US 4,358,172 AGranted

Connector for electrical interconnection of circuit board and flat multiconductor cable

AssigneeThomas & Betts Corporation

InventorRonald S. Narozny

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Abstract

A connector for effecting releasable contact between individual electrical conductors of a printed circuit board and corresponding overlapping exposed conductors of a flat multiconductor cable comprises an elongate U-shaped resilient member having a pair of longitudinally extending legs. A plurality of cantilevered spring members are spaced longitudinally along one of said legs, projecting transversely therefrom in a direction toward the other leg. Means are provided for releasably affixing the connector to the board such that the spring members are positioned in registry with the overlapping conductors. The spring members are dimensioned with respect to the affixing means such that when the connector is assembled to the board the spring members engage and resiliently press the overlapping exposed cable conductors against the corresponding circuit board conductors thereby establishing electrical connection therebetween. A cantilevered member extending lengthwise on the other leg substantially opposite the spring members is dimensioned with respect to the affixing means so as to press the connected cable against the circuit board thereby providing strain relief therefor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A connector for effecting releasable contact between the individual electrical conductors of a printed circuit board and corresponding overlapping exposed conductors of a flat multiconductor cable, comprising:

an elongate member of resilient material having a pair of legs connected to and extending longitudinally with a joining portion;
means for releasably affixing said member to said printed circuit board transversely across said overlapping conductors, said affixing means comprising a foot portion at the distal end of each leg, said foot portions adapted to extend through apertures provided through said printed circuit board and to resiliently engage the underside surface of said board;
a plurality of cantilevered spring members spaced longitudinally along said connector and projecting transversely from one of said legs, said spring members being formed to be positioned adjacently over and in registry with the respective overlapping conductors upon affixing said member to said printed circuit board;
said spring members being dimensioned with respect to said foot portions such that when said foot portions are in the engagement position said spring members engage and resiliently press the respective overlapping exposed cable conductors against the corresponding conductors of the printed circuit board thereby establishing electrical connection therebetween;
and
a cantilevered cable retention member extending lengthwise along and projecting transversely from the other leg of said elongate member, said retention member being dimensioned with respect to the foot portions such that when said foot portions are in the engagement position said retention member engages and presses said cable against said printed circuit board to thereby prevent relative movement therebetween.

3 more elements

A combination including:

(a) an electrical conductor;
(b) a substrate having an electrical contact thereon;
and
(c) a connector for effecting contact between said electrical conductor and said electrical contact, said connector including:
(1) a resilient member having a pair of spaced leg portions connected to an elongate joining portion, said leg portions being affixed to said substrate whereby said joining portion is positioned in facing relation to said conductor disposed in overlapping position on said contact of said substrate;
(2) a cantilevered biasing member projecting transversely outwardly of said resilient member from a surface of one of said leg portions in a direction toward said other leg portion;
(3) a foot portion at the distal end of each leg portion, said foot portion adapted to extend through openings provided through said substrate and said foot portions resiliently engaging the underside surface of said substrate so that said biasing member is positioned adjacently over said overlapping conductor;
and
(4) a conductor contact portion on said cantilevered biasing member, said contact portion protruding beneath the lower surface of said cantilevered biasing member in facing relation to said overlapping conductor, said cantilevered biasing member and said contact portion being dimensioned with respect to said foot portions such that said contact portion securely and fixedly engages said overlapping conductor establishing thereby electrical contact between said contact of said substrate and said conductor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.