EP0224337B1 - Electrical connector for tab or printed circuit board - Google Patents

Electrical connector for tab or printed circuit board Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0224337B1
EP0224337B1 EP19860308374 EP86308374A EP0224337B1 EP 0224337 B1 EP0224337 B1 EP 0224337B1 EP 19860308374 EP19860308374 EP 19860308374 EP 86308374 A EP86308374 A EP 86308374A EP 0224337 B1 EP0224337 B1 EP 0224337B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit board
printed circuit
arms
channel
tab
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19860308374
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0224337A1 (en
Inventor
Jean Claude Joly
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Corp
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMP Inc filed Critical AMP Inc
Publication of EP0224337A1 publication Critical patent/EP0224337A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0224337B1 publication Critical patent/EP0224337B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/721—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits

Definitions

  • the invention relates to electrical connectors and terminals capable of selective connection with both a printed circuit board and tabs.
  • the connector includes a row of stamped and formed sheet metal terminals mounted in an insulating housing with a wire connecting portion of each terminal adjacent a wire connecting face of the housing and a receptacle portion adjacent a mating face of the housing, the receptacle portion comprising a pair of resilient arms extending in spaced opposed relation from the wire connecting portion to opposite sides of a printed circuit board receiving slot formed in the mating face of the housing to receive and grip between them a printed circuit board inserted into the slot, guide surfaces being provided on the housing adjacent the slot to engage and guide the printed circuit board accurately between the resilient arms during the mating movement
  • the receptacle portion includes a second, similar pair of resilient arms extending from the wire connecting portion alongside the first pair respective adjacent edges of the respective arms of the first and second pairs being provided with protuberances which extend towards each other to engage and grip a tab inserted into the slot between the first and second pair of arms in a plane perpendicular to the plane of insertion of a printed circuit board.
  • the arms are formed adjacent their free ends into contact portions of channel section, channel wall portions of respective contact portions extending towards each other, protuberances providing contact surfaces, upstanding between the arms from the bases of each channel.
  • the arrangement is such that either a tab is receivable between the arms inserted axially into the channels with opposite tab edges engaging and establishing electrical connection with the contact surfaces provided by the protuberances or, alternatively, a printed circuit board is receivable between the arms with apices of free ends of the opposed channel walls providing contact surfaces engaging and establishing electrical connection with the conductive paths on the face of the printed circuit board, the mating face of the housing being provided with guide surfaces or tab receiving openings extending transversely from opposite sides of the slot.
  • the tab and printed circuit board will be presented in perpendicular planes for mating with the connector, in both applications the free ends of the arms will move apart in the same direction permitting the provision of guide surfaces for the tab without interfering with the mating with the printed circuit board.
  • the walls of the contact portion are of decreasing height as they extend towards the free end so that their opposed edges provide convergent guiding surfaces to guide the printed circuit board accurately therebetween.
  • the wire connecting portion may comprise a wire receiving slot and, preferably, be of channel section, the legs extending axially from common axial ends of respective channel walls and the walls being formed with mutually aligned wire receiving slots opening to axial ends remote from the legs.
  • the terminal may be manufactured economically and from the relatively thin sheet metal stock which is required to form slots of small width necessary for effective connection to wires of small gauge that are used with increasing frequency in the automobile industry.
  • the terminal may be used to effect connection with wires of 0.35 mm 2 (AWG 22)'to carry currents of 6 to 7 amps.
  • the slot walls may be relatively flexible to accommodate the small gauge wires and may be formed with stress relieving apertures at blind ends to aid such flexure.
  • a locking aperture may be formed in the base wall of the wire connecting portion for receipt of a locking projection on the housing with a detent action during insertion of the terminal into the housing to lock the terminal in the housing.
  • the invention includes an assembly comprising the terminals and the tabs or the terminals and the printed circuit board.
  • the connector 11 comprises an insulating housing 12 formed with a row of compartments 13 receiving respective terminals 14 of a row of terminals.
  • Each terminal 14 is stamped and formed from sheet metal stock with a wire connecting portion 15 and a receptacle portion 16.
  • the wire connecting portion 15 is of channel section having a base wall 17 and opposite side walls 18.
  • Axially extending aligned wire receiving slots 19 are formed in the side walls having wire receiving mouths 21 opening at an end remote from the receptacle portion 16. Blind ends of the slots are relieved by apertures 22 to enhance the flexibility of the slot walls.
  • a locking aperture 23 is pushed out of the base wall at a central location and a tongue 24 deformable about a wire received in the slots 19 to provide strain relief punched out of the base wall 15 in known manner.
  • the receptacle portion 16 comprises a pair of resilient arms 27 extending in spaced opposed relation axially from the side walls 18 of the wire connecting portion which arms 27 are formed adjacent their free ends into contact portions 28 of channel section, with wall portions 29 of respective contact portions extending towards each other and protuberances providing tab contact surfaces 31 pushed up from the base 32 of each channel to extend between the side walls 29.
  • the side walls 29 of the contact portions are of decreasing height as they extend towards the free end so that their free edges 32 provide divergent printed circuit board guiding surfaces, apices 33 of the side walls providing contact surfaces for engagement with a circuit path 35 provided adjacent an edge of a printed circuit board 36.
  • the connector housing 12 is moulded in one piece of plastics material and comprises a wire connecting face 38 generally similar to that disclosed in the above-mentioned patent from which face 38 the row of terminal receiving compartments 39 extend to an opposite mating face 41 in generally known fashion.
  • comers of adjacent walls of each compartment are formed with stop shoulders 42 for engagement with corners of one axial end of the wire connecting portion 15 and a locking projection having a ramp form 43 entry surface 44 is formed on a transverse wall 46 for receipt in the locking aperture 23 in the terminal 14 to retain the terminal in the housing.
  • the connector housing 12 is formed at the mating face 41 with a central, printed circuit board receiving slot 45 from opposite sides of which extend pairs of transverse tab-receiving openings 46 in alignment with respective compartments 13.
  • the lips 48, 49 of the slot 45 and respective openings 46 are formed with suitably angled printed circuit board and tab guiding surfaces to facilitate accurate mating with the contact portions of the respective terminals 14.
  • tabs 51 or a printed circuit board 36 can be mated with the connector.
  • a tab 51 inserted across the slot 45 into the apertures 46 will be received between the side walls 29 of a contact portion 28 axially into the channel section with the contact surfaces provided by the protuberances 31 effecting electrical connection to opposite edges 52 of the tabs.
  • a printed circuit board 36 inserted into the slot 45 will be received between the arms 27 with the contact surfaces provided by the apices 33 of the side walls 29 of the contact portion effecting electrical connection with conductive paths 35 on one or both faces of the printed circuit board 36.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Description

