Connector having coupling guides for establishing connection with memory connector at right position

• US 7,658,637 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuzawa, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi; Ross N
• Application Number:
  US12/232,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20090104810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 439/377, 439/378, 439/64, 439/374, 439/680
• US Class Current: 439/377
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector installed in a casing containing an electronic device such as a car navigation device is coupled to another connector installed in a memory device such as a hard disc. The connector includes a support member composed of a back plate and side plates connected to the back plate. The connector is disposed on the back plate, and coupling guides to be coupled to guiding grooves formed on the memory device are formed integrally with the side plates. The coupling guides are slid into the guiding grooves to correctly position the connector relative to the memory-side connector when the memory device is coupled to the casing containing the connector. Thus, the connector is surely coupled to the memory-side connector at a right position to establish electrical connection between two connectors.

Claims

1. A connector to be coupled to a memory-side connector installed in a memory device, the connector comprising:

a support member on which the connector is disposed;

coupling guides integrally formed with the support member, the coupling guides being adapted to be coupled to a guiding structure formed on the memory device; and

a frame that receives the memory device, wherein

the support member is formed with a through hole and is coupled to the frame with a screw, which is inserted into the through hole, such that relative movement is allowed between the support member and the frame.

2. The connector as in claim 1, further including additional coupling guides formed on the support member in the vicinity of the connector disposed on the support member, the additional coupling guides being adapted to be coupled to an additional guiding structure formed on the memory device.

3. The connector as in claim 1, wherein:

the support member includes a back plate on which the connector is disposed and a pair of side plates connected to the back plate; and

each coupling guide is formed on each side plate.

4. The connector as in claim 3, wherein:

the coupling guide is shaped in an elongated rectangular pillar; and

the guiding structure formed on the memory device is shaped in a groove corresponding to the rectangular shape of the coupling guide.