Mounting system for a connector assembly to a substrate

• US 6,331,079 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Wenzong, Grois, Igor, Matasek, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, AUDREY Y
• Application Number:
  US09/456,198
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 385/92, 385/53, 385/56, 385/62, 385/64, 385/66, 385/60, 385/93, 385/88, 439/567, 439/4.7, 361/4.5
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7047 with a fastener through a screw hole in the coupling device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence

Abstract

A system is provided for mounting a connector assembly to a substrate. The substrate includes at least one pre-placement hole and at least one positioning hole. A connector housing has a pre-placement peg sized for insertion into the pre-placement hole in the substrate with substantially zero insertion forces to generally place the housing on the substrate. The housing has a positioning peg sized for insertion into the positioning hole in the substrate by a press-fit to precisely fix the housing on the substrate.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a connector assembly to a substrate, comprising:

a substrate including at least one pre-placement hole and at least one positioning hole; and

a connector housing having a pre-placement peg sized for insertion into said pre-placement hole in the substrate with substantially zero insertion forces to generally place the housing on the substrate and a positioning peg sized for insertion into said positioning hole in the substrate by a press-fit to precisely fix the housing on the substrate, the pre-placement peg being longer than the positioning peg, whereby the pre-placement peg can be inserted first into the pre-placement hole

and the housing can be easily pivoted about the pre-placement peg until the positioning peg is aligned with the positioning hole.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a recessed area about at least a portion of the positioning peg for receiving any material shaved off of the positioning peg as it is press-fit into the positioning hole.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said positioning peg includes at least one crushable rib on the exterior thereof.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said positioning peg is fabricated of plastic material.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said connector housing is molded of plastic material with the positioning peg being integral therewith.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said pre-placement peg is solid.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said positioning peg is hollow.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said pre-placement peg is solid.

9. The system of claim 1, including a plurality of said positioning pegs spaced from each other.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises a circuit board.

11. A system for mounting a connector assembly to a printed circuit board, comprising:

a circuit board including at least one pre-placement hole and a plurality of positioning holes spaced from each other and from the pre-placement hole; and

a connector housing molded of plastic material and having an integral pre-placement peg sized for insertion into said pre-placement hole in the circuit board with substantially zero insertion forces to generally place the housing on the circuit board, a plurality of integral positioning pegs sized for insertion into said positioning holes in the circuit board by a press-fit to precisely fix the housing on the circuit board, and a recessed area about at least a portion of each positioning peg for receiving any plastic material shaved off of the positioning pegs as they are press-fit into the positioning holes.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein each positioning peg includes at least one crushable rib on the exterior thereof.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said pre-placement peg is longer than the positioning pegs.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said pre-placement peg is solid.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said positioning pegs are hollow.

16. A system for mounting a connector assembly to a substrate having a mounting hole, comprising a connector housing having a mounting peg for insertion into the mounting hole in the substrate by a press-fit, the housing including a recessed area about at least a portion of the mounting peg for receiving any material shaved off of the mounting peg as it is press-fit into the mounting hole.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said mounting peg includes at least one crushable rib on the exterior thereof.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said connector housing is molded of plastic material with the mounting peg being integral therewith.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said mounting peg is hollow.