US6123554A — Connector cover with board stiffener

Claim 1

Independent Claim 103 words

A connector system, mountable on a circuit substrate, comprising: a plurality of electrical connectors arranged adjacently, each including a front housing and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts extending rearwardly from said front housing; a cover connected to said front housing and extending rearwardly to cover and contain said contacts; and a stiffener connected to said cover for securing said connectors together, wherein said stiffener is located away from said circuit substrate and said stiffener exhibits a stiffening effect which is operative on said cover, and wherein said stiffening effect is transposed through said cover to help stiffen and rigidify said circuit substrate.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 103 words

A connector system, mountable on a circuit substrate, comprising: a plurality of electrical connectors arranged adjacently, each including a front housing and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts extending rearwardly from said front housing; a cover connected to said front housing and extending rearwardly to cover and contain said contacts; and a stiffener connected to said cover for securing said connectors together, wherein said stiffener is located away from said circuit substrate and said stiffener exhibits a stiffening effect which is operative on said cover, and wherein said stiffening effect is transposed through said cover to help stiffen and rigidify said circuit substrate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The connection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises a top panel, a back panel, and two side panels, wherein a front end is generally open for mating with said front housing and a bottom end is generally open for mounting on said circuit substrate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The connection system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a retention structure and a corresponding alignment structure formed between said cover and said stiffener for attaching said stiffener to said cover.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The connection system as recited in claim 3, wherein said retention structure comprises a projection extending from one surface of said cover and said corresponding alignment structure comprises a recess sized to receive said projection on said cover.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The connection system as recited in claim 3, wherein said retention structure and said alignment structure each comprise apertures that receive fasteners therein to secure said stiffener to said cover.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The connection system as recited in claim 3, wherein said retention structure is formed on said cover and said alignment structure corresponding to said retention structure is formed on said stiffener.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The connection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said stiffener does not engage said circuit substrate either directly or indirectly through any fastener or spacer means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The connection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said stiffener indirectly engages said circuit substrate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

The connection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover is one-piece.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

The connection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover is formed from two pieces, a first piece having an alignment structure for engaging an attachment structure of a second piece for holding said first piece and said second piece together.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The connection system as recited in claim 1, in combination with the circuit substrate, said cover mounted to said circuit substrate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

The connection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises a plurality of mounting projections extending from a bottom surface of said cover for connecting and holding said cover on said circuit substrate and for transposing said stiffening effect to said circuit substrate.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 83 words

An electrical connector assembly for connecting to and stiffening a printed circuit board (PCB), said connector assembly comprising: a socket housing having at least one shoulder disposed thereon, and at least one contact terminal disposed in said socket housing; a cover disposed over at least a portion of said socket housing, said cover having at least one latch formed thereon, said latch being constructed to fit over and connectively engage said shoulder; and a stiffener coupled to said cover away from said PCB.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 83 words

An electrical connector assembly for connecting to and stiffening a printed circuit board (PCB), said connector assembly comprising: a socket housing having at least one shoulder disposed thereon, and at least one contact terminal disposed in said socket housing; a cover disposed over at least a portion of said socket housing, said cover having at least one latch formed thereon, said latch being constructed to fit over and connectively engage said shoulder; and a stiffener coupled to said cover away from said PCB.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 112 words

An electrical connector for use in establishing an electrical connection between a backplane and a printed circuit board, said connector comprising: a connector module having a socket housing, at least one shoulder formed on said socket housing, said connector module being adapted for connection to said backplane; a cover having a split body that is disposed over at least a portion of said socket housing, said split body having a first half and a second half, an attachment mechanism for connecting said first half to said second half, said split body being adapted for establishing a mechanical connection with a PCB; and a stiffener coupled to said cover away from said PCB.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 112 words

An electrical connector for use in establishing an electrical connection between a backplane and a printed circuit board, said connector comprising: a connector module having a socket housing, at least one shoulder formed on said socket housing, said connector module being adapted for connection to said backplane; a cover having a split body that is disposed over at least a portion of said socket housing, said split body having a first half and a second half, an attachment mechanism for connecting said first half to said second half, said split body being adapted for establishing a mechanical connection with a PCB; and a stiffener coupled to said cover away from said PCB.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 103 words

A connection system, mountable on a circuit substrate, comprising: a plurality of electrical connectors arranged adjacently, each including a front housing and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts extending rearwardly from said front housing; a cover connected to said front housing and extending rearwardly to cover and contain said contacts; and a stiffener connected to said cover for securing said connectors together and indirectly connected to said circuit substrate for providing added rigidity to said circuit substrate, wherein said stiffener is connected to said circuit substrate proximate areas between adjacent connectors in areas of said circuit substrate having lower concentrations of electrical traces.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 103 words

A connection system, mountable on a circuit substrate, comprising: a plurality of electrical connectors arranged adjacently, each including a front housing and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts extending rearwardly from said front housing; a cover connected to said front housing and extending rearwardly to cover and contain said contacts; and a stiffener connected to said cover for securing said connectors together and indirectly connected to said circuit substrate for providing added rigidity to said circuit substrate, wherein said stiffener is connected to said circuit substrate proximate areas between adjacent connectors in areas of said circuit substrate having lower concentrations of electrical traces.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

The connection system as recited in claim 15, wherein said areas between adjacent connectors in areas of said circuit substrate having lower concentrations of electrical traces are formed at a plurality of seams defined between side walls of adjacent connectors.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The connection system as recited in claim 15, further comprising one or more guides mountable to the circuit substrate and secured to said stiffener.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The connection system as recited in claim 17, wherein said guides include one or more posts and said stiffener includes one or more slots sized to receive said posts.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The connection system as recited in claim 17, further comprising one or more fasteners for securing said guide to said slot and to said circuit substrate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-09-26	2004-03-27	2004-09-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-09-26	2008-03-27	2008-09-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-09-26	2012-03-27	2012-09-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Connector cover with board stiffener

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