  • The invention relates to electrical connectors and terminals capable of selective connection with both a printed circuit board and tabs.
  • It is often desirable to provide an electrical connector selectively matable with both a printed circuit board and tabs to avoid a requirement for different connectors for each application. One example of such prior known connector is disclosed in French Patent No. 80.00301.
  • In that example, the connector includes a row of stamped and formed sheet metal terminals mounted in an insulating housing with a wire connecting portion of each terminal adjacent a wire connecting face of the housing and a receptacle portion adjacent a mating face of the housing, the receptacle portion comprising a pair of resilient arms extending in spaced opposed relation from the wire connecting portion to opposite sides of a printed circuit board receiving slot formed in the mating face of the housing to receive and grip between them a printed circuit board inserted into the slot, guide surfaces being provided on the housing adjacent the slot to engage and guide the printed circuit board accurately between the resilient arms during the mating movement
  • The receptacle portion includes a second, similar pair of resilient arms extending from the wire connecting portion alongside the first pair respective adjacent edges of the respective arms of the first and second pairs being provided with protuberances which extend towards each other to engage and grip a tab inserted into the slot between the first and second pair of arms in a plane perpendicular to the plane of insertion of a printed circuit board.
  • Thus, when mating with tabs, it is necessary for the free ends of the arms to move apart in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of arm movement necessary to mate with a printed circuit board.
  • In consequence of the need to accommodate such perpendicular movement of the arms at the mating face, it is not possible to provide guide surfaces on the housing both for the tab and the printed circuit board as guide surfaces for the tab would impede or prevent the movement of the free ends of the arms necessary to receive the printed circuit board. In order to avoid misalignment of the tabs and receptacle portions during mating movement together it is therefore necessary with the prior terminal to use a different housings for tabs and printed circuit board applications with consequential increased cost of manufacture, assembly and storage.
  • According to the invention, in a connector as described in the third paragraph above, the arms are formed adjacent their free ends into contact portions of channel section, channel wall portions of respective contact portions extending towards each other, protuberances providing contact surfaces, upstanding between the arms from the bases of each channel. The arrangement is such that either a tab is receivable between the arms inserted axially into the channels with opposite tab edges engaging and establishing electrical connection with the contact surfaces provided by the protuberances or, alternatively, a printed circuit board is receivable between the arms with apices of free ends of the opposed channel walls providing contact surfaces engaging and establishing electrical connection with the conductive paths on the face of the printed circuit board, the mating face of the housing being provided with guide surfaces or tab receiving openings extending transversely from opposite sides of the slot.
  • Although the tab and printed circuit board will be presented in perpendicular planes for mating with the connector, in both applications the free ends of the arms will move apart in the same direction permitting the provision of guide surfaces for the tab without interfering with the mating with the printed circuit board.
  • Preferably, the walls of the contact portion are of decreasing height as they extend towards the free end so that their opposed edges provide convergent guiding surfaces to guide the printed circuit board accurately therebetween.
  • The wire connecting portion may comprise a wire receiving slot and, preferably, be of channel section, the legs extending axially from common axial ends of respective channel walls and the walls being formed with mutually aligned wire receiving slots opening to axial ends remote from the legs.
  • The terminal may be manufactured economically and from the relatively thin sheet metal stock which is required to form slots of small width necessary for effective connection to wires of small gauge that are used with increasing frequency in the automobile industry. For example, the terminal may be used to effect connection with wires of 0.35 mm2 (AWG 22)'to carry currents of 6 to 7 amps. The slot walls may be relatively flexible to accommodate the small gauge wires and may be formed with stress relieving apertures at blind ends to aid such flexure.
