Contact assembly and method for making same
AssigneeAMP Incorporated
InventorCarl G. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contact assembly for a modular receptacle includes an array of substantially coplanar contacts which are held in position by first and second insulators. The contacts are exposed between the two insulators, and a latch mechanism holds the two insulators in the desired transversely oriented relationship with respect to one another. This contact assembly can be formed by insert molding the insulators around the contacts in a substantially coplanar configuration, and then bending the exposed central portions of the contacts to latch the two insulators into the final transverse orientation.
Claims23
An electrical connector insert comprising:
- a contact assembly comprising a plurality of contacts and first and second insulating contact retaining elements;
- said contact retaining elements engaged with the contacts to maintain the contacts in selected positions, each of said contacts defining two exposed end portions and a central portion, said end portions each adapted to make contact with a respective external conductor;
- said central portions disposed between the contact retaining elements and bent such that said contact retaining elements are positioned at an angle with respect to one another;
- and
- a latch on one of the contact retaining elements configured to engage the other of the contact retaining elements to hold the contact retaining elements at said angle.
A modular receptacle comprising:
- a housing which defines sidewalls configured to receive a mating modular plug;
- a contact assembly received in the housing, said contact assembly comprising:
- an array of substantially coplanar contacts, said contacts each defining a first exposed end positioned to mate with a mating plug, a second exposed end extending from the housing to mount to a printed circuit board, and a central portion which defines a bend of about 90.degree.;
- a first insulating contact retaining element molded around the array of contacts between the first ends and the central portions to hold the first ends in alignment;
- and
- a second insulating contact retaining element molded around the array of contacts between the second ends and the central portions to hold the second ends in alignment, wherein the first and second contact retaining elements are separated sufficiently to allow bending of the central portions of the contacts.
A method for forming an electrical connector contact insert comprising the following steps:
- a) molding first and second contact retaining elements at respective positions around a plurality of substantially parallel contacts, each of the contacts defining first and second end portions, each positioned adjacent to a respective one of the contact retaining elements and each adapted to make contact with a respective external conductor, each of the contacts also defining a central portion between the contact retaining elements.
- b) bending the central portions of the contacts while moving the first and second contact retaining elements to a selected angle with respect to one another;
- and then
- c) latching the first and second contact retaining elements together at said selected angle to form said insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.