[0001] The present invention is directed to electrical connectors and more particularly
to devices for mechanically joining adjacent modular connectors.
[0002] Today's electronic technology often requires the use of high density connectors of
relatively long lengths to handle the number of circuits required for the equipment.
Long length connectors, for example, 10 inches or longer, are more difficult to mold
than are shorter connectors. It is desirable, therefore, to have a cost effective
way to interconnect a plurality of connectors to achieve the desired number of circuit
positions while maintaining the desired grid array spacing of contacts in the housing.
[0003] U.S. Patent 4,790,763 shows one way of interconnecting modular connectors in which
the sides of the housings have slots and latches to secure the connectors together.
Typically the additional housing material required for the interlocking structure
takes up extra space on the board thereby interrupting the desired grid array of contacts.
It is desirable, therefore, to have a device to secure together connector housings
without needing to design specific latches or to modify the housings in some manner.
[0004] U.S. Patent No. 4,343,528 discloses a connector assembly including a plurality of
connectors, each having a housing and a plurality of terminals therein. The housings
are coupled together by means of a cover.
[0005] The present invention is directed to a connector assembly comprising at least first
and second adjacent end-to-end electrical connectors secured together by a coupling
device. Each connector includes a housing having a plurality of terminals secured
therein such that a portion of a body section of the terminals is exposed from the
housing. Each of the first and second connectors have a respective selected group
of terminals, each selected group being less than all thereof. Each selected group
is adjacent an end of a respective housing that adjoins the adjacent connector. The
coupling device is a dielectric member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough.
At least a first group of openings in the device grips exposed body portions of the
terminals of the selected group of the first connector and at least a second group
of openings grip exposed body portions of terminals of the selected group of the second
connector.
[0006] Upon placing the first and second connectors adjacent each other and positioning
the device with the openings in a gripping relationship with the respective terminal
body portions of the first and second connectors, the device mechanically secures
together the first and second connectors adjacent each other.
[0007] In one preferred embodiment of the coupling device, the dielectric member includes
an array of apertures extending therethrough, the apertures being arranged in rows
and columns and having the same grid spacing as the arrays of terminals within the
respective connector housings. The array includes a plurality of apertures adapted
to grip body portions of a corresponding plurality of terminals within the first housing,
and a second portion of apertures adapted to grip exposed body portions of the terminals
in the second housing. Tne apertured device is suitable for use with terminals, each
having an exposed contact portion at the leading end thereof that is smaller in width
than the respective body portion of the terminal, thus the contact portions are dimensioned
to pass through corresponding apertures of the device, until the apertures of the
device grip the body portions of the terminals in an interference fit, and the contact
sections of the respective terminals extend outwardly below the coupling device. The
coupling device preferably is molded from thermoplastics or other suitable materials
that can withstand soldering temperatures, as known in the art. In a second embodiment,
the coupling device includes a plurality of slots adapted to be mounted to the connector
terminals at right angles thereto such that they extend between adjacent terminals.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the coupling device links the two connectors
together and maintains spacing of the grid array of the contacts while allowing the
housings to be molded in shorter units. The coupling device also permits joining together
of different size connectors thus facilitating customized sizing without requiring
additional molds for each of the different sizes.
[0008] In a third embodiment the coupling device includes two parts, the first being a clip
for interlocking adjacent housing walls together and the second being a plate-like
dielectric member having a plurality of openings extending therethrough adapted to
be received by a first plurality of terminals in a first connector and a second plurality
of terminals in a second connector. Alternative embodiments of the clip are also disclosed.
[0009] Embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0010] FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the connector assembly of the present invention
with the connectors and coupling device exploded from one another.
[0011] FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the assembled coupled connector assembly.
[0012] FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the coupling device shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[0013] FIGURE 4 is an end view of one of the connectors with the coupling device shown in
cross-section and in alignment for positioning on the terminals.
[0014] FIGURE 5 is an assembled view of the connector and device of Figure 4.
[0015] FIGURE 6 is a back plan view of the connector assembly of Figure 2.
[0016] FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the coupling device.
[0017] FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of a connector using the coupling device of Figure
7.
[0018] FIGURE 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the connector assembly of
the present invention with the connectors and an alternate embodiment of the coupling
device exploded from one another.
[0019] FIGURE 10 is an end view of one of the connectors of Figure 9 with the coupling device
in alignment for positioning on the terminals and housing.
