Rodlike Guide Member Extending In Coupling Direction Or Tubular Passage For Receiving Rodlike Guide Member Patents (Class 439/378)
  • Patent number: 6461187
    Abstract: A connector assembly has a male housing (3), a female housing (4) and an interlocking system composed of a lockable lug (7) on the male housing. A lock arm (15) on the female housing has a pawl (16) engaging with the lug, a pair of elastically deforming hinge-shaped legs (17) integrally support the lock arm, and a push lever (18) is disposed at the rear end of lock arm extending rearwards beyond the legs. A guide tongue (10) intervening between a pair of side slots (11) and protruding forwards from the lug (7) is inserted in between the legs (17) spaced sideways, the slots (11) fitting on the legs at the same time. A pair of bridges (19) continue from the female housing (4) to lateral ends of the push lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: J.S.T. MFG. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 6454577
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) comprises a base (11) defining a receiving block (11b) adjacent to a front end thereof and a cover (12) is assembled to the base. A latch (20) is pivotably assembled to the receiving block. A grounding tab (30) is attached to the cover for electrically establishing a grounding path to a receptacle connector (4) in which the electrical connector is mated. Interengaging device is formed between the cover and the base and includes a pair of recesses (11c) defined in the base, and a pair of anchoring legs (12c) snugly received in the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chong H. Yi
  • Patent number: 6454592
    Abstract: In a connector having a principal surface (44a) to be faced to an object in a first direction (A1) and a guide portion (45) protruding from the principal surface in the first direction for guiding connection of the connector and the object, the guide portion has elasticity so as to be elastically bent in a second direction (A2) transverse to the first direction. It is preferable that the guide portion has a slit (51) to provide the elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20020127903
    Abstract: A male connector (10) includes first and second individual housing portions (28, 30) engaging with each other, a number of substrates (16) held by the first housing portion and a number of signal contacts (18) and a number of grounding terminals (20) held by the second housing portion with the signal contacts confronting the grounding terminals. Each substrate has a first edge (108) and a second edge (110) orthogonal with the first edge. The first edges of the substrates are hidden behind corresponding lead-in bars (44) of the first housing portion and the second edges of the substrates are sandwiched between and removeably held by the signal contacts and the grounding terminals. The second edges are pushed toward the signal contacts by the grounding terminals because the grounding terminals are stronger than the signal contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Charles S. Pickles
  • Patent number: 6431886
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided having a first portion and a second portion for coupling a first printed circuit board to second printed circuit board. The first portion of the connector has board contacts for mechanically and electrically coupling to the first printed circuit board, electrical contacts coupled to the board contacts and a first alignment feature electrically and mechanically coupled to the first printed circuit board. The second portion of the connector has board contacts for mechanically and electrically coupling to the second printed circuit board, electrical contacts coupled to the board contacts and a second alignment feature electrically and mechanically coupled to the second printed circuit board. The first and second alignment portions cooperate to properly align the electrical contacts of the first and second board portions for electrical coupling upon mating of the connector portions. Upon mating the alignment features are electrically coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Robinson Nugent, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Ramey, Kevin R. Meredith
  • Patent number: 6422892
    Abstract: A SCSI cable plug retaining seat includes two guide holes, two guide pins, and a seat. The two guide holes are combined to the upper and lower grooves of the cable plug. The two guide pins are installed to a channel unit connector. The seat has an L shape and the bottom thereof having an opening and has two screws and two screw holes. The retaining base of the present invention serves to fix the cable plug by the screw, and then is locked to the rear covering plate of the shelf. When the channel unit slides into the shelf through card guide, the channel unit connector will be guided into the guide holes by the guide pins so that the channel unit connector is precisely combined to the cable plug. Therefore, the connector can be pulled and inserted rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Comtrend Corporation
    Inventors: Jui-Hung Chen, Hsien-Chien Li, Chi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 6409540
    Abstract: A guide rib is protrusively formed on a bottom face of a connector housing to position the connector housing to a printed circuit board by piercing the printed circuit board. A groove portion is hollowly formed around a base portion of the guide rib to disperse the screw tightening stress and prevent the guide rib from cracking as the connector is fixed to the printed circuit board. It disperses stress caused by tightening a screw for connecting the connector housing with the printed circuit board, and therefore prevents cracking on the base portion of the guide rib resulting from concentration of the stress. Since the groove portion is hollowed, the connector housing adheres securely to the printed circuit board, therefore resulting in a stable mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Kodama
  • Patent number: 6409525
