Donald A Summers

US Patent:

6616466, Sep 9, 2003

Filed:

Feb 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/068376

Inventors:

Michael Deen Bowers - Harrisburg PA
Donald James Summers - Shiremanstown PA
Oliver Patrick Bartholomew - Etters PA

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

H01R 1362

US Classification:

439157, 439328

Abstract:

A latch for use in an electrical connector which controls the movement of the circuit board in directions parallel and perpendicular to the path of insertion of the circuit board. The electrical connector has a dielectric housing with an elongated slot which is dimensioned to receive an edge of a circuit card therein. At least one latch receiving recess is positioned proximate an end of the elongated slot. In many applications, a latch receiving recess is provided at either end of the elongated slot. A first wall of the latch receiving recess is provided adjacent the elongated slot. The first wall has angled surfaces provided thereon. A latch is positioned in the respective latch receiving recess and is pivotally retained therein. Each latch has a pair of legs spaced from each other by a board receiving slot. The legs have a respective tapered surface which extends from a front surface of each leg to a respective side surface.

US Patent:

55450512, Aug 13, 1996

Filed:

Jun 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/495951

Inventors:

Donald J. Summers - Shiremanstown PA
Robert S. Correll - Harrisburg PA
Donald E. Dellinger - Hellan PA

Assignee:

The Whitaker Corporation - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H01R 909

US Classification:

439350

Abstract:

A connector assembly (20) includes a plug connector (22) having a housing (24) and an array of first contacts (40), the housing including latch projections (36) extending laterally from at least both of the opposed sides (30) or both the opposed ends (32) thereof; and a complementary receptacle connector (50) having a housing with a plug receiving cavity (68) and corresponding array of second contacts (70), the housing (52) including latch receiving recesses (66) adjacent the cavity floor (68) alongside at least both of the sidewalls (62) or both of the endwalls (64) corresponding to the sides (30) and ends (32) of the plug portion. During initial mating of the plug and receptacle connectors (22) (50), the latch projections (36 ) of the plug housing (24) bear against and create an interference fit with the adjacent receptacle housing wall surfaces (65) and upon full mating of the plug and receptacle connectors (22) (50), the latch projections (36) release the walls upon their being received in the cavity recesses (66).

US Patent:

50570323, Oct 15, 1991

Filed:

Jun 4, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/532411

Inventors:

John W. Kaufman - Hershey PA
Donald J. Summers - Shiremanstown PA

Assignee:

AMP Incorporated - Harrisburg PA

International Classification:

H01R 1362

US Classification:

439326

Abstract:

A board edge connector 10 rotatable between a first and electrically disengaged angular position to a second angular position wherein electrical terminal members 70 of the connector 10 are electrically engaged to conductive areas 102 on a circuit board 92 includes housing means 12 and a plurality of electrical terminal members 70 disposed in terminal receiving cavities 50 therein. Housing means 12 includes a board receiving slot 34 extending along a front wall thereof and in communication with the terminal receiving cavities 50. Slot 34 has opposed upper and lower bearing surfaces 26,21 defining opposed parallel planes and further defining means for guiding connector 10 onto the board 92 at a preselected angle until the leading edge 98 of the board 92 engages a first stop surface 60 defining a first angular position. Fulcrum means 80 have arcuate bearing surfaces engageable with the second board surface 92 at at least two spaced locations along slot 34 defining an axis of rotation and allow connector 10 to be rotatably moved about the board edge from the first position to the second position.

US Patent:

49988875, Mar 12, 1991

Filed:

Jun 25, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/543235

Inventors:

John W. Kaufman - Hershey PA
Donald J. Summers - Shiremanstown PA

Assignee:

AMP Incorporated - Harrisburg PA

International Classification:

H01R 909

US Classification:

439 78

Abstract:

An improved pin header connector (10) mountable to a circuit substrate (120) includes a plurality of modular terminal subassemblies (12), shell means (59) defining a like plurality of terminal subassembly receiving cavities (108) and including means securing the terminal subassemblies (12) within respective cavities (108) in a manner permitting incremental floating of the subassemblies (12) in a transverse direction relative to the shell means (59), and means (50) included on each terminal subassembly (12) for aligning the terminal members (16) thereof with corresponding circuit pads (122) on the circuit substrate (120) upon the connector (10) being mounted to the substrate (120). Each subassembly (12) includes an array of terminal members (16) secured in dielectric means (40), each terminal member (16) having a rearward connecting portion (20) at least exposed at a mounting surface of the dielectric substrate (40), the second connecting portions (20) of the terminal members (16) being adapted to electrically engage respective conductive areas (122) of a corresponding array on a circuit substrate (120). The connector (10) further includes means independent of the aligning means for mounting the shell means (59) to the substrate (120).

US Patent:

51998840, Apr 6, 1993

Filed:

Dec 2, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/801561

Inventors:

John W. Kaufman - Hershey PA
Donald J. Summers - Shiremanstown PA
Gregory R. Pratt - Etters PA

Assignee:

AMP Incorporated - Harrisburg PA

International Classification:

H01R 909

US Classification:

439 74

Abstract:

A surface mounted connector (25) for interconnecting closely centered circuits such as those carried by circuit boards (12, 18) includes plug and receptacle housings (24, 90) which internest to interconnect edge mounted, thin stamped contacts (50, 116) on centers complementary those of said circuits which include a contact configuration producing a series of point contacts (70, 128) and solder wells (70, 130) to provide an improved solder joint between respective contacts and boards. The contacts extend outside the side walls of the housings (64, 164) to facilitate heat application for solder reflow and inspection of solder joints. The contacts further have barbs (66, 126) engaging the said housings to hold the contacts against displacement upon separation of the plug from the receptacle. Solder pads (76) are provided on each housing to mechanically hold the housing to a board, and the plug housings include bevels (34) and polarizing and aligning plastic posts (44) which fit in recesses (96) in the receptacle to facilitate blind mating with latching surfaces (48, 100) latching the plug and receptacle together. A method is taught which features a tapering of beam lengths of the plug contact (50) to reduce stress and optimize force and/or deflection characteristics.