US5007846A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Specialized frame for retaining an edge connector on a printed circuit board
Assignee: RAVID GONEN
•
Filing: 1990-06-11
•
Granted: 1991-04-16
•
Expires: 2010-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved mounting and housing of edge connector assemblies used in conjunction with printed circuit boards, which improvement combines the advantages of a flexible cable connector in accommodating any desired locations of the male prongs of the disk drive or another computer peripheral such or a tape drive, floppy drive, optical drive, etc. with the edge connector advantages of easy slidable connecting motion and elimination of the problem of plugging in the connector backwards. A pair of spaced apart elongated slots are formed in the test printed circuit board adjacent one edge of the board. Two edge connectors are supported by two separate frame members with one edge connector in the first frame member and the second edge connector in the second frame member, and the first frame member and edge connector supported therein is slidably attached at any given location along the length of one of the slots while the second frame member and edge connector supported therein is slidably attached at any given location along the length of the other slot. Then the two frame members and edge connectors supported therein can be moved to any desired location along the length of their respective slots to thereby accommodate the locations of the pair of mating male prongs of the disk drive to be tested.
Inventors
- 👤 Gonen Ravid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2801; G01R31/2806; G01R31/2808; H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
367 words
A frame for retaining and mounting on a printed circuit board an edge connector having a multiplicity of female connector members, the printed circuit board including at least one elongated slot running adjacent an edge of the printed circuit board, the frame comprising: a. a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; b. a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; c. a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; d. a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; e. a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; and f. the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; g. attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board; h. whereby said edge connector is retained within said frame such that the edge connector rests between the bottom and the top lip of the first and second side brackets, the front of the edge connector lies adjacent the front lip and the female connector members are unobstructed by the front lip, and the frame is attached to the printed circuit board by attaching means which extend through the slot in the printed circuit board and through the transverse opening in the frame with the frame affixed beneath the printed circuit board such that the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the slot functions as a rear lip to retain the edge connector between the front lip of the frame and the printed circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
367 words
A frame for retaining and mounting on a printed circuit board an edge connector having a multiplicity of female connector members, the printed circuit board including at least one elongated slot running adjacent an edge of the printed circuit board, the frame comprising: a. a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; b. a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; c. a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; d. a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; e. a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; and f. the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; g. attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board; h. whereby said edge connector is retained within said frame such that the edge connector rests between the bottom and the top lip of the first and second side brackets, the front of the edge connector lies adjacent the front lip and the female connector members are unobstructed by the front lip, and the frame is attached to the printed circuit board by attaching means which extend through the slot in the printed circuit board and through the transverse opening in the frame with the frame affixed beneath the printed circuit board such that the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the slot functions as a rear lip to retain the edge connector between the front lip of the frame and the printed circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A frame member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frame member is of one piece construction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A frame member in accordance with claim 2 wherein said frame member is made of metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A frame member in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame member is sized to retain a 20 pin edge connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A frame member in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame member is sized to retain a 34 pin edge connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A frame member in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame member is sized to retain a 50 pin edge connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
381 words
An assembly for retaining and mounting on a printed circuit board an edge connector having a multiplicity of female connector members, the assembly comprising: a. an elongated slot running parallel to and adjacent one edge of the printed circuit board and extending through the entire thickness of the printed circuit board; b. a frame member further comprising, (i) a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; (ii) a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; (iii) a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; (iv) a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (v) a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (vi) the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; and (vii) attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board; c. whereby said edge connector is retained within said frame such that the edge connector rests between the bottom and the top lip of the first and second side brackets, the front of the edge connector lies adjacent the front lip and the female connector members are unobstructed by the front lip, and the frame is attached to the printed circuit board by attaching means which extend through the slot in the printed circuit board and through the transverse opening in the frame with the frame affixed beneath the printed circuit board such that the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the slot functions as a rear lip to retain the edge connector between the front lip of the frame and the printed circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
381 words
An assembly for retaining and mounting on a printed circuit board an edge connector having a multiplicity of female connector members, the assembly comprising: a. an elongated slot running parallel to and adjacent one edge of the printed circuit board and extending through the entire thickness of the printed circuit board; b. a frame member further comprising, (i) a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; (ii) a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; (iii) a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; (iv) a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (v) a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (vi) the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; and (vii) attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board; c. whereby said edge connector is retained within said frame such that the edge connector rests between the bottom and the top lip of the first and second side brackets, the front of the edge connector lies adjacent the front lip and the female connector members are unobstructed by the front lip, and the frame is attached to the printed circuit board by attaching means which extend through the slot in the printed circuit board and through the transverse opening in the frame with the frame affixed beneath the printed circuit board such that the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the slot functions as a rear lip to retain the edge connector between the front lip of the frame and the printed circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the frame member is of one piece construction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said frame member is made of metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said frame member is sized to retain a 20 pin edge connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said frame member is sized to retain a 34 pin edge connector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A frame member in accordance with claim 7 wherein said frame member is sized to retain a 50 pin edge connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
