CA1225708A - Low insertion force electrical connector with stress controlled contacts - Google Patents
Low insertion force electrical connector with stress controlled contactsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1225708A CA1225708A CA000475893A CA475893A CA1225708A CA 1225708 A CA1225708 A CA 1225708A CA 000475893 A CA000475893 A CA 000475893A CA 475893 A CA475893 A CA 475893A CA 1225708 A CA1225708 A CA 1225708A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- printed circuit
- circuit board
- contact
- cavity
- spring
- 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
- 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
- H01R12/82—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force
- H01R12/83—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force connected with pivoting of printed circuits or like after insertion
Landscapes
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A low insertion force multiple contact electrical connector with stress controlled connector spring contacts for use in making electrical contact with a plurality of conductive pads or strips formed along an insertable edge of a printed circuit board includes a plurality of connector spring contacts mounted in slots formed along an elongated cavity in a connector housing. Each spring contact includes opposed, deflectable contacting portions for engag-ing the conductive strips disposed on opposite sides of the insertable edge of the printed circuit board. The opposed contacting portions define an opening through which the edge of the printed circuit board may be inserted in the cavity of the connector hous-ing with low or zero insertion force. Subsequently, the printed circuit board is pivoted or rotated through an angle into a final contacting position, in which position the conductor strips on the printed circuit board engage and deflect the contacting por-tions of the spring contacts with a relatively high contact force. The connector housing includes first and second integrally formed stops or limit surfaces respectively associated with each of the opposed con-tacting portions of each spring contact that control or limit the deflection of the contacting portions and the resultant stress imparted to the spring contacts.
Description
~L2~
- LOW INSERTION FORCE ~LECTRICAL CONNECTOR
WITH STRESS CONTROLLED CON
~AC~GROUNO OF THE INVENTION
A. 7~ eL IJ~L~Sc~ n~le~
The device of the present invention gener-ally relates to electrical connectors for making electrical connections ~o printed circuit boards and, more particularly, to low insertion force electrical connec~ors for making electrical connections to con-ductive strips mounted along the edges of printed circult boards.
~ ow insertion force electrical connectors for making electrical connections to conductive strips disposed generally in parallel along opposi~e sides of an elongated edge of a printed circuit board are old and well known in the prior art. Examples of such devices and electrical contacts for such devices are disclosed in United States Letters Patents Nos.
3,701,071; 3,795,8~8; 3,920,303; 3,~48,95~;
4,136,917; and Re.26,692. The electrical connectors disclosed in such patents receive printed circuit boards with low insertion force in order to limit the wear of the spring contacts associated with the elec-trical connectors and the conductive strips asso-ciated with the printed circuit boards.
.
While many prior art electrical connectors have been able to provide low insertion force elec-trical connections with printed circ~it boards, such devices typically do not provide fixed connector housing stops for directly contacting the printed circuit boards to limit the amount of contact force and resultant stress applied to the connector spring contacts. The possibility of overstressing the spring contacts thus exists which could result in a reduction of the effectiveness of the electrical con-nection between the spring contacts and the conduc-tive s~rips on the printed circuit boards. A need exists for electrical connectors having housings that directly contact the printe~ circuit boards to limit the amount of deflection of the spring contacts mounted therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved low inser~ion force electrical connector for use in making electrical connections to a printed circuit board.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low insertion force electrical connector having a housing with an elongated cavity for the receipt of an insertable edge of a printed circuit board and having spring contacts mounted in the cavity for elec~rically contacting conductive strips disposed along an edge of the printed circuit board wherein the housing includes fixed limits or stops associa~ed with each spring contact for directly physically contacting the printed circuit ~oard to limit the deflection of the spriny contacts.
