TOP MOUNT RIGHT ANGLE HEADER

• US 20080026632A1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Eichorn, Daniel S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,801 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/377
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/926 within machine casing or motor housing, connector within casing wall

Abstract

An electrical connection header for an electrical device and a method for assembling the same are disclosed herein. A connection header may include a plurality of electrical pins, each of which has a first portion and a second portion oriented generally orthogonal to each other. The pins may be inserted to a connector shroud which defines a plurality of apertures for receiving the first portions of the pins. A hood may be secured to the connector shroud such that the hood extends beyond a bend point of at least one of the pins.

Claims

1. An electrical connection header for connecting to an electrical device, comprising:

a plurality of electrical pins, each including a first portion and a second portion, said second portion oriented generally orthogonal to said first portion;

a connector shroud defining a plurality of pin apertures, each of said first portions of said pins inserted into one of said pin apertures, said first portions oriented generally parallel with said apertures of said connector shroud; and

a hood secured to said connector shroud, said hood extending beyond a bend point of at least one of said pins.

2. The electrical connection header of claim 1, further comprising a pin alignment guide secured to one of said hood and said connector shroud, said pin alignment guide aligning said second portion of said pins, said pin alignment guide defining at least one abutment feature for abutting a top surface of a housing for the electrical device.

3. The electrical connection header of claim 1, wherein said connector shroud includes an integral pin block, said integral pin block defining said plurality of pin apertures.

4. The electrical header of claim 2, wherein said pin alignment guide defines a plurality of pin alignment apertures for encircling said second portion of said pins.

5. The electrical connection header of claim 2, wherein said pin alignment guide includes a lock arm for engaging said one of said hood and said connector shroud.

6. The electrical connection header of claim 1, wherein said hood defines one of a tongue and a groove, and said housing defines the other of said tongue and said groove, said tongue and said groove providing a cooperating engagement between said hood and said housing.

7. The electrical connection header of claim 6, further comprising one of a sealant and an adhesive, said one of said sealant and said adhesive disposed about one of said tongue and said groove to secure said hood to said housing.

8. The electrical connection header of claim 1, wherein said hood defines one of a tongue and a groove, and said connector shroud defines the other of said tongue and said groove, said tongue and said groove providing a cooperating engagement between said hood and said connector shroud.

9. The electrical connection header of claim 8, further comprising one of a sealant and an adhesive, said one of said sealant and said adhesive disposed about one of said tongue and said groove to secure said hood to said connector shroud.

10. The electrical connection header of claim 1, wherein said connector shroud is configured to receive a mating connector.

11. The electrical connection header of claim 1, further comprising a pin sealant disposed about said pin apertures.

12. The electrical connection header of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said pins includes an expanded portion for engaging an interior surface of said pin apertures.

13. A method of assembling a connection header for connecting to an electrical device, comprising:

inserting a first portion of a plurality of pins into a plurality of pin apertures defined by a connector shroud;

bending said pins to form a second portion of said pins generally orthogonal to said first portion of said pins; and

securing a hood to said connector shroud, said hood extending beyond a bend point of at least one of said pins.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

aligning said second portion of said pins with a pin alignment guide;

securing said pin alignment guide to one of said hood and said connector shroud; and

abutting a top surface of a housing of the electrical device with an abutment feature of said pin alignment guide.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising integrally forming a pin block with said connector shroud, said pin block defining said plurality of pin apertures.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising securing said hood to said housing.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising aligning said second portion of said pins with a plurality of pin alignment apertures in said pin alignment guide.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein securing said pin alignment guide to said one of said hood and said connector shroud includes engaging a lock arm of said pin alignment guide with said one of said hood and said connector shroud.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing one of a tongue feature and a groove feature on said hood;

providing the other of said tongue and said groove feature on said housing; and

engaging said tongue with said groove feature to secure said hood to said housing.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising applying one of an adhesive and a sealant to one of said tongue and said groove feature.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing one of a tongue feature and a groove feature on said hood;

providing the other of said tongue and said groove feature on said connector shroud; and

engaging said tongue with said groove feature to secure said hood to said connector shroud.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising applying one of an adhesive and a sealant to one of said tongue and said groove feature.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising applying a pin sealant about said pin apertures to seal an interface between said pins and said pin apertures.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an expanded feature in said first portion of said pins to engage an interior surface of said pin apertures.

25. An electrical device, comprising:

a housing defining an aperture; and

an electrical connection header disposed adjacent said aperture, including;

a plurality of electrical pins, each including a first portion and a second portion, said second portions oriented generally orthogonal to said first portion;

a connector shroud defining a plurality of pin apertures, said first portions of said pins inserted into one of said pin apertures; and

a hood secured to said connector shroud, said hood extending beyond a bend point of at least one of said pins.

26. The electrical device of claim 25, wherein the electrical connection header includes a pin alignment guide secured to one of said hood and said connector shroud, said pin alignment guide aligning said second portion of said pins, said pin alignment guide defining at least one abutment feature for abutting said upper surface of said housing

27. The electrical device of claim 25, wherein said connector shroud includes an integral pin block defining said plurality of apertures.

28. The electrical device of claim 25, further comprising a printed circuit board disposed within the housing.

29. The electrical device of claim 25, said plurality of pins arranged in at least four rows in said pin block.