CA1197913A - Planar fork contact with gold inlay material - Google Patents
Planar fork contact with gold inlay materialInfo
- Publication number
- CA1197913A CA1197913A CA000412855A CA412855A CA1197913A CA 1197913 A CA1197913 A CA 1197913A CA 000412855 A CA000412855 A CA 000412855A CA 412855 A CA412855 A CA 412855A CA 1197913 A CA1197913 A CA 1197913A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- tines
- tine
- leg portion
- cable
- 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
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
- H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
- H01R13/112—Resilient sockets forked sockets having two legs
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural 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
- H01R12/50—Fixed connections
- H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
- H01R12/62—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural 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
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
- H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
- H01R12/716—Coupling device provided on the PCB
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural 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
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/03—Contact members characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
- H01R43/16—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
Landscapes
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
An electrical contact of the fork type has substantially parallel and coplanar tines and in the contacting or wiping area of each tine inlay material improves electrical connection thereof with a member inserted to engagement therewith. The noted inlay material, such as gold, palladium silver, or the like, preferably is applied only to the relatively limited area of each tine that maintains direct engement with such inserted member. A twist in each tine aligns the respective contact areas that contain such inlay material with each other in confronting relation for such wiping engagement. The contact, moreover, may be die cut or stamped, and the twist enables alignment of the respective smooth side surfaces of each tine in respectively confronting relation with each other, allocating the back of each tine, i.e. that portion not intended to engage such inserted member, for the burr side surface. An electrical connector, such as a cable termination or cable termination assembly, may include such contacts.
An electrical contact of the fork type has substantially parallel and coplanar tines and in the contacting or wiping area of each tine inlay material improves electrical connection thereof with a member inserted to engagement therewith. The noted inlay material, such as gold, palladium silver, or the like, preferably is applied only to the relatively limited area of each tine that maintains direct engement with such inserted member. A twist in each tine aligns the respective contact areas that contain such inlay material with each other in confronting relation for such wiping engagement. The contact, moreover, may be die cut or stamped, and the twist enables alignment of the respective smooth side surfaces of each tine in respectively confronting relation with each other, allocating the back of each tine, i.e. that portion not intended to engage such inserted member, for the burr side surface. An electrical connector, such as a cable termination or cable termination assembly, may include such contacts.
Description
1i'7~
TITLE: "PLANAR FORK CONTACT WITH GOLD INLAY ~ATERIAL"
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, generally, as indicated, to electrical contacts, and, more particularly, to electrical fork contacts haYing high conductivity inlay material, such as gold, in the tines thereof. The invention also relates to electrical connectors using such contacts.
BAC~GROUND OF PRIOR ART
Planar electrical contacts of the fork type are well known as are connectors that use such contacts. A typical prior fork contact is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,030,799. Such fork contact has a pair of tines that extend out from a base. A member, such as a pin contact, may be inserted between a pair of tines to make an electrical connection therewith. Such patent also discloses an electrical connector using such contacts. The connector is of the~
cable termination assembly type, which includes the contacts, a housing, and at least a portion of a multiconductor cable. The present invention may be used with such cable terminntion assemblies and with other types of electrical connectors, such as a cable termination, which is like the noted assembly but without necessarily including the cable as a part thereof.
It is well known that such fork contacts may be formed by die cutting or die stamping the same from a relatively thin sheet of metal material. However, such stamping often leaves the finished product with a smooth side, which is the one that the cutting die strilces first, and a burr side or surface. The sharp, rou~h burrs at such bul r side usually are undesirable because they can damage pin ., ~
~79~1L3 contacts inserted to engagement therewith, for example by scoring off high conductivity coatings or the like applied to such p;n contacts. It would be desirable to permit such die cutting of fork contacts while eliminating with facility such scoring and like problems created by such burrs.
To improve the electrical conductivity and possibly for other reasons electrical contacts often are plated with certain materials, such as high conductivity materials. For example, a contact formed of nickel silver may by plated with gold or palladium silver in order substantially to irnprove the electrical conductivity thereof, especially at the surface area of the contact where ;t engages with or wipes against a pin contact or other member inserted to engage the same.
Plating materials, though, sometimes are applied no~uniformly, which may result in uneven wear; and there may be voids in the plating allowing undesirable oxidation to occur. Also, plating is ~Innecessarily relatively expensive because the entire contact usually is plated, which wastes plating material at portions of the contact that do not perform a contacting function.
The use of relatively highly conductive or high conductivity inlay material has eliminated the need for plating an entire electrical contact, but contacts using inlay material usually are non-planar and relatively large in comparison to the required dimensions of a planar fork contact or the like. An advantage of inlay material over plating is the former would be denser and more uniform in thickness than the latter. Also, the inlay mflterial usually would present a contacting surface area for engaging an inserted member, e.g. a pin contact, that is smoother and, therefore, a better contacting surface, than the plated or mplated surface, say of a conventionnl fork contact. The usual technique for applying inlay material to sheet material has been to force by pressure, e.g. by a rolling process, a strip of inlay material into a shallow groove in the sheet Mnterial from which the contact would be cut. Then9 the contact would have to be deformed, for example in the shnpe of a hnirpin curve or in the form of n full 79~3 or three quarters folded box that has contact arms extending, say upwardly, from respective opposite sides of the box and parallel thereto, in order to locate the inlay material at a position of contacting exposure to a pin contact inserted to engagement ther ewith.
In contrast, though, a planar fork contact is a secure, integral device that requires minimum space while assuring R highly effective contacting/wiping function to establish a connection with, for example, a pin contact or other member inserted between the tines thereof to engagement therewith. A planar fork contact would be one t1~at has the tines and preferably, although not necessarily, the base, which holds the tines thereto, all substantially in a single narrow plane, i.e. that plane of the sheet material from which the contact is formed, especially by the noted die cutting. It would be desirable to provide inlay material at the contacting/wiping areas of the tines of such planar fork contacts.
Another problem sometimes encountered in electrical con-nectors using resiliently deformable contacts, such as the tines of a fork contact, is over-stressing beyond the elastic limit causing permanent damage to the contact. It would be desirable to reduce the possibility of such over-stressing and/or damage.
SUM~ARY OF T~E INVENTlON
Briefly, the invention relates to improvements in electrical contacts and in electrical connector devices, such as cable terminations and cable termination assemblies, employing such contacts.
The invention permits the application of inlay material, such flS gold, palladium silver, or the like, in one plane9 i.e. that of the sheet material from which fork contacts are cut, and use thereof in nnother plane, i.e. tllat of tlle contacting/wiping area of the respective tines of the fork contacts.