  • A locking aperture may be formed in the base wall of the wire connecting portion for receipt of a locking projection on the housing with a detent action during insertion of the terminal into the housing to lock the terminal in the housing.
  • The invention includes an assembly comprising the terminals and the tabs or the terminals and the printed circuit board.
  • An example of an electrical connector according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :
    • Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connector;
    • Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the connector mating face;
    • Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector, taken along a transverse axis in Figure 1 ;
    • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along a longitudinal axis ;
    • Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 3 with the connector terminals omitted ;
    • Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4 with the connector terminals omitted ;
    • Figure 7 is a perspective view of the terminal mating with a tab; and,
    • Figure 8 is a similar view of the terminal mating with a printed circuit board.
  • The connector 11 comprises an insulating housing 12 formed with a row of compartments 13 receiving respective terminals 14 of a row of terminals.
  • Each terminal 14 is stamped and formed from sheet metal stock with a wire connecting portion 15 and a receptacle portion 16. The wire connecting portion 15 is of channel section having a base wall 17 and opposite side walls 18. Axially extending aligned wire receiving slots 19 are formed in the side walls having wire receiving mouths 21 opening at an end remote from the receptacle portion 16. Blind ends of the slots are relieved by apertures 22 to enhance the flexibility of the slot walls. A locking aperture 23 is pushed out of the base wall at a central location and a tongue 24 deformable about a wire received in the slots 19 to provide strain relief punched out of the base wall 15 in known manner.
  • The receptacle portion 16 comprises a pair of resilient arms 27 extending in spaced opposed relation axially from the side walls 18 of the wire connecting portion which arms 27 are formed adjacent their free ends into contact portions 28 of channel section, with wall portions 29 of respective contact portions extending towards each other and protuberances providing tab contact surfaces 31 pushed up from the base 32 of each channel to extend between the side walls 29. The side walls 29 of the contact portions are of decreasing height as they extend towards the free end so that their free edges 32 provide divergent printed circuit board guiding surfaces, apices 33 of the side walls providing contact surfaces for engagement with a circuit path 35 provided adjacent an edge of a printed circuit board 36.
  • The connector housing 12 is moulded in one piece of plastics material and comprises a wire connecting face 38 generally similar to that disclosed in the above-mentioned patent from which face 38 the row of terminal receiving compartments 39 extend to an opposite mating face 41 in generally known fashion. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, comers of adjacent walls of each compartment are formed with stop shoulders 42 for engagement with corners of one axial end of the wire connecting portion 15 and a locking projection having a ramp form 43 entry surface 44 is formed on a transverse wall 46 for receipt in the locking aperture 23 in the terminal 14 to retain the terminal in the housing.
  • The connector housing 12 is formed at the mating face 41 with a central, printed circuit board receiving slot 45 from opposite sides of which extend pairs of transverse tab-receiving openings 46 in alignment with respective compartments 13. The lips 48, 49 of the slot 45 and respective openings 46 are formed with suitably angled printed circuit board and tab guiding surfaces to facilitate accurate mating with the contact portions of the respective terminals 14.
  • In operation of the connector, as shown in Figures 7 and 8 respectively, either tabs 51 or a printed circuit board 36 can be mated with the connector.
  • A tab 51 inserted across the slot 45 into the apertures 46 will be received between the side walls 29 of a contact portion 28 axially into the channel section with the contact surfaces provided by the protuberances 31 effecting electrical connection to opposite edges 52 of the tabs.
  • A printed circuit board 36 inserted into the slot 45 will be received between the arms 27 with the contact surfaces provided by the apices 33 of the side walls 29 of the contact portion effecting electrical connection with conductive paths 35 on one or both faces of the printed circuit board 36.