Briefly, the present invention relates to a low insertion force electrical connector having an elonyated insulating housing and a cavity formed ~L2~7~3 along the length of the insulating housing for receiving the in-sertable edge of a printed circuit board. Disposed within the cavity at spaced apart intervals is a plurality of spring contacts for making high contact force electrical connections with a plur-ality of spaced apart, generally parallel, conductive strips form-ed on opposite sides of and along the length of the edge of the printed circuit board. Each spring contact includes a pair of spaced apart contacting portions that define an opening through which the edge of the printed circuit board may be received.
Very low or zero insertion force is required to dispose the prin-ted circuit board in the cavity. Upon the complete insertion of the edge of the printed circuit board, the board is pivoted or rotated until it is disposed in a final or contact position in which the spaced apart contacting portions of the spring contacts physically and electrically engage with high contact force the conductive strips formed along the edge of the printed circuit board. An integrally formed portion of the connector housing forms a limit or stop to prevent excess rotational or pivotal movement of the printed circuit board. In this manner, excess deflection of the contacting portions of the spring contacts is prevented.
Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the inven-tion, there is provided an electrical connector for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and first and second opposed surfaces with a plurality of contact pads on each surface adja-cent said edge, said connector including an elongated dielectric -3~
~;25~1~8 housing with a cavity formed along its length for receiving the printed cir-cuit board mating edge, a plurality of spring contacts mounted in the housing to engage the printed circuit board contact pads when the printed circuit board is inserted in the cavity at a first angular position and subsequently pivoted to a second angular position, the improvement wherein: said spring contact being stamped and in-tegrally formed to have a rounded continuously curved configuration with first and second free ends having contact surfaces disposed at different elevations in said cavity, a central portion disposed between said free ends, a mounting leg extending from said central portion for resilient mounting of said contact member with :Ereedom of movement as said printed circuit board is ~pivoted in said cavity between said first and second cmgular positiolls; and said housing further includes first and second illtegrally formed limit surfaces disposed immediately adjacent said spring contact surfaces and said printed circuit board contact pads when said printed circuit board is in-serted in said cavity, said limit surfaces directly physically contacting each said printed circuit board surface to limit deflection of said spring contacts while maintaining the freedom of movement of said spring contact as said print-ed circuit board is pivoted in said cavity.
~
The above ~nd other objects and advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed descrip-tion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board and of an electrical connector for use therewith constructed in accordance with the principles o:E the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmen-tary cross sectional view of the electrical connector of Figure 1 taken ~2Zt~
along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 depicting the printed cir~
cuit board in its initial or inserted position in the electrical connector; and FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to the view of FIG~ 2 depicting the printed circuit board in its final or contact posi-tion in the electrical connector.
~5~o~l5~L~ G5~ a~D EMEODIMENT
Referring to the drawing and initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a new and improved low insertion force multiple contact electrical connector 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, for use in making electrica}
connections to a conventional printed circuit board 12. While the electrical connector 10 is depicted and described herein as being capable of receiving and making electrical connections to t~ro printed cir-cuit boards 12, the principles of the present inven-tion disclosed herein are equally applicable to elec-trical connectors suitable for use in making electri-cal connections to a single printed circuit board or to a plu~ality of three or more printed circuit boards.
The electrical connector 10 includes an elongated housing 13~ formed from any suitable insu-lating material, having a pair of elongated, spacedapart, access cavities 14 and 16 formed along an elongated base 18 and a plurali~y of four upstanding circuit board support or retention posts 20, 22, 24 and 26. Each of the posts 20-26 includes an inte-grally formed, resilient or yieldable latch 28 formedat the upper end thereof for yieldably retaining a printed circuit board in a final or contact position between associated pairs of the posts 20-22 and 24-26. More specifically, each latch 28 includes an elongated tapered surface 30 formed at its free end that is capablP of being outwardly deflected upon contact with one of the spaced apart lateral edges 32 ~ 2 ~5~ ~ ~
and 34 of the printed circuit board 12. When the printed circuit board 12 is fully received within a pair of spaced apart cavities 36, formed i~ the posts 20-26, ~he associated resilient latches 28 return to their nondeflected position (FIG. 1) to retain the printed circuit board 1~ in its final or contact posi~ion.
