EP0504134B1 - Electrical socket - Google Patents
Electrical socket Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0504134B1 EP0504134B1 EP88903730A EP88903730A EP0504134B1 EP 0504134 B1 EP0504134 B1 EP 0504134B1 EP 88903730 A EP88903730 A EP 88903730A EP 88903730 A EP88903730 A EP 88903730A EP 0504134 B1 EP0504134 B1 EP 0504134B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- conductor
- plug
- base plate
- lugs
- ffc
- 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 - Lifetime
Links
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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
- 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
-
- 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
- H01R12/65—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures characterised by the terminal
- H01R12/67—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures characterised by the terminal insulation penetrating terminals
- H01R12/68—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures characterised by the terminal insulation penetrating terminals comprising deformable portions
Definitions
- This invention relates to an electrical socket for mounting on a flat, flexible cable or on a flat, flexible printed circuit, for the electrical connection of an electrical plug to a conductor of the cable or circuit.
- a flat, flexible, conductor carrier Such a cable or circuit will hereinafter be referred to as "a flat, flexible, conductor carrier.”
- an electrical socket for mounting on a flat, flexible, conductor carrier for the electrical connection of an electrical plug to a conductor of said conductor carrier, the socket comprising a base plate having a plug-receiving opening and a receptacle projecting from one face of the base plate, for a plug inserted through the plug-receiving opening substantially normally of the base plate, there projecting from the base plate, upon each of two sides of said opening, a pair of lugs which are deformable for engagement about the conductor.
- the receptacle is in the form of a circular cross section funnel which has been drawn from the base plate, or has been riveted thereto, and surrounds the opening, the lugs projecting from the same side of the base plate as the funnel.
- an enlarged pad of the conductor is preformed with a central hole to receive the funnel there-through.
- the present invention is intended to provide a socket which can readily be stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock without the need for a drawing operation, and for the application of which socket to the conductor carrier, the conductor need not have a pad with a pre-formed hole therein, so that the socket can be applied to any desired conductor of the conductor carrier at any desired position along its length.
- the receptacle comprises a pair of contact springs, each being of substantially semicircular shape, the contact springs presenting opposed, arcuate contact surfaces which are bowed towards each other and extend across the plug-receiving opening to engage the plug between them; the lugs projecting from the other face of the base plate, that is to say from the face opposite to that from which the contact springs project.
- the socket which can readily be stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock, can be secured to one side of a flat, flexible conductor carrier to terminate any conductor thereof at any desired position along its length, simply by inserting the lugs through the carrier and deforming them so as to engage about the conductor, whereafter the plug can be inserted between the contact springs, through the opening in the base plate, and through the conductor carrier to establish electrical contact between the conductor and the plug by way of the socket. Since the lugs project from the opposite face of the base plate to that from which the contact springs project, the receptacle does not need to be inserted through the conductor.
- the conductor is pierced where the plug is passed through it, the first part of the conductor is electrically bridged by the base plate, since the latter is electrically connected to the conductor by the pairs of lugs on each side of the opening in the base plate.
- the base plate is preferably formed with resilient spurs projecting from said other face of the plate, each spur protruding between the lugs of a respective pair, the lugs having free end portions which taper away from the base plate and terminate in chamfered edges for cooperation with the spurs to grip the cable conductor, thereby to enhance the integrity of both the mechanical and the electrical connections between the socket and the conductor.
- the conductor may be preformed with a hole to receive the plug this should be unnecessary where the plug has the usual tapered leading end.
- the socket which has been stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock, comprises an elongate base plate 2 having a central, plug-receiving, circular opening 4 having a raised edge 6, a pair of contact springs 8 extending from opposite longitudinal edges 10 of the plate 2 and overlapping one face 12 thereof, and two crimping ferrules 14 one on each side of the opening 4, and each being proximate to a respective end of the plate 2.
