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US 6,712,626 B2Granted
Electrical connector with continuous strip contacts
AssigneeBerg Technology, Inc.
InventorsDonald K. Harper, Jr., Lewis R. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector contact strip including spaced electrical contacts, a body and fusible elements. The spaced electrical contacts each have a main section and a tab section extending from an end of the main section. The body includes dielectric material molded onto the contacts and connecting the contacts to each other. The fusible elements are mounted on the tab sections.
Claims20
An electrical connector contact strip comprising:
- a plurality of electrical contacts fixedly connected to each other in a row, each contact having a main section and a tab section extending from an end of the main section;
- and
- fusible elements mounted on the tab sections such that the fusible elements are aligned in a row, wherein the electrical contacts are adapted to be subsequently inserted into an the electrical connector housing with the fusible elements attached to and, after the contacts are inserted into an the electrical connector housing, the fusible elements are are at least partially located outside of the electrical connector housing aligned in a row,
- wherein the fusible elements have portions located in pocket area of the contacts to retain the fusible elements on the tab section.
1 more element
An electrical connector contact strip comprising:
- a plurality of electrical contacts fixedly connected to each other in a row, each contact having a main section and a tab section extending from an end of the main section;
- and
- fusible elements mounted on the tab sections such that the fusible elements are aligned in a row, wherein the electrical contacts are adapted to be subsequently inserted into an electrical connector housing with the fusible elements attached and, after the contacts are inserted into the electrical connector housing, the fusible elements are at least partially located outside of the electrical connector housing aligned in a row,
- wherein the tab section comprise pocket areas and wherein the fusible element have portions located in the pocket areas of the contacts to retain the fusible elements on the tab sections.
1 more element
A method of assembling an electrical connector contact strip comprising steps of:
- providing a plurality of electrical contacts connected in series, each contact comprising a first end, a second end and a middle section therebetween, wherein the contacts are comprised of stamped sheet metal;
- and
- attaching solder balls to the second ends of the contacts, the second ends of the contacts extending into the solder balls to thereby attach the solder balls with the second ends, wherein the contacts and solder balls are provided as a series of connected, stamped sheet metal, fusible element mountable electrical contacts in a strip which is adapted to be subsequently connected to a housing to form an electrical connector,
- wherein the step of providing the contacts connected in series comprises overmolding a body onto the middle sections of the contacts to connect the contacts to each other, the body forming a seal on the middle section to prevent wicking of the fusible elements along the contacts between first and second ends.
1 more element
An electrical connector contact strip adapted for insertion into an electrical connector housing to form an electrical connector, the contact strip comprising:
- a plurality of electrical contacts fixedly connected to each other in a row, each contact having a main section and a tab section extending from an end of the main section;
- and
- fusible elements mounted on the tab sections such that the fusible elements are aligned in a row, wherein the contact strip with the electrical contacts and fusible elements is adapted to be inserted into the electrical connector housing after the fusible elements are attached to the contacts to form the electrical connector with the electrical connector housing and, after the contacts are inserted into the electrical connector housing, the fusible elements are adapted to be at least partially located outside of the electrical connector housing aligned in a row.
An electrical connector contact strip adapted for insertion into an electrical connector housing to form an electrical connector, the contact strip comprising:
- a plurality of electrical contacts connected to each other in series, the contacts each comprising a first end, a second end, and a middle section therebetween;
- and
- fusible elements connected to the second ends of the contacts, wherein the fusible elements comprise solder balls with the second ends of the contacts extending into the solder balls to thereby attach the solder balls with the second ends, wherein the electrical connector contact strip provides the contacts as a series of connected fusible element mountable electrical contacts in a strip, and wherein the contacts are sized and shaped to be inserted into the electrical connector housing with the fusible elements attached, and with the middle sections being fixedly mounted to the electrical connector housing, and with the fusible elements being located outside of the electrical connector housing and aligned in a row.
A method of assembling an electrical connector contact strip comprising steps of:
- providing a plurality of electrical contacts connected in series, each contact comprising a first end, a second end and a middle section therebetween, wherein the contacts are comprised of stamped sheet metal;
- and
- attaching solder balls to the second ends of the contacts, the second ends of the contacts extending into the solder balls to thereby attach the solder balls with the second ends, wherein the contacts and solder balls are provided as a series of connected, stamped sheet metal, fusible element mountable electrical contacts in a strip which is adapted to be subsequently connected to a housing to form an electrical connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.