Each acces~ cavity 14 and 16 includes a plurality of generally parallel, spaced apart, ~rans-versely oriented slots 38 disposecl along substantial-ly its entire length. A connector spring contact 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3), formed from any suitable resilient electri~ally conductive metallic material, such as a strip of beryllium copper having a thicKness of approximately .015 inch, is disposed in each one of the slots 38. If desired, the spring contact 40 dis-posed in a slot 38 along the cavity 14 (for example, the slot 3~A) may be electrically short circuited to the sprin~ contact 40 disposed in a longitudinally aligned or otherwise associated slot 38 along the cavity 16 (for example, the slot 38B)~ This may achieved by forming the spaced apart spring contacts 40 in the slots 38A and 38B as integral portions of a single electrically conductive metallic strip. Al-ternatively, ~he spring contacts 40 in the accesscavities 14 and 16 may be electrically insulated from each other. Each of the access cavities 14 and 16 also includes an elongated, inclined, insertion sur-face 42, a bottom surface 44, an inwardly protruding shoulder, stop or limit surface 46, and a vertically extending surface 48 disposed between the inclined surface 42 and the bottom surface 44.
Since the configuration and operation of the sprin~ contacts 40 disposed in the slots 38 along tne cavities 14 and 16 are essentially the same, only one such spring contact 40 is discussed in detail hereinafter. Each spring contact 40 has a pair of integrally ormed, spaced apart, resilient contacting por~ions 50 and 52 for respectively contacting con-ductive pads or strips 54 and 56 disposed along oppo-site sides o~ an insertable edge 58 of the printed circuit board 12. By disposing the contacting por-tions 50 and 52 at different elevations within the slot 38 in the cavity 14 corresponding respectively to the elevational dispositions of the surface 48 and of the surface 46, the printed circuit board 12 may be inserted at an angle ~Fig. 2) to its final or con-tact position (Fig. 3) in the ca~ity 140 The inser-tion angle or orientation of the printed circuit board 12 is generally parallel to he angle or orien~
tation of the inclined surface 42. In this manner, low or zero insertion force is required to insert the edge 58 into the cavity 14, thereby minimizing unde-sirable wear on the conductive strips 54 and 56 and the spring contacts 40. The inclined surface 42 may be used as a guide surface for the inseetion of the printed circuit board 12.
After its insertion, the printed circuit board 12 may be pivoted or rotated about the cont~ct-ing portion 50 or the surface 48 until it assumes a final or contact position (FIG. 3) in which position the printed circuit board 12 rests against the ~ottom surface 44 and its lateral edges 32 and 34 are re-tained in the cavities 36 in the spaced apart posts 20 and 22. In this final or contact position, the contacting portions 50 and 52 are resiliently de-flected outwardly from the center of the cavity 14 bytheir respective engagements with the conductive strip. 54 and 56. The configuration of the spring 40 and of its contacting portions 50 and 52 is such as to provide a relatively high contact force between the contacting portions 50 and 52 and the conductive strips 54 and 56.
~2~
In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the deflection of the contact-ing portion 52, disposed at the same elevation and in an overlying relationship with the surface 46, and the resultant tress imparted to the spring contact 40 is limited by the stop or limit: surface 46. That is, the contacting portion 52 cannot be deflected be-yond the inwardly extending limit: surface 46 since the limit surface 46 will physically engage the edge 58 of the printed circuit board 12 to limit its pivotable or rotational movement within the cavity 14. By aligning the vertically extending interior surfaces 60 (FIGS. 2 and 3~ of each post 20-26 with the stop or limit surface 46, the pivotal or rota-tional movement of longitudinally extending portionsof the lateral edges 32 and 34 disposed above the cavity 14 is also limited. The vertically extending surface 48 may also serve as a stop or lim.~t sur~ace to control or limit the amount of deflection of the contacting portion 50 of the spring contact 40 since the contacting portion 50 i5 similarly disposed ge~erally at the same elevation and in an overlying relationship with the surface 48.
