# US 2013/0157480 A1 · Electrical connectors for use with printed circuit boards > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157480 A1 - Document ID: US20130157480A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/713,987 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: IDEAL Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Benjamin David Swedberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157480A1 ## CPC - H01R 12/515: {Terminal blocks providing connections to wires or cables} - H01R 4/4821: {Single-blade spring} - H01R 12/52: connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures - H01R 12/523: {by an interconnection through aligned holes in the boards or multilayer board} - H01R 12/732: {Printed circuits being in the same plane} - H05K 3/325: by abutting or pinching; Mechanical auxiliary parts therefor - F21V 23/06: the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} - F21Y 2103/10: comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - H01R 12/7005: {Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors (for printed circuit boards H05K)} - H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling - H05K 1/117: {Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors} - H05K 1/142: {Arrangements of planar printed circuit boards in the same plane, e.g. auxiliary printed circuit insert mounted in a main printed circuit} - H05K 3/368: {parallel to each other (H05K3/361 takes precedence)} - H05K 2201/09172: Notches between edge pads - H05K 2201/10189: Non-printed connector - H05K 2201/10409: Screws - H05K 2203/167: Using mechanical means for positioning, alignment or registration, e.g. using rod-in-hole alignment - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A connector for electrically connecting a first printed circuit board (PCB) with a second PCB wherein, in one example, the connector includes a housing having a keyed feature adapted to mate with a correspondingly keyed feature provided to each of the first and second PCBs and at least one connecting terminal carried by the housing having at least partially exposed opposed ends each of which electrically engages a contact pad formed on an underside of the respective PCBs. The connecting terminal may be arranged to accept a conductor and to thereby electrically couple the conductor to the first and second PCBs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector for electrically connecting a first printed circuit board (PCB) with a second PCB on a mounting surface having a cavity defined therein, the connector comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted within the cavity of the mounting surface such that the underside of each of the first and second PCB is in direct contact with the mounting surface; and at least one connecting terminal carried by the housing having at least partially exposed opposed ends each of which electrically engages a contact pad formed on an underside of each of the first and second PCBs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a keyed feature adapted to mate with a correspondingly keyed feature provided to each of the first and second PCBs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A connector as recited in claim 2, wherein the keyed feature is an open ended slot. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A connector as recited in claim 2, wherein the keyed feature is provided with a height that is no higher than a top surface of each of the first and second PCB. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is adapted to be snap fit to the mounting surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connecting terminal is adapted to accept a conductor and to thereby electrically couple the conductor to the first and second PCBs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the connecting terminal is arranged to provide a push-in type connector for the conductor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the connecting terminal comprises a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal arranged to electrically engage the conductor when inserted therebetween. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A connector as recited in claim 8, wherein the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal are arranged to electrically engage with each other in an absence of the conductor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the edges of the PCBs may be placed in direct contact. ### Claim 11 A connector for electrically connecting a first PCB with a second PCB, comprising: a housing; and at least one connecting terminal carried by the housing having at least partially exposed opposed ends each of which electrically engages a contact pad formed on an underside of the respective PCBs, wherein the connecting terminal is adapted to accept a conductor and to thereby electrically couple the conductor to the first and second PCBs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a keyed feature adapted to mate with a correspondingly keyed feature provided to each of the first and second PCBs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the connecting terminal is arranged to provide a push-in type connector for the conductor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the connecting terminal comprises a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal arranged to electrically engage the conductor when inserted therebetween. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A connector as recited in claim 14, wherein the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal are arranged to electrically engage with each other in an absence of the conductor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the connector is adapted to be snap fit to a mounting surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the connector is adapted to be positioned entirely under a top surface of the PCBs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the connecting terminal is arranged to receive a conductor inserted from underneath the PCBs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the edges of the PCBs may be placed in direct contact. ### Claim 20 A connector for electrically connecting a first PCB with a second PCB, comprising: a housing; and at least one connecting terminal carried by the housing having at least partially exposed opposed ends each of which electrically engages a contact pad formed on a top side of the respective PCBs, wherein the connecting terminal is adapted to accept a conductor and to thereby electrically couple the conductor to the first and second PCBs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A connector as recited in claim 20, wherein the housing comprises a keyed feature adapted to mate with a correspondingly keyed feature provided to each of the first and second PCBs. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A connector as recited in claim 20, wherein the connecting terminal comprises a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal arranged to electrically engage the conductor when inserted therebetween. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A connector as recited in claim 22, wherein the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal are arranged to electrically engage with each other in an absence of the conductor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A connector as recited in claim 20, wherein the connecting terminal is arranged to provide a push-in type connector for the conductor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) A connector as recited in claim 20, wherein the connector is adapted to be snap fit to a mounting surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A connector as recited in claim 20, wherein the connecting terminal is arranged to receive a conductor inserted from underneath the PCBs. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) A connector as recited in claim 20, wherein the housing further comprises a covering to at least partially cover the connecting terminal to prevent inadvertent contact therewith. ### Claim 28 A connector for electrically connecting a printed circuit board (PCB) with a conductor, comprising: a housing; and at least one connecting terminal carried by the housing having an at least partially exposed end which electrically engages a contact pad formed on an underside of the PCB; wherein an opposite end of the connecting terminal is arranged to engage a conductor. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A connector as recited in claim 28, wherein the housing further comprises a keyed feature adapted to mate with a correspondingly keyed feature provided to the PCB. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) A connector as recited in claim 28, wherein the housing further comprises a keyed feature adapted to mate with a correspondingly keyed feature provided to the PCB. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) A connector as recited in claim 28, wherein the connector is adapted to be snap fit to a mounting surface. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) A connector as recited in claim 28, wherein the housing does not extend above a top surface of the PCB. ### Claim 33 A connector for electrically connecting a PCB with a conductor, comprising: a housing; and at least one connecting terminal carried by the housing having an at least partially exposed end which electrically engages a contact pad formed on a top side of the PCB and which functions to urge the PCB upon a mounting surface, wherein an opposite end of the connecting terminal is arranged to engage a conductor. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A connector as recited in claim 33, wherein the connector is adapted to be snap fit to a mounting surface. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) A connector as recited in claim 33, wherein the housing has a keyed feature adapted to mate with a correspondingly keyed feature provided to the PCB. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) A connector as recited in claim 33, wherein the housing has a portion that functions to protect against inadvertent touching of the contact pad formed on a top side of the PCB. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) A connector as recited in claim 33, wherein the housing further comprises a covering to at least partially cover the connecting terminal to prevent inadvertent contact therewith.