forwardly-facing board surface and then soldering the contact to the board, after the step of soldering, pushing each contact forwardly more deeply into a corresponding elastomeric layer until the forwardly-facing shoulder lies in the elastomeric layer and the contact mating portion lies in the forward layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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