CONNECTOR FOR UNLOCKING CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS FROM CONDUCTIVE PINS

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises locking members (32) constructed for locking to conductive pins (27) projecting from a printed circuit board (28), a moveable housing having a handle (39) and movable against the locking members (32) to deflect the locking members to unlock them from the pins (27), an insulative housing containing the conductive locking members (32) and electrical contacts (4) in the insulative housing for unlocked connection to corresponding conductive pins (27).

Description: The invention relates to an electrical connector for unlocking conductive members from conductive pins projecting from a printed circuit board, known as a PCB. There is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,067,633 an electrical connector comprising; conductive locking members constructed for locking to conductive pins projecting from a printed circuit board, an insulative housing containing the conductive members and an insulative moveable housing for movement with respect to the first housing and for movement against the locking members to deflect the locking members to unlock them from the pins. Conductive pins are used in large numbers on a PCB and are closely spaced apart from one another on the PCB. In the known connector described in the patent, all of the electrical contacts are deflected by a moveable housing, the moveable housing is required to extend laterally to engage all of the contacts, and thereby a relatively wide connector results. In the known connector described in the patent, all of the electrical contacts, including electrical contacts for unlocked connection to corresponding conductive pins, are deflected by a moveable housing, the moveable housing is required to extend laterally to engage all of the contacts, and thereby a relatively wide connector results. The present invention provides an electrical connector having a first housing containing electrical contacts for unlocked connection to corresponding pins of a printed circuit board, and a moveable housing for deflecting locking members to unlock them from conductive pins, the locking members are mounted in the moveable housing, and the moveable housing is mounted for movement within the first housing, such that an economy of space results which permits the first housing and the electrical contacts and the locking members to fit among a plurality of like connectors for connection to closely spaced apart pins on a printed circuit board. The known connector disclosed in the patent is relatively wide because the movable housing projects outward laterally of the first housing and exterior handles of the movable housing also project outward laterally of the first housing. A relatively wide connector is impractical for fitting among a plurality of like connectors for connection to closely spaced apart pins. The present invention consists in an electrical connector comprising locking members constructed for locking to conductive pins projecting from a printed circuit board, an insulative housing containing the locking members and a movable housing for movement against the locking members to deflect the locking members and to unlock them from the pins; characterized in that electrical contacts are provided in the insulative housing for unlocked connection to corresponding said conductive pins, the locking members are mounted in the movable housing, the movable housing is mounted for movement within the insulative housing, and the insulative housing contains the movable housing; and in that the insulative housing has a first portion containing the locking members and a second portion containing said electrical contacts. There is disclosed in EP-A-0 130 027 an electrical connector comprising a locking member for locking to a conductive pin projecting from a printed circuit board, an insulation housing containing the locking member and a movable housing for movement against the locking member to defect the locking member to unlock it from the pin. An electrical contact is provided in the insulative housing for unlocked connection to a ground rail. The locking member is mounted in the movable housing, which is in turn mounted for movement in the insulative housing. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cable assembly having an electrical connector fitting among a plurality of like connectors for connection to closely spaced apart pins on a printed circuit board. Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cable assembly shown in Figure 1 with parts of the connector illustrated in exploded configuration. Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation view of an electrical contact of the cable assembly shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view in section of the electrical connector, as shown in Figure 1, and illustrating a contact connected to a corresponding pin. Figure 4A is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of a cable of the cable assembly shown in figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a conductive locking member of the cable assembly shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a moveable housing of the cable assembly shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 is an enlarged elevation view in section of the moveable housing shown in Figure 6 and the insulative housing shown in Figure 2. Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation view in section of the moveable housing and the locking members assembled with the insulative housing as shown in Figure 2. With more particular reference to the drawings there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 an electrical connector 1 including a rigid insulative housing 2 having axially extending contact receiving cavities 3,3, conductive electrical contacts 4,4 in corresponding cavities 3,3 coaxial conductors 5,5 connected with corresponding contacts 4,4 and a mass 6 of insulative material. As shown in Figure 2, the housing 2 is of unitary construction with a front end 7 defined by a block8, and a rear end 9 provided by axially extending, rear walls 10,10. The contact receiving cavities 3,3 extend axially through the block 8. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown an exemplary one of the contacts 4,4 stamped out from a strip of metal. The contact 4 is of unitary elongated construction with a central portion 11 connected to an axially extending, elongated electrical receptacle 12 and to an axially extending, elongated, wire connecting tab 13 that is offset laterally from the receptacle 12. For example, the contact 4 is stamped and formed from round gauge or square gauge wire, with the thickness of the tab 13 in one plane and the thickness of the receptacle 12 in a plane transverse to the one plane. The receptacle 12 includes a pair of spring fingers 14,14 spaced apart to define a pin receiving passage between the fingers 14,14. The central portion 11 of the contact 4 includes a rear facing transverse shoulder 15 axially aligned with the receptacle 12 and a corresponding wedge 16,16 on each lateral side 17,17. An electrical cable 18 as shown in Figure 4A comprises an outer insulative jacket 19 encircling a conductive sheath 20 that is typically a layer of braided wires encircling a layer of conductive film. The conductive sheath 20 encircles four individual coaxial conductors 21,21. Each coaxial conductor 21 includes a central, signal carrying wire 22 concentrically encircled by a layer of insulation 23, in turn, concentrically encircled by a conductive film 24, for example, in the form of a conductive foil, in turn, encircled by and engaged by the sheath 20. Each coaxial conductor 21 includes a conductive drain wire 21a, for connection to ground electrical potential, encircled by and engaging the conductive film 24. As shown in Figure 4, the various parts of the cable 18 are cut to different lengths. Each layer of insulation 23 projects from cut ends of the sheath 20 and the jacket 19. Each wire 22,22a projects from a cut end of a layer of insulation 23 and is connected to a corresponding tab 13,13 by a welded connection shown by a weldament 25,25. With reference to Figure 4, each contact 4 is assembled in a corresponding cavity 3 of the housing 2 with the shoulder 15 providing a surface against which force is exerted to drive the contact 4 into the corresponding cavity 3. The contact 4 is moved along the cavity 3 until the shoulder 15 is coplanar with the rear end of the block 8. For example, a ram, not shown, imparts force against the shoulder 15 until the movement of the ram is stopped by the rear end of the block 8. The wedges 16,16 penetrate opposite facing axially extending interior walls 26,26 of the cavity 3, and are locked in fixed position against the walls 26,26. The corresponding wires 22,22,22a,22a connected to the contacts 4,4 project into a space between the rear walls 10,10 of the housing 2. The contacts 4 connected to corresponding signal carrying conductors 22 are assembled in corresponding cavities 3 located in a first row. The contacts 4 connected to corresponding drain wires 21a are assembled in corresponding cavities 3 in another row, parallel to the first row. The cut ends of the cable jacket 19 and the sheath 20 project into the space between the rear walls 10,10 of the housing 2. The mass 6 of insulative material, in solidifiable form, is cast in place, between the rear walls 10,10 of the housing 2. The solidified mass 6 of insulative material adheres to a rear end of the block 8, and to the wires 22,22 and the cable jacket 19 and the sheath 20 that are imbedded in the mass 6 of insulative material. The fingers 14,14 of the receptacle 12 receive and conductively engage a corresponding conductive pin 27 projecting from a printed circuit board 28. As shown in Figure 1 the pin 27 is one of a plurality of like pins 27,27 closely spaced apart and projecting from the printed circuit board 28. The housing 2 is constructed to fit among the pins 27,27 for connecting the contacts 4,4 in the housing 2 to corresponding pins 27,27. Further, the connector 1 fits among a plurality of like connectors 1 for connection to corresponding said pins 27,27. Insulative headers 29,29 are mounted to the printed circuit board 28 to align corresponding connectors 1,1 on the printed circuit board 28. Corresponding connectors 1,1 are inserted into the headers 29,29. A projecting key on the corresponding connector 1 is slidably received along a keyway 31 in the header 29. With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a conductive locking member 32 described in further detail according to the disclosure of U.S. Patent 3,796,987 incorporated herein by reference. According to that disclosure, the conductive locking member 32 includes a spring 33 with an aperture 34 for receiving a corresponding pin 27. The spring 33 is constructed for locked engagement on the pin 27, and is unlocked from the pin 27 upon deflection of the spring 33 away from the pin 27. Figures 6 and 7 disclose a unitary insulative moveable housing 35 having a front end 36 with a transverse wall 37 intersecting exterior, axially extending, side walls 38,38 and an axially extending central wall 39 spaced laterally apart from and between the side walls 38,38. The central wall 39 