CA1075788A - Printed circuit board edge connector - Google Patents

Printed circuit board edge connector

Info

Publication number
CA1075788A
CA1075788A CA293,575A CA293575A CA1075788A CA 1075788 A CA1075788 A CA 1075788A CA 293575 A CA293575 A CA 293575A CA 1075788 A CA1075788 A CA 1075788A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
printed circuit
circuit board
housing
contacts
bowed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA293,575A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
James E. Lynch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Corp
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMP Inc filed Critical AMP Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1075788A publication Critical patent/CA1075788A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/72Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/721Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H01R13/703Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling part

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A make-before-break printed circuit board edge connector comprises a plurality of pairs of terminals arranged in a row with a housing having side walls snapped there over. The housing has an elongate slot therein for receiving an edge portion of a printed circuit board. Each of the terminals is staked to a support and has a main bowed portion extending upwardly into the housing with the concave side thereof facing an adjacent side wall of the housing and with the convex side thereof facing the convex side of the main bowed portion of the other terminal of the pair, the printed circuit board edge being insertable between these convex sides. Short circuiting contact arms, also bowed, are stamped from the main bowed portions. Each such contact arm is attached at its upper end to the top of the associated main bowed portion, is free at its lower end and extends downwardly with the convex side thereof facing and nearly or actually abutting the inner surface of the housing side wall adjacent to the main bowed portion from which the contact arm is stamped. The free ends of the contact arms touch each other below the convex surfaces of the main bowed portions of the pair of terminals to form a continuous electrical path through these terminals, which is not broken by the edge portion of the board until after the main contact portions mate with the printed conductors of the board.

Description

~0757~8 8941 This invention relate~ to a make-before-break - printed circuit ~oard edge connector.
According to one aspect of the invention, a make-~efore-break printed circuit board edge connector comprises a support, an insulating housing thereon having opposed side walls, a first pair of electrical contacts between the side walls and mounted on the support, opposed first contact surfaces on the first contacts for making electrical contact with printed conductors on either side of an edge portion of a printed circuit board inserted along an insertion path into the housing and between the first.
contact surfaces and a second pair of contacts having second contact surfaces disposed between the support and the first ~` contact surfaces and engaging one another until the edge portion of the printed circuit ~n~ has been inserted between the first contact surfaces to a predetermined extent there beyond, the second contacts being in the form of contact arms stamped out from the first contacts and having portions positioned beyond the second contact surfaces in a direction away from the support and being oppositely bowed in a direction away from tne insertion path of the printed circuit board to present abutment surfaces which lie adjacent to opposite internal walls of the housing to enable the arms to pivot about such abutment surfaces as the edge -portion of the printed circuit board is inserted between the first contact surfaces.
According to another aspect of the inventlon a , -- 2 ~

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1075788 ~g4l make-before-break printed circult edge connector comprises a mother printed circuit board, a pair of opposed electrical terminals each comprising a first portion secured on the mother printed circuit board and an insulating housing mounted over such terminals and comprising side walls adjacent to the terminals, each terminal of the pair comprising a bowed contact portion with a concave side and a convex side, the convex sides of the bowed contact portions of the terminals of the pair facing inwardly towards each other and heing positioned to receive an edge portion of a daughter printed circuit board inserted therebetween along an insertion path, each terminal further - comprising a bowed short circuiting arm formed therefrom .
and having a convex side and a concave side and being secured at a first end thereof to a tip portion of the bowed portion remote from the mother printed circuit board and extending there towards with the convex side of the bowed short circuiting arm extending outwardly from the insertion path and towards the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the housing, each short circuiting arm having a second and free end extending towards the insertion path, such free ends of the short circuiting arms of the terminals of the pair touching each other at a position between the mother printed circuit board and the facing convex sides :~
of the bowed portions and projecting into the insertion path of the daughter pxinted circuit board.

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iO7578~ 8941 For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view, with part removed, of a make-before-break printed sircuit edge connector, part of which is a mother printed circuit board, in association with a daughter printed circuit board which is shown in `-fragmentary form and when positioned for mating with the connector;
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the lines II - II of Figure l;
Figures 3 and 4 are end views shown partly in cross-section and showing, respectively, the daughter printed circuit board when partially, and when fully, mated with the connector;
Figure 6 is a side view of an electrical terminal of the connector prior to being assembled thereto; and Figure 7 is an elevational view of the terminal shown in Figure 5.
The connector comprises an elongate insulating housing 50 having a longitudinal slot 32 for receiving an edge portlon of a daughter printed circuit board 39, along an insertion path indicated by an arrow 33. Two rows of electrical terminals 10, arranged in opposed pairs of terminals ~n the housing 50 have posts 15 extending through apertures 57 in a mother printed circuit board 14 which is a part of the connector. Side walls 51 of the housing 50, .

.~ .

