FR2782850A1 - ELASTIC SOCKET CONTACT FOR ULTRAMINIATURE CONNECTOR - Google Patents

Abstract

The elastic socket contact (1) for ultraminiature connector, is intended to receive axially a male contact (2) in the form of a pin, this socket (1) being surrounded coaxially by a tube (3) for re-centering the contact (2) in the form of a pin. The end of the tube (3) for receiving the pin-shaped contact (2) has an annular groove (4) projecting inside the tube (3) having a curved surface (5), this groove (4) being extended towards the end of the tube (3) by an annular edge (7) having a curved surface (8) projecting outwards.

Description

Contact elastic socket for ultra-thin connector This is

  The invention relates to an elastic socket contact for an ultra-thin connector. The invention also relates to a set of connectors comprising a connector equipped with at least one socket contact, that is to say female, and a connector equipped with at least one male contact in the form of

brooch.

  Given the fragility and the very small size of such female contacts and therefore the size of their inlet orifice, the technical problem to be solved relates to the positioning and, particularly during connection, to the ease of insertion of the male pins of the complementary connector. Indeed, a slight axial offset of one or more pins prevents easy connection or at least without deterioration. In addition, this phenomenon is amplified with play or wear which inevitably

appears in time.

  The known solution consists in designing the socket with a refocusing means tending to bring the spindle and the socket in the same axis. This refocusing means is constituted by a protective tube surrounding the socket. The diameter of this protective tube being by definition greater than the diameter of the socket, when the spindle is slightly offset, the latter is brought back or re-piloted when the

  pin comes into contact with the tube.

  However, this solution is only really usable when the axial offset is small. Indeed from a certain offset threshold, the spindle will also force the entry of the tube and quickly degrade or deteriorate the tube and the number of connections / disconnections possible without deterioration

also becomes quite limited.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy

to the above drawback.

  The invention thus relates to an elastic socket contact for an ultra-thin connector, the elastic socket being intended to receive axially a male pin-shaped contact, this socket being surrounded coaxially by a re-centering tube of the

pin-shaped contact.

  According to the invention, this socket contact is characterized in that the end of the tube intended to receive the pin-shaped contact comprises an annular groove, projecting inside the tube, and having a curved surface, this groove being extended towards the end of the tube by an annular border having a curved projecting surface

outwards.

  Thanks to the annular groove and the rim

  above provided at the end of the centering tube, the power of refocusing thereof relative to the male contact in the event of an axial offset thereof is clearly

  improved compared to known solutions.

  Preferably, the inside diameter of the free end of said annular edge is greater than the inside diameter measured at said groove and is less than the diameter of the rest of the tube. These characteristics further improve the refocusing power of the tube compared to the male contact. According to another aspect of the invention, the connector assembly comprising a connector equipped with at least one socket contact of the above type and a connector equipped with at least one male pin-shaped contact is characterized in that said male contact in

  pin shape has a pointed end.

  This pointed shape of the male contact further improves the ability to refocus in the event of an axial offset of the male contact relative to the tube. Preferably also, the pin-shaped contact is mounted inside an insulating housing, the end of which is extended beyond the end of the pin-shaped contact, the end of this housing comprising a chamfer. annular directed towards the axis of the tube. Other features and advantages of

  the invention will also appear in the description below

  after. In the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples: - Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a socket contact surrounded by its centering tube and of a male contact offset axially with respect to the socket contact; - Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1

  showing another embodiment of the male contact.

  FIG. 1 represents an elastic socket contact for an ultra-thin connector, in particular of the micro D type. This elastic socket 1 is intended to receive axially a male contact 2 in the form of a pin. The sleeve 1 is coaxially surrounded by a metal tube 3 for refocusing the contact 2 in the form of a pin. According to the invention, the end of the tube 3 intended to receive and guide the contact 2 in the form of a pin comprises an annular groove 4 produced by

  deformation and having a curved surface 5.

  This curved surface 5 projects at

inside the tube 3.

  The groove 4 is extended towards the end 6 of the tube 3 by an annular border 7 having a curved surface 8 projecting outwards. The internal diameter of the free end 6 of the annular edge 7 is greater than the diameter

  interior measured at throat 4.

  On the other hand, the internal diameter of the free end 6 of the annular edge 7 is

  smaller than the diameter of the rest of the tube 3.

  By way of nonlimiting example, the tube 3 has a diameter equal to about 0.76 mm, the radius of curvature of the groove 4 is of the order of 0.05 mm and the radius of

  curvature of the border 7 is of the order of 0.08 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper edge 6 of the tube 3 and the apex of the curved surface 5 projecting inside the tube 3 form a cone C, which allows the engagement of the male contact 2 to be refocused in the contact female socket 1, despite axial offset

male contact 2.

  Figure 1 clearly shows that without the recentering tube 3 the male contact 2 could not engage in the socket contact 1 since the axial offset _ is greater than half the diameter of

  the inlet opening 1a of the socket contact 1.

  In the example of figure 2, the male contact

  2a in the form of a pin at a pointed end 2b.

  This pointed end 2b makes it possible to increase

  even more the ability to refocus the tube 3.

  On the other hand, it can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the pin-shaped contact 2, 2a is housed inside an insulating housing 9 whose end is extended beyond the end 2c, 2b contact in

pin shape.

  The end 10 of this housing 9 has a

  annular chamfer 11 directed towards the axis of the tube 3.

  The chamfer 11 makes it possible to guide the end of the tube 3 more effectively and therefore also promotes the refocusing of the male contact 2, 2a by

  relative to the axis of the socket contact 1.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the example which has just been described and many modifications can be made to it without departing from the

part of the invention.

Claims (6)

  1. Contact elastic socket (1) for ultra-thin connector, the elastic socket (1) being intended to receive axially a male contact (2, 2a) in the form of a pin, this socket (1) being surrounded coaxially by a recentering tube ( 3) of the pin-shaped contact (2, 2a), characterized in that the end of the tube (3) intended to receive the pin-shaped contact (2, 2a) comprises an annular groove (4) projecting from the inside of the tube (3) and having a curved surface (5), this groove (4) being extended towards the end of the tube (3) by an annular edge (7) having a curved surface (8) projecting towards outside.   2. Socket contact according to claim 1, characterized in that the inside diameter of the free end (6) of said annular edge (7) is greater than the inside diameter measured at said groove (4).   3. Socket contact according to claim 2, characterized in that the internal diameter of the free end (6) of said annular edge (7)   is less than the diameter of the rest of the tube (3).   4. Socket contact in accordance with one of the   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tube (3)   has a diameter equal to about 0.76 mm, the radius of curvature of the groove (4) is of the order of 0.05 mm and the radius of curvature of the edge (7) is of the order of 0.08 mm.   5. Connector assembly comprising a connector equipped with at least one socket contact (1)   according to one of claims 1 to 4 and a   connector fitted with at least one pin-shaped male contact (2a), characterized in that said pin-shaped male contact (2a) has a pointed end (2b). 6. Connector assembly comprising a contact   socket (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and   a pin-shaped male contact (2, 2a), characterized in that the pin-shaped contact (2, 2a) is mounted inside an insulating housing (9) whose end (10) is extended beyond the end (2c, 2b) of the pin-shaped contact (2, 2a) the end of this housing comprising a chamfer   annular (11) directed towards the axis of the tube (3).