The Whitaker Corporation

Amp LLC

Randy G Simmons

Jess Britton Ferrill

Michael Paul Derstine

Ronald D Sizemore

Alan W Brownlie

Randolph L Buchter

Edward K Marsh

Terry Lee Pitts

Ned A Sigmon

Riley K Barker

Albert David Willette

Laura L Varsik

Henry J Persia

An electrical connector includes a housing having a cavity which holds a pair of terminal inserts. Each of the terminal inserts includes a respective molding which holds a respective plurality of terminals. The moldings have respective latch arms which latchably secure the terminal inserts together to form a terminal insert subassembly which is inserted into the cavity as a unit. The latch arms have latch tabs which are cooperable with the housing to secure the terminal insert subassembly in the housing. The terminals in one of the terminal inserts are laterally staggered with respect to the terminals in the other of the terminal inserts.

Electrical connector having terminal insert subassembly

A stacked electrical connector 2 including right angle RJ-45 modular jacks 4 positioned in columns also includes LED's 38 positioned on the front mating face 18 of the connector 2. Internal passages 28 extend from the mating face 18 of the jack housing 18 and intersect channels 34 extending to the bottom pcb mounting face 22 where the connector 2 and jacks 4 are soldered to a printed circuit board. LED leads 42 are located in the passages 28 and contacts 44 are located in channels 34. Insulation displacement slots 48 at the top of the contacts 44 terminate the leads 42. The termination points are staggered and the leads 42 in a column are of different lengths so that contacts 44 of different lengths can engage corresponding leads 42. LED's 38 can thus be positioned beside mating openings 20 on the front of the connector 2 to provide status indications.

Stacked electrical connector with visual indicators

This invention is directed too a PCMCIA frame kit having improved stability, where the kit is intended to receive a planar electronic device for electrical engagement with a complementary device in electronic equipment. The kit comprises a pair of matable, metal cover members, where each cover member is integrally molded to a dielectric frame upon which the planar electronic device is seated. The improved feature is the provision of each frame including at least a pair of side rails, where at least one side rail pair on one cover member includes plural, circular, upstanding pins having a predetermined diameter, the matable side rail on the other cover member includes a like plurality of holes to receive a corresponding pin. In a preferred embodiment, the cross section of holes exhibits a multi-sided configuration with the diametrical distance between opposing corners being slightly greater than the predetermined diameter, and the diametrical distance between opposing sides in slightly less than the predetermined diameter. By this arrangement a normal force applied between the covers effects a force fit between each respective pin and its multi-sided hole.

Rigid PCMCIA frame kit

This invention is directed to an improved PCMCIA frame kit for receiving a planar electronic device, such as a printed circuit board or memory card, for electrical engagement with a complementary device in electronic equipment, such as a computer. The kit comprises a pair of matable, cover members to provide shielding to the planar electronic device, and that each cover member is integrally molded to a dielectric frame upon which the planar electronic device is seated. The improvement hereof lies in the provision of each frame including a dielectric extension intermatable with one another to define a cavity for receiving a portion of the planar electronic device. By this arrangement the planar electronic device may be provided with an antenna for the transmission of signals through the dielectric extension. Optionally, the cover members and extensions may be essentially identical in construction having appropriate means about the periphery thereof, for intermatability. Further, an elastomeric sealing gasket may be provided between the shielding cover members and the respective extensions.

High density PCMCIA frame kit

This invention relates to a high density shielded electrical cable connector receptacle of the type for the transmission of signals from PCMCIA cards to network wiring. The receptacle comprises a housing insert for mounting a plurality of electrical contacts, a pair of hermaphroditic, metal shielding members adapted to lie contiguous with the housing insert, and a dielectric cover member for receiving the assembled housing insert and shielding members. The housing insert comprises a dielectric, elongated, first housing member having a connector mating portion, and a rear insert receiving portion, and a dielectric insert for receipt in the insert receiving portion. The dielectric insert includes an elongated opening through which first ends of the electrical contacts may project, and a rear contact divider characterized by a plurality of axially extending ribs along the upper and lower surfaces of said dividers, where the respective upper and lower ribs are staggered and that the opposite ends of adjacent electrical contacts are alternately arranged between adjacent ribs on the upper and lower surfaces of the divider.