. ~0757~ 8941 between which the two rows of terminals 10 are disposed have through openi~gs 53 into which test probes (not shown) can he inserted to engage the terminals 10. Adjacent terminals 10 of each row are separated by partitions 73 formed integrally with the side walls 51 and each having a slot 58 for receiving the board 39, projections 37 on the partitions 73 serving to position the terminals 10 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 50.
As best shown in Figure 2, the post 15 of each terminal 10 has an enlarged portion 63 which has been force fitted into the corresponding aperture 57 to retain the terminal in the board 14. A support portion 19 of each terminal 10, extends from its portion 63 and has a stamped out tang 36 engaging the internal surface of the adjacent side wall 51 to position the portion 19 relative thereto.
Each portion 19 supports a first contact 38 of the terminal 10, the contacts 38 of each pair of opposed terminals 10 being bowed towards one another to present opposed contact surfaces 20 for making electrical contact with printed conductors 41 on the board 39. The contacts 38 are surmounted by tip portions 23 remote from the board 14 and : which normally engage pre-loading abutments 31 formed integrally with the housing 50 and which bound inward sides of the openings 53, in which the tip portions 23 lie. The housing 50 is secured to the board 14 by virtue of the frictional contact between the tangs 36 and the internal surfaces of the side walls 51 of the housing 50. Each : .
.

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- . . . . . . .
. -terminal 10 has a second contact in the form of an arm 25 stamped out from the first contact 38, the arms 25 of each pair of oppposed terminals 10 being bowed away from one another to present abutment surfaces 27, each of which engages the internal surface of the adjacent side wall 51.
Between the surfaces 27 and the portions 19, the arms 25, i.e. the second contacts of each pair of terminals 10, converge towards one another in the direction of the board 14 and normally meet at oppositely bowed contact surfaces 29 at their tips 28 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5). Between the surfaces 27 and the connections with the arms 25 with the contacts 38 in the vicinity of the portions 23, the arms 25 dlverge from one another in the direction of the board 14.
When, as shown in Figure 3, the printed circuit board 39 is inserted between the contact surfaces 20, the contact force between the contact surfaces 29 is increased as the arms 25 pivot about their abutment surfaces 27. A
continuous circuit path is maintained between the terminals 10 of each pair not only prior to the insertion of the edge portion of the printed circuit board 39 but also during its passage between the contact surfaces 20 as will be apparent from Figure 3. At this stage during the insertion of the board 39, the tip portions 23 of the contacts 38 which have been lifted from the abutments 31, engage the internal surfaces of the side walls 51 to enhance the contact forces between the board 39 and the surfaces 20.

: - 6 -': , ' ~ ` ' -, " ' ' ~ ' ' ' ;

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~075788 8941 As the edge portion of the board 39 approaches its fully inserted position, as shown in Figure 4, towards the bottoms of the slots 5~, the contact surfaces 29 are separated by the board 39 and also make electrical contact with the printed conductors 41 thereon, so that each terminal 10 engages one of the conductors 41 at two spaced positions.
Failure o~ proper electrical contact, for example due to fouling, between one of the surfaces 20 and 29 of each terminal 10 and the corresponding conductor 41, is accordingly allowed for.
As the edge portion of the board 39 is withdrawn from the slot 32, the contact surfaces 29 of the arms 25 again engage one another, before the trailing edge o~ such edge portion has cleared the contact surfaces 20. The terminals 10 of each pair are therefore electrically connected to one another, excepting in the fully inserted, or the substantiall~ fully inserted, position of the edge portion of the board 39.
Opposed pairs of slots 74 are provided between the abutments 31 each such pair for receiving a keying plate (not shown) for reception in a slot (not shown) in the edge of the board 39. ~y selectively slotting the board 39 and by selectively positioning keying plates in the pairs of slots 74, it can be ensured that the board 39 can be mated ~5 only with a particular housing 50.
Figures 6 and 7 show a terminal 10 in its relaxed condition before its assembly to the housing 50.

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. :.: . ~: . .: :. ,,, . : .. ,, -. . -.. . . . . . ~ ., ., : .:
. . .. . , . . : - -~0 7 57 8 ~ 8941 The connector described above is intended to meet the case where a continuous electrical path must be maintained through the terminals of each pair, even when the daughter board is withdrawn, to avoid malfunctioning of electrical equipment (not shown) connected to the parts 15.
It is an advantage of the connector that both the contacts, i.e. the contact 38 and the arm 25, axe comprised in a single terminal 10 which can readily be stamped and formed from a single piece of metal stock. A series of the terminals may be produced in strip form, the terminals of the strip being connected together in side by slde relationship by a carrier strip ~not shown) formed integrally with the tip portions 23 of the terminals, the terminals being severed from the carrier strip prior to their being assembled to the housing 50.

