US2891229A

US2891229A - Electrical assembly

Info

Publication number: US2891229A
Application number: US462563A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr William H Flanagan
Original assignee: United Carr Fastener Corp
Current assignee: United Carr Fastener Corp
Priority date: 1954-10-15
Filing date: 1954-10-15
Publication date: 1959-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-16
Also published as: GB807335A

Description

June 16, 1959 w, FLANAGAN, JR I 2,891,229

' ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Filed on. 15, 1954 '2 Sheets-Sh eet 1 I \5 3. I'll o*[ a u' 1 0 4 m 3 0 w r m \INVENTOR.

9 Q r WILLIAM H. FLANAGAN JR.

WWW ATTORNEY.

June 16, 1959 w. H. FLANAGAN, JR 2,891,229

ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0ct. l5, 19 54 mwm United States Fatentf) ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY William H. Flanagan, J12, Wellesley, Mass., 'assignor, by mesne assignments, to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application October 15, 1954, Serial No. 462,563

11 Claims. (Cl. 339-4 7) This invention relates generally to electrical assemblies and has particular reference to a connector for use with panels having circuit elements on the surface thereof.

In the construction of certaintypes of electronic apparatus, portions of the circuit may be formed on the surface of an insulating panel by so-called printed wiring techniques, or other means, some of which extend to an edge of the panel to receive a connector for completing an electric circuit thereto.

Although many types of connectors have been devised for this purpose, none is entirely satisfactory in both providing good electrical contact without damage to the circuit elements on the panel, and in permitting assembly and disassembly of the connector and panel a plurality of times without damage to the ability of the individual contacts to make good electrical contact with a circuit element on the panel.

The object of the invention is to provide a connector for assembly with a panel having circuit elements on the surface thereof which extend to an edge of the panel, in which individual contacts are provided in the connector for completing a circuit to the elements on the panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector having means to receive an edge of the panel and contact means assembled therewith for resiliently engaging the edge of the panel to complete a circuit to an element thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a con-,

nector in which contact members disposed in a longitudinal 'slot to receive a panel edge are adapted to be torsionally flexed by the insertion of a panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector for use in an electrical assembly adapted to receive a group of spaced parallel circuit panels, in which a group of contact members are provided having means for resiliently engaging a panel edge and other means for making electrical contact with a conductor extending transversely through the body. v

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part appear hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical assembly embodying the features of the invention; a

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a connector body used in the assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the connector body body illustrating the method of assembling a contact therewith;

Fig. 10 is a view in transverse section of the connector body after completion of the assembly of the contact and after assembly of a conductor therewith; p

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation of a portion ofthe connector of Fig. 10 illustrating the action of the contacts during assembly of a panel with the connector;

Fig. 12 is a "view in section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11; t

Fig. 13 a view in section taken on line 13-13 ofFig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a view of the assembly of Fig. 10 as seen from the right side; and Y a Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the assembly of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a connector 10 which is adapted to be built into an electrical assembly 12, to receive and complete electric circuits between spaced parallel panels 14 of the type having circuit elements disposed thereon.

The connector 10 comprises generally an elongated body 16 formed of insulating material such as molded plastic and a series of contacts 18 assembled therewith in a manner to appear hereinafter.

The body 16 is provided with longitudinal '

slots

20 and 22 on opposite sides thereof which, in the preferred embodiment, open to at least one end of the body, and have a width slightly greater than the width of a panel 14.

To provide means for receiving contacts 18, a series of apertures 24 are provided .in the body, which extend transversely therethrough immediately below the

slots

20 and 22 and open thereto on the upper side, forming

recesses

25 and 25a, and a transverse slot associated with each aperture 24 on the side of the body having the longitudinal slot 20. Each transverse slot comprises. an upper portion 26 disposed above the longitudinal slot, a lower outer portion 28 disposed below the longitudinal slot, and a lower inner portion 30 extending further into the body from the lower outer portion. The upper portion 26 and the lower outer portion have a depth greater than the depth of the longitudinal slot 20, and are aligned with each other and slightly ofisetlongitudinally from the associated aperture 24. The lower inner portion 30 is'a'lso slightly offset to one side of the lower outer portion and has a lesser width, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

The contact membersls assembled with the body are formed of a single piece of resilient sheet metal, and

each comprises. a resilient arm 32 for extending through an aperture 24, contact

portions

34 and 36 disposed on opposite ends of the arm 32, and a retaining leg 38 extending downwardly from the medial portion of the arm 32. The contact portions: 34 and 36 extend generally at right angles to thearm 32 and are inclined in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the retaining leg 38. A laterally extending foot 40 is provided at the lower.

end of the retainingleg and an aperture 42 is disposed therein for a purpose to 'appear hereinafter.

(see Fig. 9) until the contact portion enters the -longi-' tudlnal slot 22, at which point it springs back to its nor- 1 malposition and locks the contact in position (see Fig.

10). During the insertion, the retaining leg enters the lower inner slot portion. 30 and the laterally extending foot 40 is disposed against the bottom side of the body,

with the aperture 42 therein aligned with the lowe outer slot portion 28. After assembly the

contact portions

34 and 36 lie in the

recesses

25 and 25a and are inclined upwardly to extend into the

longitudinal slots

20 and 22. In the preferred embodiment the forward edges 44 and the outer side edges 46 of the contact portions are rounded downwardly for a purpose to appear here- Patented June 16, 19 59 A group of connectors 10 may be built up into a con nector assembly 12, as illustrated in Fig. 1, in which a group of connector pairs are spaced one above the other, with the connectors of each pair being spaced apart to "receive and retain apanel therebetween with the opposite'edges of the panel being disposed in the longitudinal slots .of the body, .andwith the corresponding connectors of'each pair secured in spaced relation to support members 47. i

. To complete electricv circuits from one layer to ,another,'conductors 50 extend vertically through the assembly in predetermined positions, and are disposed in ,the

upperportion 26 and the lower outer portion 28 of-the transverse slots, and also extends through theapertnre 42 inthe foot 40 disposed against the bottom side of the connector body, sothat ,the conductor 50 may be soldered thereto.

"Thepanels 14 carry circuit-elements 48-which extend to'the side edges thereof in suitable-predeterminedspaced relation so as to be aligned with appropriate contacts of the connector when thepanel is assembled therein. Although the connectors are primarily for use w th panels =f the printed circuit type, panels having other means of providing 'a circuit on the surface thereof may be used provided the means for carrying the circuit to the side edges is suitable for completing an electric circuitto the contacts of the connector.

-A panel 14 may be assembled into the connector assembly by simply inserting it into place between the appropriate connectors, so that the opposite edges of the panel slide into the opposing slots of the connectors, flexing the contact portions downwardly by torsional flexing ofthe resilientarm 32 (see Fig. 11). The roundededges .44 and 46 of the contact portion -insure-that the circuit element on the panel will not be damaged by assembly, and enable the panelto' be'readily removed for replacement or testing. Since the flexing action is byitorsionof the resilient arm, a large amount of resiliency may be had even in an arm of small size, thereby insuring that the contact portion will bear againstthe panel with sufiicient force to provide good' electrical contact, and the combined bearing force of the plurality ofccontacts in the connector securely retains the panel in J assembly against vibration and shock. Additional positive locking means may also be provided toretain the panels in position if desired.

Sincecertain obvious modificationsmay'be made in thexdeizice without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained herein' be interpreted in an illustrative and not a limiting sense.

.. I claim:

:1. "A eonnectorfor assembly with .a panel. having circuit 1 elements -extending-to ,an edge thereof, said con.- nector comprising an elongated insulating body having a longitudinal slot in oneside to receive the edge of-the panelpa'zseriesof transverse slots disposed in one side of thezbody so as=to be perpendicular to the panel, and a series f contact members assembled therewith, each of said contact members comprising a retaining leg disposedzlin the transverse slot with means thereonfor receiving and making electrical contact with a conductor assembled into the transverse slot, aresilient arm extending from the -retaining leg into the longitudinal slot; and a contact portion disposed therein on the end of the arm, said contact portion extending generally longitudinally on the end of the arm and-"beinginclined into the longitudinal slot whereby assembly-ofthe panel edge causes torsional flexing of the" resilient arm.

-,2 A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit-elements extending to an edge thereof,- said conme'ctor comprising an. elongated insulating body having a longitudinalslot. in one side to receive the. edge of the panel, .a. series. of transverse slots disposed inene sideroflthebody so as .to ,be perpendicular tolthe panel and each comprising an outer portion having a depth;

greater than the longitudinal slot and an inner portion extending further into the body, said inner portion being narrower than said outer portion, and a series of contact members assembled with the body, each contact member comprising a retaining leg disposed in the inner portion of the transverse slot with means extending therefrom into alignment with the outer portion for receiving and making electrical contact with a transversely extending conductor, a resilient arm extending from the retaining leg into the longitudinal slot, and a contact por-v tion disposed in the longitudinal slot on the end of the arm, saidcontact .portion extending generally longitudinally in the longitudinal .slot from the end ,of the arm and being inclined into the longitudinal slot, whereby insertion of a panel edge into the slot causes torsional flexing of said arm.

