US2875425A - Multiple electrical connector - Google Patents
Multiple electrical connector Download PDFInfo
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- US2875425A US2875425A US533114A US53311455A US2875425A US 2875425 A US2875425 A US 2875425A US 533114 A US533114 A US 533114A US 53311455 A US53311455 A US 53311455A US 2875425 A US2875425 A US 2875425A
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- contact
- trough
- sections
- receptacle
- assembly
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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
- H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular 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
- 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 prime object of my present invention centers about the provision of an improved electrical'connector comprising a jack or receptacle having multiple miniature contact elements which jack or receptacleis adapted or designed to receive printed circuit cards or plugs protype, "a large group of miniature contact elements, rang- ,mg from ten to twenty or more, are mounted in closely spaced relation in a single receptacle designed to receive a printed circuit board or card or similariplug containing a correspondingly large group of closely spaced'circuit elements adapted for mating contact with said contact elements.
- the multiple connector and particularly the multiple contact elements thereof must be so designed as to assure the eliective electrical engagement of the contacts and the closing of all of the involved circuits.
- the contact elements of the receptacles were made to comprise leaf springs made of strip spring stock, the contact portion of which was bowed orbent so as to be in the path of movement of the plug contact to assure engagement therebetween. .Such engagement while effectively obtained, yields, however, but a line or small area contact and therefore an inadequate electrical engagement betweenthe connector elements.
- the contact elements although -made of strip spring stock, are constructed to act as compression springs, as distinguished from leaf springs, and are constructed in the form of a bellows, the outermost or contact branch of which, preferably straight or linear in shape, is adapted to make .contactover its full face or area, as distinguished from a line contact, with the circuit .element or contact of the printed circuit card or other .plug.
- the bellows action moreover, :makes the face of the contact element follow the printed circuit, preventing circuit discontinuities under severe vibration and printed circuit board misalignment due to tolerance build- .up .on the equipment in which this type of connector is .used.
- Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of the multiple electric'al connector of the present invention showninco'mbination with aprinted circuitplug assembly, with-parts shown in cross-section;
- Fig. 2 is afront perspective view of the multiple electricalconnector
- Fig. 3 is a view shown to an enlarged scale taken "in cross section in a plane corresponding to the "crosssectional part of Fig. 1 of thedr'wings;
- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the manner in which contact is made between the contact "elements of the electricalconnectorand-thecircuit con- 15 circuit card havinga relativelysrnall width or thickness;
- the said printed Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 of thedra wings and showing themann'er in whichcontact is made with aprinted circuit card or board having a Widih or thickness greater than that illustratedin Fig. 4;
- Fig. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view of an electrical connector embodying amodification of the structure of the present invention.
- the multiple electrical connector comprises a jackassembly generally designated as J adapted to receiye a printed circuit plug assembly P or anylike plug assembly, the said jack assembly being provided "with a plurality or series of miniature contact elements c, c, the-printed eircuitplu'g 'asslembly P being provided with a plurality of 'cir'ciiit elernentsor strips ,0, cthe termini of which definecontact elements formatin g cooperation with the contact elements of the'jack assembly I.
- the jack assembly J comprises more specifically a receptacle l0 madeof a s'inglemoldedpiece of insulation formed with a central longitudinal trough 12 for receiving "theplug'assembly P, the said trough being defined by two oppositely facing walls 14 and '16, at least one andpreferahly both of which walls are formed with plurality of pockets 18, :18 spaced along the trough corresponding "innumber to the numbero fcontact elements c,each contactelement being located and partially housedbya pocket.
- the walls 14 and 16 form theinside Walls of said pocket, the side walls or saidpocket 'being defined by ribs 20, 20 -directed inwardly -of said walls.
- the receptacle 10 is also formed at its top "with shoulders 22, 22 extending the lengthof the trough and with a boss or protruberance 24 at its bottom also extending the length ofthe trough for purposes thatwill appear hereinafter.
- the receptacle 10 may alsobe formed with terminal lug-portions 26,26 for the reception of attaching elements.
- spring tempered, Phosphor bronze which maybe gold plated over silver for obtaining low contact resistance
- spring tempered, Phosphor bronze having three branches, an innermost branch 28 being lodged against "the inside wall suchas'the wall 14 or'the *wall 1 60f a pocket 1'8,'an outermost branchfill defining thecontact which is engageable bye mating contact 10f the plug assembly and an intermediate branch 32 forming a spring connection between the other two branches.
