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PCT ‘WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION @ ‘htemations Butea INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (Si) International Patent Classification 6 (11) International Publication Number: WO 97/1743 HOIR 23468, 13/631, 2372 (43) International Publication Date: 15 May 1997 (15.05.97) (21) International Application Number: PCT/IB96/01181 | (61) Designated States: CN, JP, KR, SG, US, European patent (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, Fl, FR, GB. GR, IE, IT, LU, MC. (22) International Filing Date: 4 November 1996 (04.11.96) NL, PT, SE). (20) Priority Data: Published 98227112 6 November 1995 (06.11.95) GB With international search report 96179675 28 August 1996 (28.08.96) GB (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): THE WHITAKER CORPORATION [US/US]; Suite 450, 4550 New Linden Hill Road, Wilmington, DE 19808 (US), (72) Inventors; and (75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): DE BLIECK, Roland, ‘Tristan [NLINL}; Looveltlaan 32, NL-5345 WD Oss (NL), BERTENS, Aloysius, Antonius [NL/NL]; Ockeghemstraat 16, NL-5262 HR Vught (NL). BROEKSTEEG, Johannes, Marcelus [NL/NL]; Hertogensingel 62, NL-S341 AG Oss WL). (74) Agents: NINA, Driscoll, A. et al; AMP Intemational Enter prises Lid,, AMPerestrasie 3, CH-9323 Steinach (CH). (4) Title: COUPLER FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS (57) Abstract {An electrical connector (10, 110) for mating with a complemen: tary component (2, 102) having a mating face (12, 112) and an anchor (14, 114), the connector comprising a connector housing (22, 122) hav- ing ‘a connector coupler (30, 130) therein for engaging the anchor (14, 114) in a fixed manner and a terminal block (23, 123) for rece Contset modules therein and arranged complementarly to the mating face (12, 112), the terminal block (23, 123) being floatably coupled to the connector housing (22, 122) and resiliently biased therefrom by a resilient member (144) such that the coupling force atthe mating face (12, 112) is determined by the force of the resilient member (144). FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY ‘Codes used to identify States party tothe PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT. AM: Amenia ted Kingsom MW Mate AT Asia Georie| MX Merico AU Aawtaie Gunes NE Niger BB Bastados rece NL Nebarands BE Belg Heagey NO Norway BF Baki Feo ed | NZ New 2eatnd 2G agnia tay PL Pond By Bean sip Pr Porupa BR rat xe Kenya RO Romania BY Bein KG Kyrgyuan RU Rosia Federation CA Came KP Democrbc People's Repbic sD Sedan CE Cantal Afcan Republic of kore SE Sweden 6G Congo KR Repl of Korea SG Singmpore CH Seiten KZ Kanata Sl Slovenia Cara hoe UL Lecteasein SK Slovakia cM Cameroon 1k Satan SN Semel CX Cane LR Lei SZ Swaziland CS Carorovnia Ur ihunia > Cut Cz Conch Repable Coemtous 1G Tow DE Germany Ly tavie 1 Taft DK Denar MC Masco ‘TE Toda nd Tobago RE aon MD Republi of Mléora UA Uiane 5S Spain MG Macaguce UG Upanta FL Pond ML Mall US Untied Sues of America FRO France MN Mongol Uz Ushetisun GA Gaten MR Mesrasia WN VietNon wo 97/1743 PCT/IB96/01181 10 15 20 25 30 35 COUPLER FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS This invention relates to structure that can be incorporated into an electrical connector in order to mechanically connect the connector to a complementary component, The structure is particularly applicable to board-to-board connectors, but not limited thereto. In electrical connectors, it is necessary to establish not only an electrical connection between the complementary contacts which may be housed in a terminal block or upon a printed circuit board; but also, to interconnect mechanically the mating connector components to ensure that the electrical connection is not defeated. This has been accomplished in the prior art in a number of manners, such as fasteners similar to screws or clips, resilient latch arms on one of the connectors that cooperate with lugs on the other connector, or external devices that function to hold the two together. These structures typically work well where there is a fairly large range of tolerance with respect to where the electrical interconnection may occur over the distance of mating the two connector components together. This would be the case where one of the contacts is a pin contact and the other contact is a receptacle contact having spring arms to form a wiping interconnection with the pin, as anywhere along the pin would form a satisfactory connection. In addition, an interconnection of this type requires that a fairly large load must be brought to bear on the mating connector in order to engage whatever latching structure is being used. These two considerations create a problem where there is either not enough linear travel available to establish the desired interconnection or the mating components are not capable of bearing the amount of force necessary to establish the interconnection. An example might be where a daughter card is to be mated with a mother board and for whatever reason the standard edge card connector is not satisfactory. These short comings are met by providing an CONFIRMATION COPY

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