Claims (8)

1. An electrical connector (11) comprising a row of stamped and formed sheet metal terminals (14) mounted in an insulating housing (12) with a wire connecting portion (15) of each terminal adjacent a wire connecting face (38) of the housing (12) and a receptacle portion (16) adjacent a mating face (41) of the housing (12), the receptacle portion (16) comprising a pair of resilient arms (27) extending in spaced opposed relation from the wire connecting portion (15) to opposite sides of a printed circuit board receiving slot (45) to receive and grip between them a printed circuit board (36) inserted into the slot (45), guide surfaces (48) being provided in the housing adjacent the slot (45) to engage and guide the printed circuit board (36) accurately between the resilient arms (27) during the mating movement, characterized in that, the arms (27) are formed adjacent their free ends into contact portions (28) of channel section, channel wall portions (29) of respective contact portion (28) extending towards each other, protuberances (31) providing contact surfaces, upstanding between the arms (27) from the bases (32) of each channel, either a tab (51) being receivable between the arms (27) inserted axially into the channels with opposite tab edges (52) engaging and establishing electrical connection with the contact surfaces provided by the protuberances (31) or, alternatively, a printed circuit board (36) being receivable between the arms (27) with apices (33) of free ends of the opposed channel walls providing contact surfaces engaging and establishing electrical connection with the conductive paths (35) on the face of the printed circuit board (36), the mating face (41) of the housing (12) being provided with guide surfaces (41) on tab receiving openings (46) extending transversely from opposite sides of the slot (45).
2. A connector according to claim 1 characterized in that the walls (29) of the contact portions are of decreasing height as they extend towards the free end so that their opposed edges (32) provide divergent guiding surfaces to guide printed circuit board (36) accurately therebetween.
3. A connector according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that, the wire connecting portion (15) comprises a wire receiving slot (19) and, is of channel section, the legs (27) extending axially from common axial ends of respective channel walls (18) and the walls (18) being formed with mutually aligned wire receiving slots (19) opening to axial ends remote from the legs.
4. A connector according to claim 3 characterized in that, the slots are formed with stress relieving aperture (22) at a blind ends.
5. A terminal for a connector according to claim 1 stamped and formed from sheet metal with a wire connecting portion (15) and a receptacle portion (16), the receptacle portion (16) comprising a pair of resilient arms (27) extending in spaced, opposed, relation from the wire connecting portion (15) to receive and grip between them a printed circuit board (36) characterized in that, the arms (27) are formed adjacent their free ends into contact portions (28) of channel section, channel wall portions (29) of respective contact portion (28) extending towards each other, protuberances (31) providing contact surfaces, upstanding between the arms (27) from the bases (32) of each channel, either a tab (51) being receivable between the arms (27) inserted axially into the channels with opposite tab edges (52) engaging and establishing electrical connection with the contact surfaces provided by the protuberances (31) or, alternatively, a printed circuit board (36) being receivable between the arms (27) with apices (33) of free ends of the opposed channel walls providing the contact surfaces.
6. A terminal according to claim 5. characterized in that the walls (29) of the contact portions are of decreasing height as they extend towards the free end so that their opposed edges (32) provide divergent guiding surfaces to guide printed circuit board (35) accurately therebetween.
7. A terminal according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterized in that, the wire connecting portion (15) comprises a wire receiving slot (19) and, is of channel section, the legs (27) extending axially from common axial ends of respective channel walls (18) and the walls (18) being formed with mutually aligned wire receiving slots (19) opening to axial ends remote from the legs.
8. A terminal according to claim 7 characterized in that, the slots are formed with stress relieving apertures (22) at blind ends.
EP19860308374 1985-11-12 1986-10-28 Electrical connector for tab or printed circuit board Expired EP0224337B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8516662 1985-11-12
FR8516662A FR2590083B1 (en) 1985-11-12 1985-11-12 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR A TONGUE OR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND TERMINAL FOR THIS CONNECTOR

