The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 26, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1992
Keith L Volz, Jamestown, NC (US);
Robert M Renn, Pfafftown, NC (US);
Frederick R Deak, Kernersville, NC (US);
David C Johnson, Winston Salem, NC (US);
The Whitaker Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A pair of printed circuit boards (11, 12) angularly converge towards each other about a pivot axis (13). Each of the boards (11, 12) carries a connector housing (16). The connector housings (16) are identical, but are inverted end-to-end with respect to each other, such that a plurality of hermaphroditic guide fingers (19) on one of the connector housings (16) will mesh with a complementary plurality of guide fingers (19) on the other connector housing (16). The meshing engagement of the guide fingers (19) provides a guide means and a stop means between the connector housings (16) and hence between the printed circuit boards (11, 12). Each of the identical connector housings (16) further has a flexible electrical connector (17), and the flexible electrical connectors (17) engage each other when the printed circuit boards (11, 12) are fully converged. Inclined surfaces (21, 22) on the meshing guide fingers (19) provide a self-alignment feature as the printed circuit boards (11, 12) and the connector housings (16) thereon are angularly converged. Preferably, each connector housing (16) has spaced-apart pairs of bifurcated latching fingers (23) such that the connector housing (16) is 'snapped' on to its respective printed circuit board (11, 12).