EP0795929A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric connector assembly with improved retention characteristics
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1997-03-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A connector assembly (3) with improved retention characteristics includes opposing plug and receptacle connector housings (6,18), each containing respective conductive terminals (7,19). The terminals (7) of one of the connector housings (6), preferably the plug connector housing (6) include body portions (7a) with separate contact and locking portions (13,15) extending upwardly therefrom and spaced apart from each other define a nest (42) therebetween. The nest (42) receives a portion of the other connector housing (16) and the terminal contact and locking portions (13,15) engage opposing sides of the other connector housing portion. The contact portions (13) fictionally engage the other connector housing terminals (19) while the locking portions (15) positively engage recesses (24) formed in the other connector housing (18).
Inventors
- 👤 Tomoaki Iii-303 Naruse Stationhaitu Ito
- 👤 Shinichi Aihara
- 👤 Toshihiro Niitsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/20; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R12/72; H01R12/73; H01R12/7082; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R4/00; H01R4/02; H01R4/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A surface mount electrical connector (4) for engaging with a corresponding opposing surface mount electrical connector (5) in order to effect a connection between two circuit boards (1, 2), said connector (4) comprising: a connector housing (6) formed from an electrically insulative material, a channel (8) disposed in the connector housing (6) and extending along a preselected axis (L) of said connector housing (6), the connector housing channel (8) being adapted to receive a corresponding projecting portion therein of said opposing connector (5), a plurality of electrically conductive terminals (7) disposed in spaced-apart order in said connector housing (6) along said connector housing axis (L), the terminals (7) each including a connector housing retention portion (10) for retaining said terminal (7) in place in said spaced-apart order in said connector housing (6), a contact portion (13) for contacting an opposing terminal (19) of said opposing connector (5), and an engagement portion (15) for engaging a portion of said opposing connector (5) inserted into said connector housing channel (8) and for retaining said opposing connector portion in place within said connector housing channel (8), said terminal contact and engagement portions (13, 15) being disposed in said connector housing (6) in communication with said connector housing channel (8) and along opposite sides of a centerline of said connector housing channel (8), said terminal contact and engagement portions (13, 15) further cooperatively engaging any opposing connector portion inserted into said connector housing channel (8).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
The connector (4) as defined in claim 1, wherein said engagement portion (15) of said terminals (7) is spaced apart from said contact portion (13) to define an intervening nest (42) therebetween that receives part of said opposing connector (5) when said opposing connector (5) is mated to said connector (4).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The connector (4) as defined in claim 2, wherein said contact portion (13) of said terminals (7) includes a contact head (14) that protrudes toward said intervening nest (42) and said engagement portion (15) includes a locking head (16) that protrudes toward said intervening nest (42) in opposition to the contact head (14) of the terminal (7).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector as defined in claim 3, wherein said contact head (14) and said locking head (16) are disposed at different heights.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector (4) as defined in claim 1, wherein said retention portion (10) is spaced apart from said contact portion (13).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector (4) as defined in claim 5, wherein said retention portion (10) extends generally parallel to said engagement portion (15).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector (102) as defined in claim 5, wherein said retention portion (123) is disposed in said housing (104) coincident with said engagement portion (124).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The connector (4) as defined in claim 1 further including a central pedestal portion (6a) flanked on at least two sides thereof by parallel sidewalls (6c), said pedestal portion (6a) being separated from said sidewalls (6c) by intervening spaces (42), the intervening spaces (42) for receiving sidewalls (6c) of said opposing connector sidewalls (21) therein when said connector (4) is engaged with said opposing connector (5).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector (4) as defined in claim 8, wherein a top (46) of said pedestal portion (6a) and top edges (26) of said sidewalls (6c) lie in one plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector (102) as defined in claim 8, wherein said pedestal portion (108) includes cavities (128b) for receiving contact portions (121) of said terminals (106).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The connector (102) as defined in claim 10, wherein said pedestal portion (108) includes a broad cap (127) for protecting contact heads (121a) of said contact portions (121) in said cavities (128b) from a portion of an opposed connector (110) during engagement of said opposing connector (110) with said connector (102).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The connector (102) as defined in claim 11, wherein said broad cap (127) of said pedestal portion (6a) has radiused outer edges (127a) to facilitate insertion of corresponding portions of an opposed connector (110) during engagement of said opposing connector (110) with said connector (102).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector (4) as defined in claim 8, wherein said engagement and contact portions (15, 13) of said terminals (7) are disposed in communication within said intervening spaces (42).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
