Cable connector and kit for making a cable connector

• US 6,612,860 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCI
• Original Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
• Inventors: Droesbeke, Gert
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F.
• Application Number:
  US09/922,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 439/352, 439/357, 439/350, 439/355, 439/358, 439/371, 439/372
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6453 comprising pin-shaped elements, capable of being orientated in different angular positions around their own longitudinal axes, e.g. pins with hexagonal base
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector

Abstract

There is disclosed a cable connector including a housing of an electrically insulating material containing one or more contact elements, one or more openings for accommodating a corresponding number of cables, and a means for establishing a connection to a counterpart, such as a header soldered to a printed circuit board. The means comprises a resilient latch which in turn comprises a guide with which the latch is fitted, preferably by means of sliding, into or onto a complementary guide, such as a groove or rail, on the housing.

Claims

1. A cable connector comprising:

a housing of an electrically insulating material containing one or more contact elements, and one or more openings for accommodating a corresponding number of cables; and

a means for establishing a connection to a counterpart, the means being soldered to a printed circuit board;

wherein, the means comprises a resilient latch which in turn comprises a guide with which the latch is fitted into or onto a complementary guide on the housing for mounting the latch to the housing, the latch being mounted to the housing by sliding the guide alongside of the housing within the complementary guide.

2. A cable connector according to claim 1, comprising a stack of at least two of said housings with said guide of said latch being fitted at least into or onto complementary guides on the outermost housings.

3. A cable connector according to claim 2, wherein said housings are positioned end-to-end.

4. A cable connector according to claim 1, comprising at least one coding pin which is sandwiched between said resilient latch and said housing.

5. A cable connector according to claim 4, wherein said housing comprises at least one cavity in which said coding pin is or can be placed, the cavity and one end or a section of said coding pin having corresponding cross-sections which enable placement of said coding pin in the cavity in one of a number of different positions.

6. A cable connector according to claim 5, wherein a top view of the other end of said coding pin is different for each of said positions.

7. A cable connector according to claim 5, wherein said housing comprises at least two of said cavities of which the cross-sections are staggered with respect to each other.

8. A cable connector according to claim 5, wherein said cross-section of one end or a section of said coding pin is polygonal, whereas the other end of said coding pin is semi-polygonal.

9. A cable connector according to claim 1, wherein said complementary guide is a groove.

10. A cable connector according to claim 1, wherein said complementary guide is a rail.

11. A kit comprising:

at least one housing of an electrically insulating material containing one or more cavities for accommodating a corresponding number of contact elements and one or more openings for accommodating a corresponding number of cables;

wherein, the kit comprises at least one resilient latch which in turn comprises a guide with which the latch can be fitted into or onto a complementary guide on the housing for mounting the latch to the housing, the latch being mounted in the housing by sliding the guide alongside of the housing within the complementary guide.

12. A kit according to claim 11, wherein said housings are stackable end-to-end.

13. A kit according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said housings comprises at least one coding pin sandwiched between said resilient latch and this housing, and furthermore comprises at least one cavity in which a coding pin is or can be placed, the cavity and one end or a section of the coding pin having corresponding cross-sections which enable placement of the coding pin in the cavity in one of a number different positions.

14. A kit according to claim 11, wherein said complementary guide is a groove.

15. A kit according to claim 11, wherein said complementary guide is a rail.