ALIGNMENT COMB FOR CONNECTOR CONTACTS

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes, an alignment comb configured to prevent rotation of a contact pin of a connector relative to the connector. In embodiments, the alignment comb can be of a non-electrically conductive material. In embodiments, the alignment comb includes, a planar portion extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, an aperture defined in the planar portion, and a slot defined at least partially within the planar portion. Embodiments of the slots within the alignment comb allow the comb to slide along the first and second respective contact pins such that the alignment comb can be lifted to allow for application of a conformal coating on the contact pins and/or to allow soldering the contact pins to a printed wiring board.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates connectors and more particularly to combs for aligning connector contacts.

BACKGROUND

Conventional connectors can include solder tail contacts, which can have a right-angle. These contacts can rotate even if a small force is applied, which can cause the tails to be misaligned when trying to install the connector onto a printed wiring board. An alignment comb is often needed to keep the contacts from rotating until they are soldered in place. Typical alignment combs can sit low on the board which can inhibit coating coverage and inspection in the area. These conventional combs are not removeable and cannot be raised for more access to the solder joints, for example, as the comb is restricted by the bend radius of the shortest contact.

The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved alignment combs for connector contact pins. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes, an alignment comb configured to prevent rotation of a contact pin of a connector relative to the connector. In embodiments, the alignment comb can be of a non-electrically conductive material. In embodiments, the alignment comb includes, a planar portion extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, an aperture defined in the planar portion, and a slot defined at least partially within the planar portion. The slot is defined between a first finger and a second finger. A first portion of each finger is co-planar with the planar portion and a second portion of each finger is out of plane with the planar portion.

The aperture is configured to receive a first respective contact pin therein to retain the first respective contact pin within the aperture and the slot is configured to receive a second respective contact pin therein to retain the second respective contact pin within the slot. The alignment comb is configured to slide along the first and second respective contact pins, e.g., when seated thereon.

In embodiments, the alignment comb can include a plurality of apertures defined in the planar portion along the axial length of the alignment comb between the first end and the second end. In certain embodiments, the plurality of apertures can form a first row of apertures defined in the planar portion, and the plurality of apertures can further include a second row of apertures. In certain embodiments, one aperture of the first row of apertures or the second row of apertures can be axially aligned with the slot across a width of the planar portion. In certain embodiments, one aperture of the first row of apertures or the second row of apertures is axially offset from the slot across a width of the planar portion.

In embodiments, the alignment comb can include a plurality of slots defined between respective fingers, each slot being at least partially within the planar portion. The plurality of slots can be axially aligned with the plurality of apertures. In certain embodiments, the plurality of slots can be axially offset from the plurality of apertures. In certain embodiments, the plurality of slots includes a first group of slots and a second group of slots. In certain embodiments, the second group of slots can extend farther into the planar portion than the first group of slots. In certain embodiments, the first group of slots can be axially aligned with the plurality of apertures and the second group of slots. In certain embodiments, the second group of slots can be axially offset from the plurality of apertures and the first group of slots (e.g., the first group and the second group of slots alternate along the length of the planar portion in the axial direction).

In embodiments, the system can include the connector. The connector can include the first respective contact pin and the second respective contact pin, where each of the first and second contact pins extend outward from the connector in a first direction to a corner and extend from the corner downward in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to a free end. The free end of the first respective contact pin is disposed in the aperture, and the free end of the second respective contact pin is disposed in the slot.

In embodiments, the connector includes a plurality of contact pins, extending from the connector. The first respective contact pin can be defined in a first row of contact pins and the second respective contact pin can be defined in a second row of contact pins. The free end of each contact pin of the first row of contact pins can be disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures and the free end of each contact pin of the second row of contact pins can be disposed in a respective slot of the plurality of slots.

In embodiments, the plurality of contact pins of the connector can further include a third row of contact pins. In certain embodiments, the third row of contact pins can be axially offset from the first row of contact pins and the second row of contact pins. The third row of contact pins can be between the first row of contact pins and the second row of contact pins. In certain embodiments, the free end of each contact pin of the third row of contact pins can be disposed in a respective aperture of a second row of apertures. In certain such embodiments, the alignment comb can be configured to slide along the contact pins up to the corner of the third row of contact pins. Here, the corner of the third row of contact pins is higher than the corner portion of the second row of contact pins to allow for application of a conformal coating on the contact pins and/or to allow soldering the contact pins to a printed wiring board, and/or to allow inspection of complete solder joints.

