Compound spring contact
AssigneeAMP Incorporated
InventorsWilbur A. Hamsher, Jr., Robert N. Weber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved contact is disclosed for use in zero insertion force connectors. The subject contact is a compound spring formed from a single piece of metal stock, a portion of which is skived to achieve dual thickness stock. The contact is formed as a compound beam such that the loading thereof provides differential deflection of the contact so that a wiping action is performed at a point of engagement with a circuit board.
Claims9
An electrical terminal for a zero insertion force connector, the terminal which is in the form of a strip of resilient sheet metal stock, comprising a contact spring portion at one end, a mounting part at the opposite end, and a spring beam part intermediate the contact spring portion and the mounting part, the contact spring portion having a contact surface and an abutment surface to which a force can be applied lengthwise of the terminal resiliently to deflect the spring beam part and the contact spring portion relative to the mounting part, when the mounting part is fixedly positioned in a support;
- the contact spring portion being so formed that upon the initial application of the force to the abutment surface, in the lengthwise direction of the terminal, the contact spring portion is deflected relative to the spring beam part prior to the spring beam part being deflected relative to the mounting part, whereby upon cessation of the force, the contact spring portion returns towards its initial position along such a return path that the contact surface wipes along an electrical conductor when such is positioned so as to intersect the return path of the contact surface.
A zero insertion force circuit board edge electrical connector, comprising an insulating housing having an elongate opening for receiving a circuit board along a board insertion path;
- at least one row of electrical terminals positioned beside the opening and extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, each terminal having at one end a resilient contact spring portion having an abutment surface and a contact surface for engaging a conductor of the circuit board when such has been inserted into the opening along the insertion path, a mounting part fixedly positioned in the housing and a spring beam part intermediate the contact spring portion and the mounting part;
- and a cam follower being displaceable by a cam between a first position in which a cam surface of the cam follower engages the abutment surfaces of the terminals to deflect the contact spring portions and the spring beam parts of the terminals away from the insertion path and a second position in which the cam follower is retracted to allow the contact spring portions to intersect the insertion path;
- each contact spring portion being so formed that when its abutment surface is engaged by the cam surface of the cam follower, the contact spring portion is deflected away from the board insertion path, in relation to the spring beam part, prior to the spring beam part being deflected away from such path, the contact spring portion returning under its own resilience, upon retraction of the cam follower, along such a path that the contact surface of the contact spring portion, after initially engaging the conductor of the inserted circuit board, wipes along the surface of such conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.