- each bellows shaped contact c is anchoredasat 34 to the body of "the receptacle 1i) and thereceptacle protruding ends 36 thereof define terminal ends to which conductors may 'be connected as by soldering.
- the outermost branch 30 of the contact is terminates at its upper end in a hook portion 38Which is engaged by and over the shoulder wall '22, the end ⁇ of the hook portion having a liinitedxfreetlom of movement in arecess'40iormed between said shoulder and the outer Walls 42 of the receptacle.
- the wall shoulder 22 forms a stop for limiting the outward movement of the top of the contact elements and the boss 24 .forms a stop for limitingthe outward movement of the bottom of the contact elements c.
- the action of the bellows contacts of this multiple connector may be explained by reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.v It is tact elements 0, c arranged in oppositely facing pairs as clearly depicted in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the pockets 18, 18 in the receptacle being therefore also arranged in registering pairs in the oppositely facing walls .14 and 16. Fig.
- the contact branches 30, 30 depicts the position assumed by the contact elements 0, c in the absence of a plug assembly, the contact branches 30, 30 being shown to protrude a substantial distance beyond the ribs '20, 20. It will be' noted that the branch 30 of the contact element c is straight or linear in form or shape, as distinguished from being bowed or bent along its length.
- Fig. 4 illustrates the action that takes place upon the reception of a printed circuit card P of a thickness which is relatively narrow and substantially less than the distance between the facing ribs 20, 20.
- the contact Upon entry of the bellows, is compressed, the contact also acting as a whole as a compression spring.
- the electrical engagement branch 30 of the contact element 0, linear in preferred, whether a single line of contacts is provided for (Fig. 6) or whether a double line of contacts is em-' bodied in the instrument, to have a double line of conshape as aforesaid, makes contact over its full face or .area as distinguished from a line contact, with the circuit element 0' of the printed circuit plug.
- Fig 5 depicts the action that takes place upon the reception of a printed circuit card P which is relatively wider than the thickness of the printed card P of Fig. 4.
- the thickness or width of the printed circuit card P may be 061 inch whereas that of the printed circuit card P may be as much as ten one-thousandths of an inch greater, namely, .071 inch.
- the actions that take place in Fig. 5 of the drawings are otherwise the same as those described for Fig. 4 of the drawings with the exception of course that the contact elements c, c are subjected to a greater compression. Figs.
- Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of the electrical connector of the present invention; and in this modification the oppositely facing contacts 6 0 instead of being made in the form of two. sets of contact elements is con .structed to form a single set of contact elemc ist T this end the oppositely facing pairs of contact elements c 0 are joined in a medial connecting branch 44. Otherwise the parts of the receptacle are the same as those of the form of the invention described in Figs. 1 to 5, similar parts being indicated by primed reference characters.
- a multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of conductive material of substantially uniform thickness and resilient along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections' being lodged against one of said trough walls, anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections defining the contact which is engageable by a mating contact of the plug assembly and comprising a length of said strip the free terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring,
- said spring unit comprises three sections, to wit, said innermost and outermost sections and an intermediate section forming a spring connection between the upper end of said innermost section and the lower end of said outermost section.
