EP0109297B1 - Improvements in electrical contact members and electrical connector assemblies - Google Patents
Improvements in electrical contact members and electrical connector assemblies Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0109297B1 EP0109297B1 EP83306927A EP83306927A EP0109297B1 EP 0109297 B1 EP0109297 B1 EP 0109297B1 EP 83306927 A EP83306927 A EP 83306927A EP 83306927 A EP83306927 A EP 83306927A EP 0109297 B1 EP0109297 B1 EP 0109297B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- contact member
- longitudinal axis
- plate portions
- conductor
- 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
Images
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
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
- H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
- H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
- H01R4/2466—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the contact members having a channel-shaped part, the opposite sidewalls of which comprise insulation-cutting means
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- 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
- H01R13/111—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section
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- 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
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/502—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces
- H01R13/506—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces assembled by snap action of the parts
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
- H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/02—Soldered or welded connections
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
- Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates generally to electrical contact members and electrical connector assemblies for terminating electrical conductors and, more specifically, to an electrical contact member and a connector assembly having the capability of being highly miniaturized as a result of its contact configuration and contact mounting structure.
- Connector assemblies for terminating insulated electrical conductors have become increasingly relied upon in the manufacture of complex electronic and electro-mechanical equipment. In the manufacture of video cameras, for example, wherein a plurality of electrical components must be arranged in a preferably compact overall structure, miniature connectors are often a preferred means for interconnecting printed circuit board assemblies with discrete wiring leading from other components.
- To provide for such interconnection, the printed circuit boards are often adapted with generally elongated pin terminals which have been electrically connected to conductive circuit paths defined on the boards. The pin terminals may either be free standing or part of a preassembled unit, customarily called a wafer.
- Connectors of a type suitable for terminating discrete insulated conductors to elongated pin terminals typically comprise a dielectric housing fitted with a plurality of metallic contact members. Each contact member has a portion such as a receptacle for selectively receiving or mating with one of the pins.
- Connection of the conductor to the contact may be made by one of several methods. One method is known as insulation displacement. Insulation displacement comprehends forcing a conductor into a slot formed in a contact such that the conductor insulation is severed and displaced from the region of the electrical interface between the edges of the slot and the conductor core.
- One such known connector of the type referred to above, which uses the insulation displacement method is described in DE-A-2,621,502. This connector employs a unitary electrical contact member for terminating an insulated conductor, the contact member comprising a body member, a pair of plate portions, each of said plate portions being formed with a slot for penetrating and displacing the insulation of a conductor disposed within the slot thereby to terminate the conductor to the contact member, and a formation or formations extending from an edge of the body member and being shaped to provide at least part of a female terminal portion for biased contact with a generally elongated male terminal member having its longitudinal axis orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of an insulated conductor terminated to the contact member.
- Known connectors for terminating discrete wire to pin terminals have inherent disadvantages when used in miniaturized circuitry applications. These disadvantages result principally from the complexity of known contact structures and from the consequent inability to manufacture such structures economically on a miniature scale with assurance of their reliable performance through the vagaries of use.
- Proceeding from the disclosure of DE-A-2,621,502, the present invention is characterized in that the body member is of plate-like form having said formation or formations extending integrally from one edge thereof and in that the plate portions extend integrally, respectively, from a further pair of opposite edges of the body member, which edges are disposed one to each side of, and adjacent, said one edge thereof.
- Preferably, said female terminal portion includes a first finger extending from an edge of the body member and a second finger depending from one of the plate portions, the first and second fingers being disposed in opposed, spaced apart relationship and co-operating to provide said biased contact with a generally elongated terminal member having its longitudinal axis orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of an insulated conductor terminated to the contact member.
- Conveniently, said female terminal portion comprises a pair of said first fingers cantilevered generally outwardly from one another and a pair of said second fingers depending one from each of the plate portions and cantilevered generally toward one another the pairs of first and second contact fingers co-operating to provide a receptacle for establishing said biased contact with a generally elongated pin terminal having its longitudinal axis orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of an insulated conductor terminated to the contact member.
- The present invention includes a connector assembly comprising a dielectric housing fitted with a plurality of electrical contact members in accordance with the present invention received in respective recesses of the housing.
- One way of carrying out the present invention will now be described by way of example and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a circuitry arrangement including a connector assembly of the present invention employing electrical contact members of the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of a terminal blank from which a contact member shown in Fig. 1 may be formed;
- FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the contact member in its fully formed state;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the contact member taken generally along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly take generally along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.
- Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in Fig. 1 there is shown a circuitry arrangement of the type suitable for use in electro-mechanical or electronic applications. The arrangement generally comprises a printed
circuit board 12 on which a plurality of semi-conductor or other electronic devices (not shown) are mounted. For selective connection to the printedcircuit board 12, the circuitry arrangement further includes a wafer assembly, generally designated 14, and a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention generally designated 16, for terminating a plurality of insulatedelectrical conductors 18. - In order to provide for the mechanically stable coupling of the
connector assembly 16 to the printedcircuit board 12, thewafer assembly 14 includes a relativelyrigid base member 20 through which a plurality of elongatedconductive pin terminals 22 have been inserted. The printedcircuit board 12 is adapted withapertures 24 for receiving thepin terminals 22 such that thepin terminals 22 may be electrically connected by soldering to a plurality ofcorresponding circuit paths 26 defined on the printedcircuit board 12. Thewafer assembly 14 is also adapted with latchingarms 28 for latching with a cover member 21 (see Fig. 5) disposed at the other side of theconnector assembly 16 for the purpose of holding theconnector assembly 16 in fixed disposition with respect to the printedcircuit board 12. - The
connector assembly 16 comprises adielectric housing 30 fitted with a plurality ofmetallic contact members 32 received inrespective recesses 34 of thehousing 30 opening atapertures 35 communicating with the recesses along an opposite pair oftop edges 33 of the housing permitting connection ofinsulated conductors 18 to thecontact members 32. A plurality ofapertures 36 communicate with therecesses 34 along abottom edge 38 of the housing, permitting connection of the pin terminals 22to thecontact members 32. - Turning to Fig. 2, the
contact member 32 is illustrated as it would appear in the form of a flat stamped blank, designated generally by thereference numeral 40. To facilitate the manufacture and handling of thecontact 32, the blank 40 includes acontinuous carrier 42 having indexingapertures 44 which may be used to advance the blank 40 in the stamping and forming process. Thecontact 32, which extends from thecarrier 42 by a break-away tang 46, has acentral body portion 48 with a pair of substantiallyidentical plate portions 50 extending from each side thereof. Eachplate portion 50 has aslot 52 with achamfered opening 54 for receiving an insulatedconductor 18 and establishing electrical contact with theconductor 18 by severing and displacing the conductor's insulative coating. Eachplate portion 50 is further adapted with acontact finger 56 cantilevered downwardly from a bottom edge thereof. Thebody portion 48 of thecontact member 32 also has a pair ofcontact fingers 58 cantilevered outwardly in opposite directions so as to form a T-shape configuration at its bottom edge. - In Figs. 3 and 4, the
contact member 32 is illustrated in its fully formed state, wherein theplate portions 50 have been bent at substantially 90 degrees to thebody portion 48 and thus are positioned in parallel spaced apart relationship one to another. Thecontact fingers 56 are also formed inwardly of theplate portions 50 with aslight radius 60 in each of their ends. Thecontact fingers 58 are bent at substantially 90 degrees to thebody portion 48 to lie beneath thecontact fingers 56 and eachfinger 58 is formed with acrown 62. For retention of thecontact member 32 in thehousing 30, alocking lance 64 is stuck outwardly of thebody portion 48. An inwardly directedtang 66 is provided for strain relief of theinsulated conductor 18 once theconductor 18 has been inserted into theslots 52. Astop 68 not shown in Fig. 2 is struck from thebody member 48 and is bent inwardly to limit excessive movement of the contact fingers upon insertion of apin terminal 22 into thecontact member 32. - Turning now to Fig. 5, the
contact member 22 is seen inserted in arecess 34 of thehousing 30. An insulatedconductor 18 having its longitudinal axis disposed substantially normally of theplate portions 50 is terminated to thecontact member 32 by means of theinsulation displacement slots 52. - The configuration of the
contact fingers reference numeral 70, into which thepin terminal 22 is slidingly receivable in parallel relation to theconductor 18. Multiple points of contact are established with thepin terminal 22 by theradiused portions 60 andcrowns 62 of thecontact fingers - With reference particularly to Fig. 2, it can be appreciated that the
instant contact 32 is manufacturable with very little waste of material because of the efficient orientation of the pairs ofcontact fingers contact 32 may be highly miniaturized without the requirement of intricate and expensive tooling or fixtures. For example, a connector assembly according to the invention can be readily formed to have a contact pitch or center spacing as small as two millimeters. It can be further appreciated from the cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 that close spacing of theconductor 18 andpin terminal 22 centerlines is likewise possible, facilitating a highly compact overall assembly. - The receptacle or female
terminal portion 70 may alternatively be formed entirely from a lower extension of thebody portion 48 by means of a progressive bending operation so as to have a generally triangular configuration in transverse section with outwardly flared ends to receive and guide thepin terminal 22. An elastic lance is sheared from the lower extension of the body portion and folded into the interior of the female portion to enhance flexibility and ensure a good biased contact. The female terminal portion as just described can be located very close to the insulation displacement part of the contact for optimum miniaturization, and may be supported fully within the respective cavity of its connector housing by means of the insulation displacement part ideally without any part of the female terminal portion in physical contact with any part of the connector housing.
