Cover for a multipoint connector

Abstract: Cover for a multipoint connector which comprises a block-­ shaped multipoint connector body. In said body contacts are provi­ ded in spaces. Said contacts are accessible from outside via aper­ tures opening out in a lateral surface of the body. The cover com­ prises an upper part and four lateral parts extending virtually perpendicularly to it. Those surfaces of the lateral parts of the cover which face the apertures of the multipoint connector body are provided with knobs which lie opposite the apertures when the cover has been placed on and rest with their outer surface against the edge of the respective apertures.

Description: The invention relates to a connector assembly comprising a cover and a multipoint connector which comprises a block-shaped multipoint connector body with spaces in which contacts accessible from outside via apertures opening out in a lateral surface of the body are provided. Such a connector assembly is known from EP-A2- 0 215 577. The invention also relates to the cover for cooperating with said connector assembly. In vehicle technology multipoint connectors, electronic components and circuits are immersed in a protective lacquer. This lacquer protects the said parts and circuits against oxidation and salt solutions which can penetrate into the spaces in which these circuits and lower are arranged. The said lacquer has the property of completely covering the multipoint connector bodies mounted on a printed circuit board. However, the disadvantage is produced that the protective lacquer penetrates through the apertures of the multipoint connector body and is deposited on the contact surfaces. As a result, the multipoint connectors are not reliable in use. The object of the invention is to eliminate the said disadvantages. This object is achieved in that the cover comprises an upper part and four lateral parts extending virtually perpendicularly to it and that those surfaces of the lateral parts of the cover which face the apertures of the multipoint connector body are provided with knobs which lie opposite the apertures when the cover has been placed on the multipoint connector body and the lower parts of the knobs rest against the lower edge of the respective apertures. The said knobs cover the apertures of the multipoint connector body as good as possible, thus making it difficult for the lacquer to reach the contact surfaces. If the inner surface of at least one of the apertures decreases in a pyramid-shape the edge of the latter from the lateral surface of the body, the corresponding knob has the shape of a truncated pyramid. Reliable sealing of the apertures is thereby achieved. However, it is also possible that at least one of the apertures of the multipoint connector body has a rectangular or square cross-section and the connecting pin of the corresponding contact has been bent downwards virtually perpendicularly and lies in a slot in the aperture edge, the knob associated to the rectangular or square aperture being of dome-shaped design. According to one embodiment of this knob, the dome is provided with a projection extending in the direction of the cover openings, in which the dome protrudes further from the inner face of the corresponding lateral part of the cover than the said projection. By virtue of this projection, the said slot of the multipoint connector body is sealed in an optimum manner. In a preferred embodiment, the projection has a trapezoidal cross-section and has been bevelled at the free end, this projection being provided at its free end with a second projection extending in the direction of the cover opening and having a curved cross-section. The upper part of the cover is preferably at a distance from the free end which is greater than the height of the multipoint connector body. It is advantageous here that the lateral parts of the cover have been rounded at the free edge. As a result, when the cover is pressed onto the multipoint connector body, said cover is pressed outwards slightly and the projections rest very tightly against the connecting pins. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cover for a multipoint connector in which the cover comprises an upper part and four lateral parts extending virtually perpendicularly to it and defining a cover opening between them, and that those surfaces of the lateral parts of the cover which face the apertures of the multipoint connector body are provided with knobs which lie opposite the apertures when the cover has been placed on the multipoint connector body and the lower parts of the knobs rest against the lower edge of the respective apertures. Further embodiments of the cover according to the invention are disclosed in the subclaims. This invention is explained below with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, which are shown in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a section through a cover according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a bottom view of this cover; Figure 3 shows a section according to the line III-III; Figure 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV; Figure 5 shows a section through an optimum cover; Figure 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI and Figure 7 shows a section through the line VII-VII. The cover 1 shown in figure 2 is provided at its lateral surface 2 with knobs 3. The knobs 3 are in the form of a truncated pyramid, the sloping surfaces resting sealingly against the likewise sloping surfaces of the pyramid-shaped apertures of the multipoint connector body 6. A contact 7 is accomodated in the interior of the multipoint connector body 6. This contact is provided with downward-bent connecting pins 8 and 9. It can be seen from Figure 4 that the lowermost sloping surface of the knob 3 rests sealingly against the connecting pin 8. The further lateral surface 10 in the cover 1 is provided with dome-shaped knobs 11 which cover the apertures of the multipoint connector body 6 which are on the right in Figure 4. An advantageous embodiment is indicated in Figures 5a, 6a and 7. Here, the dome 12 of the knob is provided with a projection 13 which is lower than the dome. This projection has a trapezoidal cross-section and has been bevelled at its free end at 15. This first projection 13 is provided at its free end with a second projection 14, which has a curved cross-section. The depth of the interior of the cover is greater than the corresponding dimension of the multipoint connector body 6. The cover is furthermore rounded at its opening or free end 16. By virtue of the special embodiment of the free end of this cover and the suitably selected depth of the cover, the free end of the cover is bent outwards to a certain extent when the cover is pressed onto a multipoint connector body arranged on a printed circuit board and, as a result, the knob rests against the connecting pin 9 over a surface area which is as great as possible. Thus the sealing is optimum. An optimum embodiment is shown in Figures 5b and 6b. The second projection 14' does not extend as far as the edge of the cover and is shorter than that 14 in Figures 5a and 6a. With the cover pressed on, the edge of the cover rests clingingly against the circuit board and is not lifted by the projections 14'. Accordingly, the sealing at the edge of the cover is optimum. The inner surface of the upper part of the cover is in addition provided with longitudinal ribs.

