Retaining support for electrical assembly having ribs extending from housing

• US 5,761,047 A
• Filed: 05/29/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
• Inventors: Wever, Jennifer, Settles, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinkins, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/654,560
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 361/684, 361/728, 361/736, 361/752, 361/760, 361/755, 361/785, 361/759, 361/796, 361/801, 361/802, 361/808, 174/35 C, 174/35 GC, 439/607, 439/76.1, 439/608, 439/609, 439/610
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0069 having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing

Abstract

An electrical assembly having a first member and a second member which form a housing for a circuit board. At least one rib extends from an inner face of the first member. The connector assembly also includes an electrical connector disposed in the housing having at least one contact arm contacting the circuit board. The rib contacts the connector and urges the connector against the circuit board. With this invention there is no need to heat stake or otherwise secure the connector to the board.

Claims

1. An electrical assembly comprising:

a first member having an inner face and at least one rib extending from said inner face;

a second member, said first and second members attached to each other forming a housing with an opening;

a circuit board disposed in said second member; and

an electrical connector disposed in said housing, said connector having at least one contact arm contacting said circuit board, wherein said rib contacts said connector and urges a portion of said connector which includes said contact arm, against said circuit board.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one rib is at least two ribs extending from said inner face, a first of said ribs contacting an upper face of said connector and a second of said ribs contacting a side face of said connector.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 2, said second rib contacting said side face at a corner of said upper face and said side face.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one contact arm passes through a hole in said circuit board and is soldered to said circuit board.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector includes a tab which extends from a main body of said connector into a hole in said circuit board.

6. An electrical assembly comprising:

a first member having an inner face and at least one rib extending from said inner face;

a second member, said first and second members attached to each other forming a housing with an opening;

a circuit board disposed in said second member

an electrical connector disposed in said housing, said connector having at least one contact arm contacting said circuit board, wherein said rib contacts said connector and urges said connector against said circuit board; and

said rib contacts a side face of said connector, said rib defining a stop for said connector against insertion forces.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said rib contacts said side face at a corner of said side face and an upper face.

8. An electrical assembly comprising:

a first member having an inner face and a rib extending from said inner face;

a second member, said first and second members forming a housing;

a circuit board disposed in said second member;

an electrical component disposed in said housing, said component having at least one contact arm contacting said circuit board, wherein said rib contacts said component urging said component against said circuit board; and

said component including a tab which extends from a main body of said component at a location spaced from said at least one contact arm, and said tab extending into a hole in said circuit board, said rib contacting said component at a location intermediate said tab and a location where said contact arm contacts said circuit board.

9. An electrical assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said rib has a tip extending beyond an upper face of said component, said rib contacting a corner of said component, defining a stop against insertion forces.

10. An electrical assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said rib comprises a resilient material and is integral with said first member.

11. An electrical assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said component is an electrical connector.

12. An electrical assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said first member and said second member has a flange, said flanges collectively defining an opening through which a mating component is plugged into said connector, and said connector abutting said second member flange and said circuit board, said rib urging said connector against said circuit board and said second member flange.

13. An electrical assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said at least one contact arm passes through said hole in said circuit board and is soldered to said circuit board.

14. An electrical assembly comprising:

a first member having an inner face and a pair of ribs extending from said inner face;

a second member, said first and second members attached to each other forming a housing with an opening;

a circuit board disposed in said second member; and

an electrical connector disposed in said housing, said connector having a plurality of contact arms contacting said circuit board, wherein a first of said ribs contacts an upper face of said connector and a second of said ribs contacts a corner of said connector, said ribs urging said connector against said circuit board.

15. An assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said second rib defines a stop for said connector against insertion forces for a mating electrical component.

16. An assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said first member and said second member has a flange, said flanges collectively defining said opening through which a mating electrical component is plugged into said connector, and said connector abutting said second member flange and said circuit board, said pair of rib urging said connector against said circuit board and said second member flange.

17. An assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said ribs are integrally formed with said first member.

18. An assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said contact arms passes through a hole in said circuit board and is soldered to said circuit board.

19. An assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said connector includes a tab which extends from a main body of said connector into a hole in said circuit board.