CONTACT SPRING FOR PLUG CONNECTORS

• US 3,812,452 A
• Filed: 08/11/1972
• Issued: 05/21/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hermann Sturm
• Original Assignee: Hermann Sturm
• Inventors: Sturm, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US05/279,995
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 339/221R,221L,221M,256R,258R,258P,176MP,252R,252F,252PS,278C 29/629,63D,169.5
• US Class Current: 439/857
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs

Abstract

A contact spring for plug connectors stamped out of noncorroding sheet metal and comprising an approximately rectangular shank with a U-shaped head piece connected thereto, which head piece has two arms which face one another and which are spaced equidistant from a plane of symmetry running between them and in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. That width of the arms which is parallel to the plane of symmetry is broadened to a multiple of the thickness of the sheet metal by applying pressure to the arms in a direction transverse to the plane of symmetry.

Claims

1. A contact spring for plug connectors of non-corroding sheet metal and which comprises in combination:

a shaft having an approximately rectangular cross section;

a U-shaped head piece connected to said shaft and formIng a connecting zone; and

two contact spring arms connected to said connecting zone, each of said arms having a free end, said arms facing each other and spaced equidistant from a plane of symmetry running between said arms and in the longitudinal direction of said shaft, that width of said contact spring arms which is parallel to said plane of symmetry having been broadened to increase progressively as a multiple of the width of shaft thickness of said sheet metal by compression of said arms in a direction transverse to said plane of symmetry, thickness of material of said contact spring arm respectively decreasing respectively toward the free end thereof.

2. A contact spring in combination according to claim 1, in which said plug connector is a printed circuit.

3. A contact spring in combination according to claim 1, in which said connecting zone has at least one shoulder surface, said shoulder surface limiting the depth of insertion of said contact spring.

4. A contact spring in combination according to claim 1, in which said contact spring arms, in the vicinity of said free ends, have contact zones which protrude toward one another.

5. A contact spring in combination according to claim 1, in which projections are provided on the longitudinal edge of said shaft in the immediate vicinity of said connecting zone.

6. A contact spring in combination according to claim 4, in which said protruding contact zones are provided with a layer of precious metal upon those of their surfaces which face one another.

7. A contact spring in combination according to claim 4, in which said free ends of said contact spring arms are obliquely spread in a direction away from said plane of symmetry.

8. A contact spring in combination according to claim 5, in which said projections are saw-toothed.

9. A contact spring in combination according to claim 6, in which said layer is introduced upon said contact zones by means of galvanic treatment.

10. A contact spring in combination according to claim 6, in which said precious metal is gold.