In this manner, a new and improved low in-sertion force electrical connector 10 is provided formaking effective and reliable high contact force electrical connection with a printed cirucit board 12 while reducing or preventing the possibility of over-stressing the spring ~ontac~s 40 of the electrical connector 10.
Obviously, many modifications and varia-tions of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, rather than be-ing formed as an uninterrupted surface, the stop or limit surface 46 (and, if desired, the surfaces 42 and/or 48) may be formed as a plurality oE spaced apart stops or limit surfaces 46 associated with each ."
- ~L2;~57~
slot 38 and each contacting portion 52. In addition, the precise configuration of the spring contacts 40 may be modified to achieve desired spring and contact characteristics. Thus, it is to be unders~ood tnat, S within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically decribed above.
- LOW INSERTION FORCE ~LECTRICAL CONNECTOR
WITH STRESS CONTROLLED CON
~AC~GROUNO OF THE INVENTION
A. 7~ eL IJ~L~Sc~ n~le~
The device of the present invention gener-ally relates to electrical connectors for making electrical connections ~o printed circuit boards and, more particularly, to low insertion force electrical connec~ors for making electrical connections to con-ductive strips mounted along the edges of printed circult boards.
~ ow insertion force electrical connectors for making electrical connections to conductive strips disposed generally in parallel along opposi~e sides of an elongated edge of a printed circuit board are old and well known in the prior art. Examples of such devices and electrical contacts for such devices are disclosed in United States Letters Patents Nos.
3,701,071; 3,795,8~8; 3,920,303; 3,~48,95~;
4,136,917; and Re.26,692. The electrical connectors disclosed in such patents receive printed circuit boards with low insertion force in order to limit the wear of the spring contacts associated with the elec-trical connectors and the conductive strips asso-ciated with the printed circuit boards.
.
While many prior art electrical connectors have been able to provide low insertion force elec-trical connections with printed circ~it boards, such devices typically do not provide fixed connector housing stops for directly contacting the printed circuit boards to limit the amount of contact force and resultant stress applied to the connector spring contacts. The possibility of overstressing the spring contacts thus exists which could result in a reduction of the effectiveness of the electrical con-nection between the spring contacts and the conduc-tive s~rips on the printed circuit boards. A need exists for electrical connectors having housings that directly contact the printe~ circuit boards to limit the amount of deflection of the spring contacts mounted therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved low inser~ion force electrical connector for use in making electrical connections to a printed circuit board.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low insertion force electrical connector having a housing with an elongated cavity for the receipt of an insertable edge of a printed circuit board and having spring contacts mounted in the cavity for elec~rically contacting conductive strips disposed along an edge of the printed circuit board wherein the housing includes fixed limits or stops associa~ed with each spring contact for directly physically contacting the printed circuit ~oard to limit the deflection of the spriny contacts.
Briefly, the present invention relates to a low insertion force electrical connector having an elonyated insulating housing and a cavity formed ~L2~7~3 along the length of the insulating housing for receiving the in-sertable edge of a printed circuit board. Disposed within the cavity at spaced apart intervals is a plurality of spring contacts for making high contact force electrical connections with a plur-ality of spaced apart, generally parallel, conductive strips form-ed on opposite sides of and along the length of the edge of the printed circuit board. Each spring contact includes a pair of spaced apart contacting portions that define an opening through which the edge of the printed circuit board may be received.
Very low or zero insertion force is required to dispose the prin-ted circuit board in the cavity. Upon the complete insertion of the edge of the printed circuit board, the board is pivoted or rotated until it is disposed in a final or contact position in which the spaced apart contacting portions of the spring contacts physically and electrically engage with high contact force the conductive strips formed along the edge of the printed circuit board. An integrally formed portion of the connector housing forms a limit or stop to prevent excess rotational or pivotal movement of the printed circuit board. In this manner, excess deflection of the contacting portions of the spring contacts is prevented.
Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the inven-tion, there is provided an electrical connector for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and first and second opposed surfaces with a plurality of contact pads on each surface adja-cent said edge, said connector including an elongated dielectric -3~
~;25~1~8 housing with a cavity formed along its length for receiving the printed cir-cuit board mating edge, a plurality of spring contacts mounted in the housing to engage the printed circuit board contact pads when the printed circuit board is inserted in the cavity at a first angular position and subsequently pivoted to a second angular position, the improvement wherein: said spring contact being stamped and in-tegrally formed to have a rounded continuously curved configuration with first and second free ends having contact surfaces disposed at different elevations in said cavity, a central portion disposed between said free ends, a mounting leg extending from said central portion for resilient mounting of said contact member with :Ereedom of movement as said printed circuit board is ~pivoted in said cavity between said first and second cmgular positiolls; and said housing further includes first and second illtegrally formed limit surfaces disposed immediately adjacent said spring contact surfaces and said printed circuit board contact pads when said printed circuit board is in-serted in said cavity, said limit surfaces directly physically contacting each said printed circuit board surface to limit deflection of said spring contacts while maintaining the freedom of movement of said spring contact as said print-ed circuit board is pivoted in said cavity.
~
The above ~nd other objects and advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed descrip-tion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board and of an electrical connector for use therewith constructed in accordance with the principles o:E the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmen-tary cross sectional view of the electrical connector of Figure 1 taken ~2Zt~
along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 depicting the printed cir~
cuit board in its initial or inserted position in the electrical connector; and FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to the view of FIG~ 2 depicting the printed circuit board in its final or contact posi-tion in the electrical connector.
~5~o~l5~L~ G5~ a~D EMEODIMENT
Referring to the drawing and initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a new and improved low insertion force multiple contact electrical connector 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, for use in making electrica}
connections to a conventional printed circuit board 12. While the electrical connector 10 is depicted and described herein as being capable of receiving and making electrical connections to t~ro printed cir-cuit boards 12, the principles of the present inven-tion disclosed herein are equally applicable to elec-trical connectors suitable for use in making electri-cal connections to a single printed circuit board or to a plu~ality of three or more printed circuit boards.
The electrical connector 10 includes an elongated housing 13~ formed from any suitable insu-lating material, having a pair of elongated, spacedapart, access cavities 14 and 16 formed along an elongated base 18 and a plurali~y of four upstanding circuit board support or retention posts 20, 22, 24 and 26. Each of the posts 20-26 includes an inte-grally formed, resilient or yieldable latch 28 formedat the upper end thereof for yieldably retaining a printed circuit board in a final or contact position between associated pairs of the posts 20-22 and 24-26. More specifically, each latch 28 includes an elongated tapered surface 30 formed at its free end that is capablP of being outwardly deflected upon contact with one of the spaced apart lateral edges 32 ~ 2 ~5~ ~ ~
and 34 of the printed circuit board 12. When the printed circuit board 12 is fully received within a pair of spaced apart cavities 36, formed i~ the posts 20-26, ~he associated resilient latches 28 return to their nondeflected position (FIG. 1) to retain the printed circuit board 1~ in its final or contact posi~ion.
Each acces~ cavity 14 and 16 includes a plurality of generally parallel, spaced apart, ~rans-versely oriented slots 38 disposecl along substantial-ly its entire length. A connector spring contact 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3), formed from any suitable resilient electri~ally conductive metallic material, such as a strip of beryllium copper having a thicKness of approximately .015 inch, is disposed in each one of the slots 38. If desired, the spring contact 40 dis-posed in a slot 38 along the cavity 14 (for example, the slot 3~A) may be electrically short circuited to the sprin~ contact 40 disposed in a longitudinally aligned or otherwise associated slot 38 along the cavity 16 (for example, the slot 38B)~ This may achieved by forming the spaced apart spring contacts 40 in the slots 38A and 38B as integral portions of a single electrically conductive metallic strip. Al-ternatively, ~he spring contacts 40 in the accesscavities 14 and 16 may be electrically insulated from each other. Each of the access cavities 14 and 16 also includes an elongated, inclined, insertion sur-face 42, a bottom surface 44, an inwardly protruding shoulder, stop or limit surface 46, and a vertically extending surface 48 disposed between the inclined surface 42 and the bottom surface 44.
