Electrical connector with an electrical component holder

• US 6,459,042 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luettgen, Michael John, Stilianos, Demetri
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US09/466,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 439/620, 439/79, 439/80, 361/760, 361/763, 361/767, 361/770, 361/807-810, 174/138.G
• US Class Current: 174/138.00G
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7064 Press fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/727 Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/75 connecting to cables except for flat or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/301 by means of a mounting structure H05K3/325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0056 characterized by features for protecting electronic components against vibration and moisture, e.g. potting, holders for relatively large capacitors
• 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

A circuit assembly 10 for holding an electronic component 26 relative to a circuit board 16 comprises a housing 12 coupled to the circuit board 16. A separable cradle 24 is coupled to the housing 12 and is sized to receive the electronic component 26. The cradle 24 has a support post 28 for spacing the cradle 25 a predetermined distance from the circuit board 16. In a further aspect of the invention, the housing 12 may be a module housing or a connector 14. The cradle 24 may be separable from the housing, Leads (26) pass through the cradle holes 46 and housing holes 44 to be soldered to the circuit board.

Claims

1. A circuit assembly holding an electronic component having leads and a circuit board comprising:

a housing coupled to the circuit board, said housing having interconnect holes therethrough; and

a cradle having a first end portion coupled to the housing, said cradle sized to receive the electronic component, said cradle having a second end portion extending outward from said housing and positioned a predetermined distance above the circuit board, said cradle comprising a pair of lead holes extending therethrough, said lead holes aligned with interconnect holes through said housing, said interconnect holes and said lead holes receiving leads from the electronic component.

2. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first end portion having an attachment member extending therefrom, and wherein said housing comprises a guide channel sized to receive said attachment member.

3. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 2 further comprising tangs extending from said cradle, said tangs engaging said electronic component when said electronic component is positioned within said cradle.

4. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cradle is separable from the housing.

5. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cradle comprising structural ribs extending at least partially therearound.

6. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cradle comprising a pair of lead holes extending therethrough.

7. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said lead holes comprise tapered holes.

8. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said tapered holes align with interconnect holes through said housing.

9. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a component housing.

10. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a connector housing.

11. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a support post for spacing said cradle said predetermined distance from said circuit board.

12. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cradle is removable from the housing.

13. A circuit assembly holding an electronic component having leads and a circuit board comprising:

a housing coupled to the circuit board, said housing comprising guides forming a guide channel, said housing having interconnect holes therethrough; and

a separable cradle having a first end portion coupled to the housing sized to receive the electronic component, said cradle having a second end portion extending outward from said housing, said cradle comprising a support post adjacent to said second end portion for spacing said cradle a predetermined distance from the circuit board, said cradle having an attachment member sized to be slidably received within said guide channel, said cradle comprising a pair of lead holes extending therethrough, said lead holes aligned with interconnect holes through said housing, said interconnect holes and said lead holes receiving leads from the electronic component.

14. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising tangs extending from said cradle, said tangs engaging said electronic component when said electronic component is positioned within said cradle.

15. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said lead holes comprise tapered holes.

16. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said housing comprises a component housing.

17. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said housing comprises a connector housing.

18. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising a support post for spacing said cradle said predetermined distance from said circuit board.

19. A connector assembly comprising:

a connector housing, said housing having interconnect holes therethrough; and

a separable cradle having a first end portion slidably coupled to the connector housing, said cradle sized to receive an electronic component having leads, said cradle having a second end portion extending outward from said housing, said cradle comprising a support post for Spacing said cradle a predetermined distance above the circuit board, said cradle comprising a pair of lead holes extending therethrough, said lead holes aligned with said interconnect holes through said housing, said interconnect holes and said lead holes receiving leads from the electronic component.

20. A connector assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said first end portion having an attachment member extending therefrom, and wherein said connector housing comprises a guide channel sized to receive said attachment member.

21. A circuit assembly as recited in claim 19 further comprising tangs extending from said cradle, said tangs engaging said electronic component when said electronic component,is positioned within said cradle.