Refined rack-and-panel construction with self-locking connectors; and method of use

• US 6,506,065 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ergo Mechanical Systems, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ergo Mechanical Systems, Incorporated
• Inventors: Castleman, Neal J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US09/677,331
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 439/157, 439/372, 439/61, 439/310, 439/357, 439/160, 439/159, 361/724, 361/725, 361/826, 361/825
• US Class Current: 439/157
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1424 Card cages
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1452 Mounting of connectors; Switching; Reinforcing of back panels

Abstract

Electrical connections between a cable connector and an electronics module—that has a corresponding panel connector—are made/broken quickly and easily with a light, low-bulk half-shell that is an exclusively mechanical, nonelectrical intermediary from connector to module. A rack receives and holds the module, and a connector holder, formed in the rack, receives and holds the cable and panel connectors aligned. A cam is associated with the rack or module, and a cam-follower with the other—preferably in duplicate opposed sets. A single, one-hand-actuated lever on the rack or module operates the cam or follower to bodily shift module vs. rack and engage/disengage the connectors. Preferences: each holder easily and quickly engages/disengages from a corresponding cable connector. Typically a module weighs at least several pounds. The cam has a concave arcuate segment to draw the module in and seat the connectors, and a convex arcuate segment to eject the module and unseat them. The lever hinges to the rack; the cam is formed in the lever; the follower is a post projecting laterally from the module. A latch-pin fastener on the lever helps secure it and the rack and module fully engaged. Offset alignment rods project forward from the module through holes in the rack to prevent inverted installation. The method inserts the module partway into the rack and then operates the lever with one hand to draw the module in and seat the connectors.

Claims

1. Apparatus for making or breaking electrical connections between at least one electrical cable connector and an electronics module that has at least one corresponding panel connector, and that carries module camming means;

said apparatus comprising;

an exclusively mechanical, nonelectrical intermediary between the cable connector and electronics module;

said intermediary comprising;

a rack for receiving and holding the electronics module, and

at least one cable-connector holder, formed in the rack, for receiving and holding the at least one cable connector in positions aligned with the at least one panel connector when the electronics module is held in the rack;

rack camming means for engagement with the module camming means;

a lever fixed to one of the rack and module for operating the rack camming means or module camming means to forcibly shift the module relative to the rack, so as to engage or disengage the at least one panel connector and the at least one cable connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each cable-connector holder comprises means for easily and quickly engaging, or disengaging from, a corresponding cable connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

offset alignment rods projecting forward from the module, and through holes in the rack when properly aligned, to prevent inverted installation.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the alignment rods are long enough to stop said forcible shift of the module toward the rack before the panel connectors engage the cable connectors, in event of attempted inverted installation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, for use with an electronics module that weighs at least several pounds, and wherein:

the lever is a single lever for manual actuation by one hand; and

the camming means bodily move the electronics module.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the camming means comprise substantially duplicate cam-and-follower sets at opposed sides of the module, both sets operated by said single lever when manually actuated by one hand.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rack camming means comprise:

a first cam segment for forcible drawing of the module into the rack to firmly seat the panel connector with the cable connector; and

a second cam segment for forcible ejection of the module slightly out of the rack to unseat the panel connector from the cable connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first segment has a concave arcuate surface for pulling the follower; and

the second segment has a convex arcuate surface for pushing the follower.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the cam is formed in the lever; and

the follower is a post projecting laterally from the module to engage the cam.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the lever is hinged to the rack;

the cam is formed in the lever; and

the follower is a post projecting laterally from the module to engage the cam.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

fastening means on the lever for helping to secure the lever, and the rack and module, in a fully engaged condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the fastening means comprise a latch pin for engaging an aperture in the module.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

offset alignment rods projecting forward from the module, and through holes in the rack when properly aligned, to prevent inverted installation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the alignment rods are long enough to stop said forcible drawing before the panel connectors engage the cable connectors, in event of attempted inverted installation.

