Connector assembly having positive retention means

Claim 2

A connector assembly for use with a printed circuit board having a plurality of printed circuit contacts and at least one retention hole, said assembly comprising: A. a lower plate comprising 1. slot means at one end of said lower plate for receiving a cable having a plurality of wires, 2. connector retention means at the other end of said lower plate for receiving a connector having a plurality of contacts for mating with said printed circuit contacts, and 3. pivot means on either side of said lower plate near said one end of said lower plate; B. further retention means pivotably mounted with said pivot means of said lower plate, said further retention means made from one piece of material and having depression means extending beyond said one end of said lower plate and at least one retention plug for engaging said at least one retention hole on said printed circuit board. C. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said further retention means, said received cable and said connector; and D. means, securely attached to said further retention means and enclosed between said upper and lower plates, for enabling said at least one plug means in a normal position for engaging said at least one retention hole when said upper and lower plates are secured together, except when said depression means is depressed.

Claim 3

connector retention means at the other end of said lower plate for receiving a connector having a plurality of contacts for mating with said printed circuit contacts, and

Claim 4

connector retention means at the other end of said lower plate for receiving a connector having a plurality of contacts for mating with said printed circuit contacts, and

Claim 5

connector retention means at the other end of said lower plate for receiving a connector having a plurality of contacts for mating with said printed circuit contacts, and

Claim 6

connector retention means at the other end of said lower plate for receiving a connector having a plurality of contacts for mating with said printed circuit contacts, and

Claim 7

An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said means for enabling includes a spring coupled at one end with said further retention means for holding said at least one plug means in said normal position.

Claim 8

connector retention means at the other end of said lower plate for receiving a connector having a plurality of contacts for mating with said printed circuit contacts, and

Claim 9

connector retention means at the other end of said lower plate for receiving a connector having a plurality of contacts for mating with said printed circuit contacts, and

Claim 10

pivot means on either side of said lower plate near said one end of said lower plate; B. retention means pivotably mounted with said pivot means of said lower plate, said retention means having depression means extending beyond said one end of said lower plate and at least one retention plug for engaging said at least one retention hole on said printed circuit board; C. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means, said received cable and said connector; D. means for enabling said at least one plug means in a normal position for engaging said at least one retention hole except when said depression means is depressed, wherein said means for enabling includes a spring coupled at one end with said retention means for holding said at least one plug means in said normal position, anD wherein said spring is contiguous at its other end to said upper plate such that said spring is stressed to securely provide said normal position when said upper plate is secured to said lower plate.

Claim 11

pivot means on either side of said lower plate near said one end of said lower plate; B. retention means pivotably mounted with said pivot means of said lower plate, said retention means having depression means extending beyond said one end of said lower plate and at least one retention plug for engaging said at least one retention hole on said printed circuit board; C. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means, said received cable and said connector; D. means for enabling said at least one plug means in a normal position for engaging said at least one retention hole except when said depression means is depressed, wherein said means for enabling includes a spring coupled at one end with said retention means for holding said at least one plug means in said normal position, anD wherein said spring is contiguous at its other end to said upper plate such that said spring is stressed to securely provide said normal position when said upper plate is secured to said lower plate.

Claim 12

An assembly as in claim 2 wherein said spring is contiguous at its other end to said upper plate such that said spring is stressed to securely provide said normal position when said upper plate is secured to said lower plate.

Claim 13

pivot means on either side of said lower plate near said one end of said lower plate; B. retention means pivotably mounted with said pivot means of said lower plate, said retention means having depression means extending beyond said one end of said lower plate and at least one retention plug for engaging said at least one retention hole on said printed circuit board; C. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means, said received cable and said connector; D. means for enabling said at least one plug means in a normal position for engaging said at least one retention hole except when said depression means is depressed; and wherein E. said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means is further disposed to accept a portion of said retention plug when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.

Claim 14

pivot means on either side of said lower plate near said one end of said lower plate; B. retention means pivotably mounted with said pivot means of said lower plate, said retention means having depression means extending beyond said one end of said lower plate and at least one retention plug for engaging said at least one retention hole on said printed circuit board; C. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means, said received cable and said connector; D. means for enabling said at least one plug means in a normal position for engaging said at least one retention hole except when said depression means is depressed; and wherein E. said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means is further disposed to accept a portion of said retention plug when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.

