Electrical connector with shorting contacts which wipe against each other
AssigneeThe Whitaker Corporation
InventorsMark R. Thumma, Charles S. Pickles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pair of shorting contacts (16,16) on mated connector bodies (10,10). The shorting contacts are protrusions on the respective connector bodies which are laterally reversed mirror images of each other. The respective protrusions confront each other in a substantially transverse configuration. Initial engagement between the respective protrusions is at an initial point contact (25) at a high stress. The protrusions thereafter wipe against one another and come to engage at a final point contact (26). The path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective connector bodies.
Claims11
In an electrical assembly, the combination of a printed circuit board alternately inserted and withdrawn between a pair of shorting contacts,
- the shorting contacts confronting each other and being laterally-reversed mirror images of each other, and means formed on each of the shorting contacts to assure an initial point contact therebetween;
- such that after the initial point contact, the shorting contacts wipe against each other and come to engage each other at a final point contact;
- and
- such that the path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective shorting contacts.
A pair of shorting contacts for a printed circuit board assembly, comprising a pair of contact strips, each of which has a longitudinal axis,
- a protrusion on each of the contact strips, each protrusion being substantially bisected frustum conical in shape, each protrusion having a respective base and a respective top, each protrusion being formed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective contact strip,
- the contact strips being in a side-by-side relationship so that their respective angled protrusions confront one another substantially in a transverse configuration,
- wherein the base of each protrusion is opposite the top of each confronting protrusion so that the respective sides of the confronting protrusion on the contact strips initially engage each other at an initial point contact, thereby providing a very high stress concentration therebetween, and so that the contact strips thereafter wipe against each other and come to engage each other at a final point contact, and
- such that the path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective contact strips.
A pair of shorting contacts for a printed circuit board assembly, comprising a pair of contact strips, each of which has a longitudinal axis,
- a radiused protrusion on each of the contact strips, the radiused protrusion being formed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective contact strip,
- the contact strips being in a side-by-side relationship so that their respective angled radiused protrusions confront one another substantially in a transverse configuration,
- and the respective contact strips being twisted so that the contact strips initially engage each other at an initial point contact, thereby providing a very high stress concentration therebetween,
- and so that the contact strips thereafter wipe against each other and come to engage each other at a final point contact, and
- such that the path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between there respective contact strips.
The method of forming a pair of shorting contacts for a printed circuit board assembly, comprising the steps of
- providing a pair of contact strips, each of which has a longitudinal axis,
- forming a radiused protrusion on each of the contact strips, the radiused protrusion being formed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective contact strip,
- arranging the contact strips in a side-by-side relationship so that their respective angled radiused protrusions confront one another substantially in a transverse configuration, and
- twisting the respective contact strips so that the contact strips initially engage each other at an initial point contact, thereby providing a very high stress concentration therebetween, and so that the contact strips thereafter wipe against each other and come to engage each other at a final point contact, and such that the path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective contact strips.
The method of clam 10, wherein the acute angle is approximately 45.degree..
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.