- a multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of conductive material of substantially uniform thickness and resilient along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellowsshaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said trough walls, anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections defining the contact which is engageable by a mating contact of the plug assembly and comprising a substantially straight length of said strip the free terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring,
- a multiple electrical connector comprising a jack Iassembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like "assembly the plug .portion of which is planar and has fiat contact areas, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having a straight elongated open-topped trough forreceiving the plug assembly :defined by two oppositely "facing Walls, contact elements spaced from one anotheralong said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of thin conductive material which is resiliently flexible along substantially its entire length, said'strip comprising aplurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellowsshaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said trough walls, anchoredat'one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the-open top of said trough and extending toward "said open trough top, the outermostof said sections defining the contact which is'engageable by a mat
- a multiple electrical connector comprising ajack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or lik'e assembly the plug portion of which is-planar and has flat contact areas
- sai-d jack assembly comprising a receptacle, saidreceptacle having a straight elongated opentopped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, at least one of the walls being formed with a plurality of pockets spaced along the trough, contact elements in said pockets, said contact elements each being formedfrom a strip of thin conductive material which is resiliently flexible along substantially its entire length
- said'strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integralreverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of i said sections being lodged against the inside wall of a pocket, anchored at oneend to the receptacle at a point remote from the open :top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections defining the contact which is engageable by a
- a multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted toreceive a printed circuit'plug or like assembly the, plug portion of WhiChiS planar and .has'flat contact areas, said jack assembly-comprising a receptacle,
- said receptacle having astraight, elongated open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, at least one ofthe walls being formed with a pluarlity of pockets spaced along the comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against the inside wall of a pocket, anchored at one end to the-receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top,the-out'ermost of said sections defining the contact which is engage'able by a mating'contact area'of theplug as'se'mbly an'clcomprising a substantially-straight length of said -strip the terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the surface of said strip length directed inwardly with respect to said trough being flat, the depth of said pockets being greater than the combined thicknesses of said sections, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby
- a multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing 7 side walls and a bottom wall, at least one of the side walls being formed witha plurality of pockets spaced along the trough, contact elements one located in each pocket,
- said contact elements each being formed from a strip of against movement laterally inwardly of said pocket, said bottom wall having a slot therethrough, said contact element comprising an extension from said innermost section passing through said slot to and beyond the exterior of said receptacle and there defining a terminal end to which an external circuit may be connected, said innermost section being anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough against movement upwardly or laterally outwardly of said pocket and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections, spaced outwardly from said inside pocket wall, defining the contact which is engageable by a mating cont-act of the plug assembly and comprising a substantially straight flat length of said strip the free terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the depth of said pockets being greater than the combined thicknesses of said sections, the said bellowsshaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact section of the unit and the mating contact of the
- a multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing side walls and a bottom wall, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of conductive material resilient along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said side walls and supported by said wall along substantially its entire length against movement toward said side wall, said bottom wall having a slot therethrough, said contact element comprising an extension from said innermost section passing through said slot to and beyond the exterior of said receptacle and there defining a terminal end to which an external circuit may be connected, said innermost section being anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough against movement upward
- a multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, the plug portion of which is planar and has flat contact areas, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having a straight elongated opentopped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined 'by two oppositely facing side walls and a bottom wall, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of thin conductive material which is resiliently flexible along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said side walls and supported by said wall along substantially its entire length against movement toward said wall, said bottom wall having a slot therethrough, said contact element comprising an extension from said innermost section passing through said slot to and beyond the exterior of said receptacle, and there defining a terminal end to which an external circuit may be connected, said innermost section being anchored at
Description
Feb. 24, 1959 L. GILBERT MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1955 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ZEO/V Gas/m7 Feb. 24, 1959 L. GILBERT MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 Shets-Sheef 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1955 T z 5 M y Leon Gilbert, Stamford, Conn,
circuit contact United States Patent 2,875,425 MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR assignor to Continental Connector Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 8, 1955, Serial No. 533,114 11 Claims. (Cl. 339-176) This invention relates to improvements in multiple electrical connectors, particularly of the miniature type.
The prime object of my present invention centers about the provision of an improved electrical'connector comprising a jack or receptacle having multiple miniature contact elements which jack or receptacleis adapted or designed to receive printed circuit cards or plugs protype, "a large group of miniature contact elements, rang- ,mg from ten to twenty or more, are mounted in closely spaced relation in a single receptacle designed to receive a printed circuit board or card or similariplug containing a correspondingly large group of closely spaced'circuit elements adapted for mating contact with said contact elements. The multiple connector and particularly the multiple contact elements thereof must be so designed as to assure the eliective electrical engagement of the contacts and the closing of all of the involved circuits. To effectuate this in multiple electrical connectors of prior makes, the contact elements of the receptacles (or of the plugs, where the latter also included similar contact elements) were made to comprise leaf springs made of strip spring stock, the contact portion of which was bowed orbent so as to be in the path of movement of the plug contact to assure engagement therebetween. .Such engagement while effectively obtained, yields, however, but a line or small area contact and therefore an inadequate electrical engagement betweenthe connector elements.
