Connector guide with latch and connectors therefor

• US 20060160399A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Brinkerhoff, Cleaver, Dawiedczyk, Daniel L., Neer, Jay H., Duran, Jaime
• Granted Patent: US 7,413,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/374
• 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 12/727 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

Abstract

A connector guide mounted in front of a receptacle connector is provided with a latch that engages a connector mounted on a circuit board when a mating connector is inserted into the connector on the circuit board. The guide is separate from the plug connector and serves to align contact surfaces and provide strain relief to the receptacle connector.

Claims

1. A guide for guiding a connector plug into a circuit board-mounted connectors, the guide comprising:

first and second planar sides, each planar side having top and bottom edges and front and back edges, each of said planar sides having a first height between its top and bottom edges and a first width between its front and back edges, said first and second upright sides being separated from each other by a first separation distance;

a planar top having first and second side edges and front and rear edges, the top first side edge being joined to the top edge of said first planar side, the top second side edge being joined to the top edge of said second planar side; and

,

a plug connector catch extending away from said top rear edge, for contacting a plug connector inserted into said guide.

2. The guide of claim 1, wherein said catch is attached to the distal end of at least one spring arm, the at least one spring arm extending downwardly from the top, at an angle such that said catch is disposed away from said top rear edge and extends in a plane that is below said top, the one spring arm biasing said catch into engagement with a corresponding detent in the plug connector within said guide.

3. The guide of claim 1, further including at least one side locking latch, formed in said first planar side and extending toward said second planar side, the one side locking latch engaging a corresponding plug connector side detent when a plug connector is inserted into said guide.

4. The guide of claim 3, further including a second side locking latch, formed in said second first planar side and extending toward said first planar side, the side locking latch engaging a corresponding plug connector side detent when the plug connector is inserted into said guide.

6. The guide of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second planar sides has at least one attachment post extending away from the bottom edge of said one first and second planar sides.

7. The guide of claim 1, wherein said first and second planar sides are orthogonal to the top, forming a U-shaped channel that can envelop a plug connector inserted thereinto on three sides.

8. The guide of claim 1, wherein said first and second planar sides and said top of said guide are formed from metal.

9. The guide of claim 1, wherein said guide is formed from a plastic.

5. The guide of 1, wherein said first and second planar sides include respective first and second plug connector engaging tabs formed by stamping said first and second planar sides inwardly of said guide, the first and second connector engaging tabs contacting corresponding detents in opposite sides of said plug connector when inserted into said guide.

10. A connector assembly, comprising:

a connector housing having first and second sides, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front side and a back side, said connector housing a plurality of electrical contacts that are accessible at the front side by extending an opposing mating connector through a first geometric plane that lies in front of the connector front side, the first geometric plane being orthogonal to but not extending beyond the first and second sides, top and bottom;

a connector guide including first and second sides, each side having top and bottom edges and front and back edges, each of said sides having a first height between its top and bottom edges and a first width between its front and back edges, said first and second sides being separated from each other by a first separation distance;

a top having first and second side edges and front and rear edges, the planar top first side edge being joined to said top edge of said first side, said planar top second side edge being joined to said top edge of said second side; and

,

a press arm formed as part of the guide, the press arm extending away from said guide top rear edge for engaging the mating connector within said connector guide, said connector guide not contacting said connector receptacle and being located forward of the first geometric plane.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein said press arm extends orthogonally away from said top and said press arm includes a catch portion, said press arm extending at an angle such that said catch portion is positioned rearwardly of and below said top rear edge, above a top of said mating connector, said press arm biasing said catch portion into engagement with a corresponding recess formed in said mating connector, when said mating connector is inserted within said guide.

12. The connector of claim 10, wherein said catch member is attached to the distal end of at least one spring arm, the spring arm extending orthogonally away from said top and biasing said catch member into engagement with said mating connector.

15. The connector of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second planar sides has at least one attachment post extending orthogonally away from the bottom edge of the at least one first and second planar sides.

16. The connector of claim 10, wherein the first and second planar sides are orthogonal to the top, forming a U-shaped channel that can envelope a plug connector on three sides when a connector plug is within the guide and engaging said connector receptacle.

13. The connector of 10, further including a side locking latch, formed in the first planar side and extending toward the second planar side, the side locking latch engaging a corresponding plug connector side detent when a plug connector when a connector plug is within the guide and engaging said connector receptacle.

14. The connector of 10, wherein said first side includes a connector engagement tab formed by stamping first planar side and cantilevered inwardly from said first side toward said second side, the connector engagement tab engaging a corresponding detent in a mating plug connector inserted into said guide thereby holding said mating plug connector within said guide when a mating plug connector is inserted within said guide.

17. A shell for guiding a plug connector into engagement with an opposing mating connector mounted to a circuit board, the shell comprising:

a body portion, the body portion including at least three walls interconnected to each other, the body portion including a mounting edge defined along on end thereof, the mounting edge including means for engaging a supporting circuit board; and

,

a plug connector engagement portion disposed in one of said three walls, the plug connector engagement portion including a press arm formed with one of said walls, the press arm extending away from said one wall at an angle thereto, said press arm having a free end with a catch portion for contacting an opposing portion of said plug connector when said plug connector is inserted into said shell.

19. The shell of claim 17, further including a pair of slots disposed on opposite sides of said press arm, said slots separating portions of said press arm from said shell one wall.

20. The shell of claim 17, wherein said shell has a U-shaped configuration of said shell when viewed from an end thereof.

21. The shell of claim 17, wherein said shell includes first, second and third walls and said shell further includes a fourth wall, said first and fourth walls being joined to said second and third walls to form a four-sided enclosure.

22. The shell of claim 17, wherein said body portion has top and bottom edges, the bottom edge including at least one mounting leg extending therefrom for engaging a circuit board.

23. The shell of claim 17, wherein said press arm extends at an angle with respect to said one wall.

24. The shell of claim 17, wherein each of the body portion remaining walls includes a slot for engaging a connector.

25. The shell of claim 24, wherein the slots have T-shaped configuration.

26. The shell of claim 17, wherein said shell is formed from a conductive material.

27. The shell of claim 22, wherein said press arm has a free end that extends away from said body portion top edge and the press arm includes a catch portion for engaging an opposing connector inserted into said shell.