3. A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit elements extending to an edge thereof, comprising anelongated insulating body having a longitudinal slot in eachof two opposite sides, a series of apertures extending transversely through the body immediately below said slots and connecting thereto, and a series of contacts assembled with the body, each contact comprising a resilient arm portion disposed in a transverse aperture, and a contactflportion disposed on each end of the arm for making electric contact with circuit elements on a panel inserted into the slots, each contact portion being inclined upwardly into theadjacent longitudinal slot.

4. A connector as set forth in claim 3 in which said contact has means disposed in a slot transverse to the longitudinal slots restraining the medial portion against flexing.

5. A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit elements extending to an edge thereof, comprising an elongated insulating body having a longitudinal slot in each of two opposite sides, a series of apertures extendingtransversely through the body connecting said slots, a transverse slot associated with each aperture on one of said sides and having a depth greater than the slot therein, and a series of contacts assembled withthebody, each contact comprising a resilient arm portion extending through the aperture into said longitudinal slots, a eontact portion disposed on each end of the arm for making electric contact with circuit elements on an in contacts are provided witha foot at the bottom of the leg' having an aperture therein to receive a conductor assembled into the transverse slot.

7. A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit elements extending to an edge thereof, comprising an elongated insulating body having a longitudinal slot in each of twoopposite sides and a series of vertical slots in one of said sides of the body opening to the longitudinal slot in said'side, a series of apertures extending through the body and connecting the slots, and a series of contact -members assembled therewith, said contact members each comprising a vertical portion disposed in one of said vertical slots, a transverse portion extending through one'of said apertures and a contact portion disposed on each end ofsaid transverse portion, said contact portions extending generally longitudinally of the longitudinal slot and being inclined ,in relation to the axis thereof to receive a nd frictionally engage the edge of an inserted panel to make electrical contact with circuit elements therein.

8. A connector for assembly with a panel havingcircuit elements extending to an edge thereof, comprising an elongated insulating body having a longitudinal slot in two opposite sides, a series of apertures extending transversely through the body and connecting to the slots,

.. said apertures. be s p ce below t lo a cl imin body, each contact comprising a medial portion disposed in the aperture and a contact portion on each end of the medial portion disposed in the transverse slots associated with the aperture, each contact portion extending generally longitudinally of the body and being inclined upwardly into the slot to make electric contact with a circuit element on a panel assembled into the slot and to retain the contact in assembly in the aperture.

9. A connector as set forth in claim 8 in which said body has a vertical conductor receiving slot and a vertical contact leg receiving slot associated with each aperture, and said contact has a leg extending downwardly from the medial portion thereof, said leg being disposed in the contact leg receiving slot and having a portion in the end thereof disposed against the bottom of the body which extends under the conductor receiving slot, said foot portion having a conductor receiving aperture disposed therein in alignment with said conductor receiving slot.

10. A connector body for receiving contact members for assembly with a panel having circuit elements on the surface thereof, said connector body comprising an elongated piece of insulating material having a longitudinal slot in each of two opposite sides, a series of transverse apertures extending through the body and opening to the longitudinal slots, and a transverse slot associated with each transverse aperture, each transverse slot being disposed on a side having a longitudinal aperture and having an outer portion with a depth greater than said longitudinal slot and a width suitable to receive a conductor for extending to similarly positioned connectors spaced therefrom, and an inner narrower portion for receiving a portion of a contact member, said outer and inner portions opening to the associated transverse aperture.

11. An electrical assembly comprising a group of connector pairs spaced to receive a group of circuit panels spaced one above the other, the connectors of each pair being disposed a predetermined distance apart and having a body portion with opposing longitudinal slots to re ceive opposite edges of a panel assembled therebetween, said connectors also having a series of transverse slots disposed therein extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the panels, conductor members disposed in appropriate transverse slots and extending to a transverse slot in the corresponding connector of an adjacent pair, and a series of contacts assembled with the connector, said contacts each having a resilient portion extending into a longitudinal slot in position to be flexed by an inserted panel and to make contact with a circuit element thereon, and a portion associated with a transverse slot connected to the conductor disposed therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,768,297 Schellenger June 24, 1930 2,071,713 Terrill Feb. 23, 1937 2,189,874 Ziganke 2 Feb. 13, 1940 2,326,327 Brewer Aug. 10, 1943 2,641,747 Johanson June 9, 1953 2,664,552 Ericcson et al. Dec. 29, 1953 2,693,584 Pifer Nov. 2, 1954 2,701,346 Powell Feb. 1, 1955 2,730,683 Ayres et al. Ian. 10, 1956 2,765,450 Richardson Oct. 2, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 648,076 Great Britain Dec. 28, 1950