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8232699 | 1982-11-16 | ||
GB8232699 | 1982-11-16 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0109297A1 EP0109297A1 (en) | 1984-05-23 |
EP0109297B1 true EP0109297B1 (en) | 1987-01-21 |
Family
ID=10534298
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP83306927A Expired EP0109297B1 (en) | 1982-11-16 | 1983-11-14 | Improvements in electrical contact members and electrical connector assemblies |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0109297B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS59101781A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3369434D1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2130448B (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS60109188A (en) * | 1983-11-16 | 1985-06-14 | アンプ インコーポレーテッド | Electric connector assembly |
GB2198892B (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1990-11-28 | Johnson Electric Ind Mfg | Armature winding connections. |
GB2203604A (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1988-10-19 | Starpoint Electrics Ltd | A connector-adaptor having a diode |
JPS6474164A (en) * | 1987-09-16 | 1989-03-20 | Hitachi Ltd | Motor-driven power steering device |
JPH0718128Y2 (en) * | 1989-04-17 | 1995-04-26 | ホシデン株式会社 | Multi-pole connector |
GB2235341B (en) * | 1989-06-15 | 1994-01-26 | Amp Inc | Electrical connector system |
NL192314C (en) * | 1991-05-02 | 1997-05-07 | Du Pont Nederland | Connector containing an isolation displacement contact. |
DE4312781C2 (en) * | 1993-04-20 | 1995-10-19 | Vossloh Schwabe Gmbh | Connection element for at least one electrical equipment |
DE4312778C3 (en) * | 1993-04-20 | 2001-10-25 | Vossloh Schwabe Gmbh | Electrical terminal device |
IT1303717B1 (en) * | 1998-11-06 | 2001-02-23 | Magneti Marelli Spa | LIGHTING DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR VEHICLES. |
FR2803442B1 (en) * | 2000-01-04 | 2005-10-07 | Entrelec Sa | SELF-CONDUCTING CONNECTION PIECE COULD BE CONNECTED TO A NEIGHBORING CONNECTION PIECE |
GB2358093B (en) | 2000-01-19 | 2003-10-08 | Entrelec Sa | Insulation-displacement connecting piece able to be connected to an adjacent connecting piece |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3388370A (en) * | 1966-04-14 | 1968-06-11 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Solderless connector for insulated wires |
NL174686C (en) * | 1975-05-15 | 1984-07-16 | Du Pont | ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS. |
NL7513722A (en) * | 1975-11-25 | 1977-05-27 | Du Pont | MULTIPLE CONTACT DEVICE, AS WELL AS METHOD AND ASSEMBLY MACHINE FOR MOUNTING SUCH CONTACT DEVICES TO INSULATED POWER WIRES TO OBTAIN PRE-PRODUCT. |
FR2403663A1 (en) * | 1977-09-16 | 1979-04-13 | Socapex | CONTACT ELEMENT FOR SELF-STRIPPING CONNECTOR, AND CONNECTOR EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A CONTACT ELEMENT |
FR2421484A1 (en) * | 1978-03-31 | 1979-10-26 | Socapex | SELF-STRIPPING CONTACT ELEMENT WITH RADIAL ANCHORING FOR CONNECTOR, AND CONNECTOR CONTAINING SUCH A CONTACT ELEMENT |
US4255009A (en) * | 1979-07-30 | 1981-03-10 | Amp Incorporated | Two row electrical connector |
US4296988A (en) * | 1980-02-20 | 1981-10-27 | Amp Incorporated | Connector with improved terminal support |
EP0057780A1 (en) * | 1981-02-11 | 1982-08-18 | AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) | Electrical connector with a terminal having a slotted wire receiving portion and wire strain relief means |
NL8101930A (en) * | 1981-04-21 | 1982-11-16 | Philips Nv | CONTACT DEVICE FOR A MULTI-WIRE CABLE. |
-
1983
- 1983-11-14 DE DE8383306927T patent/DE3369434D1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-11-14 GB GB08330346A patent/GB2130448B/en not_active Expired
- 1983-11-14 EP EP83306927A patent/EP0109297B1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-11-16 JP JP58214250A patent/JPS59101781A/en active Granted
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2130448A (en) | 1984-05-31 |
JPH0373110B2 (en) | 1991-11-20 |
GB2130448B (en) | 1986-07-16 |
JPS59101781A (en) | 1984-06-12 |
GB8330346D0 (en) | 1983-12-21 |
DE3369434D1 (en) | 1987-02-26 |
EP0109297A1 (en) | 1984-05-23 |
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