- Each ferrule 14 comprises a pair of opposed lugs 16, spaced from each other transversely of the plate 2.
- the lugs 16 of each pair extend from opposite longitudinal edges of the plate 2 and depend from the other face 18 of the plate 2 normally thereof.
- the edge 6 of the opening 4 upstands from the face 12 of the plate 2.
- the contact springs 8 which are arcuate and are of substantially semicircular shape, as best seen in Figure 4, are smoothly curved inwardly of the plate 2 and present oppositely bowed contact surfaces 20 which overlie or extend across the opening 4.
- Each lug 16 tapers towards a chamfered free edge 24 thereof remote from the plate 2.
- the plate 2 has, struck out therefrom, a pair of resilient spurs 22 each of which depends from the face 18 of the plate 2 between a respective pair of the lugs 16.
- the socket is for assembly to a flat, flexible, conductor carrier FFC which is shown in fragmentary form in Figures 4 to 6.
- the conductor carrier FFC has conductors C, only one of which is shown, extending at right angles to the plane of Figures 4 to 6, the conductors C being imbedded in the insulation I of the conductor carrier FFC.
- the lugs 16 are inserted through the conductor carrier FFC in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 4, by means of a suitable tool (not shown), their chamfered ends or edges 24 serving to pierce the conductor carrier FFC, until the plate 2 is seated on the upper side of the conductor carrier FFC, the lugs 16 being simultaneously bent round by cooperation between the tool and an anvil (not shown), towards the underside of the conductor carrier FFC so that the chamfered ends 24 pierce the insulation I from beneath and make electrical contact with the conductor C, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. As shown in Figure 6, the conductor C is thereby gripped firmly and resiliently between the spurs 22 and the chamfered edges 24 of the lugs 16.
- the tapered leading end of the plug P is inserted between the contact surfaced 20 of the contact springs 8, through the opening 4 in the plate 2 and through the conductor carrier FFC, the plug P passing through the conductor C thereof.
- the conductor carrier FFC may, if needed, be preformed with a hole H in order to facilitate the insertion of the plug P, especially if its leading end is too blunt to pierce the conductor C.
Landscapes
- Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to an electrical socket for mounting on a flat, flexible cable or on a flat, flexible printed circuit, for the electrical connection of an electrical plug to a conductor of the cable or circuit. Such a cable or circuit will hereinafter be referred to as "a flat, flexible, conductor carrier."
- There is disclosed in US-A-3,675,180, an electrical socket for mounting on a flat, flexible, conductor carrier for the electrical connection of an electrical plug to a conductor of said conductor carrier, the socket comprising a base plate having a plug-receiving opening and a receptacle projecting from one face of the base plate, for a plug inserted through the plug-receiving opening substantially normally of the base plate, there projecting from the base plate, upon each of two sides of said opening, a pair of lugs which are deformable for engagement about the conductor.
- In the socket disclosed in US-A-3,675,180, the receptacle is in the form of a circular cross section funnel which has been drawn from the base plate, or has been riveted thereto, and surrounds the opening, the lugs projecting from the same side of the base plate as the funnel. In order to allow the socket to be applied to the conductor carrier, an enlarged pad of the conductor is preformed with a central hole to receive the funnel there-through.
- The present invention is intended to provide a socket which can readily be stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock without the need for a drawing operation, and for the application of which socket to the conductor carrier, the conductor need not have a pad with a pre-formed hole therein, so that the socket can be applied to any desired conductor of the conductor carrier at any desired position along its length.
- According to the present invention, therefore, the receptacle comprises a pair of contact springs, each being of substantially semicircular shape, the contact springs presenting opposed, arcuate contact surfaces which are bowed towards each other and extend across the plug-receiving opening to engage the plug between them; the lugs projecting from the other face of the base plate, that is to say from the face opposite to that from which the contact springs project.
