Movable connector bracket for end mounting panel members

A connector assembly configured for mounting on a panel member includes a connector having an axis. An EMI bracket surrounds the connector, the EMI bracket being relatively movable along the axis while maintaining electrical communication with the connector.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electrical connector brackets and, more particularly, to electrical connector brackets for use with electrical panel members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Connectors are required to provide electrical power or electrical or electronic control signals between components, such as computers, printers, auxiliary hardware, etc. Often, these components contain panel members, such as printed circuit boards, which are populated with miniaturized components to provide the desired electrical control. Typically, the connector is affixed adjacent to one end of the panel member. A bezel is affixed to the panel member adjacent to the connector to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI). EMI is defined as any electromagnetic radiation released by an electronic device that disrupts the operation or performance of another device. However, due to tolerance build-up during manufacturing associated with locating the connector and bezel, resulting in inconsistent separation distances and/or misalignment between the connector and bezel, consistently adequate EMI shielding or minimization between these components has proven extremely difficult to achieve.

What is needed is a connector for use with an electrical connector assembly that is secured to a panel member, which minimizes EMI.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector assembly including a connector configured for mounting on a panel member, the connector having an axis. An EMI bracket is at least partially surrounding the connector, the EMI bracket being relatively movable along the axis while maintaining electrical communication with the connector.

The present invention further relates to a connector assembly including a connector configured for mounting on a panel member, the connector having an axis. An EMI bracket at least partially surrounds the connector, the EMI bracket being relatively movable along the axis while maintaining electrical communication with the connector. The EMI bracket is affixed to and in electrical communication with a bezel, and a layer of conductive material is disposed between the EMI bracket and the bezel.

The present invention yet further relates to a method for assembling a connector assembly. The steps of the method include providing a panel member, a connector having an axis, a bezel, a layer of conductive material and an EMI bracket. The method further includes mounting the connector on the panel member and at least partially surrounding the connector with the EMI bracket, the EMI bracket being relatively movable along the axis while maintaining electrical communication with the connector. The method further includes inserting the layer of conductive material between the EMI bracket and the bezel and affixing the EMI bracket to the bezel, the EMI bracket in electrical communication with the bezel.

An advantage of the present invention is that EMI associated with panel member electrical connections is consistently minimized.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the electrical connections between connectors and bezels which minimize EMI do not place undue strain on the mechanical joints securing the connectors to panel members and/or bezels to the connectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an electrical connector assembly10according to the present invention includes a connector12having a housing14that is received by bracket portions20,22of EMI bracket or bracket18. As shown inFIG. 2, bracket portion20can also be referred to as an upper bracket portion20and bracket portion22can also be referred to as a lower bracket portion22, although neither of terms upper and lower is intended to be limiting. In one embodiment, connector12is mounted on panel member24, such as a printed circuit board, by a solder joint. However, other suitable techniques to secure connector12to panel member24may include fasteners, adhesives or locking constructions between connector12and panel member24. As will be discussed in more detail below, bracket18is relatively movable along an axis28associated with connector12while maintaining electrical communication with connector12, and without unduly stressing the affixed joint between connector12and panel member24.

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, connector12(FIG. 1) includes a rectangular housing14having a width substantially parallel to an end26(FIG. 1) of panel member24and a length extending substantially transverse to its width. As further shown inFIG. 1, axis28is substantially parallel to the length of connector12. In one embodiment, once connector12has been mounted on panel member24, bracket18is installed, surrounding, or at least partially surrounding connector12.

As shown inFIGS. 2-4, bracket18is comprised of bracket portions20,22. Bracket portion20, which is shown inverted inFIG. 3from its mated position with bracket portion22inFIG. 2, includes a surface38. Bracket portions20,22are composed of suitable conductive materials, such as zinc, copper and/or steel. Surface38includes, in one embodiment, two sets of three projections36, such as raised ribs, extending outwardly from surface38, which projections36are disposed substantially parallel with each other between a surface42and each of the pair of flanges34. Projections36interface a surface of connector12, maintaining electrical communication between bracket portion20and connector12. It is appreciated that as shown inFIG. 1, the surfaces of connector12interfacing with projections36are substantially parallel with and facing away from a surface86of panel member24. Adjacent to opposed ends92,94and surface42are standoffs32extending outwardly from surface38. An additional pair of standoffs32are similarly disposed adjacent to opposed ends92,94and further spaced from surface42. An additional standoff32is disposed substantially centered between opposed surfaces92,94and further disposed between flanges34. However, it is to be understood that standoffs32can be disposed in other suitable positions and in different quantities than the five standoffs32as shown inFIG. 3. As further shown inFIG. 3, standoffs30extend outwardly from surface38. In addition, in one embodiment, recesses40found in surface38receive fingers16(FIG. 1) of connector12. As will be discussed in further detail below, standoffs30,32of bracket20are received in respective recesses66,68of bracket22.