In the improved multiple connector of the present invention, the contact elements, although -made of strip spring stock, are constructed to act as compression springs, as distinguished from leaf springs, and are constructed in the form of a bellows, the outermost or contact branch of which, preferably straight or linear in shape, is adapted to make .contactover its full face or area, as distinguished from a line contact, with the circuit .element or contact of the printed circuit card or other .plug. The bellows action, moreover, :makes the face of the contact element follow the printed circuit, preventing circuit discontinuities under severe vibration and printed circuit board misalignment due to tolerance build- .up .on the equipment in which this type of connector is .used. Where these compression spring bellowscontacts are arranged .as pairs on oppositely facing sides of the connector, the vfurtherresult is achieved that the printed circuit card or plug assembly is securely held resiliently in the receptacle connector by the oppositely acting compression action of the contact pairs.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing object and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invenitio'n relates to'the multiple electrical connector "as sought "to be defined inthe appended claims 'an'd described in i 2,875,425 Patented Feb. 24, 1959 the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of the multiple electric'al connector of the present invention showninco'mbination with aprinted circuitplug assembly, with-parts shown in cross-section;
Fig. 2 is afront perspective view of the multiple electricalconnector;
Fig. 3 is a view shown to an enlarged scale taken "in cross section in a plane corresponding to the "crosssectional part of Fig. 1 of thedr'wings;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the manner in which contact is made between the contact "elements of the electricalconnectorand-thecircuit con- 15 circuit card havinga relativelysrnall width or thickness;
tacts of a printed circuit card'or board, the said printed Fig. 5 isa view corresponding to Fig. 4 of thedra wings and showing themann'er in whichcontact is made with aprinted circuit card or board having a Widih or thickness greater than that illustratedin Fig. 4; and
Fig. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view of an electrical connector embodying amodification of the structure of the present invention.
Referringnow more-in detail tothedrawings and havingreferencje first toFigs. l to 3 thereof, the multiple electrical connector comprises a jackassembly generally designated as J adapted to receiye a printed circuit plug assembly P or anylike plug assembly, the said jack assembly being provided "with a plurality or series of miniature contact elements c, c, the-printed eircuitplu'g 'asslembly P being provided with a plurality of 'cir'ciiit elernentsor strips ,0, cthe termini of which definecontact elements formatin g cooperation with the contact elements of the'jack assembly I.
The jack assembly J comprises more specifically a receptacle l0 madeof a s'inglemoldedpiece of insulation formed with a central longitudinal trough 12 for receiving "theplug'assembly P, the said trough being defined by two oppositely facing walls 14 and '16, at least one andpreferahly both of which walls are formed with plurality of pockets 18, :18 spaced along the trough corresponding "innumber to the numbero fcontact elements c,each contactelement being located and partially housedbya pocket. The walls 14 and 16 form theinside Walls of said pocket, the side walls or saidpocket 'being defined by ribs 20, 20 -directed inwardly -of said walls. The receptacle 10 "is also formed at its top "with shoulders 22, 22 extending the lengthof the trough and with a boss or protruberance 24 at its bottom also extending the length ofthe trough for purposes thatwill appear hereinafter. The receptacle 10 may alsobe formed with terminal lug- portions 26,26 for the reception of attaching elements.
Each of the contactelements c, c'comprisesabellows shapedyspring unit 'made'from strip spring stock such as.
spring tempered, Phosphor bronze (which maybe gold plated over silver for obtaining low contact resistance) having three branches, an innermost branch 28 being lodged against "the inside wall suchas'the wall 14 or'the *wall 1 60f a pocket 1'8,'an outermost branchfill defining thecontact which is engageable bye mating contact 10f the plug assembly and an intermediate branch 32 forming a spring connection between the other two branches.
The lower end, of theinner'most branch 28 of each bellows shaped contact c is anchoredasat 34 to the body of "the receptacle 1i) and thereceptacle protruding ends 36 thereof define terminal ends to which conductors may 'be connected as by soldering. The outermost branch 30 of the contact is terminates at its upper end in a hook portion 38Which is engaged by and over the shoulder wall '22, the end {of the hook portion having a liinitedxfreetlom of movement in arecess'40iormed between said shoulder and the outer Walls 42 of the receptacle. The wall shoulder 22 forms a stop for limiting the outward movement of the top of the contact elements and the boss 24 .forms a stop for limitingthe outward movement of the bottom of the contact elements c. The action of the bellows contacts of this multiple connector may be explained by reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.v It is tact elements 0, c arranged in oppositely facing pairs as clearly depicted in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the pockets 18, 18 in the receptacle being therefore also arranged in registering pairs in the oppositely facing walls .14 and 16. Fig. 3 depicts the position assumed by the contact elements 0, c in the absence of a plug assembly, the contact branches 30, 30 being shown to protrude a substantial distance beyond the ribs '20, 20. It will be' noted that the branch 30 of the contact element c is straight or linear in form or shape, as distinguished from being bowed or bent along its length.
