Plug connector with mating protection and alignment means

• US 20060160429A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cleaver Brinkerhoff, Daniel L. Dawiedczyk, Emanuel G. Banakis, Frank A. Harwath, Harold Keith Lang, Jay H. Neer, Jennifer Swenson, Kent E. Regnier, Thomas Hall
• Inventors: Regnier, Kent E., Hall, Thomas, Lang, Harold Keith, Banakis, Emanuel G., Harwath, Frank A., Brinkerhoff, Cleaver, Dawiedczyk, Daniel L., Neer, Jay H., Swenson, Jennifer
• Granted Patent: US 7,303,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/676
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7023 integral with the coupling device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/707 Soldering or welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/727 Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure

Abstract

A plug connector is disclosed that has a body portion and a circuit card extending forwardly of a mating face of the connector. The circuit card is protected in place by a pair of protective flanges that extend forwardly from the body portion and which flank the circuit card to protect it from stubbing and to provide a first means for aligning the plug connector with the receptacle connector. One or more projections formed on the exterior of the plug connector provide second means for aligning the plug connector with the receptacle connector.

Claims

1. A plug connector for connecting wires to a mating connector, comprising:

a connector housing, the connector housing including an insulative body portion, the body portion including a forward face;

a circuit card, the circuit card including a leading edge with contacts for mating with the mating connector and a trailing edge with contacts for termination to a plurality of wires, said circuit card being disposed in said connector housing such that the circuit card leading edge extends forwardly of the connector body portion forward face for a preselected length and the circuit card trailing edge being disposed within said connector housing;

a plurality of wires terminated to contacts of said circuit card trailing edge; and

,

said connector housing body portion including a first flange extending a first preselected distance from said connector housing body portion and spaced apart from said circuit card, and a second flange extending a second preselected distance from said connector housing body portion and spaced apart from said circuit card.

2. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the connector housing body portion first and second flanges are disposed on opposite sides of said circuit card.

3. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said first flange first preselected distance is greater than said second flange second preselected distance.

4. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said circuit card leading edge and first and second flanges all have respective widths, the width of said circuit card leading edge being less than the width of said first flange but greater than the width of said second flange.

5. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said first flange includes an angled lead-in configuration along side edges thereof.

6. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein said second flange is adapted to be received in a recess disposed underneath a mating connector mounted on a circuit board.

7. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said connector housing body portion includes a forward mating face, the forward mating faces including a transverse slot through which said circuit card extends.

8. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said connector housing includes means for registering it with an guide member associated with a mating connector, the registration means including being disposed on said connector housing body portion.

9. The plug connector of claim 8, wherein said registration means includes a projection extending out from said connector housing body portion.

10. The plug connector of claim 9, where said registration means includes at least one T-shaped projection.

11. The plug connector of claim 9, wherein said registration means includes a pair of T-shaped projections disposed on opposite sides of said connector housing.

12. The plug connector of claim 11, wherein T-shaped projections are defined, in part, by recesses disposed along a side of said connector housing.

13. The plug connector of claim 1, further including a latch mechanism supported by said connector housing body, the latch mechanism including a frame member that supports a latch member therein, the latch member including a flexible metal member folded upon itself to define an anchor portion which is received within the frame member, and an actuating portion that is disposed above said anchor portion.

14. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said circuit card leading edge and said first flange have respective widths, the width of said circuit card leading edge being less than the width of said first flange.

15. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second flanges includes an engagement recess disposed on a top surface thereof for engaging an engagement portion of a guide member, when said plug connector is inserted into said guide member.

16. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said connector housing body portion includes two side surfaces, each of the side surfaces extending in a transverse direction to said first and second flanges, each of said two side surfaces including at least one engagement portion for engaging an outer guide member.

17. The plug connector of claim 16, wherein the engagement portion includes a recesses formed in one of said side surfaces.

18. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said first flange is disposed above said circuit card and said second flange is disposed below said circuit card.

19. A connector for mating with a corresponding opposing connector, the opposing connector including an exterior guide member for guiding the connector into engagement with the receptacle, said connector comprising:

a housing, the housing including a mating end for mating with said receptacle connector and an opposing rear end for receiving at least one electrical cable, said housing mating end having a flat mating face with a mating blade projecting longitudinally therefrom, the mating blade supporting a plurality of electrical contacts that extend along a leading edge of said mating blade, said housing further including first and second flanges that extend away from the mating face, the first and second flanges being spaced apart from each other and further being disposed on opposite sides of said mating blade and spaced apart therefrom; and

,

means for aligning said connector with an exterior guide member, the alignment means including a pair of engagement members disposed on said housing, the engagement members being spaced apart from said mating blade.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein said mating blade includes a circuit card and the electrical contacts include circuit traces disposed on at least one side of said circuit card.

21. The connector of claim 20, wherein said first and second flanges have leading edges with respective first and second widths and said circuit card has a third width along its leading edge, the first flange first width being greater than the circuit card leading edge width.

22. The connector of claim 21, wherein said second flange second width is less than said circuit card leading third width.

23. The connector of claim 19, wherein said first flange extends out from said mating face for a first distance and said second flange extends out from said mating face for a second distance, the first distance being greater than said second distance.

24. The connector of claim 19, wherein said first flange includes an angled lead-in configuration along side edges thereof.

25. The connector of claim 20, wherein said mating face includes a transverse slot through which said circuit card extends.

26. The connector of claim 20, wherein said housing includes a pair of side surfaces and said connector alignment means includes a pair of T-shaped projections disposed on opposite side surfaces of said connector housing.

27. The connector of claim 26, wherein said connector housing includes a pair of recesses, each recess being disposed along a side surface of said plug connector housing and proximate to said plug connector alignment means.

28. The connector of claim 20, wherein said first flange includes a recess extending widthwise on said first flange.

29. The connector of claim 28, wherein said recess is aligned with said mating blade contacts.

30. The connector of claim 19, further including a pair of recessed notches formed on said housing, the notches receiving opposing guide tabs therein of the exterior guide member.