Double ended guide pin assembly

• US 7,326,092 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Griffith, Gregory Gordon, Fedder, James Lee, Trea, Robert Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US11/201,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20070037434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 439/677, 439/678, 439/680, 439/681, 361/756
• US Class Current: 439/681
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/737 Printed circuits being substantially perpendicular to each other for printed connections H05K3/366
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/91 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes 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

Abstract

A double ended guide pin assembly includes a first guide pin body having a first rotation axis and a first keying surface. A second guide pin body has a second rotation axis and a second keying surface. A fastener element connects the first guide pin body to the second guide pin body such that the first and second guide pin bodies are independently rotatable on the first and second rotation axes, respectively. The first and second keying surfaces are selectively positionable at different orientations with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A double ended guide pin assembly comprising:

a first guide pin body having a first rotation axis and a first keying surface;

a second guide pin body having a second rotation axis and a second keying surface; and

a fastener element connecting said first guide pin body to said second guide pin body such that said first and second guide pin bodies are independently rotatable on said first and second rotation axes, respectively, said first and second guide pin bodies extending outwardly in a direction generally away from each other, wherein said first and second keying surfaces are selectively positionable at different orientations with respect to each other.

2. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said first guide pin body comprises an elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a tapered end and a base, said first guide pin body further including a threaded channel sized to receive an end of said fastener, and said shaft including said first keying surface.

3. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said second guide pin body comprises an elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a base, said second guide pin body further including a through hole extending along said longitudinal axis, and said shaft including said second keying surface.

4. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said keying boss including a keying protrusion and at least one centering rib, said keying protrusions being configured such that said first and second guide pin bodies may be oriented at different predetermined positions about said common longitudinal axis when installed in a circuit board.

5. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said base ring including an undercut forming a standoff.

6. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said keying boss including a keying protrusion that is aligned with a respective one of said first and second keying surfaces.

7. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises a bolt including a head portion and a shaft portion, said shaft portion being at least partially threaded and received in a through hole in said second guide pin body, and said head portion being tapered.

8. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said fastener is integrally formed with one of said first and second guide pin bodies.

9. The guide pin of claim 1, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said keying boss including a keying protrusion and at least one centering rib, wherein said keying protrusion and said at least one centering rib are formed on a perimeter of said keying boss.

10. A double ended guide pin assembly comprising:

a first guide pin body having a first rotation axis and a first keying surface;

a second guide pin body having a second rotation axis and a second keying surface; and

a fastener element connecting said first guide pin body to said second guide pin body such that said first and second guide pin bodies are independently rotatable on said first and second rotation axes, respectively, wherein said first and second keying surfaces are selectively positionable at different orientations with respect to each other, wherein said first and second guide pin bodies are configured to receive a circuit board therebetween and be spaced apart from one another by a variable amount based, in part, on a thickness of the circuit board.

11. A double ended guide pin assembly comprising:

a first guide pin body having a first rotation axis and a first keying surface;

a second guide pin body having a second rotation axis and a second keying surface; and

a fastener element connecting said first guide pin body to said second guide pin body such that said first and second guide pin bodies are independently rotatable on said first and second rotation axes, respectively, said first second guide pin bodies extending outwardly in a direction generally away from each other, wherein said first and second keying surfaces are selectively positionable at different orientations with respect to each other;

wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body include a space therebetween when joined, said space being variable within a range between a predetermined minimum space and a predetermined maximum space.

12. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said first guide pin body comprises an elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a tapered end and a base, said first guide pin body further including a threaded channel sized to receive an end of said fastener, and said shaft including said first keying surface.

13. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said second guide pin body comprises an elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a base, said second guide pin body further including a through hole extending along said longitudinal axis, and said shaft including said second keying surface.

14. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said keying boss including a keying protrusion and at least one centering rib, said keying protrusions being configured such that said first and second guide pin bodies may be oriented at different predetermined positions about said common longitudinal axis when installed in a circuit board.

15. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said base ring including an undercut forming a standoff.

16. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said keying boss including a keying protrusion that is aligned with a respective one of said first and second keying surfaces.

17. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said fastener comprises a bolt including a head portion and a shaft portion, said shaft portion being at least partially threaded and received in a through hole in said second guide pin body, and said head portion being tapered.

18. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said fastener is integrally formed with one of said first and second guide pin bodies.

19. The guide pin of claim 11, wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body each includes a base having a base ring and a keying boss, each said keying boss including a keying protrusion and at least one centering rib, wherein said keying protrusion and said at least one centering rib are formed on a perimeter of said keying boss.

20. A double ended guide pin assembly comprising:

a first guide pin body having a first rotation axis and a first keying surface;

a second guide pin body having a second rotation axis and a second keying surface; and

a fastener element connecting said first guide pin body to said second guide pin body such that said first and second guide pin bodies are independently rotatable on said first and second rotation axes, respectively, wherein said first and second keying surfaces are selectively positionable at different orientations with respect to each other;

wherein said first guide pin body and said second guide pin body include a space therebetween when joined, said space being variable within a range between a predetermined minimum space and a predetermined maximum space, wherein said first and second guide pin bodies are configured to receive a circuit board therebetween and be spaced apart from one another by the variable amount based, in part, on a thickness of the circuit board.