Amp LLC

The Whitaker Corporation

Robert L Bendorf

Robert Volinskie

Richard L Schaeffer, Jr

Scott A Keener

Robert Thomas Hirsbrunner

Dirk R Dixon

Douglas R Sarver

A board lock (50) includes a body (52) having a connector engaging portion (54) and can tilevered beams (56) extending from opposite transverse edges thereof. The inner edges (62) of the beams (56) define a slot (64) therebetween that extends into an enlarged aperture (66) in the center of the body (52). Each of the outer edges (58) of the beams (56) include a protrusion (60) and further include a latching portion (68) at the leading end thereof.

Board lock for an electrical connector

An electrical connector 10 is disclosed having a shorting switch 30 that shorts connector contacts 14 together when the mating connector 90 is separated therefrom and breaks the short when the mating connector 90 is mated thereto. The shorting switch 30 includes a shank 32 that is secured in an opening 24 in the base 16 of the connector housing 12. A first beam 38 extends upwardly from the shank 32 at an angle thereto and terminates in a radiused end 40 on one side of the centerline 37 of the shank 32. A second beam 42 extends from the radiused end 40 and terminates in a bifurcated contact end 50,52 on the other side of the shank centerline 37. The second beam 42 includes a knee 48 which is engaged by the mating connector housing 92 for camming the contact end 50,52 out of shorting engagement with the connector contacts 14 in such a way that the contact end 50,52 remains spaced from the mating housing 92. Elongated openings 54,56,58 are formed in the first and second beams 38,42 to distribute the stress of mating and unmating among the first and second beams 38,42 and the radiused end 40.

Electrical connector with snorting switch

An arrangement for securing a body to a support by means of a post on the body which is inserted into an aperture in the support. The post is formed with a cavity into which there is inserted a resilient retaining member having tapered barbs extending outwardly of the post from opposite sides thereof. When the post is thereafter inserted into the aperture, the retaining member is compressed and the barbs engage the interior walls of the aperture to prevent subsequent removal of the post therefrom.

Post retention arrangement

An electronic assembly including a pair of complementary connectors (28,40), each mounted to respective circuit boards (22,34) and means for preventing damage to pin contacts (32) of one connector (28) when the connectors (28,40) are unmated, the connectors (28,40) and their respective circuit boards (22,34) defining first and second subassemblies. The pin saving means includes at least one pair of stop means (50) associated with one subassembly and adapted to cooperate with stop engaging means for the other subassembly. The stop means (50) includes a lower portion (52) extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the associated subassembly and a lower portion (54) extending outwardly from a leading end thereof and having a stop surface (56). The upper portion (54) is adapted to be moved from a first position wherein the stop surface (56) engages the stop engaging means to a second position wherein the stop surface (56) is removed from the stop engaging means. In its first position, the upper portion stop surface (56) is located a selected distance from stop engaging means to permit the first and second connectors (28,40) to be partially unmated and the contact surfaces of the pin contacts (32) to be withdrawn from the receptacle contacts (46) while preventing the connectors (28,40) from rotating a sufficient amount to damage the pin contacts (32). The first and second connectors (28,40) are completely separable upon moving the upper stop means portion to their second positions.

Pin saving board stop

A tool for aligning contacts of an electrical connector with conductive areas of a circuit board comprises a base member with comb means movably secured thereto. The comb means are movable between a first position and a second position to cooperate with the contacts of the connector to insure that the contacts are precisely aligned as the circuit board is inserted into the connector. Securing and alignment means are provided to allow the comb means to easily adjust to the contacts of individual connectors. As the comb means is brought into engagement with the contacts a space bar is provided to prevent the contacts from entering the recess into which the circuit board enters. The contacts are maintained in position as soldering occurs, ensuring that a positive electrical connection is affected.

Contact alignment tool

A tool for aligning contacts of an electrical connector with conductive areas of a circuit board comprises a clamp for clamping the connector therein, a slide is movably mounted on the clamp and includes a comb between the teeth of which the contacts are disposed, and adjustment means moves the slide and comb thereby causing the comb teeth to move the contacts so that they are positioned in alignment with the conductive areas.

Growing community of inventors

Millerstown, PA, United States of America

Robert L Bendorf