Robinson Nugent, Inc.

Jose L Ortega

F Todd Donahue

An apparatus is provided for locking first and second adjacent electrical connector modules which are stacked end-to-end. The first and second modules each are formed to include an insulative housing, a plurality of windows in communication with a plurality of contacts coupled to the housing, and a foot section formed to include a coding slot. The contacts have contact terminals extending beyond a rear wall of the housing in a plurality of rows. The apparatus includes a cap having an insulative body including a plurality of spaced apart divider walls configured to define a plurality of slots, each slot being configured to receive a row of the contact terminals. The insulative body of the cap extends across abutting ends of the first and second connector modules. The apparatus also includes a locking clip configured to engage adjacent abutting foot sections of the first and second connector modules to lock the abutting foot sections together.

Electrical connector interlocking apparatus

An apparatus (50) is configured to be positioned between an electrical connector (32) and a printed circuit board (14) to strengthen the printed circuit board (14). The electrical connector (32) has at least one location peg (44) extending therefrom for aligning the electrical connector (32) relative to the printed circuit board (14). The apparatus (50) includes a generally L-shaped body member having a first leg (54) configured to abut an end edge (63) of the printed circuit board (14) and a second leg (56) configured to abut a surface of the printed circuit board (14) adjacent the end edge (63). The second leg (56) is formed to include at least one aperture (60) for receiving the at least one location peg (44) of the electrical connector (32) therein to couple electrical connector (32) to the body member. Preferably, the printed circuit board (14) is formed to include a notched portion (52) adjacent the end edge (63). The second leg (56) of the L-shaped body member is configured to lie within the notched portion (52).

Electrical connector organizer and board stiffener apparatus

An electrical connector system is provided for coupling a fixed backplane to a removable daughtercard. The connector system includes a socket connector having a housing formed to include an array of pin-receiving windows therein, and a plurality of receptacle contacts located within the housing in alignment with the pin-receiving windows. The receptacle contacts include tail sections electrically coupled to the backplane. The socket connector also includes a plurality of cantilevered guide posts extending away from the housing. The connector system further includes a header connector having a housing and an array of contact pins secured in the housing for engaging the receptacle contacts of the socket connector. The contact pins include tail sections electrically coupled to the daughtercard. The housing of the header connector is formed to include a plurality of guide slots aligned axially with the cantilevered guide posts formed on the socket connector. The guide slots are configured so that the guide posts enter the guide slots as the socket connector and the header connector are mated to align the array of pin-receiving windows of the socket connector with the array of pins of the header connector.

Inverse backplane connector system

An electrical connector hold down apparatus is provided for engaging a side wall defining a hole in a printed circuit board to secure the electrical connector to the printed circuit board. The apparatus includes a base, and a plurality of spring beams extending away from the base. Each spring beam includes a body portion and an anchor tip portion. The anchor tip portions include a ramp surface configured to engage the side wall defining the hole in the printed circuit board and to move the spring beams radially inwardly so that the spring beams apply a radially outwardly directed force against the side wall to hold the apparatus within the hole. The anchor tip portions also include a barb formed on a trailing end of the ramp surface. The barbs are configured to penetrate the side wall defining the hole in the printed circuit board to increase a retention force of the hold down apparatus in the hole.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Jose L Ortega