Fig. 4 illustrates the action that takes place upon the reception of a printed circuit card P of a thickness which is relatively narrow and substantially less than the distance between the facing ribs 20, 20. Upon entry of the bellows, is compressed, the contact also acting as a whole as a compression spring. The result is that the electrical engagement branch 30 of the contact element 0, linear in preferred, whether a single line of contacts is provided for (Fig. 6) or whether a double line of contacts is em-' bodied in the instrument, to have a double line of conshape as aforesaid, makes contact over its full face or .area as distinguished from a line contact, with the circuit element 0' of the printed circuit plug. With the compression spring bellows contacts 0, 0 arranged as pairs on oppositely facing sides of the connector, the further result is achieved that the branch circuit card or plug assembly is securely held resiliently in the receptacle connector by the oppositely acting compression action of the contact element pairs. The bellows action, moreover,
makes the face of the contact branch 30 follow the printed circuit, preventing circuit discontinuities under severe vibration and printed circuit board misalignment due to tolerance buld-up on the equipment in which this type [of connector is used.
Fig 5 depicts the action that takes place upon the reception of a printed circuit card P which is relatively wider than the thickness of the printed card P of Fig. 4.
For example, in a commercial structure of the connector the thickness or width of the printed circuit card P may be 061 inch whereas that of the printed circuit card P may be as much as ten one-thousandths of an inch greater, namely, .071 inch. The actions that take place in Fig. 5 of the drawings are otherwise the same as those described for Fig. 4 of the drawings with the exception of course that the contact elements c, c are subjected to a greater compression. Figs. 4 and 5 taken together illustrate the ability of theelectrical connector to take or receive printed circuit cards or boards of substantially different widths or thicknesses, the contact elements functioning in all cases efiectively for obtaining a full face or area contact with the plug assembly securely held resiliently in the receptacle connector by the compression spring action of the contact element pairs.
Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of the electrical connector of the present invention; and in this modification the oppositely facing contacts 6 0 instead of being made in the form of two. sets of contact elements is con .structed to form a single set of contact elemc ist T this end the oppositely facing pairs of contact elements c 0 are joined in a medial connecting branch 44. Otherwise the parts of the receptacle are the same as those of the form of the invention described in Figs. 1 to 5, similar parts being indicated by primed reference characters.
The manner of making, the mode of operating, as well as the uses and advantages of the multiple miniature electrical connector of the present invention will in the main be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof. It will be further apparent that many changes may be made in the electrical connector without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.
I claim:
1. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of conductive material of substantially uniform thickness and resilient along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections' being lodged against one of said trough walls, anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections defining the contact which is engageable by a mating contact of the plug assembly and comprising a length of said strip the free terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact sec tion' of the unit and the mating contact of the plug assem- .bly, and an element extending into said trough, engageable with the outermost of said sections of said contact elements at points remote from the open top of said trough, and limiting the movement of said outermost contact element sections laterally away from said innermost contact element sections.
2; The multiple electrical connector of claim 1, in which said spring unit comprises three sections, to wit, said innermost and outermost sections and an intermediate section forming a spring connection between the upper end of said innermost section and the lower end of said outermost section.
3. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of conductive material of substantially uniform thickness and resilient along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellowsshaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said trough walls, anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections defining the contact which is engageable by a mating contact of the plug assembly and comprising a substantially straight length of said strip the free terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact-section of the unit and the mating contact of the plug assembly, and an element extending into said trough, engageable with the outermost of said sections of said age-mace contact 2 elements at rpoints remote :from I the :open :top of said trough, and limiting ::the movement of said outermost ,contact element sections :lateral'ly away from said innermost contact element sections.
4. The multiple electrical connector :01? claim 3, ii] which said spring unit comprises three sections, to wit, "said innermostand outermost sections and an intermediiiatezsection forming a spring connection betweenthe up per end of said intermost section and the lower end of said :outermost section.