[0020] FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in
Figure 9.
[0021] FIGURE 12 is a side view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in Figure
9.
[0022] FIGURE 13 is an end view of a further embodiment of the connector and coupling device
made in accordance with the present invention with the coupling device in alignment
for positioning on the terminals and housing.
[0023] FIGURE 14 is a side view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in Figure
13.
[0024] FIGURE 15 is an end view of another embodiment of the connector and coupling device
made in accordance with the present invention with the coupling device in alignment
for positioning on the terminals and housing.
[0025] FIGURE 16 is a side view of the assembled coupled connector assembly shown in Figure
15.
[0026] For purposes of illustrating the invention, coupling device 20 is illustrated, being
used with two right angle connectors 40, 70 as best seen in Figures 1, 2, and 6. It
is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of right angle connectors
nor to the geometric configuration of the device shown herein.
[0027] First connector 40 includes a housing 42 having a top wall 44, a mounting face or
bottom wall 46, a mating face 48, an assembly or rear face 50, and endwalls 52. Housing
42 further includes a plurality of terminal receiving passageways 56 having first
terminals 60 disposed therein. Each first terminal 60 includes a first contact portion
(not shown) exposed at the mating face 48 for mating with a complimentary connector
(not shown), a second contact portion 64 extending outwardly from the housing 42 at
the mounting face 46 thereof, and intermediate body section 66 extending- therebetween.
A portion 68 of the body section 66 is exposed along the assembly or rear face 50
of the connector housing 42.
[0028] The second connector 70 includes a housing 72 having a top wall 74, a mounting face
or bottom wall 76, mating face 78, an assembly or rear face 80, and endwalls 82. Housing
72 includes a plurality of terminal receiving passageways 86 extending from the mounting
face 76 to the mating face 78, each passageway 86 having a second terminal 90 therein.
Each second terminal 90 has a first contact portion (not shown) exposed at the mating
face 78 for mating with a complimentary connector (not shown), a second contact portion
94 extending outwardly from the housing 72, and an intermediate body section 96 extending
therebetween. Body section 96 includes a body portion 98 exposed at the assembly or
rear face 80 thereof.
[0029] Coupling device 20 is a dielectric member having a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24,
a front wall 26, rear wall 28, and opposed end walls 30. Coupling device 20 includes
a plurality of apertures 32 arranged in rows in columns and at the same spacing as
the array of terminals in the connector to which it will be attached as best seen
in Figure 3. The array of apertures 32 has a first portion 34 adapted to grip exposed
body portion 68 of a first electrical connector 40 and a second portion of apertures
36 adapted to grip exposed body portions 98 of a second connector 70. In the embodiment
shown connectors 40 and 70 are of identical lengths. In some connector configurations,
portions of the housings may need to be removed between adjacent terminals such as
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It is to be understood that different lengths of connectors
may be joined and, in fact, additional modules also may be joined with use of additional
coupling devices 20.
[0030] The connector assembly 110, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, is formed by placing the
first and second connectors 40, 70 adjacent to each other such that the corresponding
endwalls 52, 82 abut one another. The coupling device 20 is positioned such that a
plurality of the second contact portions 64 of first terminals 60 are aligned with
corresponding apertures 32 of the first device portion 34 and the second terminal
contact potions 94 of second terminals 90 are aligned with the apertures 32 of second
device portion 36. The coupling device 20 is then moved toward the top wall 44, 74
of the first and second connector housings 40, 70 until the apertures 32 grip the
respective exposed body portion 68, 98 in an interference fit. The coupling device
20 is dimensioned so that upon full assembly the second contact sections 64, 94 extend
below the coupling device 20 as best seen in Figures 2, 5 and 6. As can be appreciated
from Figure 5, the second contact portions 64 of terminals 60 in housing 40 must be
smaller than the aperture 32 such that the coupling device 20 will slide upwardly
into position without damaging any plating on the contact surface 64. The embodiment
20 of the coupling device is designed for use with those connectors having contact
sections that are smaller than the intermediate body portions so that the apertures
32 can grip the respective body portions in an interference fit. Upon full insertion
of the coupling device 20, the connector assembly 110 may be handled as a unit to
be mounted to a back plane or circuit board.