15. An electrical interconnection system comprising:

at least one electrical cable connector;

an electronics module that has at least one corresponding panel connector;

a rack for receiving and holding the electronics module;

at least one cable-connector holder, formed in the rack, for receiving and holding the at least one cable connector in positions aligned with the at least one panel connector when the electronics module is held in the rack;

a cam and cam-follower, said cam being associated with one of the rack and module, and said follower being associated with another of the rack and module;

a lever fixed to one of the rack and module for operating the cam or follower to forcibly shift the module relative to the rack, so as to engage or disengage the at least one panel connector and the at least one cable connector.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

each cable-connector holder comprises means for easily and quickly engaging, or disengaging from, a corresponding cable connector.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

offset alignment rods projecting forward from the module, and through holes in the rack when properly aligned, to prevent inverted installation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the alignment rods are long enough to stop forcible shift of the module toward the rack before the panel connectors engage the cable connectors, in event of attempted inverted installation.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the electronics module weighs at least several pounds;

the lever is a single lever for manual actuation by one hand; and

the cam and follower bodily move the electronics module.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the cam and follower comprise substantially duplicate cam-and-follower sets at opposed sides of the module, both sets operated by said single lever when manually actuated by one hand.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the cam comprises:

a first segment for forcible drawing of the module into the rack to firmly seat the panel connector with the cable connector; and

a second segment for forcible ejection of the module slightly out of the rack to unseat the panel connector from the cable connector.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the first segment has a concave arcuate surface for pulling the follower; and

the second segment has a convex arcuate surface for pushing the follower.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the cam is formed in the lever; and

the follower is a post projecting laterally from the module to engage the cam.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

the lever is hinged to the rack;

the cam is formed in the lever; and

the follower is a post projecting laterally from the module to engage the cam.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

fastening means on the lever for helping to secure the lever, and the rack and module, in a fully engaged condition.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

offset alignment rods projecting forward from the module, and through holes in the rack when properly aligned, to prevent inverted installation.

27. An electrical interconnection system comprising:

at least one electrical cable connector;

an electronics module that weighs at least several pounds and has at least one corresponding panel connector, and that defines an aperture at a rear surface of the module;

a rack for receiving and holding, but substantially only half-enclosing, the electronics module;

at least one cable-connector holder, formed in the rack, for receiving and holding the at least one cable connector in positions aligned with the at least one panel connector when the electronics module is held in the rack;

a single lever hinged to the rack, behind the module when the module is in place, for manual actuation by one hand;

substantially duplicate cams at opposed sides of the rack, both formed in and operated by the lever;

substantially duplicate cam-follower posts projecting laterally from opposed sides of the electronics module, for engagement with the cams respectively to forcibly and bodily shift the module relative to the rack when the lever is actuated, to engage or disengage the at least one panel connector and the at least one cable connector;

each cam having a first concave arcuate segment for forcible drawing of the module into the rack to firmly seat the panel connector with the cable connector, and a second convex arcuate segment for forcible ejection of the module slightly out of the rack to unseat the panel connector from the cable connector;

a spring-loaded latch pin on the lever for engaging the aperture defined at the rear surface of the module, for helping to secure the lever, and the rack and module, in a fully engaged condition;

offset alignment rods projecting forward from the module, and through holes in the rack when properly aligned, to prevent inverted installation;

said alignment rods being long enough to stop said forcible drawing before the panel connectors engage the cable connectors, in event of attempted inverted installation.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

each cable-connector holder comprises means for easily and quickly engaging, or disengaging from, a corresponding cable connector.

29. A method of interconnecting numerous cable connectors with corresponding numerous panel connectors of an electronics module that has opposed laterally projecting posts, using a rack that receives the module at one side of the rack and receives the panel connectors at another side of the rack and that has a single hinged lever carrying opposed cams formed in the lever for engaging the posts;

said method comprising the steps of;

inserting the electronics module partway into the rack; and

then operating the lever with one hand to actuate the cams against the posts so as to bodily shift the module further into the rack and thereby seat all the cable connectors and corresponding panel connectors substantially simultaneously.