Electrical connector assembly with guide member

• US 4,572,602 A
• Filed: 10/31/1984
• Issued: 02/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Rupnik, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Application Number:
  US06/666,708
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 339/65, 339/91 R, 339/125 R, 339/126 R, 339/126 RS, 339/132 R, 339/132 B, 339/133 R, 339/134
• US Class Current: 439/350
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/727 Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/26 Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence

Abstract

A plug and socket assembly (20, 31) includes a guide member for guiding a plug (20) through a panel aperture into a receptacle (31) comprises a face plate (12) having a generally rectangular plug admitting orifice (13) therein and a channel section base portion (14) outstanding perpendicularly from one side of the face plate (12) and extending completely through the thickness thereof to define a lower edge portion of the orifice. An apron (15) outstands perpendicularly from an upper edge portion of the orifice (13) to overlie the center of the channel and latch admitting openings (16, 16'"'"') extend between the channel side walls and the apron (15).

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a plug comprising an insulating housing body having a front, mating end and a rear, wire receiving end;

first and second opposed side walls joined by first and second opposed end walls extending between the mating and wire receiving ends;

a row of barriers extending across the second side wall at the mating end;

an internal wire receiving passageway open at the rear end and extending toward the mating end;

a row of terminals having contact surfaces exposed between adjacent barriers and wire connecting portions terminating wires in the passageway; and

, a pair of latch arms extending rearwardly in divergent fashion from respective end walls at locations adjacent the first side wall;

a receptacle comprising an insulating housing having opposite side and end walls defining a plug receiving cavity open at a mouth and a row of spring contacts extending rearwardly from a location adjacent and spaced from the mouth across the cavity for engagement with respective contact surfaces of the plug terminals on insertion of the plug through the mouth into the cavity, latching means being provided adjacent the mouth interengageable with the latch arms to latch the plug in the cavity;

a panel having an aperture therein; and

,

a plug guiding member located to extend around the panel aperture and including a channel-form base portion outstanding from one side of the panel with the channel axis extending along the plug mating axis and an apron outstanding from the panel overlying the center of the channel, latch admitting openings being provided between respective channel side walls and the upper apron portion;

wherein the receptacle is mounted on the other side of the panel with the mouth aligned with the panel aperture and the plug extends through the guide member in mating engagement with the receptacle with the channel snugly receiving the second side wall and adjacent portions of the end walls of the plug and the apron engaging a central portion of the first side wall with the latch arms being freely received in the openings.

2. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 in which the channel-form base portion extends completely through the guide member.

3. A guide member for guiding a plug through a panel aperture into a receptacle comprising a face plate having a generally rectangular plug admitting orifice therein and a channel section base portion outstanding perpendicularly from one side of the face plate and extending completely through the thickness thereof to define a lower edge portion of the orifice, an apron outstanding perpendicularly from an upper edge portion of the orifice to overlie the centre of the channel and latch admitting openings extending between the channel side walls and the apron.