[0031] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a further embodiment 120 of the coupling device in which
the openings are a plurality of slots 132 configured to be inserted between adjacent
terminals such that the slots 132 will grip the intermediate body portion in an interference
fit. The embodiment 120 includes a top wall 122, a bottom wall 124, a front face 126,
a rear face 128, and a plurality of slots 132. In the embodiment shown there are four
rows of slots. Depending on the configuration of the housing and the size of the contact
section with respect to the body section of the terminals, - embodiment 120 may be
more appropriate since it is inserted into the back of the housing and slides directly
onto the exposed body portions.
[0032] Another embodiment of connectors 140, 170 and accompanying coupling device 220 is
illustrated in Figures 9 through 12. First connector 140 includes a housing 142 having
a mating face 144, a mounting face 146, sidewalls 148, ends 150, and floor 152, which
together define a mating cavity 154 dimensioned to receive a complementary plug connector
(not shown). Housing sidewalls 148 include a latching tab 149 extending outwardly
from the outer surface thereof proximate at least one of said ends. Each tab 149 defines
a latching channel 151 dimensioned to cooperate with the coupling device 220, as explained
below. Housing 142 further includes a plurality of first terminals 160 disposed therein.
Each first terminal 160 includes a first contact portion 162 exposed in the mating
cavity 154 for mating with a complimentary connector (not shown), a second contact
portion 164 extending outwardly from the housing 142 at the mounting face 146 thereof,
and an intermediate body section (not shown) extending therebetween and secured in
said floor 152.
[0033] The second connector 170 is similar to first connector 140 and includes a housing
172 having a mating face 174, a mounting face 176, sidewalls 178, ends 180, and floor
182, which together define a mating cavity 184 dimensioned to receive a complementary
plug connector (not shown). Housing sidewalls 178 include a latching tab 179 extending
outwardly from the outer surface thereof proximate at least one of said ends. Each
tab 179 defines a latching channel 181 dimensioned to cooperate with the coupling
device 220, as explained below. Housing 172 further includes a plurality of first
terminals 190 disposed therein. Each first terminal 190 includes a first contact portion
192 exposed in the mating cavity 184 for mating with a complimentary connector (not
shown), a second contact portion 194 extending outwardly from the housing 172 at the
mounting face 176 thereof, and an intermediate body section (not shown) extending
therebetween and secured in said floor 182.
[0034] Coupling device 220 is a two part device, the first being a clip 222 for interlocking
adjacent housing walls together on the outside surfaces thereof, and the second being
a plate-like dielectric member 228. Clip 222 is U-shaped and includes two resilient
legs 224 joined together at one end by a strap 225 and free ends defining inwardly
directed projections defining rearwardly facing latch surfaces 227 that almost converge
at the other end thereof, altogether defining a slot 226 dimensioned to be received
in respective channels 151,181 defined by the tabs 149, 179, on the respective housings
sidewalls 148, 178. Dielectric member 228 includes opposed upper and lower surfaces
229, 230 and a plurality of apertures 232 extending therethrough. Apertures 232 are
arranged in rows and columns at the same spacing as the respective arrays of terminals
in the connectors that are to be coupled. The array of apertures 232 have a first
portion 234 adapted to be received by a first plurality of terminals 160 in first
connector 140 and a second portion 236 adapted to be received by a second plurality
of terminals 190 in second connector 170. In the embodiment shown connectors 140 and
170 are of identical lengths. It is to be understood that different lengths of connectors
maybe joined and, in fact, additional modules also may be joined with use of additional
coupling devices 220.
[0035] The connector assembly 210, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, is formed by placing the
first and second connectors 140, 170 adjacent to each other such that the corresponding
ends 150, 180 abut one another. The dielectric member 228 of coupling device 220 is
positioned such that a plurality of the first contact portions 162 of first terminals
160 are aligned with corresponding apertures 232 of the first portion 234 and the
first terminal contact potions 192 of second terminals 190 are aligned with the corresponding
apertures 232 of second portion 236. Dielectric member 228 is then moved down into
the mating cavities 154, 184 until it engages the respective floors 152, 182. A clip
222 is assembled on both sides of the connectors 140, 170 with one leg 224 being inserted
into the respective sidewall channels 151, 181 with slot 226 receiving portions of
tabs 149, 179. The clips 222 are moved toward the mounting faces 146, 176 of connectors
140, 170 until the latching projections seat beneath tabs 149,179 for latch surfaces
227 to face the lower surfaces of tabs 149,179, thereby holding the sidewalls 148,
178 of the connectors 140,170 together, as shown in Figure 12. Clip 222 may be made
from metal or dielectric material.
