Abstract:
A double deck receptacle connector. The connector has a housing with an upper row of openings for receiving corresponding plugs and a lower row of openings for receiving corresponding plugs; a plurality of upper contacts in each of the upper row of openings; and a plurality of lower contacts in each of the lower row of openings. The upper contacts engage the first circuit substrate and the lower contacts engage the second circuit substrate. The connector could also mount to a leading edge of a circuit substrate. In this arrangement, the housing mounts over the leading edge of the circuit substrate. The area of the housing located between the upper row and lower row openings that receive inserts lacks a cavity and a conductive shield.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/043,045, filed on May 12, 1998, which is a national stage filing of International Application number PCT/US96/14589, filed on Sep. 12, 1996, which is a continuation to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/520,735, filed on Sep. 11, 1995 and now abandoned, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to electrical connectors. More specifically, the present invention relates to modular gang jack connectors. 
     2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments 
     The conventional modular gang jacks have a plurality of plug receiving recesses. Heretofore, however, modular gang jacks have not been configured to allow for the positioning of one horizontal row of plugs above a second horizontal row of plugs. There is, therefore, a need for a modular gang jack which allows such positioning of plugs on the edge of a printed wiring board. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular gang jack which allows the positioning of plugs on the edge of a printed wiring board. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in one aspect of the present invention by a double deck receptacle connector mountable to a first circuit substrate and a second circuit substrate. The connector has a housing with an upper row of openings for receiving corresponding plugs and a lower row of openings for receiving corresponding plugs; a plurality of upper contacts in each of the upper row of openings; and a plurality of lower contacts in each of the lower row of openings. The upper contacts engage the first circuit substrate and the lower contacts engage the second circuit substrate. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by a double deck receptacle connector mountable to a circuit substrate having a leading edge. The connector has a housing having at least one upper opening for receiving a corresponding plug and at least one lower opening for receiving a corresponding plug; and a plurality of contacts in each of the upper and lower openings. The housing mounts over the leading edge of the circuit substrate. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by a double deck modular jack connector having a housing with openings along an upper row in generally mirror image relationship with openings along a lower row, the upper row openings receiving upper inserts therein, the lower row openings receiving lower inserts therein, and the housing has an area located between the upper inserts and the lower inserts. The area between the upper inserts and the lower inserts lacks a cavity and a conductive shield. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the specification and the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the gang jack assembly of the present invention including two plug elements in phantom lines; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken through line II—II in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the modular gang jack of the present invention with two plug elements shown in phantom lines; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section taken through line IV—IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of a third preferred embodiment of the modular gang jack of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is another view similar to FIG. 4 of a fourth preferred embodiment of the modular gang jack of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a printed circuit board for receiving the modular gang jack shown in FIGS. 1-6; 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of a fifth preferred embodiment of the modular gang jack of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of a sixth preferred embodiment of the modular gang jack of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a printed circuit board for receiving the modular gang jack shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of a seventh preferred embodiment of the modular gang jack of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of an eighth preferred embodiment of the modular gang jack of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  10 . This insulative housing element is made up of a lower horizontal first longitudinal wall  12 , a medial second longitudinal wall  14  and an upper third longitudinal wall  16 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls are lower lateral walls as at  18  and  20  which form with the first and second longitudinal walls lower plug receiving cavities as at numeral  21  generally. Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are upper lateral walls as at  22  and  23  which form a row of upper plug receiving cavities as at  24 . 
     Lower plug receiving cavity  21  is typical of all the plug receiving cavities in its row and it includes a forward opened end  26 , a rear opened end  28 , a medial wall  30  which has an inclined top side  32  and a transverse extension  34 . 
     It will also be noted that the walls as at  20  have a first step  36  and a second step  38 . The upper cavities as at  24  have a forward open end  40 , a rear opened end  42 , a medial wall  43  with inclined lower side  44  and a lateral extension  46 . The upper lateral walls as at  24  also have a first step as at  48  and a second step as at  50 . 
     Inserted in the lower cavity is a first lower plug insert shown generally at  51  which has a vertical section  52  and a horizontal section  54 . There is a base side  55 , on the bottom of the vertical section and a top side  56  which extends from the top of the base section over the top of the horizontal section. There is also a forward end  58  at the front of the horizontal section and a rear end  60  on the rearward surface of the vertical section. Opposite this rear end on the vertical section there is a medial vertical surface  62 . 
     Conductive wires as at  64  and  66  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  68 . These bores connect with grooves as at  70  in the top side into which the wires extend horizontally to the forward end and then extend downwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the inclined top side of the medial wall. 
