CONNECTOR PROTECTION ARRANGEMENT

Abstract: An arrangement for providing protection to an electrical connector part (10) such as a plug having an exposed edge (13) of a printed circuit board (12). A resilient sleeve member (14) or "shield" is provided which surrounds the exposed part of the printed circuit board (13) and protects it when it is unconnected. On connection the resilient sleeve (14) crumples or folds back to allow the printed circuit board edge (13) to engage with the corresponding edge connector (31). The resilient sleeve (14) is preferably made from silicone rubber, but may be made slightly conductive by the addition of selected quantities of carbon, in order to provide anti-static properties.

Description: CONNECTOR PROTECTION ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to an arrangement providing protection for a connector part, such as an edge connector, whereby the connector part may readily be mated with a corresponding second connector part, and when separated therefrom, is protected from damage by the protection arrangemen . The protection arrangement is particularly useful in the data processing field, when one of a number of sub-modules may be connected to a main module. One example of this occurs when a main processor can be connected to a selected ROM (read only memory) cartridge so as to provide the processor with the program and/or other data on the selected ROM. Another example is where a memory-expansion RAM (random access memory) can be connected to the processor to increase its available memory space. In each of the above cases, if the mating connector parts on the main and sub-modules are left exposed, they are subject to static, damage, corrosion and like effects. In the case of an edge connector, arranged to mate directly with a suitably-configured edge of a printed circuit, board, the problem is intensified, since the board edge must be disposed so as to be matable with the edge connector, which often means in practice that the board edge protrudes in an exposed manner. The preferred arrangement of the present invention includes a resilient cover member or "shield" protecting one connector part when not mated with the other, the shield being arranged to crumple and/or peel back when the connector parts are brought together. Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of example, and when "taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of part of a sub-module including protective shield; Figure 2 is an end view of the protective shield viewed from the rim end thereof; and Figures 3A and 3B respectively show cross-sectiona views of the sub-module before and after insertion into a main module. The arrangement to be described is in relation to a processor contained in a housing provided with an aperture within which an edge connector is positioned. A sub-module, in the form of a ROM, includes an edge of a printed circuit board projecting from the sub-module housing and arranged to engage the edge connector of the processor. Referring to Figure 1, the sub-module 10 includes a housing made up of housing halves 11a, lib which housing when assembled retains a printed circuit board 12 having a protruding edge 13 at one end. A resilient shield 14 has a rim 15 for locating within a groove 16 provided in the aperture of housing halves 11a, lib. The shield 14 includes the rim 15 for mounting to the housing, and two portions 17, 18 of decreasing cross- sectional area, arranged to cover the circuit board edge 13* The portions 17, 18 are hollow and provide a stepped outline effect. The smaller portion 18 has a slit 19 in its front face, just over the circuit board edge 13. OMPI M&?NATlθΦ - 3 - The complete shield 14 is made of a suitable resilient material, preferably silicone rubber, and the wall thickness of the shield and other parameters are selected such that when the sub-module 10 is brought into 5 contact with the edge connector on the main module, the edge connector initially engages the shield 14 around the slit 19, whereupon it pushes back the shield 14 while the circuit board edge 13 begins to engage the edge connector and by this stage, the shield will have crumpled rear- 10 wards and inwardly into a collapsed state. Thus an effective seal can be obtained both when the sub-module is engaged and when not engaged. Figure 2 shows an end view of the shield 14 seen from the rim end, the shield preferably including pro- 15 jections 20 on its inner surface which are arranged to engage and grip the circuit board 12 so as to retain the shield 14 in a correct configuration upon engagement with the edge connector. The retaining force provided by the edge connector may prove sufficient in some applications 20 to hold the sub-module in place. If a more positive bond is required, a mechanical latching arrangement may also be provided locking the two assemblies together. Silicone rubber is the presently-preferred materia for the shield, since it is very soft with minimum res- 25 ilience to force the edge connector out of engagement, ye is a highly durable material. It is also possible to mak the shield slightly conductive for example by the add¬ ition of selected quantities of carbon, so as to provide the shield with anti-static properties, and minimise the 30 possibility of semiconductor damage caused by static build-up being transferred to conductive portions of the circuit board and edge connector as they are brought into engagement. Figures 3A and 3B show the sub-module 10 prior to 35 and after insertion into a main module 30, including an edge connector 31 mounted within and spaced from an opening 32 in the case 33 of the main module 30. The manner in which the shield 14 firstly bends inwardly (Figure 3A) upon contact with the edge connector 31 can readily be seen, as can the way in which the shield sub¬ sequently crumples so as to provide the seal (Figure 3B). Pips 34 on the sub-module housing can be provided as shown so as to lock behind angled edges of the case opening 32, thereby providing the latching effect referr to above.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. An electrical connector (10) comprising a body (lla, lib) a member (13) provided with conductive means and extending from said body, and a resilient electrically insula ing sleeve member (14) extending from said body and surrounding said member wherein, upon connection of the connector with a corresponding connector part (31)j the resilient sleeve member is crumpled towards said body, thereby exposing said conductive means of said member for engagement with corresponding conductive means of said corresponding connector part. 2. An electrical connector (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient sleeve member (14) is of silicone rubber. 3. An electrical connector (10) in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said resilient sleeve member (14) is made conductive, whereby to provide the resilient sleeve member with anti-static properties. 4. An electrical connector (10) in accordance with claim 3, wherein the resilient sleeve member (14) is made conductive by the addition of selected quantities of carbon. 5• An electrical connector (10) in accordance with any preceding claim wherein said resilient sleeve member (14) > comprises two portions, the portion (17) nearest said body (lla, lib) being of larger cross-sectional area than the portion (18) furthest from said body. 6. An electrical connector (10) in accordance with any preceding claim wherein said resilient sleeve member (14) has projections (20)on its inner surface which are arranged to engage and grip said member (13) whereby to retain the sleeve member in a correct configuration upon engagement with said corresponding connector part (31). _ OM SUES " i . ι " ϋTιϊ Si- EET Vφ , WI 7- An electrical connector (10) in accordance with any preceding claim wherein a mechanical latching arrangement (34,33) is provided between said electrical connector and said corresponding connecting part (31), whereby to lock them together on engagement. 8. An electrical connector (10) in accordance with claim 7 wherein said mechanical latching arrangement (34-.33) includes projections (34) on the sides of said body (lla, lib) which are arranged to lock behind angled edges (33) of an opening in said corresponding connector part (31). 9- An electrical connector (10) in accordance with any preceding claim wherein said body (lla, lib) houses a printed circuit board (12) an edge (13) of which extends from an aperture in said body to form said member, and wherein said corresponding connector part (31) includes an edge connector. 10. An electrical connector (10) in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said resilient sleeve member (14) has a rim (15) located in a corresponding groove (16) within said body (lla,lib). SUE] ...OM

Inventors: CLARKE ROGER WILLIAM, CLARKE, ROGER, WILLIAM
Applicants: SINCLAIR RES LTD, SINCLAIR RESEARCH LIMITED
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G11C5
IPC codes: G11C5, H01R13