[0036] In the further alternative embodiment 310 of connector assembly, as shown in Figures
13 and 14, clip 322 is a plate-like member having at least two projections 323 extending
outwardly from one side thereof and adapted to be received in an interference fit
in cooperating holes 251, 281 extending into housing sidewalls 248, 278 of connectors
240, 270 proximate the ends thereof. Dielectric member 228 is assembled to the adjacent
connectors of this embodiment in the manner previously described.
[0037] In the still further alternative embodiment 410 of connector assembly, as shown in
Figures 15 and 16, housing sidewalls 348, 378 include respective projections 351,
381 extending outwardly therefrom proximate at least one end thereof. In this embodiment,
clip 422 is a plate-like member having at least two apertures 423 extending therethrough
and adapted to receive respective projections 351, 381 therein in an interference
fit, thereby securing the housings together. Dielectric member 228 is assembled to
the connectors of this embodiment in the manner previously described.
1. An electrical connector assembly (110) comprising:
at least first and second adjacent end to end electrical connectors (40,140;70,170)
each connector including a housing (42,142;72,172) having a plurality of terminals
(60,160;90,190) secured therein, each of said terminals including a body section (66,96),
said housing of each of said connectors (40,70) exposing a portion of said body section
(66,96) of said terminals thereof;
each of said first and second connectors having a respective selected group of terminals,
each said selected group being less than all thereof, said selected group being adjacent
an end of a respective said housing that adjoins said adjacent connector; and
a coupling device (20,120) securing together said first and second connectors (40,140;70,170)
adjacent each other, said device including a dielectric member having a plurality
of openings extending therethrough, at least a first croup of said openings gripping
said exposed body sections (66, 96) of the terminals of said eelected group of said
first connector (40,120), and at least a second group of said openings gripping a
body portion of the terminals of said selected group of said second connector (70,170).
2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said coupling device is a further housing
(20) having said openings (32) therein dimensioned to receive respective exposed body
sections of said terminals of each selected group in said first and second connectors
such that respective board contact sections (64,164) extend below outwardly of respective
ones of said openings (32) and are aligned for mounting in through-holes of a circuit
board.
3. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said openings are apertures (32) extending
between opposed top and bottom faces of said further housing (20).
4. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said openings are slots (132) extending
into and through said further housing from a forward face to a rearward face thereof.
5. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said openings of said further housing are
in an array having several rows and several columns complementary to the rows and
columns of said terminals of said first and second connectors (40,70).
6. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said coupling device (220) includes first
and second parts, the first part (228) being a plate-like dielectric member and the
second part being at least one clip (222,322,422) for interlocking together adjacent
housing walls of the respective connectors.
7. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein each housing (140,170) includes an outwardly
extending latching tab (149,179) proximate at least one end thereof, each tab defining
a latching channel (151,181) dimensioned to cooperate with one of said at least one
clip, and wherein each said clip (222) comprises a pair of stiff spring arms (224)
coextending from a strap (225) to free ends deflectable thereapart during insertion
along said latching channels (151,181), and said free ends include latching projections
(227) protruding from facing surfaces of respective said spring arms to seat in corresponding
ones of said channels to latch said clip to said first and second connectors.
8. The connector assembly of claim 6 including two said clips (222), each associated
with a respective aligned pair of side walls of the first and second housings.
9. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein each said clip (322) includes a pair of
projections (323) coextending from a transverse body to be received in an interference
fit in respective apertures of housings of said first and second connectors.
10. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein each said clip (422) defines apertures therethrough
for receipt therethrough of projections (351) of the housings of the first and second
connectors in an interference fit.
1. Elektrische Verbinderanordnung (110), die aufweist:
mindestens erste und zweite mit den Enden aneinandergrenzende elektrische Verbinder
(40, 140; 70, 170), wobei jeder Verbinder ein Gehäuse (42, 142; 72, 172) mit einer
Vielzahl darin gesicherter Anschlußklemmen (60, 160; 90, 190) umfaßt, wobei jede der
Anschlußklemmen einen Körperabschnitt (66, 96) umfaßt, und wobei das Gehäuse eines
jeden der Verbinder (40, 70) einen Abschnitt des Körperabschnittes (66, 96) von deren
Anschlußklemmen freilegt;
wobei jeder der ersten und zweiten Verbinder eine entsprechende ausgewählte Gruppe
von Anschlußklemmen aufweist, wobei jede ausgewählte Gruppe kleiner ist als alle davon,
wobei die ausgewählte Gruppe an ein Ende eines entsprechenden Gehäuses angrenzt, das
an den benachbarten Verbinder angrenzt; und
eine Kopplungsvorrichtung (20, 120), die erste und zweite Verbinder (40, 140; 70,
170) angrenzend aneinander miteinander verbindet, wobei die Vorrichtung ein dielektrisches
Element mit einer Vielzahl von Öffnungen, die sich dort hindurch erstrecken, umfaßt,
wobei mindestens eine erste Gruppe der Öffnungen die freigelegten Körperabschnitte
(66, 96) der Anschlußklemmen der ausgewählten Gruppe des ersten Verbinders (40, 120)
erfaßt, und wobei mindestens eine zweite Gruppe der Öffnungen einen Körperabschnitt
der Anschlußklemmen der ausgewählten Gruppe des zweiten Verbinders (70, 170) erfaßt.
2. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Kopplungsvorrichtung ein weiteres
Gehäuse (20) ist, das Öffnungen (32) darin aufweist, die so bemessen sind, daß entsprechende
freigelegte Körperabschnitte der Anschlußklemmen einer jeden ausgewählten Gruppe in
den ersten und zweiten Verbindern aufgenommen werden, so daß sich entsprechende Plattenkontaktabschnitte
(64, 164) unterhalb nach außen von den entsprechenden Öffnungen (32) erstrecken und
für das Montieren in Durchgangsbohrungen einer Leiterplatte ausgerichtet werden.
3. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 2, bei der Öffnungen Löcher (32) sind, die sich zwischen
gegenüberliegenden oberen und unteren Flächen des weiteren Gehäuses (20) erstrecken.
4. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 2, bei der Öffnungen Schlitze (132) sind, die sich
in das und durch das weitere Gehäuse von einer Vorderfläche zu einer Hinterfläche
dieses erstrecken.
5. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 2, bei der Öffnungen des weiteren Gehäuses in einer
Anordnung vorhanden sind, die mehrere Reihen und mehrere Spalten aufweist, die zu
den Reihen und Spalten der Anschlußklemmen des ersten und zweiten Verbinders (40,
70) komplementär sind.
6. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Kopplungsvorrichtung (220) erste und
zweite Teile umfaßt, wobei das erste Teil (228) ein plattenartiges dielektrisches
Element und das zweite Teil mindestens eine Klemme (222, 322, 422) für das Miteinanderverriegeln
benachbarter Gehäusewände der entsprechenden Verbinder ist.
7. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 6, bei der jedes Gehäuse (140, 170) eine sich nach
außen erstreckende Einklinknase (149, 179) in unmittelbarer Nähe mindestens eines
Endes dieses umfaßt, wobei jede Nase einen Einklinkkanal (151, 181) begrenzt, der
so bemessen ist, daß er mit einer der mindestens einen Klemme zusammenwirkt; und bei
der jede Klemme (222) ein Paar steife Federarme (224) aufweist, die sich gemeinsam
von einem Bügel (225) aus zu freien Enden erstrecken, die während des Einsetzens in
Einklinkkanäle (151, 181) voneinander weggebogen werden können, und wobei die freien
Enden Einklinkvorsprünge (227) umfassen, die aus gegenüberliegenden Flächen der entsprechenden
Federarme vorstehen, um in entsprechende Kanäle zu passen, um die Klemme am ersten
und zweiten Verbinder einzuklinken.
8. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 6, die zwei Klemmen (222) umfaßt, wobei jede mit
einem entsprechenden ausgerichteten Paar Seitenwände des ersten und zweiten Gehäuses
verbunden ist.
9. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 6, bei der jede Klemme (322) ein Paar Vorsprünge
(323) umfaßt, die sich zusammen von einem quer verlaufenden Körper aus erstrecken,
um in einer Preßpassung in entsprechenden Löchern der Gehäuse der ersten und zweiten
Verbinder aufgenommen zu werden.
10. Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 6, bei der jede Klemme (422) Löcher dort hindurch
begrenzt, um dort Vorsprünge (351) der Gehäuse der ersten und zweiten Verbinder in
einer Preßpassung aufzunehmen.