799 words
An assembly for retaining and mounting on a printed circuit board a pair of edge connectors each having a multiplicity of female connector members, the assembly comprising: a. a first elongated slot running parallel to and adjacent one edge of the printed circuit board and extending through the entire thickness of the printed circuit board; b. a second elongated slot running parallel to and adjacent the same edge of the printed circuit board, spaced apart from the first elongated slot, and extending through the entire thickness of the printed circuit board; c. a first frame member further comprising, (i) a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; (ii) a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; (iii) a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; (iv) a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (v) a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (vi) the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; and (vii) attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board at a location along the length of the first elongated slot in the printed circuit board in a manner by which the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the first elongated slot serves to act as a lip for retaining the edge connector within the frame; d. a second frame member further comprising, (i) a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; (ii) a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; (iii) a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; (iv) a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (v) a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (vi) the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; and (vii) attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board at a location along the length of the second elongated slot in the printed circuit board in a manner by which the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the second elongated slot serves to act as a lip for retaining the edge connector within the frame; e. whereby each edge connector is retained within its respective frame such that the edge connector rests between the bottom and the top lip of the first and second side brackets, the front of the edge connector lies adjacent the front lip and the female connector members are unobstructed by the front lip, and the frame is attached to the printed circuit board by attaching means which extend through the slot in the printed circuit board and through the transverse opening in the frame with the frame affixed beneath the printed circuit board such that the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the slot functions as a rear lip to retain the edge connector between the front lip of the frame and the printed circuit board and whereby said first frame and said second frame are aligned to correspond to a pair of mating prongs of a disk drive such that one of the prongs is received by the female connector members of one edge connector and the second of the prongs is received by the female connector members of the other edge connector and thereafter the first and second frames are attached to the printed circuit board within their respective elongated slots.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
799 words
An assembly for retaining and mounting on a printed circuit board a pair of edge connectors each having a multiplicity of female connector members, the assembly comprising: a. a first elongated slot running parallel to and adjacent one edge of the printed circuit board and extending through the entire thickness of the printed circuit board; b. a second elongated slot running parallel to and adjacent the same edge of the printed circuit board, spaced apart from the first elongated slot, and extending through the entire thickness of the printed circuit board; c. a first frame member further comprising, (i) a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; (ii) a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; (iii) a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; (iv) a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (v) a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (vi) the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; and (vii) attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board at a location along the length of the first elongated slot in the printed circuit board in a manner by which the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the first elongated slot serves to act as a lip for retaining the edge connector within the frame; d. a second frame member further comprising, (i) a bottom including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; (ii) a front lip affixed along said front edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the front edge; (iii) a transverse opening extending through the bottom at a location adjacent said rear edge of said bottom; (iv) a first side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said first side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (v) a second side bracket having a sidewall affixed to said second side edge of said bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side edge and a top lip affixed to the sidewall at a location remote from the bottom and extending generally perpendicular to the side wall and generally parallel to the bottom; (vi) the top lips of each respective first and second side bracket extending toward each other and over the bottom; and (vii) attaching means for attaching the frame to the printed circuit board at a location along the length of the second elongated slot in the printed circuit board in a manner by which the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the second elongated slot serves to act as a lip for retaining the edge connector within the frame; e. whereby each edge connector is retained within its respective frame such that the edge connector rests between the bottom and the top lip of the first and second side brackets, the front of the edge connector lies adjacent the front lip and the female connector members are unobstructed by the front lip, and the frame is attached to the printed circuit board by attaching means which extend through the slot in the printed circuit board and through the transverse opening in the frame with the frame affixed beneath the printed circuit board such that the edge of the printed circuit board adjacent the slot functions as a rear lip to retain the edge connector between the front lip of the frame and the printed circuit board and whereby said first frame and said second frame are aligned to correspond to a pair of mating prongs of a disk drive such that one of the prongs is received by the female connector members of one edge connector and the second of the prongs is received by the female connector members of the other edge connector and thereafter the first and second frames are attached to the printed circuit board within their respective elongated slots.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-15 | 1994-10-15 | 1995-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-15 | 1998-10-15 | 1999-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-15 | 2002-10-15 | 2003-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |