Guide configured to be fixed on an electronic card

Abstract

Title: Guide configured to be fixed on an electronic card The invention relates to a guide (30) configured to be fixed on an electronic card (100), comprising: a body (31) comprising at least one opening for receiving an electrical pin of an electronic component, the body (31) being made of an elastic material, at least one fixing device (35) configured to cooperate with an orifice (102) of the electronic card (100) to fix the guide (30) to the electronic card (100), this fixing device (35) comprising: a base (351) forming part of the body (31) and having at least one bearing surface (352) configured to come to bear on the electronic card (100), at least one elastically deformable tab (357) having a head (354) configured to engage in the orifice (102) of the electronic card (100), this tab (357) projecting from the bearing surface (352) of the base (351),the head (354) being configured to rest on a first face (103) of the electronic card (100) when the elastic tab (357) is engaged in the orifice (102) of the electronic card (100), a slot (355) formed in the base (351). Figure for the abstract: Figure 4,

Description

Title of the invention: Guide configured to be fixed on an electronic card

[0001] The field of the present invention relates to a guide to be fixed on an electronic card, dedicated to the mounting of an electronic component on this electronic card.

[0002] Generally speaking, an electronic card or a printed circuit comprises electronic components which are fixed and electrically connected by means of fixing lugs. However, when mounting these electronic components, the fixing lugs can be twisted or off-center, which makes it difficult to insert them into dedicated connection holes on the electronic card. It is then necessary to manipulate these electrical or electronic components in order to straighten and reposition their fixing lugs. This manipulation is time-consuming and therefore increases production costs. In addition, during this manipulation, the connection lugs can break, making the electronic component unusable. To solve this problem, a guide element fixed to one face of the printed circuit has been proposed in patent FR3108463.This element is fixed by clipping onto the printed circuit, and has at least one through hole intended to receive a connection tab of an electronic component. However, this guide element can break when inserted into the printed circuit, which generates scrap during assembly and consequently a significant production and material cost.

[0003] The invention aims in particular to reduce the risk of breakage of the guide during its insertion into an electronic card.

[0004] The invention thus relates to a guide configured to be fixed to an electronic card, comprising: - a body comprising at least one opening for receiving an electrical pin of an electronic component, the body being made of an elastic material, - at least one fixing device configured to cooperate with an orifice of the electronic card to fix the guide to the electronic card, this fixing device comprising: • a base forming part of the body and having at least one support surface configured to come into contact with the electronic card, • at least one elastically deformable tab having a head configured to engage in the hole of the electronic card, this tab protruding from the support surface of the base, the head being configured to rest on a first face of the electronic card when the elastic tab is engaged in the hole of the electronic card, this first face being opposite a second face of the electronic card which is opposite the guide, • a slot formed in the base, under the bearing surface, so that the slot and the elastically deformable tab extend on either side of the bearing surface of the base.

[0005] The fixing device comprising a slot in the base, under the support surface, and which is made of elastic material, makes it possible to reduce the risk of breakage of the fixing device when the fixing device is assembled with the electronic card.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, the guide is a single-piece part, obtained in particular by molding the elastic material.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is an elastomer.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is chosen to have a nominal breaking stress of 10% and a Young's modulus of 2850 MPa, according to ISO 527-1 and ISO 527-2 standards.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is chosen to have a CTI index (CTI for “Comparative Tracking Index”) of 600 Volts.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is chosen from the following list: - polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), - polybutylene terephthalate loaded, in particular with glass fibers, - unfilled polybutylene terephthalate, - halogen-free polybutylene terephthalate (or in English “halogen-free PBT”).

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the fixing device comprises, in addition to the tab with the head, another tab arranged opposite this tab with the head.

[0012] Thus the fixing device can be formed by two facing tabs which project from the support surface of the base.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the two legs are arranged on either side of the slot formed in the base.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, only one of the two legs has the head and the other leg is headless.

[0015] In other words, the headless leg has a thickness which is substantially constant over its entire height.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the head comprises a base having a thickness greater than the thickness of the leg.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the base of the head rests on the first face of the electronic card.

[0018] Alternatively, the two facing tabs may both have a head, these heads being configured to be engaged in the orifice of the electronic card.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the slot has a substantially rectangular shape when observed in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface of the base.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the slot has a depth of between 20% and 50% of the height of the tab.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the slot comprises a rounded bottom with a concavity facing towards the outside of the slot, in other words facing towards the bearing surface.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the guide comprises at least two fixing devices arranged in two offset longitudinal locations of the body.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the two fixing devices are arranged at two opposite ends of the body.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the fixing devices are symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane of symmetry, for example a plane of symmetry which passes through the center of the body.

[0025] Alternatively, the two fixing devices are asymmetrical, for example one is larger than the other.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the body has a longitudinal shape, and the openings for the electrical pins are arranged between the two fixing devices.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the body has two rectilinear edges.

[0028] Alternatively, the body locally has a substantially rounded portion which accommodates one or more openings for one or more electrical pins.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, these openings are on either side of a longitudinal axis of the body.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the guide has a longitudinal body with a rounded portion and two asymmetrical fixing devices at each end of the body.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, in the case where each fixing device comprises a pair of legs, the leg which is turned towards the outside of the body is the one which has a head while the leg turned towards the center of the body is without a head.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the bearing surface, in particular flat, of the base has an elevation relative to a main front face of the body, face onto which the opening(s) receiving the electrical pin(s) open.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the base comprises one or more openings for receiving one or more electrical pins.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, this or these openings open onto the support surface of the base.

[0035] In this case, the base has a relatively large surface area because it receives the electrical pins.

[0036] Thus when the guide is fixed on the electronic card, the support surface(s) of the fixing device(s) bear on this electronic card while the main front face of the body is set back, at a distance, from the electronic card.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the body comprises a main front face facing the electronic card when the assembly is carried out.

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the body comprises a rear main face opposite the front main face, this rear main face is turned away from the electronic card.

[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the front and rear main faces are substantially flat.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the base has a rounded outer edge.

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the opening passing through the body to receive the electric pin has a flare towards the rear main face of the body.

[0042] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising an electronic card and at least one guide as described above, which is configured to be fixed to the electronic card.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the assembly comprises a plurality of guides which are fixed to the electronic card.

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, all the guides are identical.

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, among the plurality of guides, some differ in dimensions and / or shapes.

[0046] According to one aspect of the invention, the assembly comprises at least one electronic component provided with one or more electrical pins mounted by insertion on the electronic card while being guided by the guide.

[0047] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0048] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of an electronic card with guides;

[0049] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a guide according to the invention;

[0050] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a sectional view of a guide according to the invention which assembled with an electronic card and mounted with an electronic component;

[0051] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a sectional view of a device for fixing a guide according to the invention and assembled with an electronic card;

[0052] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents a view of the main front face of a guide according to the invention;

[0053] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents a perspective view of a first other example of guide shape;

[0054] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of a second other example of guide shape;

[0055] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0056] [Fig.l] and [Fig.3] show an electronic card 100 assembled with several guides 30 of different dimensions and shapes. The guides 30 are fixed to the electronic card 100, and each form an assembly with the electronic card 100. On this assembly is mounted an electronic component 10 which is provided with several electrical pins 20. The latter are mounted by insertion on the electronic card 100 through the guide 30. The electronic card 100 has a first face 103 which is opposite a second face 104, this second face 104 is opposite the guide 30.

[0057] [Fig. 2] shows the guide 30 which is a single-piece part, obtained by molding polybutylene terephthalate and which has a nominal breaking stress of 10% and a Young's modulus of 2850 MPa, according to the ISO 527-1 and ISO 527-2 standards. This guide 30 comprises a body 31 which is of longitudinal shape and has two rectilinear edges. It is formed of two flat faces, including a front main face 36 facing the electronic card 100 and a rear main face 37 opposite the front main face 36. This rear main face 37 is turned away from the electronic card 100. The body 31 comprises openings 32 for receiving the electrical pins 20 of the electronic component 10. These openings 32 have a flaring towards the rear main face 37 of the body 31, as shown in [Fig.3].

[0058] The guide 30, in [Fig. 3], has two fixing devices 35 which are arranged at two opposite ends of the body 31 symmetrically with respect to each other according to a plane of symmetry 1 which passes through the center of the body 31. The fixing devices 35 are configured to each cooperate with an orifice 102 of the electronic card 100 in order to fix the guide 30 to the electronic card 100. The openings 32 are arranged between the two fixing devices 35.

[0059] [Fig.4] shows the fixing device 35 which comprises a base 351 which is part of the body 31. This base 351 has a rounded outer edge and flat bearing surfaces 352 configured to bear on the electronic card 100. The bearing surface 352 has an elevation relative to the front main face 36 of the guide 30. From this front main face 36, the openings 32 receiving the electrical pins 20 open.

[0060] The fixing device 35 comprises two elastically deformable tabs 353, 357 which are arranged opposite one another. Each tab 353, 357 projects from the bearing surface 352 of the base 351. Among these two tabs 353, 357, the tab 357 comprises a head 354 which is configured to engage in the orifice 102 of the electronic card 100. This tab 357 faces towards the outside of the body 31. The other tab 353 does not comprise a head 354 and faces towards the centre of the body 31. The tab 353 has a thickness which is constant over its entire height. The head 354 comprises a base 356 which has a thickness greater than the thickness of the tab 357 on which it is fixed. This head base 356 is configured to rest on the first face 103 of the electronic card 100 when the elastic tabs 353, 357 are engaged in the orifice 102 of the electronic card 100.

[0061] The fixing device 35 comprises a slot 355 formed in the base 351. This slot 355 has a rounded bottom with a concavity facing outwards, i.e. towards the bearing surface 352. The two tabs 353, 357 are arranged on either side of this slot 355. The latter has a depth of between 20% and 50% of the height of the tabs 353, 357. The slot 355 is formed under the bearing surface 352, so that this slot 355 and the tabs 353, 357 extend on either side of the bearing surface 352. Finally, this slot 355 has a rectangular shape when observed in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface 352 of the base 351, as shown in [Fig. 5].

[0062] Thus, the fixing device 35 comprises a slot 355 in the base 351, under the bearing surface 352. This fixing device 35 is made of polybutylene terephthalate which reduces its risk of breakage when it is assembled with the electronic card 100.

[0063] We will now describe, with reference to [Fig.6] and [Fig.7], guides having other shapes.

[0064] [Fig. 6] shows a guide 40 which comprises a body 41 and two asymmetrical fixing devices 45 and 46. The first fixing device 45 is larger than the second fixing device 46. The fixing device 46 comprises a base 461 with two openings 42 for each receiving an electrical pin 20. The base 461 comprises a bearing surface 462 from which the openings 42 open. The base 461 has a large surface area because it receives the electrical pins 20. Thus, when the guide 40 is fixed to the electronic card 100, the bearing surface 462 bears on this electronic card 100. The body 41 comprises a front main face 44 which is set back, at a distance, from the electronic card 100.

[0065] [Fig.7] shows a guide 50 with a longitudinal body 51 which locally has a rounded portion and two asymmetrical fixing devices 55 and 56 at each end of the body 51. The body 51 accommodates two openings 52 to each receive an electrical pin 20. These openings 52 are on either side of the longitudinal axis of the body 51.

Claims

Claims

1. Guide (30) configured to be fixed on an electronic card (100), comprising: - a body (31) comprising at least one opening (32) for receiving an electrical pin (20) of an electronic component (10), the body (31) being made of an elastic material, - at least one fixing device (35) configured to cooperate with an orifice (102) of the electronic card (100) to fix the guide (30) to the electronic card (100), this fixing device (35) comprising: • a base (351) forming part of the body (31) and having at least one bearing surface (352) configured to come to bear on the electronic card (100), • at least one elastically deformable tab (357) having a head (354) configured to engage in the orifice (102) of the electronic card (100), this tab (357) projecting from the surface support (352) of the base (351),the head (354) being configured to rest on a first face (103) of the electronic card (100) when the elastic tab (357) is engaged in the orifice (102) of the electronic card (100), this first face (103) being opposite a second face (104) of the electronic card (100) which is opposite the guide (30), • a slot (355) formed in the base (351), under the bearing surface (352), so that the slot (355) and the elastically deformable tab (357) extend on either side of the bearing surface (352) of the base (351).,

2. Guide (30) according to claim 1 which is a single-piece part, obtained in particular by molding the elastic material.

3. Guide (30) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the elastic material is an elastomer.

4. Guide (30) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the elastic material is chosen to have a nominal breaking stress of 10% and a Young's modulus of 2850 MPa.

5. Guide (30) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the elastic material is chosen from the following list: - polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), - filled polybutylene terephthalate, in particular with glass fibers, - unfilled polybutylene terephthalate, - halogen-free polybutylene terephthalate (or in English "halogen-free PBT").

6. Guide (30) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the fixing device (35) comprises, in addition to the tab (357) with the head (354), another tab (353) arranged opposite this tab (357) with the head (354).

7. Guide (30) according to the preceding claim, in which the two tabs (353, 357) are arranged on either side of the slot (355) formed in the base (351).

8. Guide (30) according to one of claims 6 and 7, in which only one of the two legs (357) comprises the head (354) and the other leg (353) is without a head (354).

9. Guide (30) according to one of claims 6, 7 and 8, in which the slot (355) has a depth of between 20% and 50% of the height of the tab (353, 357).

10. Assembly comprising an electronic card (100) and at least one guide (30, 40, 50) according to one of the preceding claims, which is configured to be fixed to the electronic card (100).

11. Assembly according to the preceding claim, comprising a plurality of guides (30, 40, 50) which are fixed on the electronic card (100).

12. Assembly according to one of claims 10 and 11, comprising at least one electronic component (10) provided with one or more electrical pins (20) mounted by insertion on the electronic card (100) while being guided by the guide (30, 40, 50).

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