Preassembled press fit connector with assembly insert

Abstract

 A preassembled press fit connector and method of mounting the same on a printed circuit board in an array of plated thru holes (22) comprises a connector housing (12) and first and second adjacent rows of contacts (14) mounted within the housing. Each contact has a press shoulder portion (20) within the housing and a press fit section (18) extending downwardly below of the housing. A removable insert (16) includes a plate portion (28) for defining an external connector press surface above the housing and first and second rows of integral teeth (30) extending downwardly into the housing. The rows of teeth engage one each with the press shoulder portions of the first and second row of contacts. This allows the press fit sections of the contacts to be simultaneously forced into mating engagement with the plated thru holes of the printed circuit board by applying pressure to the connector press surface.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a preassembled press fit connector in accordance with the precharacterizing portion of claim 1 as well as to a method for mounting such a preassembled press fit connector onto a printed circuit board having rows of plated through-holes.

[0002] Preassembled press fit connectors, which comprise a plastic housing and a plurality of press fit contacts mounted therein, are well known in the art. Press fit contacts rely on a mechanical matinq engagement with plated thru holes on a circuit board in order to establish electrical contact therewith. The force required to mate the contacts of the preassembled connector with the circuit board generally cannot be applied to the connector housing without damaging the connector. Conventionally, a plurality of connectors are mounted on a circuit board by a press having a comb-shaped head which enters each connector housing to-individuaily engage and exert a pressing force simultaneously on each of the press fit contacts therein. Accordingly, each connector must be precisely aligned with the press head during pressing which slows and adds to the complexity of the mounting operation.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide preassembled press fit connectors which facilitate the connector mounting operation.

[0004] It is another object of the invention to provide preassembled press fit connectors having external press surfaces which may be gang pressed into a printed circuit board.

[0005] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following portion of the specification and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate, in accordance with the mandate of the patent statutes, a presently preferred embodiment incorporating the principles of the invention.

[0006] Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preassembled press fit connector according to the teachings of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a side view partially sectioned of a plurality of preassembled press fit connectors on a printed circuit board prior to pressing.

[0007] The connector 10 generally comprises a plastic housing 12, two adjacent rows of press fit contacts 14 mounted therein, and a removable insert member 16.

[0008] The contacts 14 each include a press fit section 18 extending below the housing 12 and a shoulder 20 within the housing 12 to which a force is applied to mate the press fit section 18 with a plated thru hole 22 of a printed circuit board 24. Vertical slots 26 within the housing 12 provide access to the contact shoulders 20 from above.

[0009] The insert member 16 includes a plate portion defining a single external press surface 28 for each connector above the plastic housing 12. First and second rows of teeth 30 are integrally formed with the plate portion 28 and extend downwardly therefrom into the housing slots 26. The two rows of teeth 30 individually engage the press shoulders 20 of the respective rows of connector contacts 14 to direct a force applied to the press surface 28 to the individual contacts. Accordingly, a press block 34 having a flat surface 36 parallel with the circuit board 24 which rests on a suitable support 38 may be lowered to mate one or more loosely inserted connectors 10 with the arrays of plated thru holes 22 of the printed circuit board 24. In the preferred embodiment, the connector press surfaces 28 defined by the inserts 16 are substantially flat so that the connectors are automatically straightened as the flat press block surface 36 is lowered into engagement therewith. After the connectors are mounted, the inserts may then be removed.

Claims

1. A preassembled press fit connector for mounting on a printed circuit board in an array of plated thru holes (22) wherein the connector comprises a connector housing(12), first and second adjacent rows of contacts (14) mounted within the housing, a press shoulder (20) formed on each contact within the housing, and a press fit section (18) formed on each contact extending downwardly below the housing, characterized in that a removable insert member (16) 4-o is used to simultaneously force the press fit sections of the rows of contacts into mating engagement with the plated thru holes of the printed circuit board, wherein the insert member comprises a plate (28) defining an external connector press surface above the housing, and first and second rows of integral teeth (30) extending downwardly from the means and engaging one each with the press shoulders of the first and second row of contacts.

2.. A method for mounting a preassembled press fit connector of claim 1 onto a printed circuit board having rows of plated thru holes comprising the steps of loosely inserting the connector into the rows of thru holes of the circuit board, applying a pressing force to the flat connector press surface of the loosely inserted connectors with a press having a flat press surface parallel with the circuit board, and removing the inserts from the connectors.

Drawing