Title of Invention

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH WIRE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract An electrical connector (14) includes an elongated dielectric housing (40) having a central body portion (69,72) with a front face (66), a rear face (68) and at least three rows of terminal-receiving passages (26) extending therebetween and including a top row, a middle row and a bottom row. A plurality of terminals (24A- 24C) are received in the passages (26) and include top terminals (24A) received in at least some of the passages in the top row, middle terminals (24B) received in at least some of the passages in the middle row and bottom terminals (24C) received in at least some of the passages in the bottom row. All of the terminals (24A-24C) have forward contact portions and tail portions (36A-36C) projecting rearwardly from the body portion beyond the rear face thereof. The tail portions (36B) of the middle terminals (24B) are longer than the tail portions (36A) of the top terminals (24A). A wire management platform (40) projects from the rear face of the central body portion and includes a first top surface (94A) at which the tail portions (36A) of the top terminals (24A) are juxtaposed. A second top surface (94B) of the platform is offset from the first top surface (94A) and projects further from the rear face of the body portion than the first top surface and at which the longer tail portions (36B) of the middle terminals (24A) are juxtaposed. The platform includes a bottom surface (94C) at which the tail portions (36C) of the bottom terminals (24C) are juxtaposed.
Full Text SPECIFICATION
Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and,
particularly, to a connector having a wire management means for facilitating
terminating the conductors of a plurality of electrical wires to the terminating portions
of the connector terminals.
Background of the Invention
A known type of input/output (I/O) electrical connector includes an elongated
dielectric housing having a front mating face and a rear face with a plurality of
terminal-receiving passages extending therebetween. The faces extend longitudinally
between opposite ends of the elongated housing. A plurality of terminals are received
in the passages. Each terminal includes a forwardly projecting contact portion and a
tail portion projecting rearwardly from the housing beyond the rear face thereof. The
tail portions typically are inserted into holes in a printed circuit board, surface
mounted to circuit traces on a circuit board or connected directly to the center
conductors of discrete electrical wires.
With the ever-increasing miniaturization of the electronics in various
industries, such as in the computer and telecommunications industries, along with the
accompanying miniaturization of electrical connectors, considerable problems have
been encountered in terminating miniature terminals, particularly the terminal tails.
This is particularly true when the tail portions of the terminals are terminated to
"loose" or freely movable electrical wires (versus more stationary circuit traces of a
generally rigid circuit board). This problem of terminating the tiny terminal tails to
the conductors of discrete electrical wires is magnified or compounded when the
terminals are mounted in the connector housing in a plurality of closely spaced rows
which is typical in many known I/O electrical connectors. The present invention is

directed to solving these problems by providing a unique wire management system in
such an electrical connector.
Summary of the Invention
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved
electrical connector of the character described, including a wire management means
for facilitating termination of the tail portions of a plurality of terminals to the
conductors of a plurality of electrical wires, particularly when the terminals are
mounted in rows in the connector housing.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes an
elongated dielectric housing having a central body portion with a front face, a rear
face and three rows of terminal-receiving passages extending therebetween and
including a top row, a middle row and a bottom row. A plurality of terminals are
received in the passages and include top terminals received in at least some of the
passages of the top row, middle terminals received in at least some of the passages of
the middle row and bottom terminals received in at least some of the passages of the
bottom row. All of the terminals have forward contact portions and tail portions
projecting rearwardly from the body portion beyond the rear face thereof. The tail
portions of the middle terminals are longer than the tail portions of the top terminals.
The invention contemplates a wire management platform projecting from the
rear face of the central body portion. The platform includes a first top surface at
which the tail portions of the top terminals are juxtaposed. A second top surface is
offset from the first top surface and projects further from the rear face of the body
portion than the first top surface and at which the longer tail portions of the middle
terminals are juxtaposed. A bottom surface is provided at which the tail portions of
the bottom terminals are juxtaposed. The three distinct surfaces facilitate connection
of the tail portions of the terminals to the conductors of a plurality of appropriate
electrical wires.
As disclosed herein, a plurality of grooves are provided in at least one of the
platform surfaces, aligned with the tail portions juxtaposed thereat. The grooves