In certain embodiments, the free end of each contact pin of the third row of contact pins is disposed in a respective slot of the second row of slots. In certain such embodiments, the alignment comb can be configured to slide along the contact pins up to the corner of the first row of contact pins. Here the corner of the first row of contact pins is higher than the corner of the third row of contact pins to allow for better application of the conformal coating on the contact pins and/or to allow soldering the contact pins to a printed wiring board and/or to allow for inspection of complete solder joints.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system can include a printed wiring board, a connector having a plurality of contact pins configured to be soldered to the printed wiring board, and an alignment comb configured to prevent rotation of the free end of the contact pin relative to the connector.

In embodiments, the plurality of pins of the connector can include, a first row of contact pins, a second row of contact pins, and a third row of contact pins. Each contact pin of the first row, the second row, and the third row, can extend outward from the connector in a first direction to a corner and extend away from the corner in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to a free end of the contact pin. In embodiments, the contact pins of the first row can be longer than the contact pins of the second row and the contact pins of the third row can be longer than the contact pins of the second row and can be shorter than the contact pins of the first row. In embodiments, each row of contact pins can be axially aligned with one another, or one or more rows of contact pins can be axially offset from one another.

In embodiments, the alignment comb can include, a first row of retaining features configured to retain the contact pins of the first row, a second row of retaining features configured to retain the contact pins of the second row, a third row of retaining features configured to retain the third row of contact pins. In embodiments, the first row of retaining features can include a plurality of apertures and each contact pin of the first row of contact pins can be disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures. The second row of retaining features can include a plurality of slots defined between a first finger and a second finger and each contact pin of the second row of contact pins can be disposed in a respective each slot of the plurality of slots. Each contact pin of the third row can be disposed a respective retaining feature of the third row of retaining features.

In certain embodiments, the third row of retaining features can include a plurality of apertures defining a second row of apertures. Each contact pin of the third row of contact pins can be disposed in a respective aperture of the second row of apertures.

In certain embodiments, the third row of retaining features can include a plurality slots defined between respective fingers of a plurality of fingers and in a second group of slots. The second group of slot can extend farther into the a body of the alignment comb than the first group of slots. In certain embodiments, the first group of slots can be axially aligned with the plurality of apertures and the second group of slots can be axially offset from the plurality of apertures and the first group of slots. In embodiments, a first portion of each finger can be co-planar with the body of the alignment comb and a second portion of each finger can be out of plane with the body of the alignment comb.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, as shown inFIGS.1-3, a system100can include a printed wiring board102, a connector104having a plurality of contact pins106configured to be soldered to the printed wiring board102, and an alignment comb108configured to prevent rotation of a free end110of the contact pins106relative to the connector104. In embodiments, the alignment comb108can be made of a non-electrically conductive material. In embodiments, the non-electrically conductive material can be non-metallic.

In embodiments, the plurality of pins106of the connector104can include, a first row of contact pins106a, a second row of contact pins106baxially aligned with the first row of contact pins106a, and a third row of contact pins106caxially offset from the first row of contact pins106aand the second row of contact pins106b. Each contact pin106of the first row, the second row, and the third row, can extend outward from the connector104(e.g., outward from a main body of the connector104) in a first direction to a corner112a, b, cand extend away from the corner112a, b, cin a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to the free end110a, b, cof the contact pin106a, b, c. In embodiments, the contact pins of the first row106acan be longer than the contact pins of the second row106band the contact pins of the third row106ccan be longer than the contact pins of the second row106band can be shorter than the contact pins of the first row106a, such that L1>L3>L2(e.g., as best seen inFIG.4).

Referring now toFIGS.4-7, in embodiments, the alignment comb108can include a planar body114having therein: a first row of retaining features116aconfigured to retain the contact pins of the first row106a, a second row of retaining features116bconfigured to retain the contact pins of the second row106b, a third row of retaining features116cconfigured to retain the third row of contact pins106c. The first row of retaining features116acan include a plurality of apertures118and each contact pin of the first row of contact pins106acan be disposed in a respective aperture118aof the plurality of apertures118. The second row of retaining features116bcan include a plurality of slots120defined between a first finger122and a second finger124and each contact pin of the second row of contact pins106bcan be disposed in a respective slot120aof the plurality of slots120. In embodiments, a first portion126of each finger (e.g., as shown with respect to finger122) can be co-planar with the body114of the alignment comb108and a second portion128of each finger122can be out of plane with the body114of the alignment comb108(e.g., perpendicular as shown).

