IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,070,987
Granted Patent B2
US 9,070,987 · App. 14/067,047 · Granted Jun 30, 2015

Connector with secure wafer retention

Inventors: Donald Christopher Knowlden (Harrisburg, PA); Randall Eugene Musser (Enola, PA); John Allen Mongold (Middletown, PA); Chadrick Paul Faith (Corydon, IN)
Assignee: Samtec, Inc.
H01R9/16
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,070,987
App. No.
14/067,047
Granted
Jun 30, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connector includes a connector body, a plurality of wafers arranged within the connector body, and a weld tab defined by a unitary member that includes a plurality of weld tab legs and a plurality of weld tab arms. The plurality of weld tab arms are arranged to engage with corresponding weld tab arm holes included in the connector body, and the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to engage with a circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board. The weld tab prevents the plurality of wafers from withdrawing from the connector body when the plurality of weld tab arms are engaged with the corresponding weld tab arm holes.

Claims (79)

1. A connector comprising:

a connector body;

a plurality of wafers arranged within the connector body; and

a weld tab defined by a unitary member that includes a plurality of weld tab legs and a plurality of weld tab arms; wherein

the plurality of weld tab arms are arranged to engage with corresponding weld tab arm holes included in the connector body;

the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to engage with a circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board;

the weld tab prevents the plurality of wafers from withdrawing from the connector body when the plurality of weld tab arms are engaged with the corresponding weld tab arm holes;

each of the plurality of wafers includes at least one wafer leg arranged to engage with a corresponding pad on the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board;

each of the plurality of wafers includes at least one wafer arm arranged to engage with a corresponding wafer arm hole included in the connector body; and

the at least one wafer arm passes through the connector body and is exposed at a contact section of the connector.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

a first group of the plurality of wafers each includes a wafer lug;

the weld tab includes a plurality of weld tab slots arranged to receive the wafer lugs;

the first group of the plurality of wafers that each includes the wafer lug are arranged in an alternating manner in the connector body with respect to a second group of the plurality of wafers that do not each include the wafer lug; and

the plurality of weld tab slots are arranged to engage with the wafer lugs when the plurality of weld tab arms are engaged with the corresponding weld tab arm holes.

3. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one wafer leg of each of the plurality of wafers includes a fusible member arranged at a lower portion thereof; and

the fusible member of the at least one wafer leg is arranged so that a contact area between the fusible member and the corresponding pad on the circuit board overlaps with a centerline of the at least one wafer leg.

4. The connector according to claim 3 , wherein the corresponding pad on the circuit board is circular or substantially circular.

5. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one wafer leg and each of the at least one wafer arm are provided in a corresponding pair defined by a single, unitary member.

6. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein:

one planar surface of each of the plurality of wafers includes a wafer rib; and

another planar surface of each of the plurality of wafers includes a wafer groove.

7. The connector according to claim 6 , wherein the wafer rib of at least one of the plurality of wafers is received by the wafer groove of at least another one of the plurality of wafers.

8. The connector according to claim 6 , wherein

the connector body includes a connector rib; and

the wafer groove of one of the plurality of wafers receives the connector rib.

9. The connector according to claim 6 , wherein

the connector body includes a connector groove; and

the connector groove receives the wafer rib of one of the plurality of wafers.

10. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one of the plurality of wafers includes a vertical rib that engages with a corresponding vertical slot included in the connector body.

11. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of weld tab legs has a width greater than remaining ones of the plurality of weld tab legs to align the connector with respect to the circuit board.

12. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to engage with corresponding weld holes in the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

13. The connector according to claim 12 , wherein one of the weld holes in the circuit board is narrower than remaining ones of the weld holes to align the connector with respect to the circuit board.

14. The connector according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs is arranged to mechanically deform when inserted into the corresponding weld hole of the circuit board to frictionally fit and align the connector to the circuit board.

15. The connector according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to be inserted into the corresponding weld holes and soldered to the corresponding weld holes when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

16. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to be surface mounted to the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

17. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged as a clip to mechanically secure the connector to the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

18. A connector comprising:

a connector body;

a plurality of wafers arranged within the connector body; and

a weld tab defined by a unitary member that includes a plurality of weld tab legs and a plurality of weld tab arms; wherein

the plurality of weld tab arms are arranged to engage with corresponding weld tab arm holes included in the connector body;

the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to engage with a circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board;

the weld tab prevents the plurality of wafers from withdrawing from the connector body when the plurality of weld tab arms are engaged with the corresponding weld tab arm holes;

one planar surface of each of the plurality of wafers includes a wafer rib;

another planar surface of each of the plurality of wafers includes a wafer groove;

the connector body includes a connector rib; and

the wafer groove of one of the plurality of wafers receives the connector rib.

19. The connector according to claim 8 , wherein:

a first group of the plurality of wafers each includes a wafer lug;

the weld tab includes a plurality of weld tab slots arranged to receive the wafer lugs;

the first group of the plurality of wafers that each includes the wafer lug are arranged in an alternating manner in the connector body with respect to a second group of the plurality of wafers that do not each include the wafer lug; and

the plurality of weld tab slots are arranged to engage with the wafer lugs when the plurality of weld tab arms are engaged with the corresponding weld tab arm holes.

20. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein:

each of the plurality of wafers includes at least one wafer leg arranged to engage the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

21. The connector according to claim 20 , wherein:

the at least one wafer leg of each of the plurality of wafers includes a fusible member arranged at a lower portion thereof; and

the fusible member of the at least one wafer leg is arranged so that a contact area between the fusible member and the corresponding pad on the circuit board overlaps with a centerline of the at least one wafer leg.

22. The connector according to claim 21 , wherein the corresponding pad on the circuit board is circular or substantially circular.

23. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein:

each of the plurality of wafers includes at least one wafer leg arranged to engage with a corresponding pad on the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board; and

each of the plurality of wafers includes at least one wafer arm arranged to engage with a corresponding wafer arm hole included in the connector body.

24. The connector according to claim 23 , wherein each of the at least one wafer leg and each of the at least one wafer arm are provided in a corresponding pair defined by a single, unitary member.

25. The connector according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one wafer arm passes through the connector body and is exposed at a contact section of the connector.

26. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein the wafer rib of at least one of the plurality of wafers is received by the wafer groove of at least another one of the plurality of wafers.

27. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein

the connector body includes a connector groove; and

the connector groove receives the wafer rib of one of the plurality of wafers.

28. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein

at least one of the plurality of wafers includes a vertical rib that engages with a corresponding vertical slot included in the connector body.

29. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein one of the plurality of weld tab legs has a width greater than remaining ones of the plurality of weld tab legs to align the connector with respect to the circuit board.

30. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to engage with corresponding weld holes in the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

31. The connector according to claim 30 , wherein one of the weld holes in the circuit board is narrower than remaining ones of the weld holes to align the connector with respect to the circuit board.

32. The connector according to claim 30 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs is arranged to mechanically deform when inserted into the corresponding weld hole of the circuit board to frictionally fit and align the connector to the circuit board.

33. The connector according to claim 30 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to be inserted into the corresponding weld holes and soldered to the corresponding weld holes when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

34. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged to be surface mounted to the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

35. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of weld tab legs are arranged as a clip to mechanically secure the connector to the circuit board when the connector is mounted to the circuit board.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2014
From: KNOWLDEN, DONALD CHRISTOPHER; MUSSER, RANDALL EUGENE; MONGOLD, JOHN ALLEN; FAITH, CHADRICK PAUL
To: SAMTEC, INC.
Reel/Frame 031950/0962 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150118913A1 · Apr 30, 2015