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Claims (7)

The embodiment of the invention for which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as follows:-
1. A make-before-break printed circuit board edge connector comprising a support, an insulating housing thereon having opposed side walls, a pair of electrical contacts between the side walls and mounted on the support, opposed first contact surfaces on the first contacts for making electrical contact with printed conductors on either side of an edge portion of a printed circuit board inserted along an insertion path into the housing and between the first contact surfaces and a second pair of contacts having second contact surfaces disposed between the support and the first contact surfaces and engaging one another until the edge portion of the printed circuit board has been inserted between the first contact surfaces to a predetermined extent there beyond, the second contacts being in the form of contact arms stamped out from the first contacts and having portions positioned beyond the second contact surfaces in a direction away from the support and being oppositely bowed in a direction away from the insertion path of the printed circuit board to present abutment surfaces which lie adjacent to opposite internal walls of the housing to enable the arms to pivot about such abutment surfaces as the edge portion of the printed circuit board is inserted between the first contact surfaces.
2. A connector according to Claim 1, in which the contact arms extend through slots in the first contacts at a position between the first contact surfaces and the support.
3. A connector according to Claim 1, in which the contact arms are connected to the first contacts in the vicinity of tip portions of the first contacts which tip portions engage preloading abutments of the housing positioned on either side of the insertion path of the printed circuit board.
4. A connector according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which on either side of the first contact surfaces the first contacts diverge from one another, the contact arms converging towards one another on either side of their oppositely bowed portions.
5. A connector according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, which comprises a plurality of pairs of first contacts separated from one another by partitions in the housing each partition having a projection, the projections serving laterally to position the first contacts in the housing.
6. A connector according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the housing is secured to the support by means of tangs projecting from the first contacts and engaging the internal surfaces of side walls of the housing, the first contacts having post portions with enlargements force fitted into openings in the support.
7. A make-before-break printed circuit board edge connector comprising a mother printed circuit board, a pair of opposed electrical terminals each comprising a first portion secured on the mother printed circuit board and an insulating housing mounted over such terminals and comprising side walls adjacent to the terminals, each terminal of the pair comprising a bowed contact portion with a concave side and a convex side, the convex sides of the bowed contact portions of the terminals of the pair facing inwardly towards each other and being positioned to receive an edge portion of a daughter printed circuit board inserted therebetween along an insertion path, each terminal further comprising a bowed short circuiting arm formed therefrom and having a convex side and a concave side and being secured at a first end thereof to a tip portion of the bowed portion remote from the mother printed circuit board and extending there towards with the convex side of the bowed short circuiting arm extending outwardly from the insertion path and towards the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the housing, each short circuiting arm having a second and free end extending towards the insertion path, such free ends of the short circuiting arms of the terminals of the pair touching each other at a position between the mother printed circuit board and the facing convex sides of the bowed portions and projecting into the insertion path of the daughter printed circuit board.
CA293,575A 1977-01-24 1977-12-21 Printed circuit board edge connector Expired CA1075788A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US76184277A 1977-01-24 1977-01-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1075788A true CA1075788A (en) 1980-04-15

Family

ID=25063396

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA293,575A Expired CA1075788A (en) 1977-01-24 1977-12-21 Printed circuit board edge connector

Country Status (7)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS53104887A (en)
CA (1) CA1075788A (en)
DE (1) DE2802800A1 (en)
ES (1) ES233176Y (en)
FR (1) FR2378422A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1540360A (en)
IT (1) IT1091850B (en)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4288139A (en) * 1979-03-06 1981-09-08 Amp Incorporated Trifurcated card edge terminal
US4367006A (en) * 1980-12-10 1983-01-04 Amp Incorporated Connector for flat cable
US4514030A (en) * 1981-08-27 1985-04-30 Methode Electronics, Inc. Shorting edge connector
GB2133938B (en) * 1983-01-14 1986-03-19 Fabri Tek International B V Dual-continuity circuit board edge connectors
KR890001470B1 (en) * 1983-09-30 1989-05-04 호시덴기세이조오 가부시기가이샤 Switch structure comprising recessed contacts
US4632478A (en) * 1984-03-02 1986-12-30 Hitachi, Ltd. Contact of connector
GB2176062B (en) * 1985-05-23 1988-12-29 Egerton A C Ltd Terminal block
JP2727367B2 (en) * 1989-12-21 1998-03-11 日本航空電子工業株式会社 connector
US5098306A (en) * 1991-02-20 1992-03-24 Burndy Corporation Card edge connector with switching contacts
US5277607A (en) * 1993-01-15 1994-01-11 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector with shorting contacts which wipe against each other
DE102017208156A1 (en) * 2017-05-15 2018-11-15 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Contact system and contact arrangement

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL284033A (en) * 1962-05-25
FR1392897A (en) * 1963-04-29 1965-03-19 Elastic electrical contact
FR2040567A6 (en) * 1969-04-03 1971-01-22 Bonhomme F R
FR2171915A1 (en) * 1972-02-15 1973-09-28 Destruel Jean Claude
GB1503824A (en) * 1975-03-21 1978-03-15 Amp Inc Circuit board edge connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES233176U (en) 1978-03-01
IT7819275A0 (en) 1978-01-16
JPS611872B2 (en) 1986-01-21
FR2378422B1 (en) 1981-01-09
DE2802800C2 (en) 1987-06-11
ES233176Y (en) 1978-07-16
JPS53104887A (en) 1978-09-12
DE2802800A1 (en) 1978-07-27
IT1091850B (en) 1985-07-06
FR2378422A1 (en) 1978-08-18
GB1540360A (en) 1979-02-14

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