Apparatus for restricting rotational moment about a longitudinal axis of SMT connectors
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsWilliam L. Brodsky, Mark G. Clark, Amanda E. E. Mikhail, Arvind K. Sinha, Scott A. Shurson, Jason T. Stoll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector includes a first connector body having an interlocking feature extending therefrom. The interlocking feature interlocks the first connector body with a complimentary interlocking feature extending from an adjacent second connector body to distribute a lateral force on either the first or second connector bodies across the adjacent connector body thereby reducing a rotational moment at a base of each electrical connector connected to a printed circuit board (PCB).
Claims14
An electrical connector comprising:
- a first connector body having an interlocking feature extending therefrom,
- wherein the interlocking feature rigidly interlocks the first connector body with a complimentary interlocking feature extending from an adjacent second connector body to distribute a lateral force on either the first or second connector bodies across a longitudinal side of the adjacent connector body thereby reducing a rotational moment at a base of each electrical connector connected to a printed circuit board (PCB), and the interlocking features are configured to separate the first connector body from the adjacent second connector body and maintain a space therebetween.
A system comprising:
- a motherboard;
- a plurality of electrical connectors surface mounted to the motherboard, each electrical connector including a connector body configured to receive and electrically connect an electrical module;
- and
- an interlocking feature extending from each electrical connector,
- wherein the interlocking feature rigidly interlocks a first connector body with a complimentary interlocking feature extending from an adjacent second connector body to distribute a lateral force on either the first or second connector bodies across a longitudinal side of the adjacent connector body thereby reducing a rotational moment at a base of each electrical connector connected to the motherboard, and the interlocking features are configured to separate the first connector body from the adjacent second connector body and maintain a space therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.