Since the configuration and operation of the sprin~ contacts 40 disposed in the slots 38 along tne cavities 14 and 16 are essentially the same, only one such spring contact 40 is discussed in detail hereinafter. Each spring contact 40 has a pair of integrally ormed, spaced apart, resilient contacting por~ions 50 and 52 for respectively contacting con-ductive pads or strips 54 and 56 disposed along oppo-site sides o~ an insertable edge 58 of the printed circuit board 12. By disposing the contacting por-tions 50 and 52 at different elevations within the slot 38 in the cavity 14 corresponding respectively to the elevational dispositions of the surface 48 and of the surface 46, the printed circuit board 12 may be inserted at an angle ~Fig. 2) to its final or con-tact position (Fig. 3) in the ca~ity 140 The inser-tion angle or orientation of the printed circuit board 12 is generally parallel to he angle or orien~
tation of the inclined surface 42. In this manner, low or zero insertion force is required to insert the edge 58 into the cavity 14, thereby minimizing unde-sirable wear on the conductive strips 54 and 56 and the spring contacts 40. The inclined surface 42 may be used as a guide surface for the inseetion of the printed circuit board 12.
After its insertion, the printed circuit board 12 may be pivoted or rotated about the cont~ct-ing portion 50 or the surface 48 until it assumes a final or contact position (FIG. 3) in which position the printed circuit board 12 rests against the ~ottom surface 44 and its lateral edges 32 and 34 are re-tained in the cavities 36 in the spaced apart posts 20 and 22. In this final or contact position, the contacting portions 50 and 52 are resiliently de-flected outwardly from the center of the cavity 14 bytheir respective engagements with the conductive strip. 54 and 56. The configuration of the spring 40 and of its contacting portions 50 and 52 is such as to provide a relatively high contact force between the contacting portions 50 and 52 and the conductive strips 54 and 56.
~2~
In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the deflection of the contact-ing portion 52, disposed at the same elevation and in an overlying relationship with the surface 46, and the resultant tress imparted to the spring contact 40 is limited by the stop or limit: surface 46. That is, the contacting portion 52 cannot be deflected be-yond the inwardly extending limit: surface 46 since the limit surface 46 will physically engage the edge 58 of the printed circuit board 12 to limit its pivotable or rotational movement within the cavity 14. By aligning the vertically extending interior surfaces 60 (FIGS. 2 and 3~ of each post 20-26 with the stop or limit surface 46, the pivotal or rota-tional movement of longitudinally extending portionsof the lateral edges 32 and 34 disposed above the cavity 14 is also limited. The vertically extending surface 48 may also serve as a stop or lim.~t sur~ace to control or limit the amount of deflection of the contacting portion 50 of the spring contact 40 since the contacting portion 50 i5 similarly disposed ge~erally at the same elevation and in an overlying relationship with the surface 48.
In this manner, a new and improved low in-sertion force electrical connector 10 is provided formaking effective and reliable high contact force electrical connection with a printed cirucit board 12 while reducing or preventing the possibility of over-stressing the spring ~ontac~s 40 of the electrical connector 10.
Obviously, many modifications and varia-tions of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, rather than be-ing formed as an uninterrupted surface, the stop or limit surface 46 (and, if desired, the surfaces 42 and/or 48) may be formed as a plurality oE spaced apart stops or limit surfaces 46 associated with each ."
- ~L2;~57~
slot 38 and each contacting portion 52. In addition, the precise configuration of the spring contacts 40 may be modified to achieve desired spring and contact characteristics. Thus, it is to be unders~ood tnat, S within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically decribed above.
