Thomas & Betts International LLC

Wayne S Alden, 3rd

William Petrocelli

An improved securement device aligns adjacent printed circuit boards (&ldquo;PCBs&rdquo;) while simultaneously connecting all external hardware so as to prevent overcompression of elastomeric contacts positioned therebetween during assembly. The device supports a connector between a pair of PCBs in spaced parallel relation, wherein the connector itself supports a plurality of elastomeric contacts thereon for establishing electrical engagement between the PCBs. The PCBs and the connector each include aligned securement openings. The device includes an elongate fastener having a substantially cylindrical section positioned in the connector opening. The cylindrical section defines a pair of opposed, substantially planar spaced apart component landings for support of a similarly planar component thereupon. The landings are spaced apart a distance sufficient to place the PCBs in communication with the connector without overcompressing the elastomeric contacts therebetween. A substantially annular shoulder is concentrically defined on each of the landings and extends longitudinally therefrom. Such shoulder has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of said cylindrical section. Further, a fastening element extends longitudinally from at least one of said top and bottom shoulders for fastening of the securement element to a housing member accommodating the PCBs and connector therein. In a preferred embodiment, a diametrical slotted cavity is defined in one landing and shoulder, which accommodates a torquing element therein. The slotted cavity provides access to an internally threaded bore which is defined along the length of the slot and can be defined along the longitudinal extent of the cylindrical section itself.

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Whitman, MA, United States of America

Wayne S Alden, 3rd