Funda1nentally, the invention residcs in an electricfl1 contflct 1~97~3 of the fork type, wherein each of the tines is substantially parallel and coplanar and has a contacting or wiping ar ea facing that of the other tine for wiping engagement and direct surface to surface contact with a member, such as a pin, inserted between the tines to engagement therewith. Importantly at least one of the tines has inlay material at the contacting or wiping area thereof to improve the electrical connection with such member andlor for similar reasons that plating traditionally may have been provided on electrical contacts.
rhe noted inlay material, such as gold, palladium silver, or the like, preferably is applied only to the relatively limited area of each tine that maintains direct engement with such inserted member.
A twist is provided in each tine to align the respective contacting areas that contain such inlay material with each other in confronting relation for such wiping engagement with the inserted member. The contact, moreover, may be die cut or stamped; however, the twist provided in each tine enables alignment of the respective smooth side surfaces of each in respectively confronting relation with each other, allocating the back of each tine, i.e. that portion not intended to engage such inserted member, for the burr side surface.
~ ccordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to an electrical contact, including a pair of tines, each tine having a contact wiping area, inlay material in at least part of the wiping area of at least one of the tines, and holding means f or holding the tines in generally pflrallel, coplanar relntion.
Another aspect relates to a planar fork contact including a pair of tines for engaging a member inserted -therebetween, and inlay material in at least one of the tines for directly engflging such inserted member.
~ n additional aspect relates to a die cut electrical contact, including plural tines, each having n smooth side and a ~urr side, the latter being created upon the die cutting of the contact, and holding means for holding the tines in generally fixed re`lative position with the smooth sicles fncing an nrcn for connection with a member 3.3 inserted to engagement with the contnct, and the burr sides facing away from such area.
A further aspect relates to an electrical fork contact, including plural tines, each having a contact area ~contact area, contacting and a twist at substalltially the a~ea, and wiping area are used interchangeably herein~ same respective portion to place the contact areas in opposed confronting relative position to engage a member inserted therebetween.
Still another aspect concerns a multiconductor cable termination, including a multiconductor electrical cable having a plurality of conductors and electrical insulation about the conductors maintaining the latter electrically insulated from each other, a plurality of electrical contacts, each including terminals connecting with at least one of the conductors directly through said electrical insulation to form an electrical junction, each of the electrical contacts being of the types mentioned in the several paragraphs of this summary, and a housing including a base for directly holding the contacts and the cable in relatively fixed position, the base means comprising a body integrally molded about at least a porti~n of each of the contacts and a portion of the cable, whereby the base, contacts and cable form an integral structure.
~ till an additional aspect of the invention concerns the combination of one or more such electricnl contacts with an electrical cable including at least one electricnl conductor and electrical insulation about the conductor mnintnining the latter electrically insulated, wherein the contact includes a terminal for connecting ~ith a respective conductor directly through the electrical insulation to form an electrical junction, and a housillg for holding the contact and cable in fixed relative position to form a secure cable termination assembly.
~ till a further aspect relntes to an improvement in an electrical contact having plural tines de~ining an nrea therebetween for recciving a membel inserted therein, and ench tine having a 7~
contact area for enga~ing sucll member, such improvement being directed to inlay material in at least one of the tines at such contact area, and mounting means for mounting the tines at leflst substantially in a common plane.
With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrical contact that is improved in the not ed r espects.
Another object is to provide a cable termination and/or cable termination assembly improved in the noted respects.
An additional object is to enable use of inlay material in an electrical contact that is formed in a single plane.
A further object is to facilitate use of inlay material in an electrical contact.
Still another object is to minimize the cost of using specialized materials, e.g. gold, in electrical contacts.
Still an additional object is to provide reliable high conductivity for the contact wiping area of an electrical contact at relatively minimum cost, and preferably without re~uiring plating.
Still a further object is to minimi~e the amount of high conductivity material needed in an electrical contact, especially while assuring adeguate amount of such material at the contact area.
Even another object is to reduce the effect of ~mdesirable burrs and sharp edges in an electricai contact.
Even an additional object is to obtain a smooth surface at the contact wiping area or connection area or an electrical contact, especially of the planar type.
Even a further object is to improve the ability of an electrical contact to withstand deformation abuse.
Yet another object is to achieve the above objects par-ticularly in a fork contact, and especially a fork contact.
~ et an additional object is to achieve the foregoing objects in a cable termination assembly or other electrical connector device.
Thcse and other objec-ts and advantages of the present ~979~3 invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, thc invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
In the annexed drawing:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a plurality of electrical contacts in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded isometric view of a cable termination assembly type of connector in accordance with the present invention using the contacts of Fig. l;
Figs. 3 and 4 are section views of one contact of Fig. 1 looking generally in the direction of the respective section arrows identified by tlle same numbers; and Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a single electrical contact in accordance with thc present invention in the midst of being manufactur ed.
DESCRIPTION OF T~IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring, now, in detail to the draw;ngs, where;n like reference numerals designate like parts in the several figures, an electrical contact in accordnnce with the present invention is generally indicated at 1. In Fig. 1 there nre three contacts 1 shown connected to a breakaway strip 2 formed dur;ng the manufactur;ng of the contacts nnd used to fnc;litate manipulnting the cont~cts, for ~:197~
e~ample, just prior to incorporating the contacts in a connector, such as the cable termination assembly 3 shown in Fig. 2. In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown section views of the contact 1 of the invention, and in Fig.
5 the contact 1 is shown prior to finishing the manufacturing thereof.
Each of the contacts 1 that are illustrated in -the drawings is a planar fork contact; the contacts are forrned by die cutting or die stamping the same from a planar sheet of metal, such as nickel silver, so that the two tines 4, 5, the base 6, and the terminal legs 7, 8 are all in a common plane of the sheet material, such as is exhibited by the breakaway strip 2. The tines 4, 5 have respective straight leg portions 10, 11 and curved leg portions 12, 13, the latter portions being more remote from the base 6 than the formerO A
contacting or wiping area 1~, 15 of each tine is intended to engage a member inserted into the space 16 between a respective pair of tines of a given fork contact ï. Usually the wiping areas 14, 15 wipe against a member inserted into the space 16, as the resilient force of the respective tines urges such areas into wiping engagement with such member. The wiping helps to clean the tines and the surfaces with which they are to connect to form a reliable electrical con-nection. Thus, the areas 14, 15 perform both a wiping function and a contacting f~mction with respect to such member.
In the broadest sense ol! the invention the wiping areas 14, 15 and the portions of the tines 4, 5 at which they are formed should be coplanar to achieve the various advantages of planar fork contacts.
However, in the preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention the tines 4; 5, base 6, and terminal legs 7, 8 all are coplanar.