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0224337A1 EP0224337A1 (en) 1987-06-03
EP0224337B1 true EP0224337B1 (en) 1990-01-03

Family

ID=9324698

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19860308374 Expired EP0224337B1 (en) 1985-11-12 1986-10-28 Electrical connector for tab or printed circuit board

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0224337B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3668101D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2012453B3 (en)
FR (1) FR2590083B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8816132U1 (en) * 1988-12-28 1989-02-16 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Contact element for the electrical connection of a conductor with at least one contact pad on a printed circuit board
JPH05299144A (en) * 1992-04-18 1993-11-12 Molex Inc Electric connector

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE631920A (en) * 1962-05-17
US3448345A (en) * 1967-06-08 1969-06-03 Amp Inc Interconnection system
US3566340A (en) * 1968-06-14 1971-02-23 Sylvania Electric Prod Means for polarizing a connector assembly
FR2198681A5 (en) * 1972-08-30 1974-03-29 Amp Inc
NZ193872A (en) * 1979-06-29 1982-12-07 Amp Inc Electrical contact member and incorporated connector
FR2514573A1 (en) * 1981-10-12 1983-04-15 Labinal Female electrical contact for flat pin male connectors - is formed from single metal sheet made into two blades to provide electrical contact of large surface area

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2590083A1 (en) 1987-05-15
EP0224337A1 (en) 1987-06-03
DE3668101D1 (en) 1990-02-08
ES2012453B3 (en) 1990-04-01
FR2590083B1 (en) 1988-10-21

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