facilitate aligning the electrical wires and respective conductors with the tail
portions of the terminals.
According to another aspect of the invention, a wire management platform may
include a first top surface and an offset, longer second top surface for use in a
connector having only two rows of terminals, with the tail portions of the bottom
row being longer than then the tail portions of the top row. According to a
further aspect of the invention, a wire management platform for a single row of
terminals may include grooves for aligning the conductors of the wires with the
tail portions of the terminals.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawing
The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with
particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the
advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector embodying the
concepts of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the connector;
FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the connector;
FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the connector;
FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the connector;
FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the two-part housing with the
terminals and ground blade mounted in the front housing part;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the two-part housing in assembled
condition;
FIGURE 8 is a rear perspective view showing the front shield assembled to the
two-part housing;
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 8, with the rear
shield fully assembled;
FIGURE 10 is a front perspective view of the rear housing part;
FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the rear housing part:
FIGURE 12 is a bottom plan view of the rear housing part; and
FIGURE 13 is a front-to-rear section through the connector, with the
conductors of three electrical wires terminated to the tail portions of terminals in the
three rows thereof.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to Figures 1 -5, the
invention is embodied in an electrical connector, generally designated 14, which
includes an inner dielectric housing (described hereinafter) substantially surrounded
by a front shield, generally designated 16, and a back shield, generally designated 17.
Each of the shields 16 and 17 is a one-piece structure stamped and formed of
conductive sheet metal material.
The connector is an input/output (I/O) electrical device wherein front shield 16
defines a front mating face 18 of the connector, and rear shield 17 defines a rear
terminating face 20. The front face actually is formed by a shroud portion 22 of
shield 16 surrounding forwardly projecting contact portions of three rows of data
transmission terminals. The top row of terminals are generally designated 24A; the
middle row of terminals are generally designated 24B; and the bottom row of
terminals are generally designated 24C. The data transmission terminals project
through terminal-receiving passages 26 (Fig. 2) in the connector housing. It should be
noted in Figures 1 and 2 that terminals are not inserted into all of the passages in the
all of the rows. The terminal configuration or array is determined by the particular
specifications or application of the connector.
A conductive ground blade 28 projects through a blade-receiving passage 30
(Fig. 2) in the connector housing. A pair of high speed signal terminals 32 (Figs. 1
and 3) project through a pair of terminal-receiving passages 34 (Fig. 2) in the housing
on each opposite side of ground blade 28. Terminating tail portions 34c (Fig. 4) of
the high speed signal terminals 32 project rearwardly of rear shield 17. The top row
of terminals 24A have tail portions 36A projecting rearwardly of the shield. The
middle of terminals 24B have tail portions 36B (Figs. 4 and 5) projecting rearwardly
of the rear shield. The bottom row of terminals 24C have tail portions 36C (Fig. 5)
projecting rearwardly of the rear shield. All of the tail portions of all of the terminals
project rearwardly of rear shield 17 on a rear wire management platform 40 of the
connector housing.

At this point, it should be understood that the use of the terms "top", "bottom"
and "middle" herein and in the claims hereof is not in any way intended to be limiting.
These terms are used herein to provide a clear and concise understanding of the
invention. Electrical connector 14 is omnidirectional in use and such terms are used
basically in reference to the depiction or orientation in the drawings to best understand
the invention.
Front shield 16 has a pair of rearwardly formed tabs 42 on both the top and
bottom thereof to embrace the housing as will be seen hereinafter. Four rearwardly
formed tabs 44 are bent from a base plate 46 of front shield 16 over a base plate 48 of
rear shield 17 to secure the front and rear shields about the connector housing.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, connector 14 includes a two-part dielectric
housing, generally designated 60, which is formed of a front housing or housing part,
generally designated 62, and a rear housing or housing part, generally designated 64.
The front housing part defines a front mating end 66 of the housing, and the rear
housing part defines a rear end 68 of the housing. The front housing part includes a
central body portion 69 which includes terminal-receiving passages 26 for data
transmission terminals 24A-24C, terminal-receiving passages 34 for high speed signal
terminals 32 and blade-receiving passage 30 for receiving ground blade 28. Tail
portions 36A-36C of the data transmission terminals and tail portions 32c of the
signal terminals project rearwardly of front housing part 62. The rear end of ground
blade 28 also projects rearwardly of the front housing part. The front housing part has
end recesses 70 and top and bottom recesses 72, along with upwardly and
downwardly projecting tabs 74, for purposes described hereinafter.
Rear housing part 64 includes a central body portion 76 for abutting against
the rear of front housing part 62 when the housing parts are assembled in the direction
of arrows "A" (Fig. 6). The rear housing part has side wings 78 and top and bottom
wings 80 which move into recesses 70 and 72, respectively, of the front housing part
when the two housing parts are assembled as shown in Figure 7. Rear housing part 64
also has upwardly and downwardly projecting tabs 82 which become juxtaposed with
tabs 74 of the front housing part when assembled.

