PCT ‘WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION @
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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 VietNonwo 97/1743 PCT/IB96/01181
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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