Claims (4)
1. An electrical connector for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and first and second opposed surfaces with a plurality of contact pads on each surface adjacent said edge, said connector including an elongated dielectric housing with a cavity formed along its length for receiving the printed circuit board mating edge, a plurality of spring contacts mounted in the housing to engage the printed circuit board contact pads when the printed circuit board is inserted in the cavity at a first angular position and subsequently pivoted to a second angular position, the improvement wherein:
said spring contact being stamped and integrally formed to have a rounded continuously curved configuration with first and second free ends having contact surfaces disposed at different elevations in said cavity, a central portion disposed between said free ends, a mounting leg extending from said central portion for resilient mounting of said contact member with freedom of movement as said printed circuit board is pivoted in said cavity between said first and second angular positions; and said housing further includes first and second integrally formed limit surfaces disposed immediately adjacent said spring contact surfaces and said printed circuit board contact pads when said printed circuit board is inserted in said cavity, said limit surfaces directly physically contacting each said printed circuit board surface to limit deflection of said spring contacts while maintaining the freedom of movement of said spring contact as said printed circuit board is pivoted in said cavity.
said spring contact being stamped and integrally formed to have a rounded continuously curved configuration with first and second free ends having contact surfaces disposed at different elevations in said cavity, a central portion disposed between said free ends, a mounting leg extending from said central portion for resilient mounting of said contact member with freedom of movement as said printed circuit board is pivoted in said cavity between said first and second angular positions; and said housing further includes first and second integrally formed limit surfaces disposed immediately adjacent said spring contact surfaces and said printed circuit board contact pads when said printed circuit board is inserted in said cavity, said limit surfaces directly physically contacting each said printed circuit board surface to limit deflection of said spring contacts while maintaining the freedom of movement of said spring contact as said printed circuit board is pivoted in said cavity.
2. An electrical connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said cavity includes an inclined surface disposed at an angle to said first limit surface, said inclined surface and said first limit surface being generally spaced apart across the opening to said cavity.
3. An electrical connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises means for retaining said housing in a contact position in which position said spring contacts electrically contact said edge of said printed circuit board.
4. An electrical connector as recited in claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of spaced apart latches disposed above said cavity for retaining said printed circuit board in said contact position.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US59733384A | 1984-04-06 | 1984-04-06 | |
| US597,333 | 1984-04-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1225708A true CA1225708A (en) | 1987-08-18 |
Family
ID=24391079
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000475893A Expired CA1225708A (en) | 1984-04-06 | 1985-03-07 | Low insertion force electrical connector with stress controlled contacts |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0158413B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS60230378A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1225708A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3575819D1 (en) |
| SG (1) | SG33092G (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS61206187A (en) * | 1985-03-08 | 1986-09-12 | 住友スリ−エム株式会社 | Non-insertion input type card edge connector |
| US4577922A (en) * | 1985-04-04 | 1986-03-25 | Molex Incorporated | Laminated electrical connector arrangement |
| GB8521843D0 (en) * | 1985-09-03 | 1985-10-09 | Bicc Plc | Circuit board connector |
