# US 2014/0190005 A1 · Contact assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190005 A1 - Document ID: US20140190005A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/736,696 - Filed: 2013-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stephen McGarry Hatch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190005A1 ## CPC - H05K 3/22: Secondary treatment of printed circuits {(H05K3/1283 takes precedence; embedding circuits in grooves by pressure H05K3/107)} - G01R 1/0416: {Connectors, terminals (G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364)} - H01R 13/193: Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part {, e.g. zero insertion force or no friction} - H01R 13/24: resilient; resiliently-mounted - H01R 13/41: by frictional grip in grommet, panel or base - H05K 1/184: associated with components inserted in holes through the PCBs and wherein terminals of the components are connected to printed contacts on the walls of the holes or at the edges thereof or protruding over or into the holes - G01R 27/02: Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant (by measuring phase angle only G01R25/00) - H01R 12/7082: {Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB} - H01R 12/714: {with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit} - H01R 2201/20: for testing or measuring purposes - H05K 3/325: by abutting or pinching; Mechanical auxiliary parts therefor - H05K 2201/10189: Non-printed connector - H05K 2201/1059: Connections made by press-fit insertion - H05K 2201/10962: Component not directly connected to the PCB - Y10T 29/49124: On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc. - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electrical contact assembly includes an electrically nonconductive base, a first electrical contact supported by the base and a second electrical contact supported by the base such that the first contact and the second contact are separated by a space. The first electrical contact is configured to engage a first external conductive circuit element and the a second electrical contact is configured to engage a second external conductive circuit element. The first contact and the second contact are configured such that a portion of the first contact and a portion of the second contact converge as the base moves in a first direction relative to the first and second external conductive circuit elements and diverge as the base moves in a second direction relative to the first and second external conductive circuit elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A contact assembly comprising: a base formed at least partially of an electrically nonconductive material; a first electrical contact supported by the base and configured to engage a first external conductive circuit element; and a second electrical contact supported by the base and configured to engage a second external conductive circuit element, the second electrical contact being separated from the first electrical contact by a space, the first contact and the second contact configured such that a portion of the first contact and a portion of the second contact converge as the base moves in a first direction relative to the first and second external conductive circuit elements and diverge as the base moves in a second direction relative to the first and second external conductive circuit elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The contact assembly of claim 1, the first electrical contact including a first segment rigidly secured to the base, a second segment configured to engage the first external conductive element, and a plurality of intermediate segments between the first and second segments, the second electrical contact including a first segment rigidly secured to the base, a second segment configured to engage the second external conductive element, and a plurality of intermediate segments between the first and second segments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The contact assembly of claim 2, the second segment of the first electrical contact being positioned on a first side of the base, the second segment of the second electrical contact being positioned on a second side of the base opposite the first side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The contact assembly of claim 2, the first contact and the second contact being configured such that at least one of the intermediate segments in each contact flexes to allow the base to shift relative to the first and second external conductive elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The contact assembly of claim 4, the first contact and the second contact being configured such that at least one of the intermediate segments of the first contact and at least one of the intermediate segments of the second contact converge as the base moves in the first direction relative to the first and second external conductive elements and diverge as the base moves in the second direction relative to the first and second external conductive elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The contact assembly of claim 1, the base including— a first end and a second end separated along an axis, and an elliptical cross-section perpendicular to the axis, the second segment of the first electrical contact being positioned on a first side of the base and parallel with the elliptical cross-section, the second segment of the second electrical contact being positioned on a second side of the base opposite the first side and parallel with the elliptical cross-section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The contact assembly of claim 6, the second segment of the first electrical contact and the second segment of the second electrical contact both being positioned between the first end of the base and the second end of the base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The contact assembly of claim 6, the first end and the second end of the base being separated by a distance of 0.10 inches or less, and the electrical contacts being separated by a space of 0.10 inches or less when the contact assembly is in an open position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The contact