US3539967A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

Nov; 10, 'I97OT J. w. CLEMENTS 3,539]? ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed July 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I 2 8O 45 s p; C 2

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INVENTOR. JOHN W. CLEMENTS BY JM\ Q ATTORNEY.

United States Patent.

3,539,967 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR John W. Clements, Naperville, Ill., assignor to Flexicon Electronics, Inc. Filed July 10, 1967, Ser. No. 652,171 Int. Cl. Hk 1/12; H011 7/06 US. Cl. 339-17 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector for selectively connecting a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced conductors on a dielectric ribbon to similar conductors on another dielectric ribbon without abrasion of any of the conductors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Electrical connector apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART.

Connectors constructed and arranged to effect electrical connection between flared terminal portions of flat conductored cable and conventional connector devices such as pins and sockets, etc.

SUMMARY Apparatus for electrically connecting multiconductored flat cables each to the other in precise alignment by the use of compressive forces without the need for soldering or the application of heat, and without the need for any tools. The invention contemplates the use of a programmed modifier strip between the confronting conductive paths of the several cables to afford a predetermined electrical connection between certain of the conductive strips of one cable on certain other conductive strips of an other cable not in register with the certain strips of the first cable. The invention also contemplates the use of permanent magnets to effect the requisite compressive force, and also contemplates the exclusion of ambient air from the vicinity of the contacts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical elevational view of an electrical connector made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational end view of the connector of FIG. 1 as viewed from the left in that figure;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a conductor cable of the type adapted to be connected by the present connector;

FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of a modified form of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and includes a housing 12 having a bottom section 14' preferably of thermosetting plastic, such as Bakelite or the like, and a top section 16 of similar construction. At the upper marginal edge of the lower section 14, at one side thereof Patented Nov. 10, 1970 is an outwardly extending flange 18 having formed therein an elongated recess 20 for reception of a seal 22. In like fashion, the opposite side of the lower section 14 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 24 having a recess 26 for reception of a seal 28. The top section 16 at one side thereof is provided with an outwardly extending elongated flange 30 having a recess 32 which receives the seal 22, and the opposite thereof is formed with an outwardly extending flange 34 having a recess 36 in which is received the seal 28.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, the left end of the connector is formed with a pair of spaced interlock assemblies 38. Each interlock assembly 38 is provided with an outwardly extending male section 40 and an outwardly extending flange 41 extending outwardly from the left of the top section 16 and coplanar with the flange 30. A generally hook-shaped female section 44 is integrally formed with an outwardly extending flange 45 integrally formed with the bottom section 14.

At the right end of upper section 16 is an outwardly extending flange 46 having an elongated recess 48 for reception of a seal 50. In like manner, the lower section 14 is formed with an outwardly extending flange 52 having a recess 54 for accommodation of the seal 50. The flanges 46 and 52 are held in sealing relationship by a pair of clamp assemblies 56, as best shown in FIG. 6. Each clamp assembly includes a C-shaped bod portion 58, a cam and an actuator bar 62 which extends between the cam assemblies for simultaneous actuation of both assemblies by movement of the bar 62 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6. Disengagement of the clamp assemblies may be effected by moving the bar 62 oppositely.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the lower section 14 is formed with spaced parallel longitudinally extending recesses 64 and 66 while the upper section 16 is formed with spaced parallel longitudinally extending recesses 68 and 70 in register with the recesses 64 and 66, respectively, thus forming chambers 72 and 74 for reception of an inert gas. The central longitudinal portion of the sections 14 and 16 are formed with complementary sinusoidal surfaces 76 and 78. Between these surfaces are received the end portions of cables 80 and 82 which are disposed in reverse overlapping relation on the surfaces and maintained in precise registration .by means of alignment pins 84 which are received in registered openings in the surfaces 76 and 78 and pass through openings 86 formed in the side marginal edges of the cables. It will be appreciated that each of the conductors 88 on the surface of the cable 80 is brought into intimate conductive relation to the corresponding conductors on the inverted surface of the cable 82 because of the presence of the pins 84 and because of the compressive forces provided by the cooperation between the interlock assemblies 38 and the clamp assemblies 60/. Ambient air, which would tend to corrode the contacts 88, is excluded from the vicinity of the sinusoidal surfaces by the presence of the inert gas in chambers 72 and 74.

In FIG. 7 is shown a modified form of the invention wherein reference numeral 101: represents an electrical connector for use in cases Where the exclusion of ambient air is unimportant and in which the need for the clamp assemblies 60 is obviated. In this form of the invention lower section 14a is in the form of a hollow substantially rectangular box having received therein a slidable insert 90 having a sinusoidal surface 76a, and biased into engagement with one of the walls of the container by means of a spring 92. The upper section 16a is formed in a similar manner to the lower section 14a and may be hinged and latched thereto by any convenient means. The upper section 16a is provided with a slidable insert 94 having a sinusoidal surface 7 8a complementary to sinusoidal surfaces 76a of the insert 90. The insert 94 is biased to the right as viewed in FIG. 7, by means of a spring 96. By this arrangement, compressive forces are exerted on the flat cables 80 and 82 through the confronting side faces of the surfaces 76a and 78a.

Connection of the housing sections each to the other may also be effected by magnetic repulsion or attraction if desired. The invention also contemplates the provision of self-camrning housing sections that may be snapped into closed position. It is also contemplated that the housing sections be secured each to the other by the provision of an irradiated plastic loop extending around both interlock assemblies. The loop may be shrunk by the application of heat and remain in this shrunken condition for permanent electrical connection of the several conductor cables.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a programmed modifier strip which may be interposed between the confronting faces of the conductored cables to modify the path of the flow of electrons as desired.

The sections 14 and 16 are so constructed as to eifect engagement only in the areas of cable contacts. There is a clearance gap between all other internal cable surfaces.

The above described invention exhibits important advantages over electrical connectors heretofore known. For instance, the requirement of laterally enlarged terminal sections in the conductor cable is eliminated and a roll of flat conductor cable may be dispensed and used in any desired lengths, as required.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising a housing having a first elongate section having a central longitudinal portion formed with a substantially sinusoidal surface, a second elongate section formed with a central longitudinal portion provided with a complementary substantially sinusoidal surface, said housing being adapted to receive the end marginal portions of reversed flat conductors in overlapping relation, means for assuring precise alignment of said cables Within said housing, clamp means for releasably securing said sections each to the other so that a compressive force is exerted to urge said cables into electrically conductive relation, and means provided for excluding ambient air from the sinusoidal surfaces, said means including a pair of chambers one on each side of the central longitudinal portions, said chambers being adapted to receive an inert gas.

2. An electrical connector inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said sections are provided with confronting peripheral flanges and wherein sealing means are provided to prevent escape of the inert gas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,082,398 3/ 1963 Valach. 3,214,723 10/1965 Dupre et 9.1. 3,316,520 4/1967 Herman.

OTHER REFERENCES IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 5, No. 11, April 1963, E. I. Webb, pp. 22 and 23. RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner P. A. CLIFF-0RD, Assistant Examiner us. c1. X.R. 339-12, 75, 117

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