After data transmission terminals 24A-24C, high speed signal terminals 32
and ground blade 28 are mounted in front housing part 62, and rear housing part 64 is
juxtaposed against the front housing part, the front and rear shields of the connector
are assembled to complete the assembly of the connector as shown in Figures 8 and 9.
More particularly, as seen in Figure 8, the subassembly of the two-part housing 60,
the data transmission terminals, the high speed signal terminals and the ground blade
are assembled to front shield 16. A forwardly projecting portion 84 of the front
housing part is properly positioned within shroud 22 of the front shield. Tabs 42 at
the top and bottom of base plate 46 of the front shield then are bent into recesses 86 in
the top and bottom of rear housing part 64, about tabs 74 and 82 (Figs. 6 and 7) of the
front and rear housing parts, respectively. Therefore, tabs 42 of the front shield are
effective to not only hold the front shield to housing 60, but to hold the two housing
parts 62 and 64 together.
Rear shield 17 then is assembled as shown in Figure 9. The rear shield has a
shroud 88 which substantially surrounds the two-part housing, except for rearwardly
extending wire management platform 40 of the rear housing. Shroud 88 has apertures
90 for accommodating rearwardly formed tabs 42 of the front shield. In final
assembly, tabs 44 of the front shield are bent or formed around the back side of base
plate 48 of the rear shield to hold the two shields together and the connector in fully
assembled condition.
Figures 8 and 9 best show that ground blade 28 has a pair of positioning arms
28a which project from each opposite side of the ground blade at a rear terminating
end thereof. The rear housing has partitions 92 which project between each pair of
positioning arms to form four quadrants for receiving four coaxial cables for
termination to tail portions 32a of high speed signal terminals 32.
Referring to Figures 10-12 which show rear housing part 64 and Figures 8 and
9 which show the assembled connector, the invention contemplates a particular
configuration of wire management platform 40 to facilitate connection of tail portions
36A-36C of terminals 24A-24C to the conductors of a plurality of discrete electrical
wires. More particularly, the wire management platform projects rearwardly from

rear face 68 of rear housing part 64. The platform includes a first top land or surface
94A at which tail portions 36 A of the top row of terminals are juxtaposed as clearly
shown in Figures 8 and 9. The platform includes a second top land or surface 94B
offset from the first top surface and projecting further from rear face 68 than first top
surface 94A, and at which tail portions 36B of the middle row of terminals are
juxtaposed. As seen in Figures 8 and 9, as well as in Figure 4, the tail portions of the
middle row of terminals are longer than the tail portions of the top row of terminals.
Finally, the platform includes a bottom land or surface 94C at which tail portions 36C
of the bottom row of terminals are juxtaposed.
In order to further facilitate managing and terminating the tail portions of the
terminals to the conductors of a plurality of discrete electrical wires, grooves 96A are
formed in first top surface 94A in alignment with tail portions 36A of the top row of
terminals as seen clearly in Figures 4, 8 and 9 as well as the top view of the rear
housing part in Figure 11. Grooves 96B are formed in second top surface 94B in
alignment with tail portions 36B of the middle row of terminals. Grooves 96C are
formed in bottom surface 94C as best seen in Figure 12 in alignment with tail portions
36C (Fig. 5) of the bottom row of terminals. These grooves facilitate positioning the
discrete electrical wires in alignment with the respective tail portions of the terminals,
so that the center conductors of the wires can be laid immediately onto the tail
portions for soldering purposes.
This is seen in the sectional view of Figure 13, wherein an electrical wire 98A
is shown with a conductor 100 on top of the tail portion 36A of one of the terminals
24A in the top row thereof. Another wire 98B is shown with its conductor 100 on top
of the tail portion 36B of one of the terminals 24B in the middle row thereof. A third
wire 98C is shown with its conductor 100 immediately below tail portion 36C of one
of the terminals 24C in the bottom row thereof. The discrete wires are shown with a
portion of their outer insulating sheaths removed to expose their conductors 100. The
insulated wires are positioned in grooves 96A-96C, as described above, whereupon
their respective conductors are positioned against tail portions 36A-36C as seen in

Figure 13, whereupon the conductors can be easily connected, as by soldering,
to the tail portions of the terminals.
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or centra) characteristics thereof. The present
examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in ail respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details
given herein.


WE CLAIM:
1. An electrical connector (14), comprising
an elongated dielectric housing (60) having a central body portion (69,72)
with a front face (66), a rear face (68) and at least three rows of terminal-
receiving passages (26) extending therebetween and including a top row,
a middle row and a bottom row,
a plurality of terminals (24A-24C) received in said passages (26) and
including top terminals (24A) received in at least some of the passages in
said top row, middle terminals (24B) received in at least some of the
passages in the said middle row and bottom terminals (24C) received in at
least some of the passages in the said bottom row, all of the terminals
having forward contact portions and tail portions (36A-36C) projecting
rearwardly from the body portion beyond said rear face thereof, the tail
portions (36B) of the middle terminals (24B) being longer than the tail
portions (36A) of the top terminals (24A) and
a wire management platform (40) projecting from the rear face of said
central body portion, the platform including a first top surface (94A) at
which the tail portions (36A) of the top terminals (24A) are juxtaposed, a
second top surface (94B) offset from the said first top surface and
projecting further from the rear face of the body portion than the first top
surface and at which the longer tail portions (36B) of the middle terminals
(24B) are juxtaposed, and a bottom surface (94C) at which the tail
portions (36C) of the bottom terminals (24C) are juxtaposed, said three
surfaces (94A-94C) facilitating connection of the tail portions (36A-36C) of
the terminals (24A-24C) to the conductors (100) of plurality of discreet
electrical wires (98A-98C)

