Alignable electric connector, an electric connector system, and a method for connecting an alignable electric connector with a second electric connector

• US 8,556,643 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norgren Co., Ltd. (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: Norgren Incorporated (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Pevoteaux, Mark, Sims, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARROLI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US12/989,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 439/248
• 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 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/743 integral with the housing

Abstract

The present invention relates to an alignable electric connector (5), an electrical connector system, and a method for connecting an alignable electric connector (5) with a second electric connector (105). The alignable electric connector (5) is configured mount to a support structure (201) and connect with the second electric connector (105). The alignable electric connector (5) may be provided with one or more orienting structures (59, 60, 61) that mate with one or more other orienting structure (203, 110, 100) when the alignable electric connector (105) is oriented to mate with the second electric connector (105). The alignable electric connector (5) may be rotatably mounted to the support structure (201) and rotated to orient the alignable electric connector (5).

Claims

1. A self-aligning electric connector system, comprising:

a support structure (201) including an opening (202) configured to receive a self-aligning electric connector (5);

a second electric connector (105) located on a circuit board (100); and

the self-aligning electric connector (105) configured to be affixed in the as opening (202) of the support structure (201), with the self-aligning electric connector (5) comprising;

an electrical interface (40) extending from a first side (41) self-aligning electric connector (5) to a second side (42), with the electrical interface (40) configured to receive a first plurality of electrical conductors at the first side (41) and configured to receive a second plurality of electrical conductors at the second side (42);

a plurality of flexible retaining members (20a-20d) extending from the second side (42) and configured to engage the opening (202), with one predetermined flexible retaining member (20a) of the plurality of flexible retaining members (20a-20d) being larger in size and functioning as a first orienting structure with respect to the support structure (201);

a second orienting structure (60) on the first side (41) and configured to fit to the second electric connector (105) at a predetermined connector orientation; and

a third orienting structure (61) formed on the first side (41) and configured to fit to the circuit board (100) at the redetermined connector orientation.

2. The self-aligning electric connector system of claim 1, wherein the self-aligning electric connector (5) is configured to fit to the support structure (201) at a predetermined structure orientation.

3. The self-aligning electric connector system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible retaining members (20a-20d) of the self-aligning electric connector (5) are configured to fit to the support structure (201) at a predetermined structure orientation.

4. The self-aligning electric connector system of claim 1, wherein the self-aligning electric connector (5) is configured to snap-fit to the support structure (201).

5. The self-aligning electric connector system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible retaining members (20a-20d) prevent rotation of the self-aligning electric connector (5) with respect to the support structure (201) when the self-aligning electric connector (5) is substantially in place in the opening (202).

6. The self-aligning electric connector system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible retaining members (20a-20d) prevent rotation of the self-aligning electric connector (5) with respect to the support structure (201) when the self-aligning electric connector (5) is substantially in place in the opening (202), with the self-aligning electric connector (5) further comprising one or more torque receiving structures (80) for rotating the self-aligning electric connector (5) during installation.

7. The self-aligning connector system of claim 1, with the second orienting structure (60) of the self-aligning electric connector (5) comprising a shaped receptacle (60) configured to fit to the second electric connector (105) at the predetermined connector orientation.

8. The self-aligning electric connector system of claim 1, with the third orienting structure (61) comprising a slot (61) configured to fit to the circuit board (100) at the predetermined connector orientation.

9. A method for connecting a self-aligning electric connector and a second electric connector, comprising the steps of:

aligning the self-aligning electric connector with an opening in a support structure, with the self-aligning electric connector being rotationally oriented at a predetermined structure orientation with respect to the opening;

inserting the self-aligning electric connector partially into the opening, wherein a plurality of flexible retaining members of the self-aligning electric connector engage the opening;

bringing the support structure and the self-aligning electric connector into engagement with a second electric connector affixed to a circuit board, with the self-aligning electric connector and the support structure being rotationally oriented at a predetermined connector orientation with respect to the second electric connector; and

inserting the electric connector into substantial engagement with the second electric connector, wherein a second orienting structure of the self-aligning electric connector aligns with the second electric connector and wherein a third orienting structure of the self-aligning electric connector aligns with the circuit board.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flexible retaining members of the self-aligning electric connector are configured to fit to the support structure at a redetermined structure orientation.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the self-aligning electric connector is configured to snap-fit to the support structure.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of flexible retaining members prevent rotation of the self-aligning electric connector with respect to the support structure when the self-aligning electric connector is substantially in place in the opening.

13. The method of claim 9, with the second orienting structure of the self-aligning electric connector comprising as shaped receptacle configured to fit to the second electric connector at the predetermined connector orientation.

14. The method of claim 9, with the third orienting structure comprising a slot configured to fit to the circuit board at the predetermined connector orientation.