1. Assemblage de connecteur électrique (110), comprenant
au moins des premier et deuxième connecteurs électriques adjacents bout-à-bout (40,
140; 70, 170), chaque connecteur englobant un boîtier (42, 142; 72, 172) comportant
plusieurs bornes (60, 160; 90, 190) qui y sont fixées, chacune desdites bornes englobant
une section de corps (66, 96), ledit boîtier de chacun desdits connecteurs (40, 70)
exposant une partie de ladite section de corps (66, 96) desdites bornes;
chacun des premier et deuxième connecteurs comportant un groupe sélectionné respectif
de bornes, chaque dit groupe sélectionné étant inférieur à l'ensemble des groupes,
ledit groupe sélectionné étant adjacent à une extrémité d'un boîtier respectif contigu
audit connecteur adjacent; et
un dispositif de couplage (20, 120) assurant l'assemblage desdits premier et deuxième
connecteurs (40, 140; 70, 170) adjacents, ledit dispositif englobant un élément diélectrique
comportant plusieurs ouvertures le traversant, au moins un premier groupe desdites
ouvertures recevant par serrage lesdites sections de corps exposées (66, 96) desdites
bornes dudit groupe sélectionné dudit premier connecteur (40, 120), et au moins un
deuxième groupe desdites ouvertures recevant par serrage une partie de corps des bornes
dudit groupe sélectionné dudit deuxième connecteur (70, 170).
2. , Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit dispositif
de couplage est constitué par un boîtier additionnel (20) comportant lesdites ouvertures
(32), dimensionnées de sorte à recevoir les parties de corps exposées respectives
desdites bornes de chaque dit groupe sélectionné dans lesdits premier et deuxième
connecteurs, de sorte que les sections de contact respectives de la plaquette (64,
164) s'étendent au-dessous et vers l'extérieur desdites ouvertures respectives (32)
et sont alignées en vue du montage dans des trous de passage d'une plaquette de circuit.
3. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdites ouvertures
sont des orifices (32) s'étendant entre des faces supérieure et inférieure opposées
dudit boîtier additionnel (20).
4. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdites ouvertures
sont des fentes (132) s'étendant dans ledit boîtier additionnel et à travers celui-ci,
d'une face avant vers une face arrière correspondante.
5. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdites ouvertures
dudit boîtier additionnel sont agencées dans un arrangement ayant plusieurs rangées
et plusieurs colonnes complémentaires aux rangées et aux colonnes desdites bornes
desdits premier et deuxième connecteurs (40, 70).
6. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit dispositif de
couplage (220) englobe des premier et deuxièmes éléments, le premier élément (228)
étant constitué par un élément diélectrique en forme de plaque et le deuxième élément
étant constitué par au moins une pince (222, 322, 422), destinée à interverrouiller
les parois des boîtiers adjacents des connecteurs respectifs.
7. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 6, dans lequel chaque boîtier (140,
170) englobe une patte de verrouillage s'étendant vers l'extérieur (149, 179), à proximité
d'au moins une extrémité correspondante, chaque patte définissant un canal de verrouillage
(151, 181) dimensionné de sorte à coopérer avec l'une de ladite au moins une pince,
chaque dite pince (222) comprenant une paire de bras élastiques rigides (224), s'étendant
ensemble à partir d'une bride (225) vers les extrémités libres pouvant être fléchies
à l'écart de celle-ci lors de l'insertion le long desdits canaux de verrouillage (151,
181), lesdites extrémités libres englobant des saillies de verrouillage (227), débordant
à partir des surfaces opposées desdits bras élastiques respectifs, en vue d'un logement
dans lesdits canaux respectifs pour verrouiller ladite pince auxdits premier et deuxième
connecteurs.
8. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 6, englobant deux desdites pinces
(222), associée chacune à une paire alignée respective de parois latérales des premier
et deuxième boîtiers.
9. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 6, dans lequel chacune desdites pinces
(222) englobe une paire de saillies (323), s'étendant ensemble à partir d'un corps
transversal en vue d'une réception par ajustement serré dans les orifices respectifs
des boîtiers desdits premier et deuxième connecteurs.
10. Assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 6, dans lequel chaque dite pince (422)
définit des orifices la traversant en vue de la réception des saillies (351) des boîtiers
des premier et deuxième connecteurs par ajustement serré.