'5. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack Iassembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like "assembly the plug .portion of which is planar and has fiat contact areas, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having a straight elongated open-topped trough forreceiving the plug assembly :defined by two oppositely "facing Walls, contact elements spaced from one anotheralong said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of thin conductive material which is resiliently flexible along substantially its entire length, said'strip comprising aplurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellowsshaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said trough walls, anchoredat'one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the-open top of said trough and extending toward "said open trough top, the outermostof said sections defining the contact which is'engageable by a mating contact area of'the plug assembly and comprising a length of said stripthe free terminal'portion of whichlies adjacent said open trough ftop, the surface of said strip length directed to'wardthe interior of said troughfbeing flat, the'said bellows-shaped --spring'unitbeing contact activeas a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtainedbetween :said contact section of the unit and the mating contact area of the plug assembly, and an element extending into said trough, engageable with the outermost of said sections of said contact elements at points remote 'from the "open top of said trough, and limiting the movement of said outermost contact element sections laterally away from said innermost contact element sections.
6. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plugor like assembly the plug portion of which is planar and has fiat contact areas, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptaclehaving-a=straight, elongated opentopped troug'nafor receivingtheplug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, atleast one of the walls haviing a-plurality-of protruding portions spaced along the trough, contact elements located'between said protruding portions, said contact'elements each being formed from -a-strip of thin conductive material which is resiliently -tlexible along substantially it-s entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said trough Walls, anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections defining the contact which is engageable by a mating contact area of the plug assembly and comprising a substantially straight length of said strip the terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the surface of said strip length directed inwardly with respect to said trough being flat, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact section of the unit and the mating contact area of the plug assembly, and an element extending into said trough, engageable with the outermost of said sec- I tions of said contact elements at points remote from the open top of said trough, and limiting the movement of said outermost contact element sections laterally away from said innermost contact element sections.
7. A multiple electrical connector comprising ajack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or lik'e assembly the plug portion of which is-planar and has flat contact areas, sai-d jack assembly comprising a receptacle, saidreceptacle having a straight elongated opentopped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, at least one of the walls being formed with a plurality of pockets spaced along the trough, contact elements in said pockets, said contact elements each being formedfrom a strip of thin conductive material which is resiliently flexible along substantially its entire length, said'strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integralreverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of i said sections being lodged against the inside wall of a pocket, anchored at oneend to the receptacle at a point remote from the open :top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections defining the contact which is engageable by a mating con tact area of .the plugassembly and comprising a length of said strip the terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the surface of said strip length directed toward the interior of said trough being flat, the depth of said'pockets being greaterthan the combined thicknesses of said sections, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby-a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact section of the unit and the mating contact area of the plug assembly, and anelement extending into said trough, engageable with the outermost of said sections of said contact elements at points remote from the open top of saidtrough, and limiting the movement ofsaid outermost :contact element sections laterallyaway from said innermost contact element sections.
8. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted toreceive a printed circuit'plug or like assembly the, plug portion of WhiChiS planar and .has'flat contact areas, said jack assembly-comprising a receptacle,
:said receptacle having astraight, elongated open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing walls, at least one ofthe walls being formed with a pluarlity of pockets spaced along the comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against the inside wall of a pocket, anchored at one end to the-receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough and extending toward said open trough top,the-out'ermost of said sections defining the contact which is engage'able by a mating'contact area'of theplug as'se'mbly an'clcomprising a substantially-straight length of said -strip the terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the surface of said strip length directed inwardly with respect to said trough being flat, the depth of said pockets being greater than the combined thicknesses of said sections, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact section of the unit and the mating contact of the plug assembly, and an element extending into said trough, engageable with the outermost of said sections of said contact elements at points remote from the open top of said trough, and limiting the movement of said outermost contact element sections laterally away from said innermost contact element sections.
9. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing 7 side walls and a bottom wall, at least one of the side walls being formed witha plurality of pockets spaced along the trough, contact elements one located in each pocket,
said contact elements each being formed from a strip of against movement laterally inwardly of said pocket, said bottom wall having a slot therethrough, said contact element comprising an extension from said innermost section passing through said slot to and beyond the exterior of said receptacle and there defining a terminal end to which an external circuit may be connected, said innermost section being anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough against movement upwardly or laterally outwardly of said pocket and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections, spaced outwardly from said inside pocket wall, defining the contact which is engageable by a mating cont-act of the plug assembly and comprising a substantially straight flat length of said strip the free terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the depth of said pockets being greater than the combined thicknesses of said sections, the said bellowsshaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact section of the unit and the mating contact of the plug assembly.
10. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined by two oppositely facing side walls and a bottom wall, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of conductive material resilient along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said side walls and supported by said wall along substantially its entire length against movement toward said side wall, said bottom wall having a slot therethrough, said contact element comprising an extension from said innermost section passing through said slot to and beyond the exterior of said receptacle and there defining a terminal end to which an external circuit may be connected, said innermost section being anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough against movement upwardly or laterally outwardly from said side wall and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections,
spaced outwardly from said side wall, defining the contact which is engageable by a mating contact of the plug assembly and comprising a substantially straight flat length of said strip the free terminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact section of the unit and the mating contact of the plug assembly.
11. A multiple electrical connector comprising a jack assembly adapted to receive a printed circuit plug or like assembly, the plug portion of which is planar and has flat contact areas, said jack assembly comprising a receptacle, said receptacle having a straight elongated opentopped trough for receiving the plug assembly defined 'by two oppositely facing side walls and a bottom wall, contact elements spaced from one another along said trough, said contact elements each being formed from a strip of thin conductive material which is resiliently flexible along substantially its entire length, said strip comprising a plurality of sections connected by integral reverse bends to comprise a bellows-shaped spring unit, the innermost of said sections being lodged against one of said side walls and supported by said wall along substantially its entire length against movement toward said wall, said bottom wall having a slot therethrough, said contact element comprising an extension from said innermost section passing through said slot to and beyond the exterior of said receptacle, and there defining a terminal end to which an external circuit may be connected, said innermost section being anchored at one end to the receptacle at a point remote from the open top of said trough against movement upwardly or laterally outwardly from said side wall and extending toward said open trough top, the outermost of said sections, spacedoutwardly from said side wall, defining the contact which is engageable by a mating contact area of the plug assembly and comprising a length of said strip the freeterminal portion of which lies adjacent said open trough top, the surface of'said strip length directed toward the interior of said trough being flat, the said bellows-shaped spring unit being contact active as a compression spring, whereby a full surface engagement is obtained between said contact section of the unit and the mating contact area of the plug assembly.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US533114A US2875425A (en) | 1955-09-08 | 1955-09-08 | Multiple electrical connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US533114A US2875425A (en) | 1955-09-08 | 1955-09-08 | Multiple electrical connector |
| GB1692057A GB844640A (en) | 1957-05-28 | 1957-05-28 | Improvements in or relating to an electrical plug and socket connector |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US2875425A true US2875425A (en) | 1959-02-24 |
Family
ID=26252322
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US533114A Expired - Lifetime US2875425A (en) | 1955-09-08 | 1955-09-08 | Multiple electrical connector |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US2875425A (en) |
Cited By (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2983896A (en) * | 1958-09-10 | 1961-05-09 | Continental Connector Corp | Multiple electrical connector with selectively positionable polarizing member |
| US3002176A (en) * | 1956-11-13 | 1961-09-26 | Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp | Multiple-contact electrical connector |
| US3015083A (en) * | 1960-01-25 | 1961-12-26 | Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp | Electrical connectors |
| US3048811A (en) * | 1957-09-26 | 1962-08-07 | Painton & Co Ltd | Socket connector for printed circuit board |
| US3050705A (en) * | 1959-07-14 | 1962-08-21 | United Carr Fastener Corp | Electrical assembly |
| US3069652A (en) * | 1959-03-23 | 1962-12-18 | Burndy Corp | Electrical connector for printed circuit boards |
| US3077023A (en) * | 1959-06-29 | 1963-02-12 | Ibm | Contact element forming and inserting apparatus and method therefor |