| US4610082A (en) * | 1985-11-20 | 1986-09-09 | Molex Incorporated | Automated edge connector assembly |
| JPH059827Y2 (en) * | 1986-05-02 | 1993-03-10 | ||
| US4737120A (en) * | 1986-11-12 | 1988-04-12 | Amp Incorporated | Electrical connector with low insertion force and overstress protection |
| US4718859A (en) * | 1987-03-16 | 1988-01-12 | Molex Incorporated | Zero insertion force connector for flexible flat cable |
| JPH0436067Y2 (en) * | 1987-07-09 | 1992-08-26 | ||
| US4832617A (en) * | 1988-03-31 | 1989-05-23 | Foxx Conn International, Inc. | Circuit board socket, contact and method of manufacture |
| US4826446A (en) * | 1988-05-04 | 1989-05-02 | Burndy Corporation | Electrical contact pins and assemblies |
| JPH073582Y2 (en) * | 1989-01-18 | 1995-01-30 | Contact terminal and low insertion force connector | |
| US4986765A (en) * | 1989-02-21 | 1991-01-22 | Amp Incorporated | Insertable latch means for use in an electrical connector |
| US5002494A (en) * | 1989-05-09 | 1991-03-26 | Amp Incorporated | Printed circuit board edge connector |
| EP0400378B1 (en) * | 1989-06-02 | 1996-01-03 | The Whitaker Corporation | Circuit panel socket with cloverleaf contact |
| GB2237151A (en) * | 1989-09-14 | 1991-04-24 | Silitek Corp | A resilient connector capable of being inserted into a printed circuit board |
| JP2704300B2 (en) | 1989-10-06 | 1998-01-26 | 日本エー・エム・ピー株式会社 | Edge connector contacts |
| DE3942289C1 (en) * | 1989-12-21 | 1991-05-29 | Stocko Metallwarenfabriken Henkels Und Sohn Gmbh & Co, 5600 Wuppertal, De | |
| JPH0424292U (en) * | 1990-06-22 | 1992-02-27 | ||
| US5026297A (en) * | 1990-06-28 | 1991-06-25 | Molex Incorporated | Electrical socket assembly for single in-line circuit package |
| DE4110386C2 (en) * | 1991-03-28 | 1994-08-11 | Hirschmann Richard Gmbh Co | Connectors |
| US5203725A (en) * | 1992-03-16 | 1993-04-20 | Molex Incorporated | Biased edge card connector |
| JP3051313B2 (en) * | 1994-12-09 | 2000-06-12 | ヒロセ電機株式会社 | Electrical connector |
| DE102008049232A1 (en) * | 2008-09-27 | 2010-04-01 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Recording unit for a circuit carrier, connection system, electrical machine with recording unit and motor vehicle with such electrical machine |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3701071A (en) * | 1971-01-18 | 1972-10-24 | Berg Electronics Inc | Hinge type circuit board connector block |
| US3795888A (en) * | 1972-06-30 | 1974-03-05 | Motorola Inc | Printed circuit board edge connector requiring zero insertion force |
| US3848952A (en) * | 1973-07-27 | 1974-11-19 | Amp Inc | Zero insertion force edge card connector |
| US3920303A (en) * | 1973-08-20 | 1975-11-18 | Ind Electronic Hardware Corp | Low force insertion connector |
| DE2537281C3 (en) * | 1975-08-21 | 1979-08-02 | Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen | Conductor structure for direct plugging of thin-film hybrid circuits in female connectors |
| DE2557042A1 (en) * | 1975-12-18 | 1977-06-23 | Hartmann & Braun Ag | Contacting device with spring strip - is for making contact with circuit boards and is provided with contacts on one edge |
| DE2621984B2 (en) * | 1976-05-18 | 1978-03-30 | Preh Elektrofeinmechanische Werke Jakob Preh Nachf., 8740 Bad Neustadt | Contact spring strip |
| DE2654368A1 (en) * | 1976-12-01 | 1978-06-08 | Telefonbau & Normalzeit Gmbh | Connector for printed circuit board - has row of spring contact arms in base, against which boards pads rest due to weight of board |
| JPS55100672A (en) * | 1979-01-29 | 1980-07-31 | Yazaki Corp | Connector |
-
1985
- 1985-02-15 EP EP19850301007 patent/EP0158413B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-02-15 DE DE8585301007T patent/DE3575819D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-03-07 CA CA000475893A patent/CA1225708A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-04-01 JP JP60068897A patent/JPS60230378A/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-03-19 SG SG33092A patent/SG33092G/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0158413B1 (en) | 1990-01-31 |
| SG33092G (en) | 1992-05-22 |
| EP0158413A3 (en) | 1987-04-29 |
| EP0158413A2 (en) | 1985-10-16 |
| JPS60230378A (en) | 1985-11-15 |
| DE3575819D1 (en) | 1990-03-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20050307 |