Patent Publication Number: US-6659796-B1

Title: Multi-function mounting/latch component for electrical connectors

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector assembly for mounting to a panel through an opening in the panel where the other end of the connector is mountable on a printed circuit board. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical electrical connector includes some form of insulating or dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals. The connector may be used in a wide range of electrical connection environments. For instance, the connector may be mounted on a printed circuit board for electrical connection to circuit traces on the board. The connector may be mounted to and through an opening in a panel from one side of the panel for mating with a complementary mating connector on an opposite side of the panel. 
     With such applications as described above, some form of mounting means typically must be provided for mounting the connector to the printed circuit board. Additional mounting means typically must be provided for mounting the connector through the opening in the panel. Still additional latching means must be provided on the connector for engagement by fasteners or other latches to hold the connector in the opening in the panel. Yet further latching means may be provided for latching the connector to the complementary mating connector. All of these functions and various mounting and/or latching means typically are separate components and unduly complicate the manufacturability and assembly of the connector. The present invention is directed to solving those problems by providing a unique multi-function mounting/latch component which performs a first function of mounting the connector to a printed circuit board, a second function of mounting the connector to the multi-function component, a third function of facilitating latching the connector in position in the panel and a fourth function of latching the connector to a mating connector. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector assembly which includes a multi-function mounting/latch component which is effective to eliminate multiple components typically required in prior art connectors of the character described. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a connector housing is adapted for mounting through an opening in a panel from a first side thereof, the housing carrying a plurality of conductive terminals. A multi-function mounting/latch component includes first means for mounting the connector housing on a circuit board, second means for mounting the connector housing at the first side of the panel to the multi-function component and through the opening in the panel, and third means extending through the opening to a second side of the panel. Locking means are engageable with the third means at the second side of the panel to hold the connector assembly to the panel. The component includes a means for latching the connector to a mating connector at the second side of the panel. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the first means is provided by at least one mounting boss on the multi-function component. The mounting boss receives an appropriate fastener for securing the multi-function component to the circuit board. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the second means includes at least one mounting post on one of the housing or the multi-function component insertable into a mounting aperture in the other of the housing or multi-function component. As disclosed herein, the second means includes a plurality of the mounting posts on the housing insertable into a corresponding plurality of mounting apertures in the multi-function component. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, the third means includes a latch arm projecting from the multi-function component through the panel. The locking means is engageable with the latch arm. The latch arm includes a plurality of latching serrations engageable by the latch means to accommodate panels of varying thicknesses. As disclosed herein, the multi-function component is elongated and includes a pair of the latch arms at opposite ends thereof. The locking means is provided by a thin locking plate snappingly engageable with the serrations of the latch arms. The latch arms include the fourth means for latching to the mating connector. 
    
    
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of an electrical connector assembly embodying the concepts of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly in conjunction with a circuit board and a panel through which the assembly is mounted; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the connector assembly mounted through the panel but without the circuit board; 
     FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the connector assembly mounted through the panel; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmented plan view of one end of the connector assembly mounted through the panel; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmented perspective view of one end of an alternate embodiment of the invention, with the connector assembly mounted through a panel. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmented perspective view of the bottom of one end of the multi-function mounting/latch component of the connector assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of an electrical connector assembly, generally designated  10 , is shown for mounting on a circuit board  12  (FIG. 2) and through an opening  14  in a panel  16 . FIG. 2 also shows an electromagnetic gasket  18  which may be provided between the connector assembly and a rear or first side  16   a  of panel  16  when the connector is mounted through opening  14  in the panel. 
     Generally, electrical connector assembly  10  includes an insulating or dielectric connector housing, generally designated  20 ; a metal shield, generally designated  22  which is positionable over the front of the housing; a terminal tail aligner, generally designated  24 ; and a multi-function mounting/latch component, generally designated  26 , which facilitates both mounting the connector assembly to circuit board  12  as well as through opening  14  in panel  16  and can latchingly engage a mating connector. 
     More particularly, connector housing  20  of connector assembly  10  includes a main body portion  28  (FIG. 2) and a forwardly projecting mating portion  30 . The housing mounts a plurality of rows of conductive terminals which include terminal contacts  32  projecting forwardly into mating portion  30  for engaging the contacts of an appropriate complementary mating connector. The housing  20  may be unitarily molded of plastic material or the like, and a pair of snap-latch bosses  34  are formed on both the top and bottom of the housing. In addition, a pair of mounting posts  36  project upwardly from body  28  of the housing. 
     Shield  22  of connector assembly  10  may be deep drawn of sheet metal material. The shield includes a plate portion  38  for abutting against the front face of body  28  of housing  20 , as well as a shroud portion  40  which surrounds mating portion  30  of the housing. The shield has a pair of snap-latches  44  projecting rearwardly from the top and bottom edges of plate portion  38  for engaging snap-latch bosses  34  of connector housing  20  to hold the shield in assembly on the housing as seen in FIG.  1 . Lastly, the shield has a pair of vertically elongated slots  46  formed in plate portion  38  at opposite ends of shroud portion  40 , for purposes described hereinafter. 
     Tail aligner  24  of connector assembly  10  may be molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like and includes an elongated body portion  48 . A plurality of passages  50  are formed through the body portion and through which tail portions of the terminals mounted within housing  20  extend for connection to circuit traces  52  (FIG. 2) on circuit board  12 . A pair of mounting posts  54  project downwardly at opposite ends of the tail aligner for insertion into mounting hole  56  and enlongated mounting hole  57  in the circuit board. 
     Multi-function mounting/latch component  26  is a unique component in that it performs multiple functions and replaces multiple components of prior art connector assemblies. In particular, multi-function component  26  is a one-piece structure which may be fabricated of die-cast metal or the like. The multi-function component includes a transverse body  60  having a pair of mounting apertures  62  for receiving mounts posts  36  of connector body  20 . A pair of generally cylindrical mounting bosses  64  project rearwardly at opposite ends of body  60 . The mounting bosses are provided for receiving appropriate fasteners (not shown) which extend through the cylindrical bosses and into a pair of mounting holes  66  in circuit board  12 . As shown in FIG. 7, cylinder recesses  67  are provided for receiving second fasteners (not shown). The second fasteners extend through second mounting hole  58  in circuit board  12  and grip in the cylindrical recesses  67 . A pair of latch arms  68  project forwardly at opposite ends of body  60  and have apertures  70  therethrough near forward distal ends of the latch arms. As best seen in FIG. 1, the upper and lower edges of latch arms  68  are provided with serrations  72  for purposes described hereinafter. Lastly, an apertured locking boss  74  projects upwardly from body  60 , generally at the center thereof, also for purposes to be described hereinafter. 
     FIG. 1 shows connector housing  20 , shield  22  and multi-function component  26  in assembled condition, in conjunction with electromagnetic gasket  18 . When so assembled, the connector housing is substantially surrounded by the metal shield and the die-cast metal multi-function component. Therefore, the connector housing is hardly visible in FIG.  1 . 
     When assembled as shown in FIG. 1, shield  22  is assembled over connector housing  20  with shroud portion  40  of the shield surrounding mating portion  30  of the housing. When fully assembled, snap latches  44  of the shield latchingly engage with snap-latch bosses  34  of the housing. Multi-function component  26  is assembled over body  28  of the connector housing in a forward linear direction by inserting latch arms  68  of the multi-component through slots  46  (FIG. 2) in plate portion  38  of the shield. During assembly, the multi-function component preferably is assembled to the housing first and then this subassembly is assembled to the shield. In that way, mounting posts  36  of the housing can be inserted into mounting apertures  62  of the multi-function component either by a press-fit or by swaging the posts once they are inserted through the apertures. Tail aligner  24  can be positioned over the terminal tails and the connector assembly can be mounted to circuit board  12  by appropriate fasteners extending through mounting bosses  64  of the multi-function component and into mounting holes  66  in the circuit board and through mounting hole  58  into cylindrical recess  67  in the mounting boss  64 . 
     The connector assembly  10  can be mounted through opening  14  in panel  16  before mounting the assembly to circuit board  12 . With this scenario, reference is made to FIGS. 3-5 which show the connector assembly mounted through opening  14  (FIG. 2) in panel  16 . In essence, mating portion  30  of connector housing  20  and surrounding shroud portion  40  of shield  22  extend through the opening in the panel. In addition, latch arms  68  which extend through slots  46  (FIG. 2) in the shield, extend through cutouts  14   a  (FIG. 2) at opposite ends of opening  14  in the panel. Therefore, as seen in FIGS. 3-5, the majority of electrical connector assembly  10  is located on first side  16   a  of panel  16 , while the mating portion of the connector housing surrounded by shroud portion  40  of the shield, along with latch arms  68  of multi-function component  26 , project through the panel to a second or opposite side  16 b thereof. 
     In order to lock the connector assembly in position mounted through opening  14  in panel  16 , a rigid latch in the form of a thin metal latching plate  80  (FIGS. 2-5) is positioned over shroud portion  40  of shield  22  and latch arms  68  of multi-function component  26 . FIG. 2 shows that latching plate  80  has an elongated opening  82  for surrounding these components. The elongated opening has top and bottom elongated edges  82   a . According to the invention, the width of the elongated opening is such that top and bottom elongated edges  82   a  engage serrations  72  at the top and bottom of latch arms  68  of multi-component  26 . With the latching plate being fabricated of rigid material, the top and bottom edges snappingly engage serrations  72 . By using serrations, the latch means can accommodate panels of varying thicknesses. If it is desired to solidly lock the entire assembly in position through panel  16 , latching plate  80  has a hole  84  and panel  16  has a hole  86  through which a fastener, such as a bolt, can be inserted into apertured boss  74  of multi-component  26  to completely lock the connector assembly mounted to and through the panel. 
     As stated above, circuit board  12  can be mounted to multi-function component  26  either before or after the component mounts connector assembly  10  to and through panel  16 . FIGS. 3-5 illustrate that the circuit board is to be mounted after the connector assembly is mounted to and through the panel. However, FIG. 3 shows tail portions  86  of the connector terminals in position for connection to circuit traces  52  of the circuit board. 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein serrations  72  are formed on the outside surfaces of latch arms  68  of multi-function component  26 , rather than on the top and bottom edges of the latch arms as in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. These serrations engage opposite end edges  82   b  of opening  82  in locking plate  80 . Otherwise, the connector assembly is substantially identical to that described above and, consequently, like reference numerals have been applied in FIG. 6 corresponding to like components described above in relation to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that multi-function component  26  performs a plurality of functions. The component includes first means in the form of mounting bosses  64  and cylindrical recesses  67  for securing the connector assembly to circuit board  12 . The component includes second means in the form of mounting apertures  62  cooperating with mounting posts  36  of the connector housing for mounting the housing at one side of panel  16  and through opening  14  in the panel. The component includes third means in the form of latch arms  68  which extend through the opening in the panel for engagement by latch means in the form of locking plate  80  to lock the entire connector assembly to and through the panel. Finally, multi-function component  26  includes fourth means in the form of apertures  70  in latch arms  68  for engaging appropriate latches on a complementary mating connector. 
     It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.