Connector guide member
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A guide member for guiding a plug connector into engagement with a receptacle connector, comprising:
- a body including three distinct walls, the three walls including two side walls and a top wall interconnecting the two side walls together, the three walls cooperatively defining a hollow shell having a general inverted U-shape for mounting to a circuit board, the shell including at least one press arm disposed along a first edge thereof, the press arm for pressing against a portion of a plug connector inserted into the hollow shell, said shell including means for aligning the plug connector when said plug connector is inserted into said shell, the alignment means comprising first and second sets of alignment members, the first alignment members including a pair of guide tabs disposed on said body and located along a second edge of said shell opposite that of said press arm, the second alignment members including a pair of alignment notches located along the shell second edge and spaced apart from said guide tabs.
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Abstract
A shroud that forms a guide channel for a connector is disclosed and it has the shape of an inverted U-shape, with a press tab for engaging a mating connector. The shroud has notches and tabs formed on it that serve to orient the mating connector for entry into the shroud. A placement member is also described and it serves to hold the connector and the shroud together as a single unit for robotic placement of the shroud and connector in preselected positions on the circuit board.
61 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A guide member for guiding a plug connector into engagement with a receptacle connector, comprising:
a body including three distinct walls, the three walls including two side walls and a top wall interconnecting the two side walls together, the three walls cooperatively defining a hollow shell having a general inverted U-shape for mounting to a circuit board, the shell including at least one press arm disposed along a first edge thereof, the press arm for pressing against a portion of a plug connector inserted into the hollow shell, said shell including means for aligning the plug connector when said plug connector is inserted into said shell, the alignment means comprising first and second sets of alignment members, the first alignment members including a pair of guide tabs disposed on said body and located along a second edge of said shell opposite that of said press arm, the second alignment members including a pair of alignment notches located along the shell second edge and spaced apart from said guide tabs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A guide for guiding a plug connector into engagement with a receptacle connector, comprising:
a body including three distinct walls, the three walls including two side walls and a top wall interconnecting the two side walls together, the three walls cooperatively defining a hollow shell having a general inverted U-shape when mounted to a circuit board, the shell including a press arm extending from a first edge thereof for pressing against a portion of a plug connector inserted into the hollow shell, said shell including first and second sets of alignment members disposed along a second edge of said hollow shell for aligning the plug connector with a receptacle connector when said plug connector is inserted into said hollow shell, the first alignment members including a pair of guide tabs disposed on said body and located along a second edge of said shell opposite that of said first edge, the second alignment members including a pair of alignment notches located along the shell second edge and spaced apart from said guide tabs, said shell further including a pair of engagement openings for engagement by an opposing plug connector, the engagement openings being positioned between said guide tabs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 21, 22)
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15. A connector guide for guiding a plug connector into engagement with a receptacle connector, comprising:
three distinct walls, including two side walls and a top wall interconnecting the two side walls together to form a hollow shell, the shell including at least one press arm disposed along a first edge thereof for contacting a portion of a plug connector inserted into the hollow shell, said guide including at least one guide tab disposed on said shell for guiding an opposing plug connector into said shell, the one guide tab being disposed along a second edge of said shell, the second edge of said shell being spaced apart from said first edge of said shell, the shell further including at least one notch disposed in said second edge of said shell, and spaced apart from said one guide tab for orienting the opposing plug connector in said guide. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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23. A guide member for guiding a plug connector into engagement with a receptacle connector, comprising:
a body including three distinct walls, the three walls including two side walls and a top wall interconnecting the two side walls together, the three walls cooperatively defining a hollow shell having a general inverted U-shape for mounting to a circuit board, the shell including at least one press arm disposed along a first edge thereof, the press arm for pressing against a portion of a plug connector inserted into the hollow shell, said shell including means for aligning the plug connector when said plug connector is inserted into said shell, the alignment means comprising first and second sets of alignment members, the first alignment members including a pair of guide tabs disposed on said body and located along a second edge of said shell opposite that of said press arm, the second alignment members including a pair of alignment notches located along the shell second edge and spaced apart from said guide tabs, said shell further including a pair of slots disposed on said shell first edge on opposite sides of said press arm and adjacent to said press arm, the slots extending toward said second edge.
Specification