includes an elongated and rearward projecting handle. The end of the handle 39 is provided with neck 40 of reduced circumference to which may be secured a lanyard, not shown. As shown in Figures 2, 4, 7 and 8, the insulative housing 1 includes a pair of axial passages 41,41 along tubular portions 42,42 defined between corresponding spaced apart rear walls 10,10 and spaced apart exterior side walls 43,43 of the housing 2 connected to and extending between the corresponding spaced apart rear walls 10,10. Each passage 41 extends axially through the block 8 to the front end 7. Sides 44 and the front end 7 of the block 8 are provided with corresponding recesses 45,45 communicating with corresponding passages 41,41 and ending in transverse, front facing shoulders 46,46. A moveable housing 35 is mounted for movement axially along a corresponding passage 41. The central wall 39 of the moveable housing extends axially along a corresponding passage 41. The side walls 38,38 of the moveable housing 35 are received for movement axially along corresponding recesses 45,45 of the block 8 and face corresponding shoulders 46,46 of the block 8. The side walls 38,38 engage the shoulders 46,46 to limit movement of the moveable housing 35 in a rearward direction. Locking member receiving cavities are defined along each passage 41 at either side of the central wall 39 of the moveable housing 35. The locking members 32,32 are received in corresponding cavities. Each cavity includes an inclined interior end wall 47 of a corresponding moveable housing 35 intersected by a corresponding pin receiving opening 48. Each cavity is adjacent a corresponding side wall 38 of the moveable housing 35. As shown in Figure 8, each conductive locking member 32 is locked to the insulative housing 1 and to the moveable housing 35 by the following structure. A locking tab 49 projects outwardly of each conductive locking member 32 and is received in a corresponding recess 50 laterally in the central wall 39. The locking tab 49 engages a front facing shoulder 51 of a corresponding recess 50 to limit movement of the moveable housing 35 toward the front of the connector 1, and to limit movement of the conductive locking member toward a rear of the connector 1. A rear facing shoulder 52 on each rearward side wall of the insulative housing faces a front facing shoulder 53 on a corresponding conductive locking member 32 to limit movement of the conductive locking member 32 toward the front of the connector 1. As shown, it is not necessary that the locking members 32,32 connect to a corresponding cable 5. If desired, the locking members 32,32 can be connected to a corresponding cable 5 before the locking members 32,32 are assembled in the cavities. The handle 39 of the moveable housing 35 extends axially and rearwardly of the passage 41 and through an opening 54 in the mass 6 of insulative material. Thereby the handle 39 is readily available for being grasped and pulled to displace the moveable housing 35 in a direction rearwardly of the insulative housing 2 and to deflect the locking members 32,32 and unlock them from corresponding pins 27,27. When a connector 1 is connected to corresponding pins 27,27, each locking member 32 will releasably lock to a pin 27 received through its aperture 34. To disconnect the connector 1 from the pins 27,27, a tensile force is applied on the handle 39 to urge the moveable housing 35 against the spring 33 of each locking member 32. Each inclined wall 47 of the moveable housing 35 will deflect a corresponding spring 33 away from the pin 27, to unlock the locking member 32 from the pin 27. Once the locking members 32,32 are unlocked from the pins 27,27, further tensile force on the handle 39 will cause the contacts 11,11 to be slidably withdrawn from engagement with the corresponding pins 27,27 and the connector 1 to be withdrawn from header 29 and the printed circuit board 28.

Claims: An electrical connector (1) comprising locking members (32,32) constructed for locking to conductive pins (27,27) projecting from a printed circuit board (28), an insulative housing (2) containing the locking members (32,32) and a movable housing (35) for movement against the locking members (32,32) to deflect the locking members (32,32) and to unlock them from the pins (27,27); characterized in that electrical contacts (4,4) are provided in the insulative housing (2) for unlocked connection to corresponding said conductive pins (27,27), the locking members (32,32) are mounted in the movable housing (35), the movable housing (35) is mounted for movement within the insulative housing (2), and the insulative housing (2) contains the movable housing (35); and in that the insulative housing (2) has a first portion (42) containing the locking members (32,32) and a second portion (8) containing said electrical contacts (4,4). An electrical connector (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a handle (39) of the movable housing (35) projecting rearwardly of the insulative housing (2). An electrical connector (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by walls (10,10,43,43) of the insulative housing (2) defining a passage (41) receiving the movable housing (35), and a mass of insulative material (6) adhered to said walls (10,10,43,43). An electrical connector (1) as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a recess (45) in a front end (7) of the insulative housing (2) receives the movable housing (35), and the passage (41) communicates with the recess (45) and encircles the movable housing (35).

Inventors: MORNINGSTAR, LEROY JACK, TIGHE, CHARLES I. JR.
Applicants: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R12, H01R13