Patent US6749468B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6749468B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-density connector assembly mounting apparatus
Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 2002-11-29
•
Granted: 2004-06-15
•
Expires: 2022-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Connector assemblies having terminal assemblies which are arranged in side-by-side order are maintained in a group with a desired spacing between the terminal assemblies. The terminals fixed in place at a first point within insulative connector body portions. The terminals assemblies are fixed together by a alignment bar along their lower edges, with the bar having engagement lugs that are received within slots formed in the housings of the terminal assemblies, and they are fixed along their upper edges by a hollow retainer that has a series of slots formed in an interior surface thereof. The slots and the alignment bar are aligned together so that the spacing between adjacent terminal assemblies is even.
Inventors
- 👤 Hazelton P. Avery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/73; H01R12/735; H01R12/737; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/516; H01R13/518; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/631; H01R13/6315; H01R13/646; H01R13/6461; H01R13/6471; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585; H01R13/6586; H01R12/724; H01R13/514; H01R13/6587
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A high density electrical connector, comprising; a plurality of terminal assemblies, each of the terminal assemblies including at least one insulative terminal housing supporting a set of conductive terminals, the terminals having contact portions projecting from a first edge of the terminal housing and tail portions for mounting said terminal housing to a circuit board, the tail portions extending from a second edge of said housing, the terminal housing including a third edge spaced from said first edge; a retainer for holding said terminal housings together as a unit, the retainer including at least a pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls being connected together by a plate, the retainer plate and sidewalls cooperatively defining a hollow enclosure in receiving said terminal housings, said retainer including means for engaging said terminal housing third edges; and, an alignment bar for engaging an edge of said terminal housings proximate to said first edge and spaced apart from said terminal housing third edges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A high density electrical connector, comprising; a plurality of terminal assemblies, each of the terminal assemblies including at least one insulative terminal housing supporting a set of conductive terminals, the terminals having contact portions projecting from a first edge of the terminal housing and tail portions for mounting said terminal housing to a circuit board, the tail portions extending from a second edge of said housing, the terminal housing including a third edge spaced from said first edge; a retainer for holding said terminal housings together as a unit, the retainer including at least a pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls being connected together by a plate, the retainer plate and sidewalls cooperatively defining a hollow enclosure in receiving said terminal housings, said retainer including means for engaging said terminal housing third edges; and, an alignment bar for engaging an edge of said terminal housings proximate to said first edge and spaced apart from said terminal housing third edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The connector of claim 1 , when said alignment bar includes a plurality of raised ribs that project therefrom, the alignment bar ribs engaging said terminal housings and spacing them apart in a second predetermined spacing along said terminal housing second edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The connector of claim 1 , wherein said terminals further include flexing portions interposed between said contact portions and said terminal housings and said retainer and alignment bar engage said terminal housings in a manner so as not to interfere with flexing of said terminal flexing portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The connector of claim 1 , wherein said retainer terminal housing engagement means includes a plurality of channels formed along an inner face of said retainer plate, the channels being defined by intervening raised ribs that project into the interior of said retainer, the channels spacing said terminal housing apart in a first predetermined spacing along said terminal housing third edges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The connector of claim 4 , when said alignment bar includes a plurality of raised ribs that project therefrom, the alignment ribs engaging said terminal housings and spacing them apart in a second predetermined spacing along said terminal housing second edges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 5 , wherein said first and second spacings are equal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The connector of claim 1 , wherein said alignment bar includes a plurality of ribs projecting therefrom, the alignment bar ribs being separated from each other by intervening spaces, and said terminal housings include slots formed along said second edges thereof, said terminal housing slots receiving said alignment bar ribs therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said retainer terminal housing engagement means includes a plurality of channels formed along an interior surface thereof, each of the channels receiving therein a single terminal housing, said channels being aligned with said alignment bar intervening slots to hold terminal housings upright within said retainer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said terminal housing slots are disposed in said terminal housing second edges proximate to said terminal housing first edges and exterior of said retainer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said terminal housings each include a body portion and said terminal housing slots are disposed in the body portions thereof and extend transversely across said first edges thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The connector of claim 10 , wherein said terminal housings slots each include a wall portion extending across said terminal housing slot and dividing said terminal housing slots into two portions, said wall portions being received within said alignment bar intervening spaces when said alignment bar is engaged with said terminal housings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The connector of claim 1 , wherein each terminal assembly includes at least one set of signal terminals and one set of ground terminals, and said terminal housings each include a pair of terminal housing halves which are joined together to form single terminal housings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The connector of claim 12 , wherein for each terminal housing, one of said terminal housing halves supports said one signal terminal set and said ground terminal set is held between said terminal housing halves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
The connector of claim 1 , wherein each terminal assembly includes a pair of signal terminal sets and a pair of ground terminal sets, each of said terminal housings including a pair of terminal housing halves which are joined together, each terminal housing half supporting a single signal terminal set and said two ground terminal sets being held between said terminal housing halves and spaced apart from said two signal terminal sets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The connector of claim 14 , wherein said two ground terminal sets are held together in side-by-side order to form a single ground member of double thickness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
A connector retainer assembly in a connector formed from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies, each terminal assembly including a plurality of conductive terminals supported on an insulative housing, comprising: first means for aligning said terminal assemblies formed in said terminal housings cooperatively and extending in a direction transverse to axial directions of said terminals; an elongated alignment member that engages said first terminal housing alignment means along first edges of said terminal housings that maintain the terminal housing first edges in a first predetermined spacing; and, a hollow retainer that partially encloses said terminal housings, the retainer including second means for aligning said terminal assemblies, the second terminal housing alignment means engaging said terminal housings along second edges thereof and maintains the terminal housing second edges in a second predetermined spacing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
132 words
A connector retainer assembly in a connector formed from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies, each terminal assembly including a plurality of conductive terminals supported on an insulative housing, comprising: first means for aligning said terminal assemblies formed in said terminal housings cooperatively and extending in a direction transverse to axial directions of said terminals; an elongated alignment member that engages said first terminal housing alignment means along first edges of said terminal housings that maintain the terminal housing first edges in a first predetermined spacing; and, a hollow retainer that partially encloses said terminal housings, the retainer including second means for aligning said terminal assemblies, the second terminal housing alignment means engaging said terminal housings along second edges thereof and maintains the terminal housing second edges in a second predetermined spacing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The connector retainer assembly of claim 16 , wherein said terminal assembly first alignment means includes a plurality of slots formed along said terminal housing first edges and said terminal assembly second alignment means including a plurality of slots formed along an inner surface of said retainer, each slot receiving at least a portion of a single terminal housing second edge therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The connector retainer assembly of claim 17 , wherein said alignment member includes a plurality of engagement lugs that are received within said terminal housing slots.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The connector retainer assembly of claim 18 , wherein said terminal housing slots are divided by central walls and said alignment member includes a plurality of spaces interposed between said engagement lugs thereof, the terminal housing slot central walls being received within said alignment member spaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5368505A
Cited
US6540558B1
Cited
US5755584A
Cited
US5664968A
Cited
US5688130A
Cited
US6083047A
Cited
US6183301B1
Cited
US6196853B1
Cited
US6210224B1
Cited
US6095852A
Cited
EP1049201A1
Cited
US6123554A
Cited
US6168469B1
Cited
US6273762B1
Cited
US6299484B2
Cited
WO2001057963A2
Cited
US6293827B1
Cited
US6171115B1
Cited
US6361374B1
Cited
US6409543B1
Cited
US6540522B2
Cited
WO2003047038A2
Cited
US20030119362A1
Cited
US20030119379A1
Cited
US20030124881A1
Cited
US20030124910A1
Cited
US20030162441A1
Cited
US6638110B1
Cited
US6641411B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-15 | 2007-12-15 | 2008-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-15 | 2011-12-15 | 2012-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-15 | 2015-12-15 | 2016-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |