Electrical connection apparatus and method

• US 4,146,286 A
• Filed: 04/17/1978
• Issued: 03/27/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US05/897,213
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 339/4, 339/10, 339/48, 339/49 B, 339/59, 339/60, 339/61, 339/128, 339/126, 200/61.62, 200/61.7, 200/295
• US Class Current: 439/289
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/22 Contacts for co-operating by abutting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel

Abstract

An electrical connector for making or breaking an electrical connection with, for example, another such relatively movable electrical connector, includes an electrically conductive contact supported by a resilient deformable support so that a force applied to the electrical contact causes deflection of the support and applies a biasing force to the conductive contact to resist movement in response to the applied force. Thus, the two contacts are pressed against each other to complete the electrical connection and the electrical connector provides a complete electrical circuit without the need for interlocking.

Claims

1. An electrical connector means for making and breaking an electrical connection including an electrical contact means for conducting electricity, said electrical contact means being supported by a resiliently deformable support means so that a force applied to said electrical contact means causes deflection of said support means and applies a biasing force to said contact means to resist the applied force so that said electrical contact means can form a pressing electrical connection;

said support means having a coupling means shaped to receive said contact means thereby coupling said electrical contact means to said support means, said support means being molded and shaped so there is a channel at least partially surrounding said contact means for permitting deflection of said support means thereby permitting movement of said contact means and for providing the biasing force resisting such movement;

said support means further including a sealing means for providing a water tight seal between said electrical connector means and another member to which contact is to be made, said sealing means including an annular ridge surrounding said electrical contact means; and

said support means including a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface thereby defining a cavity, said top surface including said coupling means and said channel so that said contact means can be moved into said cavity, said side surface including a mounting groove for receiving the edge of a panel member so that said electrical connector means can be attached to the panel member.

2. An electrical connector means as recited in claim 1 wherein said support means includes an alignment means for positioning said electrical connector means with respect to a member upon which said electrical connector is to be mounted;

said alignment means including a rib extending radially outward from a side of said support means;

said electrical connector means including at least two of said electrical contact means, and each of said electrical contact means including a socket means receiving an electrically conductive member, and said electrical contact means further including a generally flat contact face for use in forming a pressing electrical connection; and

said sealing means being positioned outward of said mounting groove and spaced from said channel.

3. A pair of relatively movable electrical connector means for making and breaking an electrical connection including a first and a second electrical connector means movable toward one another for making an electrical connection and away from one another for breaking an electrical connection;

said first electrical connector means including a first electrical contact means and an associated first support means, said second electrical connector means including a second contact means and an associated second support means, each of said electrical contact means being electrically conductive and adapted to butt up against each other to make an electrical contact, each of said support means being molded and shaped so there is a channel at least partially surrounding said associated electrical contact means, for permitting deflection of said support means thereby permitting movement of said contact means and for providing a biasing force resisting such movement;

sealing means formed in each of said support means, said sealing means being spaced from the positioned outward of said channels away from said electrical contact means in each of said support means, said sealing means cooperating with each other to protect said electrical contact means;

mounting groove means formed in each of said support means so that said electrical connection means can be attached to the panel member;

said first and second electrical connector means being mounted so that said first and second electrical contact means are aligned when said first and second electrical connector means are brought toward one another; and

said support means including a top surface spaced from a bottom surface and a side surface joining said top surface to said bottom surface thereby defining a cavity bounded by said top, bottom and side surfaces, said top surface including an opening for receiving said contact means so that said contact means is supported by said top surface and free to travel into said cavity.