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
grooves (96A-96C) are provided in at least one of said surfaces (94A-94C)
aligned with the tail portions (36A-36C) juxtaposed thereat to facilitate
aligning the electrical wires (98A-98C) and respective conductors (100)
with the tail portions of the terminals (24A-24C).
3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wire management
platform (40) projecting from the rear face of said central body portion,
the platform including a top surface (94A) at which the tail portions (36A)
of the top terminals (24A) are juxtaposed and a bottom surface (94C) at
which the tail portions (36C) of the bottom terminals (24C) are
juxtaposed, said two surfaces (94A,94C) facilitating connection of the tail
portions (36A,36C) of the terminals (24A,24C) to the conductors (100) of
a plurality of discreet electrical wires (98A/98C).
4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
grooves (96A,96C) are provided in said surfaces (94A, 94C) aligned with
the tail portions (36A,36C) juxtaposed thereat to facilitate aligning the
electrical wires (98A,98C) and respective conductors (100) with the tail
portions of all terminals (24A,24C).
5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wire management
platform (40) projecting from the rear face of said central body portion,
the platform including a first top surface (94A) at which the tail portions
(36A) of the first terminals (24A) are juxtaposed and a second top surface
(94B) offset from the first top surface and projecting further from the rear
face of the body portion than the first top surface and at which the longer
tail portions (36B) or the second terminals (24B) are juxtaposed, said two
surfaces (94A,94B) facilitating connection of the tail portions (36A,36B) of

7. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein an elongated
dielectric housing (60) having a central body portion (69,72) with a front
face (66), a rear face (68) and at least one row of terminal-receiving
passages (26) extending therebetween,
a plurality of terminals (24A-24C) received in said passages (26) and
including forward contact portions and tail portions (36A-36C) projecting
rearwardly from the body portion beyond said rear face thereof,
a wire management platform (40) projecting from the rear face of said
central body portion, including a surface (94A-94C) at which the tail
portions (36A-36C) of the terminals (24A-24C) are juxtaposed, and a
plurality of grooves (96A-96C) in the surface aligned with the tail portions
(36A-36B) juxtaposed thereat to facilitate aligning electrical wires (98A-
98C) and respective conductors (100) with the tail portions of the
terminals (98A-98C).

An electrical connector (14) includes an elongated dielectric housing (40)
having a central body portion (69,72) with a front face (66), a rear face (68) and at
least three rows of terminal-receiving passages (26) extending therebetween and
including a top row, a middle row and a bottom row. A plurality of terminals (24A-
24C) are received in the passages (26) and include top terminals (24A) received in at
least some of the passages in the top row, middle terminals (24B) received in at least
some of the passages in the middle row and bottom terminals (24C) received in at
least some of the passages in the bottom row. All of the terminals (24A-24C) have
forward contact portions and tail portions (36A-36C) projecting rearwardly from the
body portion beyond the rear face thereof. The tail portions (36B) of the middle
terminals (24B) are longer than the tail portions (36A) of the top terminals (24A). A
wire management platform (40) projects from the rear face of the central body portion
and includes a first top surface (94A) at which the tail portions (36A) of the top
terminals (24A) are juxtaposed. A second top surface (94B) of the platform is offset
from the first top surface (94A) and projects further from the rear face of the body
portion than the first top surface and at which the longer tail portions (36B) of the
middle terminals (24A) are juxtaposed. The platform includes a bottom surface (94C)
at which the tail portions (36C) of the bottom terminals (24C) are juxtaposed.

Documents:

587-cal-2000-granted-abstract.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-claims.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-correspondence.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-description (complete).pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-drawings.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-examination report.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-form 1.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-form 2.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-form 3.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-form 5.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-pa.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-specification.pdf

587-cal-2000-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 226473
Indian Patent Application Number 587/CAL/2000
PG Journal Number 51/2008
Publication Date 19-Dec-2008
Grant Date 17-Dec-2008
Date of Filing 18-Oct-2000
Name of Patentee MOLEX INCORPORATED
Applicant Address 2222 WELLINGTON COURT, LISLE, ILLINOIS
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SULLIVAN MICHAEL O 77 LAKE HINSDALE DRIVE NO. 410 B, WILLOWBROOK, ILLINOIS 60514
PCT International Classification Number N/A
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 09/442, 907 1999-11-18 U.S.A.