Alignment adapters for post header

A header assembly (10) having an array of posts (12,14) extending through plastic bodies (16,18) with end portions extending beyond opposed header faces for connection with circuits of a pair of parallel, spaced circuit boards. Adapters (40) are securable at ends (32,34) of the assembly that self-secure to end posts (12) and include alignment posts (50) along one face (26), such that after the header assembly has been mounted onto a first circuit board, the alignment posts provide for blindmate alignment with a connector of the second circuit board (or directly with the second circuit board) for board-to-board interconnection.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This relates to the field of electrical connectors and more particularly to 
circuit board mounted headers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Header connectors are known in which an array of posts are held in a 
plastic housing in a manner that allows first ends of the posts to extend 
from the housing for insertion into corresponding through-holes of a 
circuit board, and second ends of the posts to extend from the housing for 
establishing electrical connections with complementary contacts of a 
mating connector. One such header sold by AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, 
Pa. is the AMPMODU MOD II header having Part No. 2-146508-5, is an 
unshrouded header in which an array of fifty elongate posts extend in two 
rows through spaced-apart plastic bodies molded therearound to be 
positioned proximate the first and second ends of the posts, with post end 
portions extending beyond opposed mating faces thereof for mating with 
contacts of complementary board-mounted receptacle connectors for 
interconnection of parallel spaced circuit boards. 
It is desired to provide a header with means for aligning with a mating 
connector. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an adapter that is easily assembled to an 
unshrouded header by snapping onto the posts at each end of the header. 
Each adapter includes a body section extending alongside the end posts and 
ends of the respective plastic bodies, with an alignment post extending 
from one end of the body section along the mating face of the header. 
Fastening sections extend from the body section adjacent each plastic body 
toward the posts, and post-receiving grooves extend toward the body 
section from post-receiving entrances such that the end posts are urged 
into respective grooves until fully seated. The adapter establishes a 
force-fit with the posts and preferably retention embossments are defined 
along inner walls of the grooves adjacent the inner groove ends, that snap 
around the posts upon full insertion thereof into the grooves. 
The adapter of the present invention provides alignment along the header's 
mating face while requiring no modification of the existing unshrouded 
header, all thus being highly economical. 
An embodiment of the adapter will now be described by way of example with 
reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Header 10 includes an array of elongated posts 12,14 extending through 
plastic bodies 16,18 proximate first and second end portions 20,22 of the 
post array, such that post end portions extend beyond the two plastic 
bodies 16,18, with first end portions 20 at first connection or mounting 
face 24 and second end portions 22 at second connection or mating face 26 
of the header. The posts and plastic bodies define a header subassembly 28 
that is conventionally fabricated by force fitting the posts into and 
through openings of the two plastic bodies, for connection between opposed 
parallel circuit boards. (Optionally the header could be made in an insert 
molding process in which plastic bodies 16,18 would be molded around the 
posts to form a continuous strip.) Frangible sections 30 are defined 
between all adjacent ones of the posts along the two rows by opposed 
notches and necked-down joints, permitting easy and accurate severing at 
any location to create header lengths as desired. Adapters 40,42 are 
preferably identical to each other and are affixed at each end 32,34 of 
the header subassembly adjacent end posts 12. 
Each adapter 40,42 is shown to have a body section 44 extending between 
first and second ends 46,48 alongside end posts 12 between plastic bodies 
16,18. An alignment post 50 extends from second end 48 of the body section 
at mating face 26 to cooperate with complementary alignment openings of a 
receptacle connector mounted on a second circuit board (not shown) for 
alignment of the header and the receptacle connector in a conventional 
blindmate manner. Optionally, the alignment posts could be received into 
alignment openings of the second circuit board directly where a receptacle 
connector is not desired. Each adapter 40,42 is also shown to have a 
locating post 52 extending from first end 46 of body section 44 at first 
face 24 to be received in a locating hole of a first circuit board (not 
shown) to which the header is first mounted, having circuits to which 
posts 12,14 are electrically connected. Buttresses 54 are also provided at 
first end 46 of the adapters that serve to stabilize header 10 on the 
first circuit board upon mounting. Optionally, header 10 may be mated to a 
complementary receptacle connector mounted on the first circuit board, if 
desired. 
Each adapter 40,42 is shown to include fastening projections 56,58 
proximate first and second ends 46,48 to extend inwardly along inner 
surfaces 36,38 of plastic bodies 16,18 to a post-proximate or inner end 
60. Post-receiving grooves 62 are defined in fastening projections 56,58 
to extend toward body section 44 from entrances 64 at post-proximate end 
60. Preferably entrances 64 include lead-ins formed by chamfered surfaces 
66 facilitating receipt of posts 12 thereinto during assembly. 
As seen best in FIG. 4, posts 12 are received into respective grooves 62 
until seated snugly within inner groove end portions 68. Preferably posts 
12 are held in a force-fit within inner groove end portions 68; and even 
more preferably, retention embossments 70 are provided along groove side 
walls 72 that snap about posts 12 to seat the posts in inner groove end 
portions 68. 
The invention provides adapters that are easily affixable to conventional 
unshrouded headers to establish a blindmate alignment capability with a 
receptacle connector of a second circuit board, or optionally directly to 
the second circuit board, without necessitating any modification of the 
headers. 
Modifications and variations may be devised to the adapter of the present 
invention. For example, such an adapter could be used with a single-row or 
a three-row header. A slightly different adapter could be used with 
headers having only a single plastic body, with the fastening projections 
securing to the end posts adjacent both surfaces of the plastic body. 
Alternatively, the adapter could be provided with latch arms that would 
latch directly to the plastic body or bodies instead of the posts. It is 
clear that such an adapter could utilize features other than an alignment 
post, such as a board lock or could even contain an additional contact.