    Abstract: A terminal position housing (34, 134) is used with an alignment plate (42, 142) to align male terminals or blades (12, 112) extending from a printed circuit board assembly (6, 106). A plug connector (14, 114) having multiple female terminals or receptacles (16, 116) is mated to the blades (12, 112) with the assistance of the terminal position housing (34, 134) and the alignment plate (42, 142). The terminal position housing (34, 134) includes a stationary plate (36, 136) having apertures (38, 138) through which the blades (12, 112) are inserted. The stationary plate apertures (38, 138) are aligned with apertures (44, 144) in the movable alignment plate (42, 142), and these aligned apertures keep the blades (12, 112) aligned with the receptacles (16, 116) even if the blades (12, 112) may be deflected due to forces applied by mechanical assist members, such as bolts (96).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hoelscher, Paul P. Siwinski, Bobby G. Ward
  • Patent number: 6402540
    Abstract: The invention specifies a scoop-proof plug connector system having a connector (1) which has a pair of contact sockets (66, 67) situated in the plug-in projection (3) and a connector housing (2), a mating connector for an igniter, which has a pair of contact pins (51, 52) situated in one plane for insertion into the contact sockets (66, 67), and a coupling piece (30a, 30b) which is situated in the mating connector and has a recess (34), which is complementary to the plug-in projection (3) and an essentially cylindrical sleeve (31). At least one guide shoulder (35, 36; 43, 44) which runs parallel to the insertion direction and essentially over the full height of the sleeve (31) and which projects above the contact pins (51, 52) is integrally formed in the recess (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors Internationals
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuhmel, Frank Odorfer
  • Publication number: 20020064973
    Abstract: A battery connector structure and a battery pack are described in which good electrical contact can be maintained even if an external force is applied around the connectors. The battery connector structure includes a male connector that consists of comb-shaped electrodes with a positioning plate, and a female connector having slits into which the comb-shaped electrodes and the positioning plate are inserted to make electrical connections with the comb-shaped electrodes in such a way that the connectors can be connected and disconnected. A projection is provided at the end of the positioning plate and a hollow that accepts the projection is provided in the slit of the female connector or in a system in which the female connector is provided. In addition, the battery pack has this battery connector structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fusanobu Nakamura, Fumio Tamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20020055292
    Abstract: A disc drive includes a locating feature for aligning an electrical connector of a printed circuit board relative to an outer dimension of the disc drive. A guide pin is formed on one of the electrical connector and a base plate of the disc drive, and the guide pin is received within an opening defined in the other of the electrical connector and the base plate to position the electrical connector relative to the base plate. In addition, a method of positioning an electrical connector of a printed circuit board includes the step of inserting a guide pin formed on one of the electrical connector and the base plate into an opening formed in the other of the electrical connector and the base plate to align the electrical connector with the base plate. The method further includes the step of fastening the printed circuit board to the base plate of the disc drive while the guide pin remains within the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Alan Maiers, Robert Terry Haas
  • Publication number: 20020045377
    Abstract: A connection device for electrically connecting a contact 304 of an equipment with a board 36 in a battery 100, the device comprising a housing 41 having an aperture 40H, and a connection terminal 300 arranged within the housing 41 correspondingly to the aperture 40H, the connection terminal having a plurality of first connecting parts 302 for pinching and holding the contact 304 of the equipment so as to be electrically connected with the contact 304 of the equipment and a plurality of second connecting parts 303 provided integrally with the plurality of first connecting parts 302 for pinching the board 36 to electrically connect the plurality of first connecting parts 302 with the contact 304 of the equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Sony Corporation and SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshisada Okayasu, Kiyoshi Tomura, Shun Kayama, Naoyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 6371790
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (1) comprises first and second electrical connectors (10), (20) mounted onto mother and daughter boards, respectively. The first connector comprises a first insulative body (12) receiving a matrix of first terminal pins (14). A guiding post (16) is integrally formed with the first insulative body, and forms a plurality of latching ribs (162) thereon. The second connector comprises a second insulative body (22) receiving a matrix of second conductive contacts (24) for mating with respective first terminal pins. The second insulative body defines a receiving hole (26) with a plurality of recessed slots (262), for engaging with the corresponding ribs of the guiding post of the first connector. Thus, mismating of the first and second connectors is prevented. The anti-mismating means are easily manufactured thereby reducing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Hsun Huang
  • Patent number: 6347955
