Co-edge connector

• US 8,795,002 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2010
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gregori, Timothy R., Comerci, Joseph D., O'Connor, Kevin, Endres, Herbert, Sigfridsson, Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Amy Cohen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US13/201,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20120040565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 439/660, 439/61, 439/65, 439/495
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7047 with a fastener through a screw hole in the coupling device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/732 Printed circuits being in the same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64

Abstract

A co-edge connector (200) is provided that includes a housing (200a) that supports a plurality of terminals (210). One side of the housing includes a slot (230) that is configured to accept a panel (30) and first terminal contacts (213) are positioned in the slot. An exposed support surface (206) extends from a wall (204) on a second side and second terminal contacts (211) extend above the support surface. In operation, if the panel inserted into the slot is inserted in a vertical direction, the second contacts can engage pads of panel where the panel is mounted on the housing by moving the panel in a vertical direction.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a housing with a wall, the housing have slot on a first side of the wall, the slot defined by a top surface, a bottom surface and a rear surface and configured to allow, in operation, insertion of a mating panel into the slot in a first direction toward the wall, and the housing including a support surface extending on a second side of the wall in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction, wherein the support surface is exposed; and

a first and second terminal supported by the housing, each of the first and second terminals having a first contact in the slot and a second contact extending above the support surface, the slot extending around the first contact, the first and second terminals provide signal terminals.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the terminals provide a differential signal pair.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein a rib is positioned between adjacent terminals and the rib helps define the support surface.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the wall is angled.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first and second aperture provided on opposite ends of the housing.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to receive a mating panel on the support surface, the housing configured, in operation, to allow the mating panel to be positioned on the support surface by movement in a third direction, the third direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

7. An assembly comprising:

a housing with a wall and a slot on a first side of the wall, the slot defined by a top surface, a bottom surface and a rear surface and configured to receive a panel inserted in a first direction, and the housing including a support surface extending from a second side of the wall, the second side being opposite the first side, wherein the support surface is exposed;

a first and second terminal supported by the housing, each of the first and second terminals having a first contact in the slot and a second contact extending above the support surface, the slot extending around the first contact and the first and second terminals providing signal terminals; and

a panel mounted in the slot, the panel having a first and second pad mating to the first contacts of the first and second terminal, wherein the housing is configured, in operation, to allow a mating panel to be positioned on the support surface by movement in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the terminals provide a differential signal pair.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein a rib is positioned between adjacent terminals and the rib helps define the support surface.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the wall is angled.

11. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a fastener configured to retain the panel to the housing.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the fastener is a first fastener in a first aperture on a first end of the housing, the assembly further comprising a second fastener in a second aperture on a second end of the housing.