To improve the electrical connection between a contact 1 and a member inserted into the space 16, at least one of the tines 12, 13, and preferably both of them, has inlay material 17, 18 nt the wiping area 14, 15. The inlay material 17, 18 preferably is gold, palladium silver, or other material, as may be desired. Usually, tllollgh, such inlay material would have a higher electricnl conductivity, i.e. be a better conductor and/or have n grenter ~9'7~
resis-tance to impedance causing oxidation, than the rnaterial of which the remainder of the contact 1 is formed, such as the above-noted nickel silver.
Since the inlay material 17, 18 is located generally only in the contacting area 14, 15 of each tine 4, 5, only a minumum amount of such relatively costly material is required for the contact 1. ~ne thickness of such inlay material may be on the order of several, say akout t~enty, millionths of an inch to on the order of about fifty millionths of an inch in thickness;
and preferably the inlay material is about thirty million-ths of an inch thick.
Moreover, the inlay material 17, 18 may be applied in a oonventional inlay applying technique to the sheet material of which the contact 1 is formed prior to the die cutting of the respective con-tacts 1 from such sheet material. Fbr example, such inlay material in the form of a relatively thin strip of narrow width may be force fit into a shallow - groove in the sheet material at the portion thereof that will become the contactin~ areas 14, 15 when the contac-t 1 is formed.
An example of a me-thod for ~anufacturing the contacts 1 in accordance with the present invention is disclosed in commonly assigned, concurrently filed Canadian Patent application Serial Number 412,857 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Making Fork Contacts". Briefly, referring here to Fig. 5, a manufacturing technique for the contact 1 rray include, after having inlaid the inlay rnaterial in the sheet rnaterial, for example by a rolling process, and having die cut the contact shape to form the respective tines 4, 5, base 6, and terminal legs 7, 8, de~orming the tines to bow the same generally in that portion thereof that will become the contacting areas 14, 15. It is noted, tco, -that during the die cutting operation weakening cut-outs 20~ 21 are formed in the -tines near the base ends 22, 23 thereof, and twisting flags or tabs 24, 25 are formed at the leading ends 26, 27 of the tines. Also, some of the metal of the terminal legs may be coined to provide sharpened edges 28, 29 of the terminal legs 7~ 8 to _ g _ cr/
facilitate slicing into and through the insulation of a cable, such as that shown at 30 in Fig. 2.
During die cutting of the contact 1, that portion of the contact remote from the cutting blade portion of the die often llas sharp burrs formed thereon, as is well known, and will be referred to herein as the burr side 31 of the contact. The other side 32 of the contact 1 is usually quite smooth because it will have been rolled, for example, during application of the inlay material. The burr side, of course, preferably is on the side of the contact 1 remote from the inlay material to avoid loosening of the latter during the cutting or stamping process.
One of the final steps involved in manufacturing the contact 1 involves twisting the tines by applying clockwise and counter-clockwise (relative to Fig. 5) twisting torques to the respective tabs 24, 25. Such twisting of the tines 4, 5, then, brings the respective wiping areas 14, 15 into directly opposed confrontation with each other with the curved leg portions 12, 13 of the tines being convex toward each other in substantially direct spaced-apart confrontation, as is seen in Figs. 1 and 2. It is the purpose of the weakening cut-outs 20, 21 to facilitate the mentioned twisting and substantially to confine the twist 33, 34 of each tine 4, 5 to the areas of such cut-outs and, tilUS, in the straight leg portions 10, 11 of the tines. By so confining~ and, therefore, effectively controlling the twisting, equ~l lengths of the respective tines 4, 5 and good alignment of the contacting/wiping areas 14, 15 is flchieved, and the normal forces that each contact 1 would apply to a member inserted between the contact tines will be equal. The tabs 24, 25 may be cut off after twisting has been comple ted.
The finished contacts 1 are seen in Figs. 1-4. The space 16 between the convex wiping areas 14, 15 is relatively narrow so as to permit such wiping areas to engage securely a member, such as fl pin contact, printed circuit board, or the like, inserted into such space. The space 35 between the straight leg portions 10, 1l of the contact 1 is relatively wider than the space 16 to accomodate a portion of such an inserted member.
Due to the relatively gradual slope or curvature of the curved ~ 117~
leg portions 12, 13 of the tines 4, 5, upon insertion of a member into the space 16 down toward the space 35, there will be a relatively smooth movement of such member and a corresponding relatively smooth resilient bending or elastic deformation of the respective tines, as the wiping areas 14, 15 will tend to part in response to force exerted by such member. The wide inlet 36 to the space 16 helps to guide such a member during the insertion procedure, while the relatively narrow width of the space 16 assures wiping engagement of the contacting areas 14, 15 with such member during such insertion.
The wealcest portion of planar fork contacts usually is at the junctures of the tines 4, 5 and the base 6. The nature of the contact 1 provides for effectively strengthening the contact, and particularly such junctures. This is accomplished using the straight 10, 11 and curved 12, 13 leg portions in conjunction with respective support walls of a housing or the like in which the contact 1 is used to form a connector. Specifically, such support walls are shown schematically at 40 in Fig. 1. The walls 40 are stepped, having a relatively thick support portion 42 intended directly to support the respective straight leg portions 1~, 11, after they have lmdergone ~ predetermined amount of resilient deformation by a member inserted into the space 16. The relative spacing of the tines 4, 5 with respect to the support portions 42 is such that the latter will prevent over-stressing of such straight leg portions and the noted junctures in the event that an over-size member is inserted into the spnce 16 or such a member is inserted in an askew manner. There is a recessed or concave wall portion 44 of each wall 40, as well, which permits further resilient deflection of the curved leg portions 12, 13 of the tines 4, 5 even after the straight leg portions or the junctions thereof with the respective curved leg portions have bottomed against the wall 42. Such curved leg portions are capable of such added deflection due to the nature of their curvature.
Preventing such over-stressing also may be accomplished by using curved leg portions 12, 13 that have their leading ends 26, 27 terminating closer to the ccnter-line of the contact 1, i.e. a line drnwn between and parallel to the straight leg portions 10, 11 of the tines throllgll the space 16, than a line parallel to the outside surfaces 44, 45 of the straight leg portions. In such embodiment the support walls 40 may be straight while still providing the described support function because the junctions of the straight and curved leg portions would abut, and, therefore, be supported by, the walls 40 before the straight leg portions would be over-stressed, while still permitting subsequent resilient deflection of the curved leg portions until the lead;ng ends thereof abut such walls.
Turning, now, briefly to Fig. 2, the cable termination assembly 3 there illustrated is a representative connector in which the contact 1 of the invention may be employed. Such cable termination assembly includes the cable 3n; the contacts 1, the terminal legs 7, 8 of which pierce through the cable insulation 50 to engage respective conductors 51, which enter the slots 52 between respective legs 79 8; a body 53 of electrically non-conductive material molded about parts of the contacts 1 and cable 30 forming an integral structure therewith; and a cover 54. A similar cnble termination assembly is disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent No.