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a plurality of passageways for receiving a plurality of terminals therein, a shield enclosing a forwardly projecting tongue of the insulative housing, two grounding plates attached to a rear side of the insulative housing for enhancing grounding performance, a bracket for supporting the insulative housing, and two latches. Each latch has a retaining portion and a coupling portion. The retaining portion engages with the insulative housing. The coupling portion has two resilient arms for guiding and retaining a complementary connector in a mated position with the electrical connector. The retaining portion includes a baffle, an engaging section and a securing section, wherein the diameter of the securing section is smaller than that of the engaging section. The insulative housing further defines two through holes at opposite ends for extension of the securing section of the latch therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nan Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 6331122
    Abstract: An electrical connector (10) includes an insulative housing (12), a number of contacts (14) received in the housing and a pair of board locks (16) attached to opposite side faces (18) of the housing. The housing provides a pair of guiding blocks (28) and a pair of retention portions (36) outwardly extending from the side faces of the housing. The guiding blocks are located above the retention portions and a space is defined between each guiding block and a corresponding retention portion for facilitating assembly of the board lock to the retention portion. Each retention portion does not extend beyond a plane defined by an outermost surface of the guiding block in a longitudinal direction of the housing and the board lock is located between the outermost surface of the guiding block and the side face of the housing, thereby minimizing the longitudinal dimension of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6315607
    Abstract: An electrical system comprises a panel defining at least an opening and a retaining hole therein. A first connector is adapted to be attached to the panel. A panel-mount attachment is engageable with the retaining hole for attaching the electrical connector to the panel. The panel-mount attachment includes a base plate in which a housing of the connector is integrally formed therewith, and a supporting post extending from the base plate. At least a deflectable vane sector extends outward and downward from an top portion of the post toward the base plate and a gap defined between a free end of the vane sector and the base plate for receiving the panel therebetween. The attachment further includes a guiding device formed in the supporting post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jenq-Yih Hwang, Andrew Cheng
  • Patent number: 6315606
    Abstract: A blind mate male connector has a dielectric housing having a rear surface and an opposite mating surface. A spacer plate integrally traverses an intermediate portion of the first housing. A pair of guiding posts extends from the spacer plate and beyond an imaginary plane of the mating surface of the dielectric housing for firstly engaging with a complementary connector when the male connector is initially engaged with a complementary connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jenq-Yih Hwang
  • Patent number: 6290536
    Abstract: A blind-mate, snap-in cable connector assembly comprises a first connector mounted on a first supporting plate. The first connector includes a first housing defining a pair of cavities therethrough. A second connector is mated to the first connector. The second connector includes a second housing forming a pair of sleeves each received into the corresponding cavity when the connectors are assembled. Blind mating means formed between the first and second connectors includes a guiding rod formed on one of the first and second connectors and a receiving passage formed on another of the first and second connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jenq-Yih Hwang, Jeff Lung
  • Patent number: 6290530
    Abstract: An electrical connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the housing, an upper shell, a lower shell, a base, a cover and a pair of latches. The upper shell and the lower shell engage with each other to receive the housing therein. The base comprises a pair of lateral walls defining a cavity therebetween for receiving the housing. A guiding post forwardly projects from a front end of each lateral wall of the base for guiding the connector to connect with the mating connector and defines a slit for receiving a corresponding latch. The lower shell comprises a lower enclosing portion and a pair of side retaining arms upwardly extending from opposite edges of the lower enclosing portion. A front retaining arm laterally extends from a front end of each side retaining arm. The front retaining arms and the side retaining arms shield and strengthen the guiding posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yao-Hao Chang
  • Publication number: 20010021604
    Abstract: An improved guidance of a plug connector in a mating connector, particularly of a cable-harness plug connector into a multipoint connector, during the insertion and positioning process, is provided. At least one recess is disposed on the mating connector and is dimensioned in such a way that, during the insertion of the plug connector into the mating connector, guide element is guided in the recess, and in the inserted state, the recess is set apart from the guide element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Ernst Held, Wolfgang Schneid, Peter Zweigle
  • Publication number: 20010014551
    Abstract: A plug-in module (100) for electronic equipment (425) includes circuitry (140) for processing electrical signals, a housing (400) for at least partially enclosing the circuitry (140), and at least one electrical pin (115) extending from a bottom surface of the housing (400), coupled to the circuitry (140), and having a first length. The module (100) also includes an installation guide (420) extending from the bottom surface of the housing (400) and having a second length greater than the first length such that, as the plug-in module (100) is inserted into a receiving member (125) of a substrate (120) to which it is to be mounted, the installation guide (420) contacts the receiving member (125) before the at least one electrical pin (115) contacts a receptacle (130) so that the pin (115) is guided into the receptacle (130).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: STEVEN E. BLASHEWSKI, ANDREW F. MCCANN
  • Publication number: 20010012718
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a housing with a plug section having a width greater than a height thereof and a plurality of contact elements (14) with contact sections (14A) arranged in the widthwise direction of the connector, a pair of guiding members or protruded section (18) or indented sections (44) provided on opposite sides of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: Norimasa Nishimatsu
  • Patent number: 6257918
    Abstract: A connector having a plug housing assembly supporting female contacts thereon, and a cap housing assembly supporting male contacts thereon. The plug housing assembly has a bolt rotatably passing therethrough and a locking plate for holding the male contacts. The cap housing assembly has a cavity receiving the plug housing assembly and a nut portion provided on a bottom portion of the cavity. A nut receiving recess, which receives the nut portion in the cap housing assembly when both the housing assemblies are fitted to each other, is provided in the plug housing assembly. A screw portion of the bolt is provided so as to be exposed within the nut receiving recess without protruding outward from the plug housing assembly. The locking plate has an actuator which is depressibly protruding from a circumferential surface of the plug housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6257916
    Abstract: A locking device for joining first and second mating connectors together includes a pair of first locking members pivotably received in the first connector, a pair of guiding posts positioned beside the pair of first locking members and a pair of second locking members retained in the second connector complementary to the pair of first locking members. The pair of guiding posts smoothly guides the pair of second locking members to engage with the pair of first locking members with a portion of each second locking member being received in an opening of a corresponding first locking member thereby joining the first and second connectors together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Kuo
  • Publication number: 20010005649
    Abstract: A wrong insertion preventing mechanism for preventing a connector of a wrong board from being connected to a connector mounted on a mother board on a shelf is disclosed. A guide plate is installed at the opening of the shelf and has plural through holes mutually having different shapes. A guide pin which can be inserted into a specific through hole of the through holes of the guide plate is mounted on a board. The board is inserted in a right position on the shelf by the through hole and the guide pin and is never inserted onto the shelf from a wrong position. The guide pin has a projection at the end and the projection can be set to various angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventor: Shintaro Fujioka
  • Publication number: 20010004564
    Abstract: In a connector having a principal surface (44a) to be faced to an object in a first direction (A1) and a guide portion (45) protruding from the principal surface in the first direction for guiding connection of the connector and the object, the guide portion has elasticity so as to be elastically bent in a second direction (A2) transverse to the first direction. It is preferable that the guide portion has a slit (51) to provide the elasticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Applicant: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 6234812
    Abstract: Retractable power and communication outlet arrangements suitable for mounting on a work surface such as a table or desk. A first type of a retractable power outlet or a retractable communication includes a bottomless mounting cup for inserting into a hole in the work surface. The mounting cup includes a flat circular top edge and a cylinder. Two grooves are formed inside the cylinder as guides and extend from an upper end of the cylinder to a lower end of the cylinder. The first type of power or communication outlet arrangement additionally includes a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a circular flat top having two opposing semicircular notches. The mounting bracket's flat top is dimensioned to overlap the diameter of the top of the mounting cup. Integrally formed with the mounting bracket's flat top is a longitudinally extending flat element which includes four mounting pegs that extend from the flat element in two rows of two for mounting a power or communication strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventors: Michael B. Ivers, Christian K. Weber
  • Patent number: 6217368
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cable-to-card connectors and more particularly to a system for simplifying plugging and unplugging operations and for preventing any risk of bending pins and damaging contacts first, by guiding the cable and receiving connectors and second by multiplying the operator's insertion/extraction force. The system comprises a pair of guiding posts one on each side of the cable connector and a push-pull unique central screw making the link between guiding posts and the cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dominique Baron, Jean Conde, Bruno Centola
  • Patent number: 6210238
    Abstract: The present invention includes a terminal block accommodation chamber formed in a sub-plate, a cover member detachably mounted on the opening of the terminal block accommodation chamber, and a terminal block that is formed integrally with the cover member and that is loaded in and unloaded from the terminal block accommodation chamber by installing and removing the cover member. The terminal block has a plurality of feeding terminals to which leads drawn through an introduction port in the cover member are connected. A plurality of plug-shaped contact shoes for electric connection are attached to the respective terminals. Socket-shaped contact shoes leading to the solenoid valve are provided in a first connector installed inside the terminal block accommodation chamber. When the solenoid is inserted into the accommodation chamber, the contact shoes of the terminal block are connected to the contact shoes of the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Akimoto, Masamichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 6190194
    Abstract: An attachment and connection structure of an electrical equipment unit is provided. The electrical equipment unit is provided with a connector. When the electrical equipment unit is inserted into a unit receiving portion, the connector 21 can be connected to a mating connector of a unit receiving portion at the same time. A guide wall is formed unitarily on the connector, and a guide receiving portion for receiving the guide wall is provided to the unit receiving portion. The mating connector is disposed in the vicinity of the guide receiving portion. The guide wall also serves as part of the outer walls of the connector. The guide wall protrudes from the both sides and the front edge of the connector. After the guide wall is engaged with the guide receiving portion, engagement of both connectors starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Kubota
  • Patent number: 6183287
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a male connector and a female connector. The male connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of silos projecting from the housing, a plurality of contacts received in the silos, a guiding arm formed on a top surface of the housing and a pair of fixing bars extending from distal ends of the housing. The female connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of receptacles formed in the housing for engaging with the corresponding silos, an engaging slot formed in a top surface of the housing, and a plurality of terminals received in the receptacles for electrically contacting the corresponding terminals of the male connector. In assembly, the guiding arm of the male connector is inserted into the engaging slot of the female connector for guiding the connectors and preventing improper engagement therebetween. The silos and the receptacles are manufactured with the same rectangular cross-section thereby reducing production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Po
  • Patent number: 6179637
    Abstract: An assembly for auotomatically mating a plug terminal attached to the exterior of a circuit breaker with a receptacle terminal attached to the interior of a switchgear cell to provide secondary connections therebetween. The assembly includes a plug having a generally planar body partially defined by a surface and opposing surface. A plug terminal is supported by the opposing surface of the plug. A mounting bracket is slidably affixed to the opposing surface of the plug. The bracket has an aperture to allow the plug terminal to extend therethrough. The bracket is secured in a fixed position to the exterior of the circuit breaker. The position of the plug is automatically adjusted to provide proper alignment between the plug terminal and the receptacle terminal to form an electrical connection between the terminals which can be disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Gregory Brent Lee, Larry Gene Ratliff
  • Patent number: 6142814
    Abstract: A guide post (80) is adapted to be mounted to a first electrical connector for being received in a receptacle hole defined in a mating second connector to guide the mating operation of the connectors. The guide post has a threaded rear section (101) threadingly engaging with an inner-threaded hole defined in the first connector and a front section (102) extending beyond the first connector and insertable into the receptacle hole of the second connector. A hexagonal intermediate section (104) is formed between the rear section and the front section. A helical spring (20) having a first end supported on the intermediate section surrounds the front section and is retained thereon by a washer (30) which is movably fit over the front section and engages with a second end of the spring. A cap (40) is fixed to a free end of the front section to retain the washer thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Tsan Wu, Johnson Yang
  • Patent number: 6093046
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing, a shield, a number of terminals, a shielding blade and a pair of guide posts. The housing includes a cover and a base separately manufactured by injection molding. Thus, a height of a corresponding mold for forming the cover and the base is decreased thereby promoting the free flow of molten plastic and enhancing the strength of the housing especially terminal passageways thereof. In assembly, the shield, the cover and the base are secured together by riveting the guide posts. The blade is disposed in the cover and the base for eliminating cross talk between the terminals. The blade electrically contacts the shield which is conductively connected to the guide posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song-Rong Chiou, Kun-Tsan Ku
  • Patent number: 6074236
    Abstract: A guide post of an electrical connector includes an elongate conductive body having a threaded section which engages with an innerthreaded hole defined in a connector and a front section extending from the threaded section. The front section defines a diametrical slot coextensive therewith for receiving a conductive spring member. The spring member has two spaced arms. The arms have a first end fixed together and a second free end. Each arm also has a convex section formed between the ends and extending beyond the slot. The arm is resilient thereby allowing the convex section to retract into the slot upon receiving an external force. When inserting the guide post into a receptacle hole defined in a mating connector, the convex sections are forced into the slot by means of contact engagement with an inner surface of the receptacle hole thereby facilitating a smooth insertion of the guide post into the receptacle hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Tsan Wu
  • Patent number: 6074235
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrical connector (20) having a housing with electrical contacts secured therein. An alignment post (30') is secured to the housing. The alignment post (30') has a forward end (131) with a first width, a locking groove (32'), and a flared portion (130) disposed between the forward end (131) and the locking groove (32'). The flared portion (130) has a second width that is greater than the width of the forward end (131). The flared portion (130) defines a locking shoulder (132).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Philip C. Brandberg, Lou Castagna, John A. Fulponi, Greg G. Griffith, Hung T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6065992
    Abstract: A guide post is adapted to be mounted to an electrical connector for being received in a receptacle hole defined in a mating connector to guide the mating operation of the connectors. The guide post has a threaded section threadingly engaging with an inner-threaded hole defined in the connector and a post section extending beyond the electrical connector and insertable into the receptacle hole of the mating connector. An intermediate section is formed between the threaded section and the post section. The intermediate section has a polygonal cross section with a circumferential groove formed therein. A helical spring having a first end received and retained in the circumferential groove surrounds the post section. The helical spring has a second end engageable with the mating connector when engaging the connectors together thereby providing a reaction force therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Tsan Wu, Johnson Yang
  • Patent number: 6059600
    Abstract: A guide pin for electrical connectors has an attachment section possessing two zones. Specifically a fastening zone in the form of a sturdy press-fit zone and a guide zone which has a slightly reduced outside diameter as a prepositioning zone for insertion of the guide pin into a mounting hole of an assembly. The guide pin is fastened by further pressing of the guide pin into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johan Vanbesien
  • Patent number: 6053761
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cable-to-card connectors and more particularly to a system for simplifying plugging and unplugging operations and for preventing any risk of bending pins and damaging contacts first, by guiding the cable and receiving connectors and second by multiplying the operator's insertion/extraction force. The system comprises a pair of guiding posts one on each side of the cable connector and a push-pull unique central screw making the link between guiding posts and the cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dominique Baron, Jean Conde, Bruno Centola
  • Patent number: 6007360
    Abstract: A guide socket is adapted to be embedded in a first electrical connector for receiving a guide post mounted on a mating second connector to guide the connectors into mating engagement with each other. The guide socket includes a body having an external threading receivingly engaging with an inner-threaded hole defined in the first connector. The guide socket defines a central bore extending through the body for receiving the guide post of the second connector. An inner circumferential groove is formed in the central bore for receiving and retaining a retaining ring therein. The retaining ring has an original inner diameter which is smaller than an outer diameter of the guide post and is resiliently expandable to a larger diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the guide post for allowing the guide post to extend therethrough and securely retain the guide post in the guide socket by means of a spring-back force caused by the resiliency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Tsan Wu, Johnson Yang
  • Patent number: 6007363
    Abstract: A magnetically latchable device embodied as a battery pack or a platform. The battery pack includes a case, a magnetic component engaging the case to latch the case to a portable device, an alignment member separate from the perimeter of the case to mate with the portable device when the case is magnetically latched to the portable device, an electrical conducting contact disposed within an aperture of the case to be electrically coupled to a circuit housed in the portable device when the case is magnetically latched to the portable device, and a power source disposed within the case and electrically coupled to the electrical conducting contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Renk
  • Patent number: 6007364
    Abstract: A guide post assembly comprises a body member and a retaining member attached to the body member. The body has a coupling portion for engaging with a first connector and a cylindrical guiding portion for engaging with a second connector. The retaining member is stamped and rolled from a thin sheet of metal material to form a spring ferrule and a resilient expanded portion extending from the ferrule. The expanded portion forms a bulge projecting outwardly from a middle position thereof which resiliently abuts against an inner wall of a housing of the second connector to retain the guiding portion of the body member in the second connector. Thus, the first and second connectors are securely connected by the guide post assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Tsan Wu
  • Patent number: 5993241
    Abstract: The present invention provides a floating-plate connector assembly which includes a mounting plate on which are mounted a combined power and signal pin connector, an alternating current connector and a pair of guide pins. The mounting plate is in turn mounted on the rear panel of a power supply module so that the connector plate may move within predetermined limits in two axes. The floating-plate connector assembly blind mates with a printed circuit board located within a power supply chassis. The present invention also provides a power supply system having means for securing power supply modules to the chassis that includes a handle which is pivotably connected to the power supply. The handle includes a cam and teeth which respectively engage a notch and apertures located on the base of the chassis when rotated in a first direction. The power supply module is disengaged from the chassis when the handle is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert N. Olson, William H. Bull