Claims: Connector assembly comprising a cover (1) and a multipoint connector which comprises a block-shaped multipoint connector body (6) with spaces in which contacts (7) accessible from outside via apertures opening out in a lateral surface of the body are provided, characterized in that the cover (1) comprises an upper part (1) and four lateral parts (10) extending perpendicularly to said upper part (1) and defining a cover opening between them, and that those surfaces of the lateral parts (10) of the cover (1) which face the apertures of the multipoint connector body (6) are provided with knobs (3, 11) which lie opposite the apertures when the cover (1) has been placed on the multipoint connector body (6) and the lower parts of the knobs (3, 11) rest against the lower edge of the respective apertures. Connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of at least one of the apertures of the multipoint connector body (6) decreases in a pyramid-shape at the edge of said apertures from the lateral surface of the multipoint connector body (6) and the corresponding knob (3) has the shape of a truncated pyramid. Connector assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the apertures of the multipoint connector body has a rectangular or square cross-section, the connecting pin (8,9) of the corresponding contact (7) has been bent perpendicularly to the connector body (6) and lying in a slot in the aperture edge, and the knob (11) associated to the rectangular or square aperture is dome (12) shaped. Connector assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the dome-shaped knob (11) is provided with a projection (13) which extends in the direction of the cover opening and that the dome-shaped knob (11) protrudes further from the inner face of the corresponding lateral part (10) of the cover than said projection (13). Connector assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the projection (13) has a trapezoidal cross-section and has been bevelled at its free end (15), this projection (13) being provided at said free end with a second projection (14) extending in the direction of the cover opening and having a curved cross-section. Connector assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the second projection (14) does not extend as far as the edge (16) of the cover. Connector assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper part of the cover (1) is at a distance from the free end (16) of the cover (1) which is greater than the height of the multipoint connector body (6). Connector assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral parts (10) of the cover (1) have been rounded at the free edge (16). Cover for corporation with the multipoint connector comprised in the assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (1) comprises an upper part (1) and four lateral parts (10) extending virtually perpendicularly to it and defining a cover opening between them, and the inner surface of at least one lateral part (10) of the cover (1) is provided with knobs (3, 11) protruding into the cover opening and located on a line parallel to the upper part of the cover. Cover according to claim 9, characterized in that the knob (3) has the shape of a truncated pyramid. Cover according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the knob (11) is dome (12) shaped. Cover according to claim 11, characterized in that the dome-shaped knob (11) is provided with a projection (13) which extends in the direction of the cover opening and that the dome-shaped knob (11) protrudes further from the inner face of the corresponding lateral part (10) of the cover than said projection (13). Cover according to claim 12, characterized in that the projection (13) has a trapezoidal cross-section and has been bevelled at its free end (15), this projection (13) being provided at said free end with a second projection (14) extending in the direction of the cover opening and having a curved cross-section. Cover according to one of the claims 9-13, characterized in that the lateral parts (10) of the cover (1) have been rounded at the free edge (16).

Inventors: MOUISSIE BOB, MOUISSIE, BOB
Applicants: BERG ELECTRONICS MFG, DU PONT NEDERLAND, BERG ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING B.V., DU PONT DE NEMOURS (NEDERLAND) B.V.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13