US 5,401,185 AGranted

Edge connector

OwnerKuo-Long Wang, Su-Pei Yanginventors

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An edge connector includes a shell having two symmetrical rows of vertical slots. Each of the vertical slots is formed of an upper space and a lower space linked together to hold a metal contact spring plate and a conductor clamp. The metal contact spring plate includes a bent portion in the middle and disposed between the upper and lower spaces, a projecting strip stopped above the lower space, a curved clamping portion at one end received in the upper space for making an electric contact with an external connector, a wedge portion at an opposite end vertically received in the lower space and terminating in a sloping tail. The conductor clamp has a first bent portion and a second bent portion stopped within the lower space at two opposite locations, a rear end disposed over a front end thereof and stopped against the wedge portion of the metal contact spring plate for clamping a conductor against the metal contact spring plate.

An edge connector comprising:

a shell having a plurality of slots formed therein, each of said slots including an upper space and a lower space opening into said upper space, a stepped portion being formed in said shell between said upper space and said lower space of each of said slots, a first curved corner being defined at one side of said lower space of each of said slots, and a second curved corner disposed above said first curved corner and being defined at said one side of said lower space of each of said slots;
a plurality of metal contact spring plates, each of said spring plates being mounted in one of said slots and having upper and lower end portions, a curved clamping portion at said upper end portion, a wedge portion at said lower end portion, and a bent portion intermediate said upper and lower end portions;
a plurality of conductor clamps respectively mounted in said lower spaces of said slots in which said metal contact spring plates are mounted, each of said conductor clamps having a first end portion terminating in a first end, a second end portion terminating in a second end and a middle portion between said first and second end portions, said first end portion having a first substantially U-shaped bent portion and said second end portion having a second substantially U-shaped bent portion such that each of said first and second ends is disposed adjacent said middle portion with said first end being interposed between said middle portion and said second end;
wherein for each of said spring plates mounted in one of said slots, said upper end portion is mounted in said upper space, said bent portion is engaged with said stepped portion, and said lower portion is mounted in said lower space at a second side thereof opposite said first side thereof;
and
wherein for each of said conductor clamps mounted in said lower space of one of said slots, said first substantially U-shaped bent portion is engaged with said first curved corner and said second substantially U-shaped bent portion is engaged with said second curved corner.

3 more elements

Facts

Application

08/155,285Filed 22 Nov 1993

Granted

28 Mar 1995

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H01R 12/721
Coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures: cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
H01R 4/4821
The spring shape allowing insertion of the conductor end when the spring is unbiased: single-blade spring
H01R 4/4846
Using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar: busbar details
H01R 4/4842
Spring housing details: the spring housing being provided with a single opening for insertion of a spring-activating tool

Abstract

Claims12