Amp LLC

Mark H Waters

Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr

Charles Edward Reynolds

Earl C Myers, Jr

Robert H Frantz

Michael Eugene Shirk

John A Root

Lahman D Lambert, Ii

According to one aspect, the invention comprises an hermaphroditic key assembly for electrical connectors which includes a first connector (10) having first and second pairs of diametrically opposed key positions (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d) at either of which a pair of keys (42a, 42b) may be provided, and a second connector (12) having first and second pairs of diametrically opposed key-receiving positions (46a, 46b, 46c, 46d) at either of which a pair of key-receiving openings (47a, 47b) may be provided. The connectors (10, 12) are permitted to mate when the diametrically opposed keys (42a, 42b) are aligned with the diametrically opposed key-receiving openings (47a, 47b), and are not permitted to mate when the keys (42a, 42b) are not aligned with the openings (47a, 47b), providing two possible keying orientations for the keying means. According to a further aspect of the invention, the hermaphroditic keying assembly is used in conjunction with a further keying element, such as a polygonal keying element, to double the number of available keying combinations possible with the other keying assembly alone.

Hermaphroditic keys

A key retention system for electrical connectors which includes a connector (12) including a lower backshell (42) having at least one generally T-shaped slot (51) extending therein from a side face (52) thereof for receiving a generally T-shaped key (61). Slot (51) and key (61) are configured to permit key (61) to be easily inserted into slot (51) in the correct orientation and to prevent key (61) from rotating or from moving laterally or longitudinally within slot (51) to any appreciable extent. Locking means comprising a projection (81) extending inwardly from the cover (43) for the lower backshell (42) is positioned to extend into the slot when cover (43) is mounted to lower backshell (42) to lock key (61) in position within slot (51).

Key retention system

A method for mounting an electrical connector (10) to a printed circuit board or other support panel (12) with a top-actuated eyelet (20), and an actuation tool (50, 100) for use in practicing the method. The method comprises essentially a two-step mounting process whereby the actuating tool (50, 100) first grips and restrains the connector (10), and thereafter the connector (10) is positioned relative to a printed circuit board (13) and the tool (50, 100) operated to actuate the eyelet (20) to attach the connector (10) to the board (12). The method of the invention permits the eyelet (20) to be used to facilitate positioning of the connector (10) on the printed circuit board (12) and, in general, the method and actuating tool (50, 100) permit connectors (10) to be mounted to printed circuit boards (12) in an efficient, automated manner utilizing less complex and less costly tooling.

Method and apparatus for mounting electrical connectors to printed

A programmable keying system (51) for electrical connectors includes keys (56) which are supported within key-receiving passageways (61) in a connector (10) to cooperate with opposing keys in a complementary connector to ensure that the connector (10) will mate only with a connector with which it is intended to mate. The keys (56) are supported in the passageways (61) in a partially inserted, programmable first position in which they are loosely retained in the passageways (61) by first retention means, but are capable of being rotated to a selected orientation. After being oriented, the keys (56) are pushed fully into the passageways (61) to a locked second position in which they are locked in the passageways (61) in the selected orientation by second retention means. The keying system (51) permits connectors (10) to be shipped to a customer with the keys assembled thereto but with the keys unprogrammed such that they can be programmed in the field at a later time.

Programmable keying system

A tool (100) for orienting and seating a programmable key (36) in an electrical connector (10). The tool (100) is designed for use with keying systems (30) which includes a key (36) having an extended keying portion (68), and which is rotatable to position the keying portion (68) at any selected one of a plurality of orientations when the key (36) is partially inserted into a key-receiving passageway (31) in the connector (10), and which is thereafter fully insertable into the passageway (31) to lock the key (36) in the passageway (31) in the selected orientation. The tool (100) comprises a sleeve (101) having a bore (102), a cylindrical member (103) positioned within the bore (102) and including an extended portion (112) at its forward end for defining a space (131) for receiving the extended keying portion (68) or a key (36) when the member (103) is in a retracted first position in the sleeve (101); means for rotating the member (103) while the member (103) is in the retracted first position to rotate the key (36) to a selected orientation when the extended keying portion (68) of the key (36) is received in the space (131); and means (121) for coupling the member (103) to the sleeve (101) while permitting axial movement of the member (103) relative to the sleeve (101) whereby the oriented key (36) is fully inserted into a key-receiving passageway (31) by moving the member (103) axially forward relative to the sleeve (101) to an extended second position.