Claim 15

pivot means on either side of said lower plate near said one end of said lower plate; B. further retention means pivotably mounted with said pivot means of said lower plate, said further retention means made from one piece of material and having depression means extending beyond said one end of said lower plate and at least one retention plug for engaging said at least one retention hole on said printed circuit board. C. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said further retention means, said received cable and said connector; and D. means, securely attached to said further retention means and enclosed between said upper and lower plates, for enabling said at least one plug means in a normal position for engaging said at least one retention hole when said upper and lower plates are secured together, except when said depression means is depressed.

Claim 16

pivot means on either side of said lower plate near said one end of said lower plate; B. further retention means pivotably mounted with said pivot means of said lower plate, said further retention means made from one piece of material and having depression means extending beyond said one end of said lower plate and at least one retention plug for engaging said at least one retention hole on said printed circuit board. C. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said further retention means, said received cable and said connector; and D. means, securely attached to said further retention means and enclosed between said upper and lower plates, for enabling said at least one plug means in a normal position for engaging said at least one retention hole when said upper and lower plates are secured together, except when said depression means is depressed.

Claim 17

An assembly as in claim 3 further comprising a second retention plug for engaging with another retention hole in said circuit board, said retention plugs located adjacent to either side and near said one end of said lower plate.

Claim 18

An assembly as in claim 4 wherein said retention plugs are located on opposite sides of said connector retention means.

Claim 19

An assembly as in claim 3 further comprising first means in said upper plate for locking said connector between said connector retention means and said upper plate when said upper plate is secured to said lower plate.

Claim 20

A connector assembly for use with a circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts and two retention holes, said assembly comprising: A. a connector; B. a lower plate having means for retaining said connector at one end thereof and pivot points located on either side of said lower plate near the other end thereof; C. retention means pivotably mounted at said pivot points, said retention means including two retention plugs for engaging said two retention holes when each of said plugs are in a normal position in order to secure said circuit board with said connector, said two retention plugs located on opposite sides and near said one end of said lower plate; D. spring means, secured to said retention means, for securing each of said retention plugs in said normal position; and E. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means, said spring means and said connector such that said plugs are forced in said normal position when said upper and lower plates are secured together.

Claim 21

A connector assembly for use with a circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts and two retention holes, said assembly comprising: A. a connector; B. a lower plate having means for retaining said connector at one end thereof and pivot points located on either side of said lower plate near the other end thereof; C. retention means pivotably mounted at said pivot points, said retention means including two retention plugs for engaging said two retention holes when each of said plugs are in a normal position in order to secure said circuit board with said connector, said two retention plugs located on opposite sides and near said one end of said lower plate; D. spring means, secured to said retention means, for securing each of said retention plugs in said normal position; and E. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means, said spring means and said connector such that said plugs are forced in said normal position when said upper and lower plates are secured together.

Claim 22

An assembly as in claim 7 wherein said spring means is secured at one end to said retention means and wherein the other end of said spring means engages with and is coupled to provide spring tension with said upper plate when said upper plate is secured to said lower plate.

Claim 23

An assembly as in claim 8 wherein said retention means further comprises depression means extending beyond the other end of said lower plate, said depression means being operative to release said retention plugs from said normal position when said depression means is depressed.

Claim 24

An assembly as in claim 9 further comprising: A. slot means located at said other end of said lower plate for receiving a cable having a plurality of wires; B. said connector includes one side having terminal means for independent circuit engagement with said contacts on both sides of said circuit board and another side having terminals for connection with said wires; and wherein C. said means for retaining is disposed such that said connector and said wires of said cable may be lifted out of said lower plate when said upper plate is removed.

Claim 25

An assembly as in claim 9 wherein said retention means includes a support extending between opposite sides and near said other end of said lower plate, said depression means attached to said support outwardly from said assembly, said retention means further including two arms adjacent opposite sides of said lower plate and extending from said support toward said one end of said lower plate, and said retention means further including means for connecting one of said retention plugs to each of said arms.

Claim 26

An assembly as in claim 11 further comprising means for attaching said spring means to said support and wherein said depression means, said arms, said plugs and said support are made from one piece of metal.

Claim 27

An assembly as in claim 11 wherein said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on opposite sides of said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means are further disposed to accept a portion of the respective ones of said arms when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.