- Thus, the socket, which can readily be stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock, can be secured to one side of a flat, flexible conductor carrier to terminate any conductor thereof at any desired position along its length, simply by inserting the lugs through the carrier and deforming them so as to engage about the conductor, whereafter the plug can be inserted between the contact springs, through the opening in the base plate, and through the conductor carrier to establish electrical contact between the conductor and the plug by way of the socket. Since the lugs project from the opposite face of the base plate to that from which the contact springs project, the receptacle does not need to be inserted through the conductor.
- Although the conductor is pierced where the plug is passed through it, the first part of the conductor is electrically bridged by the base plate, since the latter is electrically connected to the conductor by the pairs of lugs on each side of the opening in the base plate.
- The base plate is preferably formed with resilient spurs projecting from said other face of the plate, each spur protruding between the lugs of a respective pair, the lugs having free end portions which taper away from the base plate and terminate in chamfered edges for cooperation with the spurs to grip the cable conductor, thereby to enhance the integrity of both the mechanical and the electrical connections between the socket and the conductor.
- Although the conductor may be preformed with a hole to receive the plug this should be unnecessary where the plug has the usual tapered leading end.
- For a better understanding of the invention, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:
- FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of an electrical socket for mounting on a flat, flexible cable or on a flat, flexible, conductor carrier, for the connection of an electrical plug to a conductor thereof;
- FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the socket;
- FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;
- FIGURE 4 is an end view of the socket when about to be assembled to the conductor carrier;
- FIGURE 5 is an end view, shown partly in section, showing the socket crimped to the conductor carrier and mated with the plug; and
- FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the socket crimped to the conductor carrier and mated with the plug.
- Reference will now be made to Figures 1 to 4. The socket, which has been stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock, comprises an
elongate base plate 2 having a central, plug-receiving,circular opening 4 having a raisededge 6, a pair ofcontact springs 8 extending from oppositelongitudinal edges 10 of theplate 2 and overlapping oneface 12 thereof, and twocrimping ferrules 14 one on each side of theopening 4, and each being proximate to a respective end of theplate 2. Eachferrule 14 comprises a pair ofopposed lugs 16, spaced from each other transversely of theplate 2. Thelugs 16 of each pair extend from opposite longitudinal edges of theplate 2 and depend from theother face 18 of theplate 2 normally thereof. Theedge 6 of the opening 4 upstands from theface 12 of theplate 2. - The
contact springs 8 which are arcuate and are of substantially semicircular shape, as best seen in Figure 4, are smoothly curved inwardly of theplate 2 and present oppositely bowedcontact surfaces 20 which overlie or extend across theopening 4. Eachlug 16 tapers towards a chamferedfree edge 24 thereof remote from theplate 2. Theplate 2 has, struck out therefrom, a pair ofresilient spurs 22 each of which depends from theface 18 of theplate 2 between a respective pair of thelugs 16. - The socket is for assembly to a flat, flexible, conductor carrier FFC which is shown in fragmentary form in Figures 4 to 6. The conductor carrier FFC has conductors C, only one of which is shown, extending at right angles to the plane of Figures 4 to 6, the conductors C being imbedded in the insulation I of the conductor carrier FFC.
- In order to assemble the socket to the conductor carrier FFC, the
lugs 16 are inserted through the conductor carrier FFC in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 4, by means of a suitable tool (not shown), their chamfered ends oredges 24 serving to pierce the conductor carrier FFC, until theplate 2 is seated on the upper side of the conductor carrier FFC, thelugs 16 being simultaneously bent round by cooperation between the tool and an anvil (not shown), towards the underside of the conductor carrier FFC so that the chamfered ends 24 pierce the insulation I from beneath and make electrical contact with the conductor C, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. As shown in Figure 6, the conductor C is thereby gripped firmly and resiliently between thespurs 22 and thechamfered edges 24 of thelugs 16. - In order, electrically to connect an electrical plug P with the conductor C, the tapered leading end of the plug P is inserted between the contact surfaced 20 of the
contact springs 8, through theopening 4 in theplate 2 and through the conductor carrier FFC, the plug P passing through the conductor C thereof. The conductor carrier FFC may, if needed, be preformed with a hole H in order to facilitate the insertion of the plug P, especially if its leading end is too blunt to pierce the conductor C. Although the inserted plug P extends through the conductor C and thereby reduces its conductivity in the region of the plug P, the reduced conductivity portion of the conductor C is bridged by theplate 2, which is electrically connected to the conductor C by theferrules 14, on either side of theopening 4. In the inserted position of the plug P, the plug P is firmly and resiliently gripped between the bowedcontact surfaces 20 of thecontact springs 8 and is thereby electrically connected to the conductor C.