High density electrical connector

This invention is directed to a fully shielded printed circuit (PC) card holder, that may be readily 'snapped' into the assembly, or disassembled, as the case may be. The holder is intended to receive a PC card, where at least one end of the card is adapted to be electrically connected to an I/O type connector. The holder comprises a generally rectangular bottom cover member formed of a conductive material, corner supports integrally molded to the bottom cover member at the respective corners thereof, where each support includes a lower flange portion to which the bottom cover member is exposed. Further, a generally rectangular upper cover member is provided where the periphery thereof includes a downwardly extending flange adapted to engage the lower flange portion in electrical contact with the bottom cover member over a substantial portion of the periphery thereof. In the assembled condition, the holder provides continuous shielding against distortion of data signals between the PC card and the I/O type connector.

Shielded printed circuit card holder

An outlet (1) or communications cable (17), includes, an enclosure (2) defined by a base (3) and a cover (4), a cable receiving opening (8) in the base (3), multiple interchangeable plates (5) adapted for removable mounting along sides (23) of the enclosure (2), and each of the plates (5) being removable for replacement by one of the plates (5) having a connector receiving opening (6) adapted to receive a data connector (20) connected to a cable (17) received by the cable receiving opening (8).

Surface mount outlet

A multicontact electrical connector (2) comprises an insulating housing (4) defining a plurality of pairs of adjacent rows of contact receiving cavities (18 and 20). In the upper cavity (18) of the middle row of superposed pairs of cavities (18 and 20) is a shorter contact element (38), a longer contact element (36) being supported in the cavity (20) immediately therebelow. Each longer contact element (36) has a bowed contact surface (42) which is nearer to the mating face (12) the housing (4) than the bowed contact surface (42) of the shorter contact element (38). The contact surfaces (42) of the contact elements (36 and 38) lie in slots (6,8,10) for receiving respective contact members (74,76,78) of a mating connector (66). The contact surfaces (42) of the longer contact elements (36), which surfaces lie in the upper slot (6), are bowed in the opposite direction to the contact surfaces (42) of the longer contact elements (36), which contact surfaces lie in the middle slot (8), thereby to exert equal and opposite forces against the respective contact members (74 and 76). The contact surfaces (42) of the shorter contact elements (38) which contact surfaces are in the upper and middle slots (6 and 8) are similarly oppositely bowed. Lateral forces acting between the mating connectors (4 and 66) are thereby reduced and by virtue of the staggered arrangement of the contact surfaces (42) in each slot (6,8,10) the force needed to mate the connectors is also reduced.

Reduced insertion force electrical connector

A method of plating a flexible plastic part is disclosed where serrations are provided on a flexible beam where the serrations are sinuous in shape. After molding the serrations onto the flexible beam, the component is electrically dipped to plate the component. The flexible beam can now be flexed without concern of cracking the plating along the length of the beam where the beam is flexed. A second embodiment shows an outlet box including two latch members along the sides which are bow shaped and have grounding surfaces thereon, which latch the outlet box in place to a panel, and simultaneously ground the box to the panel.

Method of plating a flexible dielectric member

An electrical connector is disclosed which comprises an inner shielded body having two hinges stamped from the sidewalls thereof. Spring latching arms are rotatably connected to the hinges and comprise forward portions which include latching surfaces which latch the connector to a complementary connector. The latching arms further comprise, rearward of the hinge, surfaces which converge from front to rear. The outer housing includes an internal camming surface adjacent to the converging surfaces on the spring arms. The housing is axially movable relative to the inner shielded body, thereby to rotate the latch arms and unlatch the connector.

Latch mechanism for electrical connector

A local area network interface assembly includes an outlet box for receiving at least one connector assembly therein. The outlet box is profiled to receive from the rear thereof, an edge card connector, which is snap latachable into the outlet box. The connector assembly is mounted to an edge card which is profiled for receipt within the edge card connector. The outlet box is formed of a dielectric material which is plated over with a metallic plating. The outlet box includes two latch members along the sides which are bow shaped and have grounding surfaces thereon, which latch the outlet box in place to a panel, and simultaneously ground the box to the panel.

Growing community of inventors

Lewisville, NC, United States of America

Randy G Simmons