~,030,799. The body 53 preferably is molded to enclose fully the junctions of respective conductors 51 and terminal legs 7, 8 to maintain the sflme in an air-free environment, thus minimizing the possibility of oxidation or electrolytic action at such junctions. Accordingly, the combination of such excellent electrical connection between the contacts 1 and conductor 51 ~nd of the wiping areas 14, 15 via the inlays 17, 18 with members inserted to engagement therewith provides a highly effective and reliable coupling ultimately between such conductors ancl members.
The cover 54 is like the one in the noted patent. It fits on the body 53 at the step 55 and may be ultrasonically welded in place. The front wall 56 of the cover has openings 57 for guiding pins or like members to engage respective contacts. Compartments pnrtly shown in Fig. 1 nt 58 in the cover 54 provide some measure of isolation of respective contacts while the walls of such compartments provide the support walls 40 described above.
ST~TEMENT OF INDUSTRI~L ~PPLIC~TION
79~;~
It will be appreciated that the contacts and electrical connector of the invention may be used to connect respective conductors to provide an electrically conductive path for respective electrical signals.
.
TITLE: "PLANAR FORK CONTACT WITH GOLD INLAY ~ATERIAL"
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, generally, as indicated, to electrical contacts, and, more particularly, to electrical fork contacts haYing high conductivity inlay material, such as gold, in the tines thereof. The invention also relates to electrical connectors using such contacts.
BAC~GROUND OF PRIOR ART
Planar electrical contacts of the fork type are well known as are connectors that use such contacts. A typical prior fork contact is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,030,799. Such fork contact has a pair of tines that extend out from a base. A member, such as a pin contact, may be inserted between a pair of tines to make an electrical connection therewith. Such patent also discloses an electrical connector using such contacts. The connector is of the~
cable termination assembly type, which includes the contacts, a housing, and at least a portion of a multiconductor cable. The present invention may be used with such cable terminntion assemblies and with other types of electrical connectors, such as a cable termination, which is like the noted assembly but without necessarily including the cable as a part thereof.
It is well known that such fork contacts may be formed by die cutting or die stamping the same from a relatively thin sheet of metal material. However, such stamping often leaves the finished product with a smooth side, which is the one that the cutting die strilces first, and a burr side or surface. The sharp, rou~h burrs at such bul r side usually are undesirable because they can damage pin ., ~
~79~1L3 contacts inserted to engagement therewith, for example by scoring off high conductivity coatings or the like applied to such p;n contacts. It would be desirable to permit such die cutting of fork contacts while eliminating with facility such scoring and like problems created by such burrs.
To improve the electrical conductivity and possibly for other reasons electrical contacts often are plated with certain materials, such as high conductivity materials. For example, a contact formed of nickel silver may by plated with gold or palladium silver in order substantially to irnprove the electrical conductivity thereof, especially at the surface area of the contact where ;t engages with or wipes against a pin contact or other member inserted to engage the same.
Plating materials, though, sometimes are applied no~uniformly, which may result in uneven wear; and there may be voids in the plating allowing undesirable oxidation to occur. Also, plating is ~Innecessarily relatively expensive because the entire contact usually is plated, which wastes plating material at portions of the contact that do not perform a contacting function.
The use of relatively highly conductive or high conductivity inlay material has eliminated the need for plating an entire electrical contact, but contacts using inlay material usually are non-planar and relatively large in comparison to the required dimensions of a planar fork contact or the like. An advantage of inlay material over plating is the former would be denser and more uniform in thickness than the latter. Also, the inlay mflterial usually would present a contacting surface area for engaging an inserted member, e.g. a pin contact, that is smoother and, therefore, a better contacting surface, than the plated or mplated surface, say of a conventionnl fork contact. The usual technique for applying inlay material to sheet material has been to force by pressure, e.g. by a rolling process, a strip of inlay material into a shallow groove in the sheet Mnterial from which the contact would be cut. Then9 the contact would have to be deformed, for example in the shnpe of a hnirpin curve or in the form of n full 79~3 or three quarters folded box that has contact arms extending, say upwardly, from respective opposite sides of the box and parallel thereto, in order to locate the inlay material at a position of contacting exposure to a pin contact inserted to engagement ther ewith.
In contrast, though, a planar fork contact is a secure, integral device that requires minimum space while assuring R highly effective contacting/wiping function to establish a connection with, for example, a pin contact or other member inserted between the tines thereof to engagement therewith. A planar fork contact would be one t1~at has the tines and preferably, although not necessarily, the base, which holds the tines thereto, all substantially in a single narrow plane, i.e. that plane of the sheet material from which the contact is formed, especially by the noted die cutting. It would be desirable to provide inlay material at the contacting/wiping areas of the tines of such planar fork contacts.
Another problem sometimes encountered in electrical con-nectors using resiliently deformable contacts, such as the tines of a fork contact, is over-stressing beyond the elastic limit causing permanent damage to the contact. It would be desirable to reduce the possibility of such over-stressing and/or damage.
SUM~ARY OF T~E INVENTlON
Briefly, the invention relates to improvements in electrical contacts and in electrical connector devices, such as cable terminations and cable termination assemblies, employing such contacts.
The invention permits the application of inlay material, such flS gold, palladium silver, or the like, in one plane9 i.e. that of the sheet material from which fork contacts are cut, and use thereof in nnother plane, i.e. tllat of tlle contacting/wiping area of the respective tines of the fork contacts.
Funda1nentally, the invention residcs in an electricfl1 contflct 1~97~3 of the fork type, wherein each of the tines is substantially parallel and coplanar and has a contacting or wiping ar ea facing that of the other tine for wiping engagement and direct surface to surface contact with a member, such as a pin, inserted between the tines to engagement therewith. Importantly at least one of the tines has inlay material at the contacting or wiping area thereof to improve the electrical connection with such member andlor for similar reasons that plating traditionally may have been provided on electrical contacts.
rhe noted inlay material, such as gold, palladium silver, or the like, preferably is applied only to the relatively limited area of each tine that maintains direct engement with such inserted member.
A twist is provided in each tine to align the respective contacting areas that contain such inlay material with each other in confronting relation for such wiping engagement with the inserted member. The contact, moreover, may be die cut or stamped; however, the twist provided in each tine enables alignment of the respective smooth side surfaces of each in respectively confronting relation with each other, allocating the back of each tine, i.e. that portion not intended to engage such inserted member, for the burr side surface.
~ ccordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to an electrical contact, including a pair of tines, each tine having a contact wiping area, inlay material in at least part of the wiping area of at least one of the tines, and holding means f or holding the tines in generally pflrallel, coplanar relntion.
Another aspect relates to a planar fork contact including a pair of tines for engaging a member inserted -therebetween, and inlay material in at least one of the tines for directly engflging such inserted member.
~ n additional aspect relates to a die cut electrical contact, including plural tines, each having n smooth side and a ~urr side, the latter being created upon the die cutting of the contact, and holding means for holding the tines in generally fixed re`lative position with the smooth sicles fncing an nrcn for connection with a member 3.3 inserted to engagement with the contnct, and the burr sides facing away from such area.
A further aspect relates to an electrical fork contact, including plural tines, each having a contact area ~contact area, contacting and a twist at substalltially the a~ea, and wiping area are used interchangeably herein~ same respective portion to place the contact areas in opposed confronting relative position to engage a member inserted therebetween.
Still another aspect concerns a multiconductor cable termination, including a multiconductor electrical cable having a plurality of conductors and electrical insulation about the conductors maintaining the latter electrically insulated from each other, a plurality of electrical contacts, each including terminals connecting with at least one of the conductors directly through said electrical insulation to form an electrical junction, each of the electrical contacts being of the types mentioned in the several paragraphs of this summary, and a housing including a base for directly holding the contacts and the cable in relatively fixed position, the base means comprising a body integrally molded about at least a porti~n of each of the contacts and a portion of the cable, whereby the base, contacts and cable form an integral structure.
~ till an additional aspect of the invention concerns the combination of one or more such electricnl contacts with an electrical cable including at least one electricnl conductor and electrical insulation about the conductor mnintnining the latter electrically insulated, wherein the contact includes a terminal for connecting ~ith a respective conductor directly through the electrical insulation to form an electrical junction, and a housillg for holding the contact and cable in fixed relative position to form a secure cable termination assembly.
~ till a further aspect relntes to an improvement in an electrical contact having plural tines de~ining an nrea therebetween for recciving a membel inserted therein, and ench tine having a 7~
contact area for enga~ing sucll member, such improvement being directed to inlay material in at least one of the tines at such contact area, and mounting means for mounting the tines at leflst substantially in a common plane.
With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrical contact that is improved in the not ed r espects.
Another object is to provide a cable termination and/or cable termination assembly improved in the noted respects.
An additional object is to enable use of inlay material in an electrical contact that is formed in a single plane.
A further object is to facilitate use of inlay material in an electrical contact.
Still another object is to minimize the cost of using specialized materials, e.g. gold, in electrical contacts.
Still an additional object is to provide reliable high conductivity for the contact wiping area of an electrical contact at relatively minimum cost, and preferably without re~uiring plating.
Still a further object is to minimi~e the amount of high conductivity material needed in an electrical contact, especially while assuring adeguate amount of such material at the contact area.
Even another object is to reduce the effect of ~mdesirable burrs and sharp edges in an electricai contact.
Even an additional object is to obtain a smooth surface at the contact wiping area or connection area or an electrical contact, especially of the planar type.
Even a further object is to improve the ability of an electrical contact to withstand deformation abuse.
Yet another object is to achieve the above objects par-ticularly in a fork contact, and especially a fork contact.
~ et an additional object is to achieve the foregoing objects in a cable termination assembly or other electrical connector device.
Thcse and other objec-ts and advantages of the present ~979~3 invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, thc invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
In the annexed drawing:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a plurality of electrical contacts in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded isometric view of a cable termination assembly type of connector in accordance with the present invention using the contacts of Fig. l;
Figs. 3 and 4 are section views of one contact of Fig. 1 looking generally in the direction of the respective section arrows identified by tlle same numbers; and Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a single electrical contact in accordance with thc present invention in the midst of being manufactur ed.
DESCRIPTION OF T~IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring, now, in detail to the draw;ngs, where;n like reference numerals designate like parts in the several figures, an electrical contact in accordnnce with the present invention is generally indicated at 1. In Fig. 1 there nre three contacts 1 shown connected to a breakaway strip 2 formed dur;ng the manufactur;ng of the contacts nnd used to fnc;litate manipulnting the cont~cts, for ~:197~
e~ample, just prior to incorporating the contacts in a connector, such as the cable termination assembly 3 shown in Fig. 2. In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown section views of the contact 1 of the invention, and in Fig.
5 the contact 1 is shown prior to finishing the manufacturing thereof.
Each of the contacts 1 that are illustrated in -the drawings is a planar fork contact; the contacts are forrned by die cutting or die stamping the same from a planar sheet of metal, such as nickel silver, so that the two tines 4, 5, the base 6, and the terminal legs 7, 8 are all in a common plane of the sheet material, such as is exhibited by the breakaway strip 2. The tines 4, 5 have respective straight leg portions 10, 11 and curved leg portions 12, 13, the latter portions being more remote from the base 6 than the formerO A
contacting or wiping area 1~, 15 of each tine is intended to engage a member inserted into the space 16 between a respective pair of tines of a given fork contact ï. Usually the wiping areas 14, 15 wipe against a member inserted into the space 16, as the resilient force of the respective tines urges such areas into wiping engagement with such member. The wiping helps to clean the tines and the surfaces with which they are to connect to form a reliable electrical con-nection. Thus, the areas 14, 15 perform both a wiping function and a contacting f~mction with respect to such member.
In the broadest sense ol! the invention the wiping areas 14, 15 and the portions of the tines 4, 5 at which they are formed should be coplanar to achieve the various advantages of planar fork contacts.
However, in the preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention the tines 4; 5, base 6, and terminal legs 7, 8 all are coplanar.
To improve the electrical connection between a contact 1 and a member inserted into the space 16, at least one of the tines 12, 13, and preferably both of them, has inlay material 17, 18 nt the wiping area 14, 15. The inlay material 17, 18 preferably is gold, palladium silver, or other material, as may be desired. Usually, tllollgh, such inlay material would have a higher electricnl conductivity, i.e. be a better conductor and/or have n grenter ~9'7~
resis-tance to impedance causing oxidation, than the rnaterial of which the remainder of the contact 1 is formed, such as the above-noted nickel silver.
Since the inlay material 17, 18 is located generally only in the contacting area 14, 15 of each tine 4, 5, only a minumum amount of such relatively costly material is required for the contact 1. ~ne thickness of such inlay material may be on the order of several, say akout t~enty, millionths of an inch to on the order of about fifty millionths of an inch in thickness;
and preferably the inlay material is about thirty million-ths of an inch thick.
Moreover, the inlay material 17, 18 may be applied in a oonventional inlay applying technique to the sheet material of which the contact 1 is formed prior to the die cutting of the respective con-tacts 1 from such sheet material. Fbr example, such inlay material in the form of a relatively thin strip of narrow width may be force fit into a shallow - groove in the sheet material at the portion thereof that will become the contactin~ areas 14, 15 when the contac-t 1 is formed.