     Inserted in the upper cavities are second top inserts as is shown generally in numeral  72 . These inserts have a vertical section  73  and a horizontal section  74 . At the bottom of the vertical section there is a base side  75  and there is an opposed top side  76 . At the front of the horizontal section there is a forward end  78  and at the rear of the horizontal section is a rear end  80  opposite from that rear end on the vertical section there is a medial vertical surface  82 . 
     Conductive wires as at  84  and  86  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  88  which connect the grooves as at  90  that convey the wires to the forward end from where they extend downwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the inclined surface of the medial wall. The conductive wires from both the first and second inserts are connected to a printed wiring board  92  which has an integral pin  96 . 
     The first, second and third horizontal longitudinal walls have respectively front edges  98 ,  100  and  102 . These walls also have, respectfully, rear edges  104 ,  106  and  108 . 
     It will be seen that the upper third board stands transversely beyond the first and second board so that the rear edge  108  of the upper third board is vertically misaligned with the rear edges  104  and  106  of the first and second horizontal wall. Consequently it will be seen that it is possible to insert the lower plug into the lower cavity and then insert the upper plug into the upper cavity such that the upper plug is superimposed over the lower plug and the medial vertical surface  82  of the upper plug abuts the rear end  60  of the lower insert. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  110 . This insulative housing element is made up of a lower horizontal first longitudinal wall  112 , a medial second longitudinal wall  114  and an upper third longitudinal wall  116 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls are lower lateral walls as at  118  and  120  which form with the first and second longitudinal walls lower plug receiving cavities as at  121 . Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are upper lateral walls as at  122  and  123  which form a row of upper plug receiving cavities as at  124 . 
     Lower plug receiving cavity  121  is typical of all the plug receiving cavities in its row and it includes a forward opened end  126 , a rear opened end  128 , a medial wall  130  which has an inclined top side  132  and a transverse extension  134 . It will also be noted that the walls as at  120  have a first step  136  and a second step  138 . The upper cavities as at  124  have a forward open end  140 , a rear opened end  142 , a downwardly extending medial wall  143  with inclined lower side  144  and a lateral extension  146 . The upper lateral walls as at  124  also have a first step as at  148  and a second step as at  150 . 
     Inserted in the lower cavity is a first lower insert shown generally at  151  which has a vertical section  152  and a horizontal section  154 . There is a base side  155 , upper bottom of the vertical section and a top side  156  which extends from the top of the base section over the top of the horizontal section. There is also a forward end  158  at the front of the horizontal section and a rear end  160  on the rearward surface of the vertical section. Opposite this rear end on the vertical section there is a medial vertical surface  162 . 
     Conductive wires as at  164  and  166  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  168 . These bores connect with grooves as at  170  in the top side into which the wires extend horizontally to the forward end and then extend downwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the inclined top side of the medial wall. 
     Inserted in the upper cavities are second top inserts as is shown generally in numeral  172 . These inserts have a vertical section  173  and a horizontal section  174 . At the bottom of the vertical section there is a base side  175  and there is an opposed top side  176 . At the front of the horizontal section there is a forward end  178  and at the rear of the horizontal section is a rear end  180  in opposed relation to that rear end on the vertical section  173  of the second insert there is a medial vertical surface  182 . 
     Conductive wires as at  184  and  186  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  188  which connect the grooves as at  190  that convey the wires first laterally, then downwardly, then downwardly again to the forward end from where they extend upwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the lower inclined surface  144  of the downwardly extending medial wall  143 . The conductive wires from both the first and second inserts are connected to a printed wiring board  192  which has an integral pin  196 . 
     The first, second and third horizontal longitundinal walls have respectively front edges  198 ,  200  and  202 . These walls also have, respectively rear edges  204 ,  206  and  208 . It will be seen that the upper third wall stands transversely beyond the first and second walls so that the rear edge  208  of the upper third wall is vertically misaligned with respect to the rear edges  204  and  206  of the first and second horizontal wall, consequently it will be seen that it is possible to insert the lower plug into the lower cavity and then insert the upper plug into the upper cavity such that the upper plug is superimposed over the lower plug and the medial vertical surface  182  of the upper plug abuts the rear end  160  of the lower insert. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a third preferred embodiment of the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  310 . This insulative housing element is made up of a lower horizontal first longitudinal wall  312 , a second longitudinal wall  314  and an upper third longitudinal wall  316 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls are lower lateral walls as at  318  which form with the first and second longitudinal walls lower plug receiving cavities as at  321 . Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are upper lateral walls as at  322  and  323  which form a row of upper plug receiving cavities as at  324 . 
     Lower plug receiving cavity  321  is typical of all the plug receiving cavities in its row and it includes a forward opened end  326 , a rear opened end  328 , a medial wall  330  which has an inclined top side  332  and a transverse extension  334 . It will also be noted that the walls as at  320  have a first step  336  and a second step  338 . The upper cavities as at  324  have a forward open end  340 , a rear opened end  342 , a medial wall  343  with inclined lower side  344  and a lateral extension  346 . The upper lateral walls as at  324  also have a first step as at  348  and a second step as at  350 . 
     Inserted in the lower cavity is a first lower insert shown generally at  351  which has a vertical section  352  and a horizontal section  354 . There is a base side  355  and at the upper end of the vertical section, a top side  356  which extends from the top of the base section over the top of the horizontal section. There is also a forward end  358  at the front of the horizontal section and a rear end  360  on the rearward surface of the vertical section. Opposite this rear end on the vertical section there is a medial vertical surface  362 . 
     Conductive wires as at  364  and  366  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  368 . These bores connect with grooves as at  370  in the top side into which the wires extend horizontally to the forward end and then extend downwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the inclined top side of the medial wall. 
     Inserted in the upper cavities are second top inserts as is shown generally in numeral  372 . These inserts have a vertical section  373  and a horizontal section  374 . At the bottom of the vertical section there is a base side  375  and there is an opposed top side  376 . At the front of the horizontal section there is a forward end  378  and at the rear of the horizontal section is a rear end  380  in opposed relation to that rear end on the vertical section there is a medial vertical surface  382 . 
     Conductive wires as at  384  and  386  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  388  which connect the grooves as at  390  that convey the wires to the forward end from where they extend downwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the lower inclined surface of the medial wall. The conductive wires from both the first and second inserts are connected to a printed wiring board  392  which has an integral pin  396 . 
     The first, second and third horizontal longitudinal walls have respectively front edges  398 ,  400  and  402 . These walls also have, respectfully, rear edges  404 ,  406  and  408 . It will be seen that the upper third board stands transversely beyond the first and second board so that the rear edge  408  of the upper third board is vertically misaligned with the rear edges  404  and  406  of the first and second horizontal wall, consequently it will be seen that it is possible to insert the lower plug into the lower cavity and then insert the upper plug into the upper cavity such that the upper plug is superimposed over the lower plug and the medial vertical surface  382  of the upper plug abuts the rear end  360  of the lower insert. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a fourth preferred embodiment of the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  410 . This insulative housing element is made up of a lower horizontal first longitudinal wall  412 , a second longitudinal wall  414  and an upper third longitudinal wall  416 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls are lower lateral walls as at  418  which form with the first and second longitudinal walls lower plug receiving cavities as at  421 . Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are upper lateral walls as at  422  which form a row of upper plug receiving cavities as at  424 . 
     Lower plug receiving cavity  421  is typical of all the plug receiving cavities in its row and it includes a forward opened end  426 , a rear opened end  428 , a medial wall  430  which has an inclined top side  432  and a transverse extension  434 . It will also be noted that the walls as at  420  have a first step  436  and a second step  438 . The upper cavities as at  424  have a forward open end  440 , a rear opened end  442 , a downwardly extending medial wall  443  with an inclined bottom side  444  and a lateral extension  446 . The upper lateral walls as at  422  also have a first step as at  448  and a second step as at  450 . 
     Inserted in the lower cavity is a first lower insert shown generally at  451  which has a vertical section  452  and a horizontal section  454 . There is a base side  455 , of the vertical section and a top side  456  which extends from the top of the base section over the top of the horizontal section. There is also a forward end  458  at the front of the horizontal section and a rear end  460  on the rearward surface of the vertical section. Opposite this rear end on the vertical section there is a medial vertical surface  462 . 
     Conductive wires as at  464  and  466  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  468 . These bores connect with grooves as at  470  in the top side into which the wires extend horizontally to the forward end and then extend downwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the inclined top side of the medial wall. 
     Inserted in the upper cavities are second top inserts as is shown generally in numeral  472 . These inserts have a vertical section  473  and a horizontal section  474 . At the top of the vertical section there is a base side  475  and there is an opposed bottom side  476 . At the front of the horizontal section there is a forward end  478  and at the rear of the horizontal section is a rear end  480 . In opposed relation to that rear end on the vertical section there is a medial vertical surface  482 . 
     Conductive wires as at  484  and  486  extend through the vertical section in bores as at  488  which connect the grooves as at  490  that convey the wires to the forward end from where they extend downwardly and rearwardly to be supported on the lower inclined surface of the medial wall. The conductive wires from the first insert are connected to a printed wiring board  492  which has an integral pin  496 . 
     The conductive wires from the second insert are connected to another printed wiring board  493 . The first, second and third horizontal longitudinal walls have respectively front edges  498 ,  500  and  502 . These walls also have, respectfully, rear edges  504 ,  506  and  508 . It will be seen that the medial second board stands transversely beyond the first and second board so that the rear edge  508  of the upper third board is vertically misaligned with the rear edges  504  and  506  of the first and second horizontal wall, consequently it will be seen that it is possible to insert the lower plug into the lower cavity and then insert the upper plug into the upper cavity such that the upper plug is superimposed over the lower plug and the medial vertical surface  482  of the upper plug abuts the rear end  460  of the lower insert. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, a printed wiring board for use with the modular gang jack of the present invention would include a plurality of pin receiving apertures as at  610 ,  612 ,  614  and  616 . It would also include groups of conductive leads receiving apertures as at  618  and  620 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, a fifth preferred embodiment of the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  710 . This insulative housing element is made up of a lower horizontal first longitudinal wall  712 , a second longitudinal wall  714  and an upper third longitudinal wall  716 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls are lower lateral walls as at  718  which form with the first and second longitudinal walls lower plug receiving cavities as at  721 . Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are upper lateral walls as at  722  which form a row of upper plug receiving cavities as at  724 . The plug receiving cavities are similar to those described above. 
     Inserted in the lower cavity is a first lower insert shown generally at  751  which is similar to the inserts described above. Inserted in the upper cavities is a second top insert as is shown generally in numeral  772  which is also similar to the inserts described above. 
     The conductive wires from the first insert and second insert are connected to a printed wiring board  792 . The first, second and third horizontal longitudinal walls have respectively front edges  798 ,  800  and  802 . It will be seen that front edge  798  is displaced rearwardly from front edges  800  and  802  so that the front faces of the upper and lower housings are vertically misaligned in a non-coincident stair step arrangement. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, a sixth preferred embodiment of the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  910 . This insulative housing element is made up of a lower horizontal first longitudinal wall  912 , a second longitudinal wall  914  and an upper third longitudinal wall  916 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls is a lower lateral wall as at  918  which forms with the first and second longitudinal walls lower plug receiving cavities as at  921 . Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are upper lateral walls as at  922  which form a row of upper plug receiving cavities as at  924 . The plug receiving cavities are similar to those described above. 
     Inserted in the lower cavity is a first lower insert shown generally at  951  which is similar to those described above. Inserted in the upper cavities are second top inserts as is shown generally at numeral  972  which are similar to those inserts described above. 
     The conductive wires from the first insert and second insert are surface mounted on a printed wiring board  992 . The first, second and third horizontal longitudinal walls have respectively front edges  998 ,  1000  and  1002 , and front edge  998  is recessed forward from the other two front edges  1000  and  1002 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, a printed wiring board for use with the surface mounted modular gang jack of the present invention would include a plurality of placement pin receiving apertures as at  1010 ,  1012  and  1014 . It would also include groups of conductive pads as at  1018  and  1020 . 
     Referring to FIG. 11, a seventh preferred embodiment of the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  1110 . This insulative housing element is made up of a vertical first longitudinal wall  1112 , a vertical second longitudinal wall  1114  and a vertical third longitudinal wall  1116 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls are lateral walls as at  1118  which form with the first and second longitudinal walls plug receiving cavities as at  1121 . Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are lateral walls as at  1122  which form a row of plug receiving cavities as at  1124 . The plug receiving cavities are similar to those described above. 
     Inserted in the lower cavity is a first lower insert shown generally at  1151  which is generally similar to those described above. Inserted in the upper cavities are second top inserts as is shown generally in numeral  1172  which are generally similar to those inserts described above. These inserts vertically engage printed circuit board  1192 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, an eighth preferred embodiment of the insulated housing element is shown generally at numeral  1210 . This insulative housing element is made up of a vertical horizontal first longitudinal wall  1212 , a vertical second longitudinal wall  1214  and a vertical third longitudinal wall  1216 . Connecting the first and second longitudinal walls are lateral walls as at  1218  which form with the first and second longitudinal walls plug receiving cavities as at  1221 . Connecting the second and third longitudinal walls are lateral walls as at  1222  which form a row of plug receiving cavities as at  1224 . The plug receiving cavities are similar to those described above. 
     Inserted in the other cavity is a first lower insert shown generally at  1251  which is generally similar to those described above. Inserted in the other cavities are second inserts as is shown generally in numeral  1272  which are generally similar to those described above. Insert  1272  is mounted on printed circuit board  1292 . Insert  1251  is mounted on another printed circuit board  1293  which is parallel to and vertically displaced from board  1292 . 
     It will be appreciated that a modular gang jack assembly which provides an efficient and economical means for positioning a double row of plugs on the edge of a printed wiring board. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.