A surface mount electrical connector (5) for engaging with a corresponding opposing surface mount electrical connector (4) in order to effect a connection between two circuit boards (1, 2), said connector (5) comprising: a housing (18) including at least a pair of sidewalls (21) having opposing interior and exterior surfaces and conductive terminals (19) disposed along said interior surfaces of said sidewall (21), said terminals (19) each having a contact portion (22) disposed within a portion of said housing (18) and interconnected to a solder tail portion (23) extending out of said housing (18), said housing (18) including engagement surfaces (24) defined on the exterior surfaces thereof for engaging respective, opposing engagement portions (15) of terminals (7) in said opposing connector (4) when said connector (5) is engaged to said opposing connector (4) to interlock said connector (5) and said opposing connector (4) together against disengagement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The connector (5) as defined in claim 14, wherein said engagement surfaces (24) include shoulders (25) disposed on said receptacle connector sidewalls (21) for resisting disengagement by said engagement portions (15) of said opposing connector (4) when said connector (5) and said opposing connector (4) are engaged.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The connector (5) as defined in claim 14, wherein said terminal (19) includes a top portion (50) which orthogonally extends from said contact portion (22) of said terminal (19) at an intersection (51) therebetween and enters into said housing (18), and a radiused recess (54) disposed in an interior corner of said intersection (51) filled with a portion (21a) of said housing (18).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector as defined in claim 16, wherein an exterior corner of said intersection (51) is radiused to facilitate engagement with a portion of an opposing connector (4) when said connector (5) and said opposing connector (4) are engaged.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
184 words
A surface mount electrical connector (3) for connecting two circuit boards (1, 2) together, the connector (3) including first and second interengaging connector components (4, 5), each of the first and second connector components (4, 5) including respective first and second connector housings (6, 18) and respective first and second sets of conductive terminals (7, 19), each of the conductive terminals (7, 19) having a contact portion (13, 22) disposed within a portion of one of said first and second connector housings (6, 18), a solder tail portion (17, 23) extending out of said connector housing (6, 18) and a body portion (7, 44) interconnecting said contact and solder tail portions (13, 22, 17, 23), said first set of terminals (7) further including second housing engagement portions (15) and said second connector housing (18) including engagement surfaces (24) defined thereon in opposition to said first terminal set second housing engagement portions (15) such that said first terminal set second housing engagement portions (15) engage said second connector housing engagement surfaces (24) to interlock said first and second connector housings (6, 18) together against disengagement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electrical connector (3) as defined in claim 18, wherein said second housing engagement portions (15) and contact portions (13) are separated by an intervening space (42) and said second connector housing (18) is received within said intervening space (42) when said first and second connector housings (6, 18) are engaged together.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
The electrical connector (3) as described in claim 19, wherein said second connector housing (18) has side walls (6c) which have a thickness that is greater than said first terminal intervening spaces (42), and wherein said second connector housing walls (21) are received within said first terminal intervening spaces (42) when said first and second connector housings (6, 18) are engaged together.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
The electrical connector (3) as described in claim 18, wherein said contact portions (13) and second connector housing engagement portions (15) of said first terminal set (7) are disposed on said first terminals (7) at different relative elevations within said first connector housing (6), whereby, when said first and second connector housings (6, 18) are brought together into engagement, said first terminal set contact portions (13) engage said second connector component (5) before said first terminal set second connector housing engagement portions (15) engage said second connector component (5).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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