Bracket portion22(FIG. 4) includes a body46having opposed arms50that extend outwardly from body46adjacent to surface84to opposed end portions48. This construction provides a predetermined spacing between a surface52of end portion48and a surface56of body46configured to receive connector12(FIG. 1). Similarly, the spacing between a surface54of end portion48and a surface58of body46is configured to receive connector12(FIG. 1). In one embodiment, protrusions60extend along surface52of end portion48, with corresponding protrusions60(not shown) extending along surface56of body46. In addition, protrusions60extend along surface58of body46, with corresponding protrusions60(not shown) extending along surface54of end portion48. The corresponding protrusions60are configured to interface at least one surface of connector12that extends away from panel member24, which as shown inFIG. 1, are the surfaces of connector12that extend transverse to surface86of panel member24. In one embodiment, surfaces88of end portions48and a surface90of body46are substantially coplanar so that surfaces88,90physically contact surface38of bracket portion20when bracket portions20,22are assembled together to form bracket18.

Arms50, as shown inFIG. 4, include surfaces adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to surface84. These surfaces include notches64configured to receive corresponding fingers16(not shown inFIG. 1) that outwardly extend from connector12toward panel member24. In addition, in one embodiment, alternately disposed between notches64, arms50include protrusions62for interfacing with a surface of connector12that is adjacent to, faces, and is substantially parallel to surface86of panel member24, as shown inFIG. 1. Arms50further extend along surface84away from respective body46and end portions48, forming a flange72.

Upon assembly of bracket portions20,22to form bracket18, as shown inFIGS. 2-4, standoffs30are received by notch66, standoffs32are received by respective recesses68, and surfaces88of end portions and surface90of body46physically contact or abut surface38of bracket portion20. In one embodiment, standoffs30and notch66interlock and/or standoffs32and corresponding recesses68interlock. However, it is to be understood that other interlocking features could be used to secure bracket portions20,22together, or, alternately, that a unitary construction could be used. As shown, protrusions36,60,62combine to interface with each external surface of connector12extending through bracket18, each protrusion36,60,62being in electrical communication with a corresponding surface of connector12. As a result of this enhanced electrical communication, EMI is substantially reduced over a broad frequency range of electrical signals, such as at least between 1 GHz and 17 GHz. It is noted that such enhanced electrical communication is substantially maintained between bracket18and connector12along any position of bracket18along axis28(FIG. 1).

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, connector12is mounted on panel member24and bracket18at least partially surrounds connector12upon installation of bracket18. Bracket18is relatively movable along axis28(FIG. 1) while maintaining electrical communication with connector12. Referring toFIGS. 5-6, a resilient or elastomeric layer74of conductive material is applied over surface42(FIG. 3) of bracket portion20and surface84(FIG. 4) of bracket portion22. In one embodiment, conductive layer74can be compressed to assure electrical contact between surfaces42,84. Protrusions44,45(FIG. 2) enhance electrical communication between bracket portions20,22and layer74. Once layer74has been applied, a bezel76is then applied over layer74. Bezel76, as shown, is constructed of an electrically conductive material and includes a web78that extends from opposite ends to substantially parallel flanges80,82. To bring web78toward layer74to achieve the desired electrical communication with web78, layer74and bracket18, a fastener96is directed through an opening98formed in web78and then into a threaded aperture70(FIG. 4) formed in body46(FIG. 4). Upon sufficient actuation of the fastener in one direction, bracket18and web78are drawn toward each other, subjecting layer74to a compressive force to achieve the desired electrical communication between web78, layer74and bracket18. By virtue of the construction of the bracket18and connectors12, bracket18is movable along axis28(FIG. 1) with respect to connector12, maintaining electrical communication therebetween, without unduly stressing the joints affixing connector12to panel member24and the bracket18to bezel76.

It is to be understood that bezel76represents a portion of an electrical appliance inside of which or against which connector assembly10is inserted or secured so that there is minimal EMI associated with operation of the electrical appliance. Stated another way, there is maximum EMI shielding between bezel76and the connector assembly10. It is also to be understood that the fastener securing bezel76to bracket18is not intended to structurally support connector assembly10or panel member24. Such structural support is typically provided by other structural components of the electrical appliance. It is also to be understood that bezel76can take any number of other structural constructions, so long as bezel76and bracket18can be sufficiently drawn together to achieve the desired electrical communication therebetween to minimize EMI.