| US3120988A (en) * | 1962-05-25 | 1964-02-11 | Continental Connector Corp | Bellows-type contact construction |
| US3127228A (en) * | 1964-03-31 | Printed circuit | ||
| US3133780A (en) * | 1961-02-15 | 1964-05-19 | Cannon Electric Co | Edge board printed circuit type connector |
| US3149897A (en) * | 1961-08-29 | 1964-09-22 | Hans G Martineck | Printed cable connector |
| US3160459A (en) * | 1961-02-17 | 1964-12-08 | Burndy Corp | Connector for printed circuit boards |
| US3231848A (en) * | 1961-03-20 | 1966-01-25 | Elco Corp | Contact for direct reception of printed circuit board |
| US3274532A (en) * | 1959-02-18 | 1966-09-20 | United Carr Inc | Connector for printed wire board |
| US3960436A (en) * | 1973-09-10 | 1976-06-01 | International Standard Electric Corporation | Electrical connector |
| US3975076A (en) * | 1972-12-06 | 1976-08-17 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Receptacle for printed circuit board |
| US4277643A (en) * | 1978-05-18 | 1981-07-07 | Etablissements Carpano And Pons | Connecting member for telephone systems |
| US4480886A (en) * | 1982-03-02 | 1984-11-06 | Zetronic S.P.A. | Quick connector for a multi-conductor circuit |
| US5254017A (en) * | 1991-09-13 | 1993-10-19 | Robinson Nugent, Inc. | Terminal for low profile edge socket |
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| US1718529A (en) * | 1928-05-01 | 1929-06-25 | Gen Electric | Testing apparatus |
| US2059077A (en) * | 1933-11-07 | 1936-10-27 | Radio Inventions Inc | Vacuum tube conductor and socket |
| US2426429A (en) * | 1945-01-06 | 1947-08-26 | Hazeltine Research Inc | Electrical connector |
| US2462914A (en) * | 1943-08-20 | 1949-03-01 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Separable connector |
| US2699534A (en) * | 1951-06-08 | 1955-01-11 | Donald B Alexander | Two-piece separable electrical connector |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| US1718529A (en) * | 1928-05-01 | 1929-06-25 | Gen Electric | Testing apparatus |
| US2059077A (en) * | 1933-11-07 | 1936-10-27 | Radio Inventions Inc | Vacuum tube conductor and socket |
| US2462914A (en) * | 1943-08-20 | 1949-03-01 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Separable connector |
| US2426429A (en) * | 1945-01-06 | 1947-08-26 | Hazeltine Research Inc | Electrical connector |
| US2699534A (en) * | 1951-06-08 | 1955-01-11 | Donald B Alexander | Two-piece separable electrical connector |
Cited By (20)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3127228A (en) * | 1964-03-31 | Printed circuit | ||
| US3002176A (en) * | 1956-11-13 | 1961-09-26 | Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp | Multiple-contact electrical connector |
| US3048811A (en) * | 1957-09-26 | 1962-08-07 | Painton & Co Ltd | Socket connector for printed circuit board |
| US2983896A (en) * | 1958-09-10 | 1961-05-09 | Continental Connector Corp | Multiple electrical connector with selectively positionable polarizing member |
| US3274532A (en) * | 1959-02-18 | 1966-09-20 | United Carr Inc | Connector for printed wire board |
| US3069652A (en) * | 1959-03-23 | 1962-12-18 | Burndy Corp | Electrical connector for printed circuit boards |
| US3077023A (en) * | 1959-06-29 | 1963-02-12 | Ibm | Contact element forming and inserting apparatus and method therefor |
| US3050705A (en) * | 1959-07-14 | 1962-08-21 | United Carr Fastener Corp | Electrical assembly |
| US3015083A (en) * | 1960-01-25 | 1961-12-26 | Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp | Electrical connectors |
| US3133780A (en) * | 1961-02-15 | 1964-05-19 | Cannon Electric Co | Edge board printed circuit type connector |
| US3160459A (en) * | 1961-02-17 | 1964-12-08 | Burndy Corp | Connector for printed circuit boards |
| US3231848A (en) * | 1961-03-20 | 1966-01-25 | Elco Corp | Contact for direct reception of printed circuit board |
| US3149897A (en) * | 1961-08-29 | 1964-09-22 | Hans G Martineck | Printed cable connector |
| US3120988A (en) * | 1962-05-25 | 1964-02-11 | Continental Connector Corp | Bellows-type contact construction |
| US3975076A (en) * | 1972-12-06 | 1976-08-17 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Receptacle for printed circuit board |
| US3960436A (en) * | 1973-09-10 | 1976-06-01 | International Standard Electric Corporation | Electrical connector |
| US4277643A (en) * | 1978-05-18 | 1981-07-07 | Etablissements Carpano And Pons | Connecting member for telephone systems |
| US4480886A (en) * | 1982-03-02 | 1984-11-06 | Zetronic S.P.A. | Quick connector for a multi-conductor circuit |
| US5254017A (en) * | 1991-09-13 | 1993-10-19 | Robinson Nugent, Inc. | Terminal for low profile edge socket |
| US5387133A (en) * | 1991-09-13 | 1995-02-07 | Robinson Nugent, Inc. | Terminal for low profile edge socket |
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