Key orientation and seating tool

An electrical connector asembly (10) for mounting to a planar surface (96) has an elongate electrically conductive diecast housing (12) having an aperture (42) therein. A drawn shell (14) having an aperture therein is received in the diecast housing aperture (42). Barbs (60, 62) engage the peripheral edge (50) of flange (46), center drawn shell (14) and assure electrical continuity between drawn shell (14) and diecast housing (12). A burr relief pocket (70) in diecast housing (12) accommodates any burrs (68) from barbs (60, 62) such that flange (46) seats against housing surface (48). A thermoplastic header insert (16) having terminal receiving passages (78) with terminals (82) secured therein is received in and secured in the drawn shell aperture. Insert (16) engages barbs (60, 62) in an interference fit and is centered and partially retained thereby. A portion of rib (104) of diecast housing (12) is formed over lower edge (102) of header insert (16) to secure drawn shell (14) and header insert (16) in diecast housing (12).

Connector assembly with diecast housing and drawn shell

A removable dielectric enclosure or boot assembly for enclosing a shielded line terminator. The enclosure has a cavity having an opening for receiving a shielded line terminator such that the shell of the shielded line terminator is flush with the opening when the shielded line terminator is disposed in the cavity. The enclosure has screws captured in screw receiving apertures spaced to align with apertures in the shell such that when the shielded line terminator is mated with a complementary connector, the threaded end thereof is received in nut means associated with the complementary connector and a shoulder on the screw bears against the rear surface of the shell as the screw is rotated to draw the shielded line terminator and dielectric enclosure toward the complementary connector.

Shielded line terminator enclosure

An insert retention device for retention of same in a dielectric housing serving as a screwlock especially suitable for high speed connector assemblies; these insert retention devices are desirable because of their characteristics when cold pressed into a plastic housing and are useful for electronic printed circuit board assembly and the like.

Insert retention members for connectors

Boot for an electrical connector

A shielded line terminator having a pair of electrically conductive, hermaphroditic shields each having hooked tines which engage profiled recesses along an edge of an electrically conductive shell of an electrical connector. The shields form a rearward extending cavity encompassing a line terminator which engages contacts extending from the rear face of the electrical connector. Each shield has latch means positioned to engage lug means on the other shield to detachably secure the shields together.

Hermaphroditic shield for line terminator

An improved shielded and insulated electrical connector for terminating shielded multiconductor cable is formed by a pair of mating metal shield members which engage a peripheral metal shell means on a standard connector and enclose the rear conductor exiting portion thereof. The shield members each include embossed strengthening means as well as interengaging side walls to completely enclose the rear of an electrical connector. At least one shield member is provided with at least one overmolding pressure relief means which opens at a predetermined pressure and allows a limited amount of overmolding insulating material to enter the cavity defined by the shield members while equalizing the inner and outer shield member pressures. The shield members also include gripping means which allow overmolding insulative material to enter and harden thereby becoming fixedly attached to the shield members to prevent withdrawal due to shrinking as the overmold insulative material cools. At least one of the shield members is preferably provided with continuity lances which positively engage the metal shell of the connector to assure good electrical contact therewith. The shield members include latching means and they are held together by a crimp ring which secures the cable shield thereto.

Overmolded shielded connector

Boot assembly for use with a shielded cable connector having a flange about the periphery of the mating face comprises jack screws passing through the cable receiving end of the boot and the flange to retain the connector against a complementary connector. Boot is molded of a thermoplastic having good elongation in thin sections so that screw receiving apertures in boot capture screws at constricted necks thereof and cable receiving aperture will accommodate wide range of cable sizes.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

Mark H Waters