Abstract:
An electrical connector module including a plurality of electrical contact terminals; and a frame adapted to be attached to a housing. The electrical contact terminals are connected to the frame and have opposite ends which extend away from the frame in two respective different directions. The frame includes a plug section adapted to be mechanically plugged into the housing and a resiliently deflectable snap finger adapted to snap-lock behind a portion of the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an electrical connector and, more particularly, to a module having electrical contact terminals. 
     2. Brief Description of Prior Developments 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,561 discloses a plug connector securing a printed circuit board with contacts. U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,363 discloses a connector assembly with a dove-tail mounting structure. There is a desire to provide a modular type of electrical connector module which can be connected to a housing to provide a configurable assembly for manufacturing an electronic device adapted to be connected to an electrical connector. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an electrical connector module is provided including a plurality of electrical contact terminals; and a frame adapted to be attached to a housing. The electrical contact terminals are connected to the frame and have opposite ends which extend away from the frame in two respective different directions. The frame includes a plug section adapted to be mechanically plugged into the housing and a resiliently deflectable snap finger adapted to snap-lock behind a portion of the housing. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an electrical connector module is provided comprising a plurality of electrical contact terminals; and a frame having the electrical contact terminals mounted thereto. The frame comprises a housing mounting section adapted to mount the frame to a housing. The housing mounting section comprises angled rail sections on opposite sides of the frame and a snap finger at a rear end of the frame. The rail sections are adapted to slide into a general dove-tail receiving slot of the housing. The snap finger is adapted to snap behind a portion of the housing and exert a continuous force against the portion of the housing. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an electrical connector module is provided comprising a carrier frame adapted to be mounted to a receiving housing and a plurality of electrical contact terminals. The carrier frame comprises a general L shaped cross section with a first leg and a second leg. The plurality of electrical contact terminals are mounted to the carrier frame. The electrical contact terminals each comprise a general L shape with a first leg mounted in the first leg of the carrier frame and a second leg extending in a direction generally opposite to the second leg of the carrier frame. The second leg of the carrier frame is adapted to be snapped into the receiving housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a device comprising features of the invention shown attached to another member; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a housing assembly of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing of the assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the electrical connector module of the assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear end view of the module shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the module shown in  FIG. 6  shown attached to the module mounting area of the housing; and 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross sectional view of the snap finger connection of the module to the housing of Area A shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a side view of an electrical or electronic device  10  incorporating features of the invention. Although the invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
     The device  10  is an inertia sensor. However, features of the invention could be used in any suitable type of electronic or electrical device, or could be used in any suitable type of electrical connector. The device  10  is shown attached to another member  12  and is adapted to sense movement of the member  12 . The device  10  is adapted to be connected to a mating electrical connector  14  for transmitting signals from the device  10  to another device (not shown). The device  10  generally comprises a housing assembly  16  and at least one electronic component  18 . In the embodiment shown, electronic component  18  can comprise, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB)  20  and a sensor  22  mounted to the PCB. However, any suitable electrical or electronic component(s) could be provided. The housing assembly  16  houses the electronic component(s). 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing assembly  16  generally comprises a housing  24  and an electrical connector module  26 . Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the housing  24  preferably comprises a one-piece molded plastic or polymer member. The housing  24  comprises a main receiving area  28 , mounting sections  30 , a module mounting area  32 , and a mating connector mounting area or shroud  34 . The main receiving area  28  forms a general box shape with side walls adapted to house the electronic component(s)  18 . The mounting sections  30  are adapted to receive fasteners to mount the device  10  to the member  12 . The module mounting area  32  is adapted to mount the electrical connector module  26  at a fixed location on the housing  24  inside the main receiving area  28 . The shroud  34  is adapted to removably receive the end of the mating electrical connector  14  therein. The mating electrical connector  14  comprises electrical contacts  36  for mating with the contact terminals of the electrical connector module  26  in the open area inside the shroud  34 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 5-8 , the electrical connector module  26  generally comprises a carrier or frame  38  and electrical contact terminals  40 . The frame  38  comprises a one-piece molded plastic or polymer member. The electrical contact terminals  40  are stitched into the frame  38 . However, in an alternate embodiment the frame  38  could be overmolded onto the contact terminals  40 , or any suitable method of connecting the contact terminals with the frame could be provided. The frame  38  has a general L shape with a first leg  42  and a second leg  44 . The contact terminals  40  are mounted to the first leg  42 . The second leg  44  forms a housing mounting section for the frame. The housing mounting section comprises angled rail sections  46  on opposite sides of the second leg  44  and a snap finger  48  at a rear end of the second leg  44 . 
     As seen best in  FIG. 7 , the module mounting area  32  of the housing  24  has a general dove-tail shaped slot  50 . The second leg  44  of the frame  38  is adapted to slide into the slot  50  with the ends of the angled rail sections  46  contacting ends of the slot  50  to side-to-side stationarily locate the module  26  in the module mounting area  32 . As seen best in  FIG. 3 , the front of the frame  38  contacts the housing  24  to stop the forward location of the frame  38  in the slot  50 , and the snap finger  48  contacts a portion  52  of the housing at the slot  50  to prevent rearward movement of the module  26  in the module mounting area  32  once it is installed. 
     As seen best in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in this embodiment the contact terminals  40  each have a general L shape with a first leg  54  and a second leg  56 . The first legs  54  are mounted in the first leg  42  of the frame  38 . First ends  58  of the contact terminals extend up past the top side of the frame  38 . In this embodiment the first ends  58  have press-fit shapes for making a press-fit mechanical and electrical connection in mounting holes of the PCB  20 . However, the first ends of the contacts could have any suitable shape. The second legs  56  extend in a forward direction from the first leg  42  of the frame; in a direction opposite to the second leg  44  of the frame  38 . The second legs  56  form male contact pins for removable connection with the female contact  36  of the mating electrical connector  14 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the housing  24  has channels  60  which extend through the wall of the housing  24  from the module mounting area  32  into the open area of the shroud  34 . When the module  26  is slid into the module mounting area  32 , the second legs  56  of the contact terminals  40  slide through the channels  60  into the open area of the shroud. 
     As noted above, the snap finger  48  is adapted to contact a portion  52  of the housing  24  to retain the module in the module mounting area  32 . As seen in  FIGS. 5-7 , the snap finger  48  comprises a resiliently deflectable cantilevered section of the frame  38  extending in a rearward direction. At the end of the snap finger  48  is a downward projection  62 . As seen best in  FIG. 8 , the projection  62  has a front ramp surface  64  and a rear ramp surface  66 . When the module  26  is being initially installed into the module mounting area  32 , the front ramp surface  64  helps guide and deflect the projection  62  over the portion  52 . When the rear ramp surface  66  comes into contact with the edge  53  of the portion  52 , the rear ramp surface  66  helps to bias the frame  38  in a forward direction to firmly seat the module  26  in the front of the module mounting area against the wall of the housing  24 . Thus, the snap finger is adapted to snap behind the portion  52  of the housing and exert a continuous force against the portion of the housing to bias the module  26  forward. This insures precise placement of the module  26  on the housing  24  for easier and more dependable connection of the electronic component(s)  18  to the first ends  58  of the contact terminals  40  during assembly of the device  10 . 
     With the invention, the frame or carrier, with a given number of stitched terminals, can mate to the housing by means of a dove-tail and can be retained with a continuous force snap finger. Channels in the housing can guide and support the terminals into the shroud, and a recess in the housing locks the snap finger with continuous force. The modular carrier can be tooled and populated to suit multiple applications of different housings. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.