An example of a me-thod for ~anufacturing the contacts 1 in accordance with the present invention is disclosed in commonly assigned, concurrently filed Canadian Patent application Serial Number 412,857 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Making Fork Contacts". Briefly, referring here to Fig. 5, a manufacturing technique for the contact 1 rray include, after having inlaid the inlay rnaterial in the sheet rnaterial, for example by a rolling process, and having die cut the contact shape to form the respective tines 4, 5, base 6, and terminal legs 7, 8, de~orming the tines to bow the same generally in that portion thereof that will become the contacting areas 14, 15. It is noted, tco, -that during the die cutting operation weakening cut-outs 20~ 21 are formed in the -tines near the base ends 22, 23 thereof, and twisting flags or tabs 24, 25 are formed at the leading ends 26, 27 of the tines. Also, some of the metal of the terminal legs may be coined to provide sharpened edges 28, 29 of the terminal legs 7~ 8 to _ g _ cr/
facilitate slicing into and through the insulation of a cable, such as that shown at 30 in Fig. 2.
During die cutting of the contact 1, that portion of the contact remote from the cutting blade portion of the die often llas sharp burrs formed thereon, as is well known, and will be referred to herein as the burr side 31 of the contact. The other side 32 of the contact 1 is usually quite smooth because it will have been rolled, for example, during application of the inlay material. The burr side, of course, preferably is on the side of the contact 1 remote from the inlay material to avoid loosening of the latter during the cutting or stamping process.
One of the final steps involved in manufacturing the contact 1 involves twisting the tines by applying clockwise and counter-clockwise (relative to Fig. 5) twisting torques to the respective tabs 24, 25. Such twisting of the tines 4, 5, then, brings the respective wiping areas 14, 15 into directly opposed confrontation with each other with the curved leg portions 12, 13 of the tines being convex toward each other in substantially direct spaced-apart confrontation, as is seen in Figs. 1 and 2. It is the purpose of the weakening cut-outs 20, 21 to facilitate the mentioned twisting and substantially to confine the twist 33, 34 of each tine 4, 5 to the areas of such cut-outs and, tilUS, in the straight leg portions 10, 11 of the tines. By so confining~ and, therefore, effectively controlling the twisting, equ~l lengths of the respective tines 4, 5 and good alignment of the contacting/wiping areas 14, 15 is flchieved, and the normal forces that each contact 1 would apply to a member inserted between the contact tines will be equal. The tabs 24, 25 may be cut off after twisting has been comple ted.
The finished contacts 1 are seen in Figs. 1-4. The space 16 between the convex wiping areas 14, 15 is relatively narrow so as to permit such wiping areas to engage securely a member, such as fl pin contact, printed circuit board, or the like, inserted into such space. The space 35 between the straight leg portions 10, 1l of the contact 1 is relatively wider than the space 16 to accomodate a portion of such an inserted member.
Due to the relatively gradual slope or curvature of the curved ~ 117~
leg portions 12, 13 of the tines 4, 5, upon insertion of a member into the space 16 down toward the space 35, there will be a relatively smooth movement of such member and a corresponding relatively smooth resilient bending or elastic deformation of the respective tines, as the wiping areas 14, 15 will tend to part in response to force exerted by such member. The wide inlet 36 to the space 16 helps to guide such a member during the insertion procedure, while the relatively narrow width of the space 16 assures wiping engagement of the contacting areas 14, 15 with such member during such insertion.
The wealcest portion of planar fork contacts usually is at the junctures of the tines 4, 5 and the base 6. The nature of the contact 1 provides for effectively strengthening the contact, and particularly such junctures. This is accomplished using the straight 10, 11 and curved 12, 13 leg portions in conjunction with respective support walls of a housing or the like in which the contact 1 is used to form a connector. Specifically, such support walls are shown schematically at 40 in Fig. 1. The walls 40 are stepped, having a relatively thick support portion 42 intended directly to support the respective straight leg portions 1~, 11, after they have lmdergone ~ predetermined amount of resilient deformation by a member inserted into the space 16. The relative spacing of the tines 4, 5 with respect to the support portions 42 is such that the latter will prevent over-stressing of such straight leg portions and the noted junctures in the event that an over-size member is inserted into the spnce 16 or such a member is inserted in an askew manner. There is a recessed or concave wall portion 44 of each wall 40, as well, which permits further resilient deflection of the curved leg portions 12, 13 of the tines 4, 5 even after the straight leg portions or the junctions thereof with the respective curved leg portions have bottomed against the wall 42. Such curved leg portions are capable of such added deflection due to the nature of their curvature.
Preventing such over-stressing also may be accomplished by using curved leg portions 12, 13 that have their leading ends 26, 27 terminating closer to the ccnter-line of the contact 1, i.e. a line drnwn between and parallel to the straight leg portions 10, 11 of the tines throllgll the space 16, than a line parallel to the outside surfaces 44, 45 of the straight leg portions. In such embodiment the support walls 40 may be straight while still providing the described support function because the junctions of the straight and curved leg portions would abut, and, therefore, be supported by, the walls 40 before the straight leg portions would be over-stressed, while still permitting subsequent resilient deflection of the curved leg portions until the lead;ng ends thereof abut such walls.
Turning, now, briefly to Fig. 2, the cable termination assembly 3 there illustrated is a representative connector in which the contact 1 of the invention may be employed. Such cable termination assembly includes the cable 3n; the contacts 1, the terminal legs 7, 8 of which pierce through the cable insulation 50 to engage respective conductors 51, which enter the slots 52 between respective legs 79 8; a body 53 of electrically non-conductive material molded about parts of the contacts 1 and cable 30 forming an integral structure therewith; and a cover 54. A similar cnble termination assembly is disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent No.
~,030,799. The body 53 preferably is molded to enclose fully the junctions of respective conductors 51 and terminal legs 7, 8 to maintain the sflme in an air-free environment, thus minimizing the possibility of oxidation or electrolytic action at such junctions. Accordingly, the combination of such excellent electrical connection between the contacts 1 and conductor 51 ~nd of the wiping areas 14, 15 via the inlays 17, 18 with members inserted to engagement therewith provides a highly effective and reliable coupling ultimately between such conductors ancl members.
The cover 54 is like the one in the noted patent. It fits on the body 53 at the step 55 and may be ultrasonically welded in place. The front wall 56 of the cover has openings 57 for guiding pins or like members to engage respective contacts. Compartments pnrtly shown in Fig. 1 nt 58 in the cover 54 provide some measure of isolation of respective contacts while the walls of such compartments provide the support walls 40 described above.
ST~TEMENT OF INDUSTRI~L ~PPLIC~TION
79~;~
It will be appreciated that the contacts and electrical connector of the invention may be used to connect respective conductors to provide an electrically conductive path for respective electrical signals.