With specific reference now toFIGS.4and5, in certain embodiments, the third row of retaining features116ccan include a plurality of apertures130defining a second row of apertures axially offset from the first row of apertures118and axially offset from the slots120. Each contact pin of the third row of contact pins106ccan be disposed in a respective aperture130aof the second row of apertures130.

In certain such embodiments, the alignment comb108can be configured to slide along the contact pins106(e.g., along direction D) up to the corner112cof the third row of contact pins106c. Here, the corner112cof the third row of contact pins106crepresents a height limit of how high the comb108can be lifted off the board108. This is due to the corner112cof the contact pin106cphysically impeding movement of the aperture130cbeyond the corner112c. The height L3of the third row of contact pins106cis greater than height L2of the second row of contact pins, thus, the alignment comb108can be lifted higher up off the board102than if the second row of contact pins106bwere seated in an aperture since the slot120aallows for the comb108to be raised above the corner112band up to the corner112c. The ability to raise the alignment comb108off the board102allows for easier and more consistent application of a conformal coating on the contact pins106and/or to allow soldering the contact pins106to the printed wiring board102, and/or to allow for inspection of complete solder joints.

With reference now toFIGS.6and7, in certain embodiments, an embodiment of an alignment comb208is shown for a system200. The third row of retaining features216ccan include a plurality of slots230in a second group of slots, where the slots120are a first group of slots. The second group of slots230can extend farther into the body214of the alignment comb208than the first group of slots120. As shown, the first group of slots120can be axially aligned with the plurality of apertures118and the second group of slots230can be axially offset from the plurality of apertures118and the first group of slots120. Here, the alignment comb208can be configured to slide along the contact pins106(e.g., along direction D) up to the corner112aof the first row of contact pins106a. This allows the comb208to be lifted higher off of the board102than the comb108, for example.

WhileFIGS.1-7are described with reference to a connector having three rows of contact pins106, the first and second rows axially aligned, and the third row axially offset from the first and second rows, the retaining features of the alignment comb108,208can be arranged in any suitable manner to accommodate the arrangement of the contact pins of a given connector. For example,FIG.8shows an embodiment of an alignment comb308where the first row of retaining features includes apertures118. However, the first and second row of slots320,330can extend far enough into the body314to accommodate multiple axially aligned pins within the same slot (e.g., each slot can include 3-6 contact pins. As shown inFIG.9, an embodiment of an alignment comb408includes apertures418, which can have a wider diameter than apertures118to accommodate a plurality of diameters of pins of the same connector. Slots420can include tongues432to form slots430within slots420. Here, slots420can accommodate pins from rows that are axially aligned and offset from one another and pins of different diameters within the same slot.

Embodiments provide an alignment comb designed to sit up higher on the board, and allow for better conformal coating coverage and inspection. The curved finger portions allow the comb to sit higher above the board, instead of laying flat on the board. This allows for better coating coverage and inspection of the solder joints, even without having to lift the comb manually. But further, because embodiments employ slots instead of apertures alone, the comb is able to be manually lifted higher than if the comb used only apertures to secure the pins. While the upper contact (first row) pass through through-holes (apertures) in the comb, the lower contacts (second and third rows) are instead bracketed on both sides by the finger portions of the comb, e.g., in the respective slots, preventing rotation. Accordingly, in embodiments, the comb height is no longer limited by the corner of the lowest contact (e.g., the contact pins of the second row). Embodiments may have more complex comb geometries, wherein the slots bracket multiple rows of contacts, allowing the comb to sit even higher, limited only by the corner of the highest contact (e.g., the contact pins of the first row). Embodiments of the alignment comb disclosed herein prevents the contact pins (e.g., solder tails) from rotating side to side during installation and soldering, allows the comb to sit higher on the tails and allows for adequate coating coverage and proper inspection of the solder joints once the pins are soldered to the board.

The embodiments of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for improvement in the art to which they pertain. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.