Samtec Incorporated

Santec Corporation

John K Hynes

Brian Richard Vicich

Doug E McCartin

Brian A Striegel

David Lynn Decker

A removable body for an electrical connector assembly. An electrical connector assembly includes a removable body and a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced pins or leads engaged thereto. The removable body includes a pair of oppositely opposed lever arms, biased in a first position, each lever arm including at least one abutment member and a gripping element. The removable body may also include a plurality of struts disposed between the lever arms and rotatably engaged at each end to a respective one of the lever arms. The removable body also includes a tee section diposed between the lever arms. The tee section includes a flange portion supported by the abutment members, and a web portion disposed between the abutment members. The flanges define a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced holes for receiving the pins. The pins are frictionally engaged to the web portion by the abutment members when the lever arms are in the first position. When the lever arms are actuated, the lever arms rotate about respective ends of the struts to release the abutment members from the pins, thus allowing the pins to easily move relative to the removable body.

Removable body for an electrical connector

A fastener for an electrical connector. The fastener (10) includes a fastener body (12) having an opening (16) therethrough for receiving a pin (21). The fastener body (12) includes a plurality of gripping elements (14) protruding into the hole (16) for securing the fastener (10) to the pin (21) when disposed therebetween. The fastener (10) is then soldered to the pin (21) and to a mounting surface (34), such as a printed circuit board, by known soldering techniques.

Fastener for an electrical connector

Connectors formed from long strips of pin headers, which are cut to a length equal to the desired number of connector positions. A pre-molded shroud is then press fit to each end of the cut pin header. The pre-molded shrouds include longitudinally extending arms which engage sides of the pin header in order to firmly hold the shroud in place after placement. Because none of the connector positions on the end of the cut pin header are covered by the shrouds, the completed connector includes the desired number of connector positions. As with the other embodiments of the present invention, the only items that must be inventoried are the long strips of pin headers and the pre-molded shrouds. Any desired size of connector may be formed from these two components.

Connector having press fit mating shrouds

Connectors having press fit mating shrouds. The connectors are formed from long strips of pin headers, which are cut to a length equal to the desired number of connector positions plus four additional positions. A pre-molded shroud is then press fit to each end of the cut pin header. The pre-molded shrouds include vertical holes which are sized to fit snugly over the pins on the end position of the cut pin header in order to remain in place after placement. Additionally, the shrouds include vertical slots which snugly receive the pins on the second-to-last position on each end of the pin header. Because the last two positions on each end of the cut pin header are covered by the shrouds, the completed connector includes the desired number of connector positions. Furthermore, the only items that must be inventoried are the long strips of pin headers and the pre-molded shrouds. Any desired size of connector may be formed from these two components.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

John K Hynes