Plug connector with mating protection

• US RE43,427 E1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Dawiedczyk, Daniel L., Duran, James, Neer, Jay H., Brinkeroff, Cleaver
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US12/956,529
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 439/357, 439/607.22, 439/607.01, 439/493, 439/76.1, 439/660
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/727 Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

A plug connector is disclosed that has a body portion and a circuit card extending forwardly of a mating face of the connector. The circuit card is protected in place by a protective flanges that extends forwardly from the body portion above the circuit card to protect it from stubbing and to provide a means for aligning the plug connector with a receptacle connector.

Claims

1. A plug connector for connecting to a mating receptacle connector mounted to a circuit board and spaced apart from a metal enclosure, that serves, at least in part to direct the plug connector into mating engagement with the mating receptacle connector, comprising:

a connector body, the connector body having top and bottom surfaces and a pair of spaced-apart side surfaces;

a circuit card supported within the connector body, the circuit card including a leading edge with contacts for mating with said mating receptacle connector, the circuit card leading edge extending outwardly from the plug connector, and said circuit card having a preselected width;

a first flange extending alongside said circuit card, the first flange being spaced part from said circuit card and said first flange having a width that is less than the width of said circuit card so that it may be received in a recess on said mating receptacle connector; and

,

a pair of engagement members respectively disposed on the connector body side surfaces for orienting said plug connector in opposition to said mating receptacle connector.

2. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the engagement members include recesses which receive complimentary shaped engagement members of said metal enclosure.

3. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said first flange is disposed below said circuit card.

4. The plug connector of claim 3, wherein said first flange fits underneath a bottom of said mating receptacle connector when said said plug is mated thereto.

5. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein said engagement members include lugs that fit into slots of said metal enclosure.

6. The plug connector of claim 1, further including a second flange spaced apart from said circuit card and from said first flange.

7. The plug connector of claim 6, wherein the second flange has a width that is different than said first flange width.

8. The plug connector of claim 7, wherein said second flange width is larger than said circuit card width.

9. The plug connector of claim 7, wherein said second flange width is larger than said first flange width.

10. A plug connector for connecting to a mating receptacle connector mounted to a circuit board, comprising:

a connector body;

a circuit card supported within the connector body, the circuit card including a leading edge with contacts for mating with said mating receptacle connector, the circuit card leading edge extending outwardly from the connector body, and said circuit card having a preselected width;

a first flange spaced part from said circuit card in a first direction, the first flange having a preselected width; and

,

a second flange spaced apart from said circuit card in a second direction opposite the first direction and including a first and second edge that define a width that is different than the first flange width, the second flange being substantially continuous between the first and second edge.

11. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein the second flange width is larger than said circuit card width.

12. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein said second flange width is larger than said first flange width.

13. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein said first flange width is less than the circuit card width so that it may be received in a recess on said mating receptacle connector.

14. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein said first flange is disposed beneath said circuit card and said second flange is disposed above said circuit card.

15. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein the first flange is defined by a third and fourth edge and the first flange is substantially continuous between the third and fourth edge.

16. A plug connector for connecting to a mating receptacle connector mounted to a circuit board, comprising:

a connector body;

a circuit card supported within the connector body, the circuit card including a leading edge with contacts for mating with said mating receptacle connector, the circuit card leading edge extending outwardly from the connector body and having a first preselected width;

a first flange spaced part from said circuit card in a first direction, the first flange having a second preselected width defined by a first and second edge, the first and second edge not having additional flanges located along either the first and second edge; and

a second flange spaced apart from the circuit card in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second flange including a third and fourth edge that define a width that is larger than the first flange width.