assembly of claim 6, each of the first metal contact and the second metal contact including a first portion extending from the first end of the base, a second portion inside the base, and a third portion extending from the second end of the base, the second portion including the first segment and the third portion including the second segment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The contact assembly of claim 9, the first portion of each of the first metal contact and the second metal contact including a retention segment extending beyond a periphery of the first end of the base. ### Claim 11 A printed circuit board comprising: a plurality of apertures; a plurality of conductive pads positioned on the printed circuit board such that a pair of conductive pads is associated with each aperture, each pair of conductive pads including a first conductive pad and a second conductive pad positioned on opposing sides of one of the apertures; and a plurality of contact assemblies, each contact assembly slidably positioned in one of the apertures and including— an electrically nonconductive base positioned at least partially in the aperture, a first metal contact supported by the base, the first contact being a strip of metal with a first segment rigidly secured to the base, a second segment engaging the first conductive pad and forming an electrical connection with the pad, and a plurality of intermediate segments between the first and second segments, and a second metal contact supported by the base, the second contact being a strip of metal with a first segment rigidly secured to the base, a second segment engaging the second conductive pad and forming an electrical connection with the pad, and a plurality of intermediate segments between the first and second segments, the first contact and the second contact being configured such that at least one of the intermediate segments in each contact flexes to allow the base to shift relative to the printed circuit board, and at least one of the intermediate segments of the first contact and at least one of the intermediate segments of the second contact converge as the base moves in a first direction relative to the circuit board and diverge as the base moves in a second direction relative to the circuit board. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The printed circuit board of claim 11, the first segment of the first contact being fixedly attached to the first conductive pad and the first segment of the second contact being fixedly attached to the second conductive pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The printed circuit board of claim 11, the electrical contacts of each of the contact assemblies being separated by a space of 0.10 inches or less when the respective contact assembly is in an open position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The contact assembly of claim 11, the base including— a first end and a second end separated along an axis, and an elliptical cross-section perpendicular to the axis, the second segment of the first electrical contact being positioned on a first side of the base and parallel with the elliptical cross-section, the second segment of the second electrical contact being positioned on a second side of the base opposite the first side and parallel with the elliptical cross-section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The contact assembly of claim 14, the second segment of the first electrical contact and the second segment of the second electrical contact both being positioned between the first end of the base and the second end of the base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The contact assembly of claim 14, the first end and the second end of the base being separated by a distance of 0.10 inches or less, and the electrical contacts being separated by a space of 0.10 inches or less when the contact assembly is in an open position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The contact assembly of claim 14, each of the first metal contact and the second metal contact including a first portion extending from the first end of the base, a second portion inside the base, and a third portion extending from the second end of the base, the second portion including the first segment and the third portion including the second segment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The contact assembly of claim 17, the first portion of the first metal contact including a retention segment extending beyond a periphery of the first end of the base in a first direction, the first portion of the second metal contact including a retention segment extending beyond the periphery of the first end of the base in a second direction opposite the first direction, the retention segments configured to retain the contact assembly in the printed circuit board. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: placing a contact assembly in an aperture of a circuit board such that an electrically nonconductive base of the contact assembly is positioned at least partially in the aperture and each of two separate electrical contacts of the contact assembly engages a separate conductive pad on the circuit board; connecting a pin-type connector to the contact assembly by inserting a pin of the connector between the two electrical contacts of the receptacle such that the pin engages the base without contacting either of the two electrical contacts; moving the connector and the contact assembly in a first direction relative to the circuit board, causing the two electrical contacts to flex such that a portion of each contact converges on the pin and contacts the pin without contacting the other contact and without sliding on the pin; and after the two electrical contacts initially make contact with the pin, moving the connector further in the first direction, causing the two electrical contacts to flex further without sliding on the pin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the connector in a second direction opposite the first direction to cause the two electrical contacts to flex and diverge away from the pin, causing both of the contacts to separate from the pin without sliding on the pin.