Alignment device for fine pitch connector leads

• US 8,225,475 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omnetics Connector Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omnetics Connector Corporation
• Inventors: Strange, Andrew, Heitzman, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Application Number:
  US12/316,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20100140440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 292/811, 292/815, 292/835, 292/70, 292/71, 292/42, 292/43, 248/581, 269/3, 269/6, 269/95, 269/32, 269/909
• US Class Current: 29/281.5
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10189 Non-printed connector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10424 Frame holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/306 Lead-in-hole components, e.g. affixing or retention before soldering, spacing means H05K3/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3421 Leaded components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53909 Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 Aligner or center
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53978 including means to relatively position plural work parts

Abstract

A non-conductive stabilizer bar device for aligning and stabilizing fine pitch electronic components, specifically a nanominiature connector, while these components are being mounted to a printed circuit board. The stabilizer bar device provides for alignment and stability in the all directions. The stabilizer bar device provides a series of grooves having detents that come into contact with fine pitch electronic leads and hold fast the fine pitch electronic leads providing stability by maintaining the true positioning of the terminal ends of the contacts.

Claims

1. An alignment device for aligning and stabilizing assembled fine pitch electronic component leads, for protecting the individual connector leads from being deformed during shipping and use, comprising:

a) a non-conducting, longitudinally shaped, stabilizer bar having a first planar side and a second planar side for inserting between two rows of leads in a connector;

b) means for inserting said stabilizer bar between the two rows of leads without deforming the leads; and

c) means for attaching and holding fast each lead in two rows of leads to said stabilizer bar for providing alignment and stability of connector leads in all directions for easy alignment with an integrated circuit board without the need to manually align each connector lead.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said stabilizer bar further comprises a cross-section dimension that, when manually rotated to the insertion orientation, can be inserted between two rows of connector leads with deforming the leads.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for inserting said stabilizer bar between the two rows of leads further comprises:

a) a handle formed in an end of said longitudinal member, for manually grasping and turning said longitudinal member; and

b) a first and second planar sides of said longitudinal member, for further manual grasping.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said means for inserting said stabilizer bar between the two rows of leads further comprises manually grasping said longitudinal element and rotating said element from an insertion orientation to an engagement orientation.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said means for attaching and holding fast each lead in two rows of leads, further comprises:

a) a first shoulder, aligned with said first planar side, said shoulder formed along the length of said stabilizer bar, said first shoulder having a series of grooves formed therein, when said stabilizer bar is rotated into engagement orientation, said first shoulder of said stabilizer bar comes into contact with a leg of the first row of fine pitch electronic leads and provides stability to each individual lead; and

b) a second shoulder, aligned with said second planar side, said second shoulder formed along the length of said stabilizer bar, said second shoulder having a series of cutouts formed therein when said stabilizer bar is rotated into an engagement orientation, said second shoulder of said stabilizer bar comes into contact with a second row of fine pitch electronic leads and provides stability to each individual lead.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said series of grooves further comprise detents mounted thereon to hold individual leads of the fine pitch electronic connector leads in place once said stabilizer bar is oriented into engagement position, said detents snapping into place to hold fast the connector leads.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising application of epoxy to hold connector leads in position on said stabilizer bar once said stabilizer bar is positioned in an engagement orientation.

8. A stabilizer bar device of nonconductive material for aligning and stabilizing an assembled fine pitch electronic component connector leads for alignment with a printed circuit board, comprising

a) a longitudinal member having a cross-section dimension that, when manually rotated to the insertion orientation, may be inserted between two rows of connector leads;

b) a handle formed in an end of said longitudinal member for manually grasping and turning said longitudinal member;

c) said longitudinal member, after being inserted between two rows of connector leads, may be manually rotated to an engagement orientation;

d) a first shoulder, formed on a first planar side of said longitudinal member along the length of said longitudinal member, said first shoulder having a series of grooves formed therein with a pair of detents within each of said grooves, when said longitudinal member is rotated into engagement orientation, said detents come into contact with the leads providing stability to each individual lead; and

e) a second shoulder, formed along the length of said longitudinal member, which has a second planar side with said second shoulder having a series of cutouts formed when said longitudinal member is rotated into an engagement orientation, said second shoulder of said longitudinal member comes into contact with a second row of fine pitch electronic providing stability to each individual lead.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said stabilizer bar is configured to match the length and grooved to fit fine pitch electronic connector leads.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said detents hold individual leads of the fine pitch electronic connector leads in place once said stabilizer bar is oriented into an engagement position.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising application of epoxy to hold connector leads in position on said stabilizer bar once said stabilizer bar is positioned in an engagement orientation within the micro electrical connector.