.
Claims (36)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A planar, fork-type electrical contact, comprising a base and a pair of tines integral with and extending from said base, each tine having a contact wiping area, said contact wiping areas facing each other, inlay material in at least part of the wiping area of each of said tines, said tines extending from said base in generally parallel, coplanar relation to each other, each tine having a straight leg portion and a curved leg portion, said curved leg portions being convex toward each other in substantially direct spaced-apart confrontation, said contact wiping area including at least part of said curved leg portion, and said inlay material being substantially only in said contact wiping area, and further comprising a twist at the same respective portion of each of said tines to place said contact wiping areas in opposed confronting relative position along the length of said tines to engage a member inserted therebetween, and each tine having a weakening cut-out means therein between said base and said wiping area for facilitating twisting thereat to form said twist and at least substantially confining such twist thereat.
2. The contact of claim 1, said base, tines and inlay material being electrically conductive, and further comprising electrically conductive connection means extending from, integral with and substantially coplanar with said base for electrically connecting the contact to a further electrical conductor, said tines also being at least substantially coplanar with said base.
3. The contact of claim 1, wherein the contact is formed from sheet material having a thickness dimension by die cutting the same, each of said tines having a smooth side and a burr side, the latter being created upon such die cutting, and said base comprising means for holding said tines in generally fixed relative position with said smooth sides facing an area for connection with a member inserted to engagement with the contact and said burr sides facing away from such area while permitting resilient deforma-tion of said tines upon insertion of such member therebetween, the thickness of said base being at least substantially the same as the thickness of such sheet material, and the thickness of said tines in a direction parallel to the thickness dimension of said base being substantially the same as the thickness of said sheet material.
4. The invention of claim 1, further comprising in combination therewith an electrical cable including at least one electrical conductor and electrical insulation about said conductor maintaining the latter electrically insulated, wherein said contact includes terminal means for connecting with said at least one conductor directly through said electrical insulation to form an electrical junction, and housing means for holding said contact and cable in fixed relative position to form a secure cable termination assembly.
5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said cable comprises a multiconductor electrical cable, and said contact comprises a plurality of the same for electrically connecting with respective conductors of said cable.
6. The invention of claim 5, said housing means comprises a body integrally molded about at least a portion of each of said contacts and a portion of said cable, whereby said body, contacts and cable form an integral structure, and said housing means further comprising a cover for enclosing at least a substantial portion of said tines and to guide respective members to engagement therewith.
7. The invention of claim 4, wherein each tine has a straight leg portion and a curved leg portion, said leg portions meeting at a junction, and said curved leg portion including a contact wiping area to wipe against a member inserted between a respective pair of tines, said housing means comprising a wall means behind each tine for supporting at least a portion of a respective tine at said junction when said tine has encountered at least a predetermined minimum amount of resilient deformation while still per-mitting said curved leg portion to undergo further resilient deformation.
8. The invention of claim 7, said wall means comprising a stepped wall having a relatively recessed area behind said curved leg portion to permit such further resilient deformation.
9. The invention of claim 1, wherein said inlay material comprises material having a thickness on the order of from about 20 millionths of an inch to about 50 millionths of an inch.
10. The invention of claim 9, said inlay material comprising gold.
11. A planar-type electrical fork contact, comprising a pair of tines, base means integral with both of said tines for holding said tines in generally parallel, coplanar, spaced-apart relation, to each other and with respect to said base means, each of said tines having a contact area and a twist at substantially the same respective portion therealong relative to said base means to place said contact areas in opposed confronting relative position to engage a member inserted therebetween and a weakening cut-out means in each tine to facilitate forming such twist and at least substantially to confine such twist thereat.
12. The contact of claim 11, said contact area comprising a contact wiping area, and each tine having a straight leg portion and a curved leg portion, said contact wiping area including at least part of said curved leg portion.
13. The contact of claim 12, said curved leg portions being convex toward each other in substantially direct spaced-apart confrontation.
14. The contact of claim 13, wherein each twist is between said base means and said curved leg portion.
15. The contact of claim 12, wherein each twist is between said base means and said curved leg portion.
16. The contact of claim 11, further comprising inlay material in at least part of a contact wiping area of each tine.
17. The contact of claim 16, said inlay material being posi-tioned substantially only in said contact wiping area.
18. The invention of claim 16, wherein said inlay material comprises material having a thickness on the order of from about 20 millionths of an inch to about 50 millionths of an inch.
19. The invention of claim 18, said inlay material comprising gold.
20. The contact of claim 11, further comprising means coupled to said base means for electrically connecting said contact to a further conductor.
21. The contact of claim 20, wherein said tines, base means, and means coupled are at least substantially coplanar.
22. The invention of claim 11, further comprising in combina-tion therewith an electrical cable including at least one electrical conductor and electrical insulation about said conductor maintaining the latter electri-cally insulated, wherein said contact includes terminal means for connecting with said at least one conductor directly through said electrical insulation to form an electrical junction, and housing means for holding said contact and cable in fixed relative position to form a secure cable termination assembly.
23. A multiconductor cable termination, comprising a multi-conductor electrical cable including a plurality of conductors and electrical insulation about said conductors maintaining the latter electrically insulated from each other, a plurality of electrical contacts,cable each including terminal means connecting at least one of said conductors directly through said electrical insulation to form an electrical junction, each of said electrical contacts comprising the contacts of claim 1, and a housing including base means for directly holding said contacts and said cable in relatively fixed position, said base means comprising a body integrally molded about at least a portion of each of said contacts and a portion of said cable whereby said base means, said contacts and said cable form an integral structure.
24. The termination of claim 23, wherein each tine has a straight leg portion and a curved leg portion, said leg portions meeting at a junction, and said curved leg portion including a contact wiping area to wipe against a member inserted between a respective pair of tines, said housing comprising a wall means behind each tine for supporting at least a portion of a respective tine at said junction when said tine has encountered at least a predetermined minimum amount of resilient deformation while still per-mitting said curved leg portion to undergo further resilient deformation.
25. The termination of claim 24, said wall means comprising a stepped wall having a relatively recessed area behind said curved leg portion to permit such further resilient deformation.
26. The invention of claim 22, wherein said cable comprises a multiconductor electrical cable, and said contact comprises a plurality of the same for electrically connecting with respective conductors of said cable.
27. The invention of claim 26, said housing means comprises a body integrally molded about at least a portion of each of said contacts and a portion of said cable, whereby said body, contacts and cable form an integral structure, and said housing means further comprising a cover for enclosing at least a substantial portion of said tines and to guide respective members to engagement therewith.
