Patent Publication Number: US-6213813-B1

Title: Arrangement for positioning and shielding stacked electrical connectors

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an arrangement for positioning and shielding stacked electrical connectors, and particularly to a positioning and shielding arrangement for combining upper and lower connectors together into an integral stacked connector assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In compliance with the miniaturization trend of electronic devices, stacked connectors are commonly adopted. An example of stacked connector assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,330. As shown in FIG. 6, the stacked connector assembly comprises upper and lower circular DIN connectors  2 ′ and  3 ′, a connector supporting housing  4 ′ and a common metal shield  1 ′. The connector supporting housing  4 ′ forms upper and lower chambers  41 ′ and  42 ′ for receiving the upper and lower connectors  2 ′,  3 ′. A connector support gantry  43 ′ outwardly extends from the connector supporting housing  4 ′ for supporting the upper connector  2 ′. The connector supporting housing  4 ′′includes upper and lower comb sections  44 ′,  45 ′for separating corresponding terminals (not shown) of the upper and lower connectors  2 ′ and  4 ′ from each other. 
     However, it is very easy for the upper and lower connectors  2 ′,  3 ′ to be forcibly moved rearward when engaging with mating connectors (not shown), for the upper and lower connectors  2 ′,  3 ′ are not firmly secured the upper and lower chambers  41 ′,  42 ′ of the connector supporting housing  4 ′. The movement of the upper and lower connectors  2 ′,  3 ′ will result in poor electrical engagement between the mating connectors and the upper and lower connectors  2 ′,  3 ′. 
     Furthermore, the upper and lower connectors are also apt to rotate due to the lack of corresponding positioning structure, thereby causing poor signal transmissions therethrough. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides an improved positioning and shielding arrangement to properly position stacked connectors thereby solving the above questions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for properly positioning and shielding stacked connectors thereby ensuring a good signal transmission therethrough. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a stacked connector assembly having an improved positioning and shielding arrangement thereby preventing the stacked connectors from undesired rotation and movement when engaging with mating connectors. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a stacked connector assembly having excellent electrical shielding properties. 
     A stacked connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises upper and lower connectors retained in positioning and shielding arrangement. The positioning and shielding arrangement includes a positioning frame for properly positioning the upper and lower connectors and a common shield for shielding the stacked connector assembly. The positioning frame forms a rear base wall for preventing the upper and lower connectors from moving when engaging with mating connectors, and a partition extending forward from a middle portion of the rear base wall for supporting the upper connector thereon. A positioning member extends forward from a middle portion of the partition for preventing the upper and lower connectors from rotation. The upper and lower connectors have corresponding upper and lower shells, respectively. The upper and lower shells are in electrical connection with the common shield thereby forming a complete shielding system for the stacked connector assembly. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a positioning and shielding arrangement in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of a positioning frame in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the positioning frame in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the positioning shielding arrangement in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a partially assembled view of a stacked connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a conventional stacked connector assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, a positioning and shielding arrangement  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a common shield  2  and a positioning frame  3 . The common shield  2  defines an interior space (not labeled) for receiving the positioning frame  3  therein. A pair of upper and lower electrical connectors  41 ,  42  are mounted to the positioning frame  3  and retained by the shield  2  thereby forming a connector assembly  5 . The upper and lower connectors  41 ,  42  are covered and electrically shielded by corresponding upper and lower shells  413 ,  423 . 
     The common shield  2  has a middle wall  22  and two side walls  21 ,  23  perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the middle wall  22 . A cover  24  perpendicularly extends from a top edge of the middle wall  22  and forms a pair of spaced arcuate contacting tabs  242  extending forward for electrically engaging with the upper shell  413  of the upper connector  41 . A pair of curved projections  224  respectively extends inward from front edges of the side walls  21 ,  23  for engaging with the positioning frame  3 . A positioning lug  25  first downwardly and then inwardly extends from a bottom edge of each wall  21 ,  22 ,  23  for retaining the connector assembly  5  to a circuit board (not shown). Two pairs of engaging openings  232  is inwardly formed in each side wall  22 ,  23  and vertically align with each other for engaging with the corresponding upper and lower connectors  41 ,  42 . 
     Also referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the positioning frame  3  comprises a rear base wall  31  and a partition  32  extending forward from a middle portion of the rear base wall  31  for supporting the upper connector  41  thereon. The partition  32  divides the rear base wall  31  into upper and lower sections against which the upper and lower connectors  41 ,  42  respectively abut. The lower section is thicker than the upper section for the purpose of shifting terminals (not shown) of the upper and lower connectors  41 ,  42  with respect to each other. A positioning member  33  extends forward from a middle portion of a front edge of the partition  32  for preventing the upper and lower connectors  41 ,  42  from rotation. Three abutting bumps  37  are formed on a top edge of the base wall  31  for engaging with the cover  24  of the common shield  2  and a pair of engaging protrusions  320  is formed on the front edge of the partition  32  on opposite sides of the positioning member  33  for engaging with the curved projections  224  of the common shield  2  thereby securing the shield  2  to the positioning frame  3 . 
     A terminal spacing is formed between the partition  32  and the base wall  31  comprising a plurality of separating ribs  350  defining spaced channels  352  therebetween for receiving and properly positioning the terminals of the upper connector  41 . A pair of abutting tabs  34  is formed on the partition  32 , preferably on opposite sides of the terminal spacing portion  35  for abutting against a rear portion  412  of the upper connector  41 . Preferably, the abutting tabs  34  contact or extend from the base wall  31  for supporting force applied to the upper connector  41  during a mating process. Positioning holes  322  are defined in the partition  32  for receiving positioning posts  411  of the upper connector  41  thereby properly positioning the upper connector  41  with respect to the positioning frame  3 . 
     A pair of engaging tabs  39  forwardly extends from the base wall  31  under the partition  32  for engaging with corresponding holes (not shown) defined in the lower connector  42 . A pair of positioning bumps  310  downwardly extends from a bottom edge of the base wall  31  for engaging with and retaining the lower connector  42 . The 
     upper and lower shells  413 ,  423  respectively enclose and shield the upper and lower connector  41 ,  42  and are in electrical connection with the common shield  2  thereby forming a complete shielding system for the stacked connector assembly  5 . The upper and lower shells  413 ,  423  are substantially the same except that the lower shell  423  has a pair of positioning lugs  424  downwardly extending therefrom. Each of the upper and lower shells  413 ,  423  respectively forms a pair of dimples  415 ,  425  on opposite sides thereof for engaging with the corresponding engaging openings  232  of the common shield  2 . The upper and lower connectors  41 ,  42  are substantially the same and each has a pair of positioning posts  411 ,  421  extending beyond the upper and lower shells  413 ,  423 . The positioning posts  421  downwardly extend beyond the shield  2  for engaging with corresponding holes defined in the circuit board. 
     In assembly, the positioning frame  3  is first received in the common shield  2  and retained in position by the engagement between the abutting bumps  37  of the positioning frame  3  and the cover  24  of the shield  2  and the engagement between the projections  224  of the shield  2  and the protrusions  320  of the positioning frame  3 . The positioning lug  25  extending from the middle wall  22  of the common shield  2  is served as to support the rear base wall  31  of the positioning frame  3 . 
     The lower connector  42  is then positioned under the partition  32  of the positioning frame  3 . The engaging tabs  39  engage with a rear portion of the lower connector  42 . The positioning bumps  310  engage with the positioning posts  421  of the lower connector  42 . The legs  424  are aligned with the corresponding positioning lugs  25  of the common shield  2 . The dimples  425  of the lower shell  423  engage with the corresponding engaging openings  232  of the common shield  2  for preventing the lower connector  43  from slipping downwardly off the common shield  2 . Thus, the lower connector  42  is properly positioned with the positioning and shielding arrangement  1 . The corresponding dimples  232  of the common shield  2  engage with opposite sides of the lower shell  423  of the lower connector  42 . 
     Finally, the upper connector  41  is fixed to the positioning and shielding arrangement  1 . The terminals of the upper connector  41  are positioned within the channels  352  of the terminal spacing portion  35  of the positioning frame  3 . The abutting tabs  34  abut against a rear portion  412  of the upper connector  41 . The positioning posts  411  are received in the holes  322 . The corresponding dimples  415  of the upper shell  413  engage with the corresponding engaging openings  232  of the common shield  2 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.