Claims (2)
- An electrical socket for mounting on a flat, flexible conductor carrier (FFC), for the electrical connection of an electrical plug to a conductor of said conductor carrier (FFC), the socket comprising a base plate (2) having a plug-receiving opening (4) and a receptacle projecting from one face (12) of the base plate (2), for a plug (P) inserted through the plug-receiving opening (4) substantially normally of the base plate (2), there projecting from the base plate (2), upon each of two opposite sides of the opening (4), a pair of lugs (16) which are deformable for engagement about said conductor (C); characterized in that the plug receptacle comprises a pair of contact springs (8), each being of substantially semicircular shape, the contact springs (8) presenting opposed, arcuate contact surfaces (20) which are bowed towards each other and extend across the plug-receiving opening (4) to engage the plug (P) between them, the lugs (16) projecting from the other face (18) of the base plate (2).
- A socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (2) is formed with resilient spurs (22) projecting from said other face (18) of the plate (2), each spur (22) protruding between the lugs (16) of a respective pair, the lugs (16) having free end portions which terminate in chamfered edges (24) for cooperation with the spurs (22) to grip the conductor (C).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB878710684A GB8710684D0 (en) | 1987-05-06 | 1987-05-06 | Electrical socket |
GB8710684 | 1987-05-06 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0504134A1 EP0504134A1 (en) | 1992-09-23 |
EP0504134B1 true EP0504134B1 (en) | 1993-12-15 |
Family
ID=10616884
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP88903730A Expired - Lifetime EP0504134B1 (en) | 1987-05-06 | 1988-04-15 | Electrical socket |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0504134B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2678492B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR890700937A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3886426T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB8710684D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1988009067A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE757965A (en) * | 1969-11-06 | 1971-04-23 | Amp Inc | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR |
GB1287865A (en) * | 1970-06-30 | 1972-09-06 | ||
US3768062A (en) * | 1971-09-28 | 1973-10-23 | Molex Inc | Terminal for flexible circuits |
JPS5849400B2 (en) * | 1976-09-16 | 1983-11-04 | 三島光産株式会社 | Portable automatic stamping device |
US4357065A (en) * | 1980-06-13 | 1982-11-02 | Amp Incorporated | Terminal for connection to a flat conductor |
-
1987
- 1987-05-06 GB GB878710684A patent/GB8710684D0/en active Pending
-
1988
- 1988-04-15 JP JP63503594A patent/JP2678492B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-04-15 DE DE3886426T patent/DE3886426T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-04-15 EP EP88903730A patent/EP0504134B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-04-15 WO PCT/US1988/001174 patent/WO1988009067A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1988-12-23 KR KR1019880701717A patent/KR890700937A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3886426D1 (en) | 1994-01-27 |
WO1988009067A1 (en) | 1988-11-17 |
GB8710684D0 (en) | 1987-06-10 |
JPH02503967A (en) | 1990-11-15 |
KR890700937A (en) | 1989-04-28 |
DE3886426T2 (en) | 1994-06-30 |
EP0504134A1 (en) | 1992-09-23 |
JP2678492B2 (en) | 1997-11-17 |
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