Electrical connector for back panel mounting
AssigneeThe Whitaker Corporation
InventorsRobert N. Whiteman, Jr., Charles H. Weidler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A panel mounted electrical connector is disclosed in combination with an equipment rack, multiple units of electronic equipment arranged in the rack, each unit having a connector in mating engagement with the connector mounted on the back panel of the rack. The panel mounted connector is arranged to align and hold in proper position multiple connectors, thereby forming a composite connector that mates with a mating composite connector on the unit of electronic equipment. Cutouts are provided in a surface of the composite connector so that cabling that is terminated to the connector may exit the connector at right angles thereto substantially parallel with the back panel.
Claims18
The combination of an electrical connector of the type including a housing having a mating face and a mounting face, multiple cavities and multiple connectors in said cavities, walls of said cavities engaging the external profile of each of said multiple connectors to accurately position and hold them with respect to said housing,
- a back panel in an electrical equipment rack having a mounting surface to which said mounting face of said electrical connector is secured,
- flexible wires parallel to and on said mounting surface extending to said electrical connector and electrically connected thereto, and
- a unit of equipment in said rack having a mating connector associated therewith for mating to said electrical connector, said unit arranged to slide toward said back panel so that said mating connector mates with said electrical connector when said unit is fully inserted in said rack.
A combination of an electrical connector, a back panel in an electrical equipment rack and a unit of equipment, comprising:
- a housing of said electrical connector having a mating face and a mounting face, multiple cavities and multiple connectors in said cavities, walls of said cavities engaging the external profile of each of said multiple conductors to accurately position and hold them with respect to said housing,
- a mounting surface of said back panel to which said mounting face is secured,
- flexible wires parallel to and on said mounting surface and electrically connected to and extending to said electrical connector, and
- a mating electrical connector in said unit of equipment for mating to said electrical connector, said unit of equipment being slidable in said electrical equipment rack and toward said back panel, and said mating electrical connector being slidable with said unit of equipment to mate with said electrical connector when said unit of equipment is slidable to a position of full insertion in said rack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.