28. The invention of claim 25, wherein each tine has a straight leg portion and a curved leg portion, said leg portions meeting at a junction, and said curved leg portion including a contact wiping area to wipe against a member inserted between a respective pair of tines, said housing means comprising a wall means behind each tine for supporting at least a portion of a respective tine at said junction when said tine has encountered at least a predetermined minimum amount of resilient deformation while still per-mitting said curved leg portion to undergo further resilient deformation.
29. The invention of claim 28, said wall means comprising a stepped wall having a relatively recessed area behind said curved leg portion to permit such further resilient deformation.
30. In a planar type electrical contact having a pair of tines defining an area therebetween for receiving a member inserted therein, each tine having a contact area for engaging such member and a base means for holding the tines in parallel, spaced-apart, coplanar relation and in generally coplanar relation with respect to the base means, the improve-ment comprising:
inlay material in said tines at such contact area thereof, a twist at the same respective portion of each of said tines to place said contact wiping areas in opposed confronting relative position along the length of said tines to engage a member inserted therebetween, and wherein each tine has an axially straight leg portion, said twist being about the axis of said axially straight leg portion, and a weakening means in said straight leg portion for facilitating twisting thereat to form said twist and at least substantially confining such twist thereat.
inlay material in said tines at such contact area thereof, a twist at the same respective portion of each of said tines to place said contact wiping areas in opposed confronting relative position along the length of said tines to engage a member inserted therebetween, and wherein each tine has an axially straight leg portion, said twist being about the axis of said axially straight leg portion, and a weakening means in said straight leg portion for facilitating twisting thereat to form said twist and at least substantially confining such twist thereat.
31. The improvement of claim 30, wherein each tine has a curved leg portion, said contact area including at least part of said curved leg portion.
32. The improvement of claim 31, said curved leg portions being convex toward each other in substantially direct spaced-apart con-frontation.
33. The improvement of claim 30, said inlay material being positioned substantially only in said contact area.
34. The improvement of claim 30, wherein the contact com-prises a die cut electrical contact, including plural tines, each having a smooth side and a burr side, the latter being created upon the die cutting of the contact, and holding means for holding said tines in generally fixed relative position with said smooth sides facing an area for connection with a member inserted to engagement with the contact, and said burr sides facing away from such area.
35. The invention of claim 30, wherein said inlay material comprises material having a thickness on the order of from about 20 millionths of an inch to about 50 millionths of an inch.
36. The invention of claim 35, said inlay material comprising gold.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US30956781A | 1981-10-08 | 1981-10-08 | |
| US309,567 | 1981-10-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1197913A true CA1197913A (en) | 1985-12-10 |
Family
ID=23198741
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000412855A Expired CA1197913A (en) | 1981-10-08 | 1982-10-05 | Planar fork contact with gold inlay material |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0090849A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1197913A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1983001346A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3481149D1 (en) * | 1983-11-08 | 1990-03-01 | Amp Inc | CONNECTORS WITH FLAT, PUNCHED-OUT CONTACT ORGANS. |
| US5692928A (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 1997-12-02 | Molex Incorporated | Electrical connector having terminals with improved retention means |
| DE102016125058B4 (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2018-11-15 | Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH | ELECTRICAL CONTACT ELEMENT AND INTERFACE WITH IMPROVED TRANSITION RESISTANCE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA683981A (en) * | 1964-04-07 | C. Peters Arthur | Connector socket | |
| US2539230A (en) * | 1944-09-28 | 1951-01-23 | Rowe & Co Proprietary Ltd H | Electrical power outlet and power plug |
| US3086251A (en) * | 1960-09-30 | 1963-04-23 | Plastic Wire & Cable Corp | Method of molding electrical connector plugs |
| NL270709A (en) * | 1961-10-27 | |||
| US3289148A (en) * | 1964-07-29 | 1966-11-29 | Litton Systems Inc | Connectors |
| GB1077495A (en) * | 1966-04-05 | 1967-07-26 | Ferranti Ltd | Improvements relating to electric sockets |
| GB1209187A (en) * | 1967-10-12 | 1970-10-21 | Painton & Co Ltd | Improvements in or relating to electrical contact clips |
| US3503036A (en) * | 1968-03-27 | 1970-03-24 | Amp Inc | Contact terminals and manufacturing method |
| US3646499A (en) * | 1970-06-22 | 1972-02-29 | Microdot Inc | Multiple connector |
| US3685006A (en) * | 1970-06-24 | 1972-08-15 | Beckman Instruments Inc | Cable connector |
| US4025143A (en) * | 1975-06-10 | 1977-05-24 | Rozmus John J | Electrical contacts |
| US4030799A (en) * | 1976-02-09 | 1977-06-21 | A P Products Incorporated | Jumper connector |
-
1982
- 1982-10-04 EP EP82903411A patent/EP0090849A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1982-10-04 WO PCT/US1982/001426 patent/WO1983001346A1/en unknown
- 1982-10-05 CA CA000412855A patent/CA1197913A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0090849A1 (en) | 1983-10-12 |
| WO1983001346A1 (en) | 1983-04-14 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| AU565767B2 (en) | Idc termination having means to adapt to various conductor sizes | |
| US5964620A (en) | Insulation displacement connector | |
| US5588884A (en) | Stamped and formed contacts for a power connector | |
| US5411408A (en) | Electrical connector for printed circuit boards | |
| US4713023A (en) | Electrical connector and method of assembly | |
| US5716236A (en) | System for terminating the shield of a high speed cable | |
| US5888105A (en) | Multi-station female blade receptacle stamping and multi-outlet receptacle | |
| WO1987000978A1 (en) | Surface mount connector | |
| JP2004528692A (en) | Method and apparatus for using flat flexible cable connector | |
| US5785555A (en) | System for terminating the shield of a high speed cable | |
| EP1436863A1 (en) | Connector with improved grounding means | |
| US4288141A (en) | Insulation displacement contact for an electrical connector | |
| EP0497554B1 (en) | Hold-down terminal | |
| US5768771A (en) | System for terminating the shield of a high speed cable | |
| JP3463900B2 (en) | Electrical connector and method of manufacturing the same | |
| JPH0626152B2 (en) | Shielded electrical plug assembly | |
| CA2063321C (en) | Electrical connector having improved spring contacts | |
| EP0182125A2 (en) | Shield terminating for flat cable connector | |
| CA1197913A (en) | Planar fork contact with gold inlay material | |
| JP3453630B2 (en) | Coaxial cable connector | |
| CA1195398A (en) | Terminal for solderless contact | |
| EP0468512B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for coupling a connector to a cable | |
| EP0570832B1 (en) | Connector housing assembly for discrete wires | |
| JP3232241B2 (en) | Card edge connector | |
| JP2635657B2 (en) | Strip contact and method of forming and arranging contact using the strip contact |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |