Electrical connector interface with latch operated by threaded drive shaft

• US 8,348,693 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Panel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Virginia Panel Corporation
• Inventors: Stowers, Jeffery P., Garman, Randall C., Herron, Randall L., Ashby, Darryl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US12/942,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 439/364, 439/324, 439/350, 439/953
• US Class Current: 439/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/727 Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
• 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 13/621 Bolt, set screw or screw clamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes

Abstract

An interface having a receiver and a test adapter. The receiver has a body and a latch post connected to the body. The latch post has a body, a neck, and a tip with the tip being larger than the neck. The test adapter has a frame and an engagement assembly. The engagement assembly has a drive shaft having first and second ends, a drive knob connected to the first end of the drive shaft, a drive nut connected to the drift shaft near the second end of the drive shaft. The drive nut has a threaded interior portion. The drive assembly further has a drive screw and a drive screw housing. The drive screw has a threaded exterior portion such that the threaded exterior portion of the drive screw engages with the threaded interior portions of the drive nut. A spring extends from the drive screw longitudinally away from the threaded portion of the drive screw. The spring has an enlarged portion at its distal end for gripping the neck of the latch post. Rotation of the drive shaft draws the springs and latch post into a position in which the springs are held in closed position firmly gripping the latch post.

Claims

1. An interface comprising:

a receiver comprising;

a receiver body;

a latch post connected to said receiver body, said latch post comprising;

a latch post body; and

a latch post tip; and

a receiver guide member;

a test adapter comprising;

a test adapter frame;

an engagement assembly mounted to said test adapter frame, said engagement assembly comprising;

a drive shaft having first and second ends, said second end of said drive shaft having a threaded interior portion;

a drive knob connected to said first end of said drive shaft;

a drive screw comprising;

a threaded exterior portion, said threaded exterior portion of said drive screw engaging with said threaded interior portion of said drive shaft; and

an engagement member extending longitudinally away from said threaded portion of said drive screw for engaging said latch post in said receiver during engagement of said test adapter with said receiver; and

a test adapter guide member for providing alignment of said test adapter with said receiver.

2. An interface according to claim 1, wherein said drive shaft comprises an opening at said second end and a drive nut within said opening in said second end, said drive nut having a threaded interior portion.

3. An interface according to claim 1, further comprising a drive screw housing surrounding said springs, said drive screw housing having a recessed portion adjacent said enlarged portion of said spring when said engagement assembly is in a disengaged position.

4. An interface according to claim 1, wherein said latch post further comprises a latch post neck between said latch post body and said latch post tip and wherein said latch post neck has a smaller circumference than said latch post tip.

5. An interface according to claim 1, wherein said engagement member comprises a plurality of springs extending from said drive screw, wherein said plurality of springs engage with said latch post tip when said test adapter is mated with said receiver.

6. An interface according to claim 1, wherein said test adapter guide member comprises a rectangular-shaped guide mounted to said test adapter frame and protruding from a face of said test adapter and said receiver guide member comprises a bushing mounted to said receiver frame and having an opening matching said rectangular shape of said test adapter guide member to permit said test adapter guide member to be inserted into said opening in said bushing and thereby align said test adapter with said receiver.

7. An interface according to claim 1, wherein said test adapter guide member comprises a guide post mounted to said test adapter frame and protruding from a face of said test adapter and said receiver guide member comprises a hole in said receiver frame having an opening matching said guide post to permit said guide post to be inserted into said opening in said receiver frame and thereby align said test adapter with said receiver.

8. An interface according to claim 1, further comprising a header connected to said receiver, wherein said header comprises:

a header housing; and

a plurality of cartridges removably mounted in said header housing, each said cartridge comprising;

a plurality of pins and

a casing surrounding a portion of each of said plurality of pins.

9. An interface according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of said pins have a retention structure for removably securing said cartridge into said header housing.

10. An interface according to claim 1 wherein said engagement member in said test adapter comprises a plurality of springs and a locking tab on one end of each said spring.

11. An interface comprising:

a receiver comprising;

a receiver body; and

a latch post connected to said receiver body, said latch post comprising;

a latch post body; and

a latch post tip; and

a guide plate mounted to said receiver body, wherein said guide plate has an alignment opening therein that surrounds said latch post;

a test adapter comprising;

a test adapter frame; and

an engagement assembly mounted to said test adapter frame, said engagement assembly comprising;

a drive shaft having first and second ends, said second end of said drive shaft having a threaded interior portion;

a drive member connected to said first end of said drive shaft;

a drive screw comprising;

a threaded exterior portion, said threaded exterior portion of said drive screw engaging with said threaded interior portion of said drive shaft; and

an engagement member extending longitudinally away from said threaded portion of said drive screw for engaging said latch post in said receiver during engagement of said test adapter with said receiver; and

a test adapter guide member for providing alignment of said test adapter with said receiver, wherein said test adapter guide member must be aligned with said alignment opening in said guide plate to engage said test adapter with said receiver.

12. An interface according to claim 11, wherein said alignment opening in said receiver guide member and said test adapter guide member are rectangular in shape.

13. A interface according to claim 11 wherein said engagement member in said test adapter comprises a spring and a locking tab on an end of said spring.

14. An interface comprising:

a receiver comprising;

a receiver body; and

a latch post connected to said receiver body, said latch post comprising;

a latch post body;

a latch post neck; and

a latch post tip, said latch post tip being larger than said latch post neck;

a test adapter comprising;

a test adapter frame; and

an engagement assembly, said engagement assembly comprising;

a drive shaft having first and second ends;

a drive knob connected to said first end of said drive shaft;

a drive nut to said drift shaft near said second end of said drive shaft, said drive nut having a threaded interior portion;

a drive screw comprising;

a threaded exterior portion, said threaded exterior portion of said drive screw engaging with said threaded interior portions of said drive nut; and

a spring extending longitudinally away from said threaded portion of said drive screw and having an enlarged portion at its distal end; and

a drive screw housing surrounding said springs, said drive screw housing having a recessed portion adjacent said enlarged portion of said spring when said engagement assembly is in a disengaged position.

15. An interface according to claim 14, wherein said latch post neck has a smaller circumference than said latch post body.

16. An interface according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of springs extend from said drive screw.