  • Patent number: 5961339
    Abstract: Surface mount connectors having staked alignment pins. The bodies of the connectors are formed without alignment pins, and alignment pins are thereafter staked into the bottom surface of the connector body in order to positively locate the connector when mounting to a printed circuit board. Because the alignment pins are not integrally formed with the connector bodies, the connectors may be inventoried in only long strips of, for example, 50 positions. After a customer order is received, the long strips may be cut to the desired number of positions. The alignment pins are thereafter staked into the connector body in order to form a completed connector. The present invention therefore obviates the need to inventory connectors with alignment pins in each of the potentially desired sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Samtec, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Koopman, Doug E. McCartin
  • Patent number: 5930118
    Abstract: A receiving device for component parts, such as electric assemblies, is connected directly to a circuit board. The weight of the electric assembly is carried by a supporting device on contacting the circuit board. A connector which is part of the electric assembly or one of its components is flexibly disposed with respect to a socket of the circuit board, so that the production tolerances can be compensated without problem and a plug-in connection can be achieved between the connector and the socket without the weight of the electric components placing a load on the plug-in connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hermann Bernhardt, Johann Haumann, Gunter Klein, Frank Notter
  • Patent number: 5907687
    Abstract: A computer system having a power supply, a backplane board and a system board includes a power supply shutdown apparatus. When an interlock pin disposed on an edge connector of the system board is not seated properly in a corresponding interlock-pin-receptacle forming a portion of a system board socket disposed on the backplane board, a shutdown circuit is actuated to produce a shutdown signal which is used for electrically isolating the power supply from the system board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy R McJunkin
  • Patent number: 5888101
    Abstract: An electrical connector has two parts each with a rectangular shell surrounding contact elements. The outside of one shell and the inside of the other are enlarged in the corners and so that the two shells can only be mated when presented square-on, thereby reducing the risk that the contact elements on one part will be inadvertently contacted by the shell on the other part. The two parts have mating coding members and clamping members located outside the shells, one part having two tower formations in which the coding and clamping members are located. The width of the towers is greater than the width of the shell on the other part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Peter Dent, Gavin Harry Mintern, Brian Shepherd, Amanda Jane Wilson
  • Patent number: 5885088
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals. The first connector has a conventional DC jack socket with a central contact pin adapted for receiving a conventional DC jack plug. A second connector mates with the first connector and includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals for electrical connection to the terminals of the first connector. The second connector has a locating peg insertable into the DC jack socket of the first connector. The locating peg is generally hollow to accommodate the central contact pin of the DC jack socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Denise Brennan, Donagh O'Sullivan, Matthew Wilhite
  • Patent number: 5795177
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to remove an applied force generated at the time of combining connectors due to a close tolerance of components which compose a mounting mechanism of a unit, which is based on the SCA method. A tray carrying a magnetic disk unit has a guide pin having a thick body portion and a thin body portion. A back panel, which is under a floating condition, so as to be movable up and down, left and right and backward and forward, is mounted on a frame. The back panel has a guide hole to guide the guide pin. When the tray is being inserted to the frame carrying the magnetic disk unit, the thick body of the guide pin is guided by the guide hole and position setting of the connector of the magnetic disk unit and the connector of the back panel is performed. Furthermore, when the tray is being inserted to the end of the frame, the thin body of the guide pin passes the guide hole and the connectors are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuro Hirono
  • Patent number: 5775932
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided in which a male connector is fitted into a female connector in such a manner that terminals are prevented from being bent even if the male connector is mistakenly fitted so as to be slanted at an angle with respect to the female connector. The electrical connector includes a male connector for sliding insertion into a female connector. A locking arm is mounted on a upper wall of the male connector. A bending preventing member protrudes from an inner wall face of the female connector and extends forwardly toward an opening of the hood of the female connector. An escape portion is formed by recessing in a front end face of the locking arm of the male connector to allow the bending preventing member of the female connector to enter thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Saito, Kazuto Ohtaka