Claim 28

A connector assembly for use with a printed circuit board having a plurality of printed circuit contacts and at least one retention hole, said assembly comprising: A. a lower plate comprising

Claim 29

A connector assembly for use with a printed circuit board having a plurality of printed circuit contacts and at least one retention hole, said assembly comprising: A. a lower plate comprising

Claim 30

An assembly as in claim 14 wherein said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means is further disposed to accept a portion of said retention plug when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.

Claim 31

A connector assembly for use with a printed circuit board having a plurality of printed circuit contacts and at least one retention hole, said assembly comprising: A. a lower plate comprising

Claim 32

A connector assembly for use with a printed circuit board having a plurality of printed circuit contacts and at least one retention hole, said assembly comprising: A. a lower plate comprising

Claim 33

A connector assembly for use with a circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts and two retention holes, said assembly comprising: A. a connector; B. a lower plate having means for retaining said connector at one end thereof and pivot points located on either side of said lower plate near the other end thereof; C. retention means pivotably mounted at said pivot points, said retention means including two retention plugs for engaging said two retention holes when each of said plugs are in a normal position in order to secure said circuit board with said connector, said two retention plugs located on opposite sides and near said one end of said lower plate; D. spring means for securing each of said retention plugs in said normal position; E. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means and said connector; and wherein F. said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on opposite sides of said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means are further disposed to accept a portion of the respective ones of said retention plugs when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.

Claim 34

A connector assembly for use with a circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts and two retention holes, said assembly comprising: A. a connector; B. a lower plate having means for retaining said connector at one end thereof and pivot points located on either side of said lower plate near the other end thereof; C. retention means pivotably mounted at said pivot points, said retention means including two retention plugs for engaging said two retention holes when each of said plugs are in a normal position in order to secure said circuit board with said connector, said two retention plugs located on opposite sides and near said one end of said lower plate; D. spring means for securing each of said retention plugs in said normal position; E. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means and said connector; and wherein F. said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on opposite sides of said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means are further disposed to accept a portion of the respective ones of said retention plugs when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.

Claim 35

A connector assembly for use with a circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts and two retention holes, said assembly comprising: A. a connector; B. a lower plate having means for retaining said connector at one end thereof and pivot points located on either side of said lower plate near the other end thereof; C. retention means pivotably mounted at said pivot points, said retention means including two retention plugs for engaging said two retention holes when each of said plugs are in a normal position in order to secure sAid circuit board with said connector, said two retention plugs located on opposite sides and near said one end of said lower plate; D. spring means for securing each of said retention plugs in said normal position; E. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means and said connector; and wherein F. said retention means further comprises depression means extending beyond the other end of said lower plate, said depression means being operative to release said retention plugs from said normal position when said depression means is depressed, said retention means further including two arms adjacent opposite sides of said lower plate and extending from said support toward said one end of said lower plate, and said retention means further including means for connecting one of said retention plugs to each of said arms; and wherein G. said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on opposite sides of said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means are further disposed to accept a portion of the respective ones of said arms when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.

Claim 36

A connector assembly for use with a circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts and two retention holes, said assembly comprising: A. a connector; B. a lower plate having means for retaining said connector at one end thereof and pivot points located on either side of said lower plate near the other end thereof; C. retention means pivotably mounted at said pivot points, said retention means including two retention plugs for engaging said two retention holes when each of said plugs are in a normal position in order to secure sAid circuit board with said connector, said two retention plugs located on opposite sides and near said one end of said lower plate; D. spring means for securing each of said retention plugs in said normal position; E. an upper plate secured to said lower plate, both said plates partially enclosing said retention means and said connector; and wherein F. said retention means further comprises depression means extending beyond the other end of said lower plate, said depression means being operative to release said retention plugs from said normal position when said depression means is depressed, said retention means further including two arms adjacent opposite sides of said lower plate and extending from said support toward said one end of said lower plate, and said retention means further including means for connecting one of said retention plugs to each of said arms; and wherein G. said upper plate further comprises slot means disposed on opposite sides of said upper plate near the end thereof in proximity with said one end of said lower plate, and wherein said slot means are further disposed to accept a portion of the respective ones of said arms when said depression means is depressed, whereby the overall height of said assembly is reduced.