Formed socket contact with reenforcing ridge

• US 4,278,317 A
• Filed: 08/31/1979
• Issued: 07/14/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Bendix Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallusser, David O., Frear, David L., Fischer, Charles P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/071,638
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 339/256 R, 339/258 R, 339/258 P, 339/259 R
• US Class Current: 439/744
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/111 co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/426 Securing by a separate resilient retaining piece supported by base or case, e.g. collar or metal contact-retention clip

Abstract

A socket contact is disclosed for miniature electrical connectors of the plug and receptacle type. The socket contact (10) comprises a contact sleeve (12) with two contact fingers (66) each extending as a cantilever beam from its root in the sleeve. A reenforcing ridge (68) in each finger extends from a point spaced from the free end of the contact finger to a point past the root of the finger to increase the stiffness of the finger. The radius of each finger and the location of the ridge thereon is such that the ridge is not engaged by a mating contact pin upon insertion into the socket.

Claims

1. In a separable electrical connector of the type including first and second connector members, one of said members being a receptacle and the other being a plug adapted to mate with the receptacle, each of said members including a dielectric insert, at least one socket contact mounted in the insert, at least one socket contact mounted in the insert of one member, the socket comprising a contact sleeve of resilient metal and having a mating end and a wire receiving end, a pin contact corresponding to the socket contact and being mounted in the insert of the other member and adapted for telescopic engagement with the mating end of the socket contact when the plug and receptacle are in mated relationship, the improvement wherein the wall of said contact sleeve defines plural slots extending axially from the mating end thereby providing plural contact fingers with each contact finger extending as a cantilever beam from its root in the contact sleeve adjacent the ends of the slots and terminating at a free end, each of said fingers including a radially inwardly directed ridge which extends axially of the respective contact finger whereby each contact finger is stiffened by said ridge, each ridge on each respective contact finger extending from a point spaced from the free end of the contact finger to a point past the ends of said slots, each free-end of said contact finger being inwardly concave for engaging said pin, the ridge deflecting so that it is positioned laterally opposite of the inserted pin and out of contact therewith.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the contact sleeve defines two equally spaced slots thereby providing two equally spaced contact fingers.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said ridge is a circular arc in cross-section.

4. A socket-type contact comprising:

a cylindrical shaped sleeve of conductive material having a forward end and a rearward wire receiving end;

at least two equiangularly spaced contact fingers cantilevered to the forward end of the sleeve, each finger having a root end secured to the sleeve and a distal end extending axially therefrom; and

an axially extending semi-circularly shaped ridge disposed on each contact finger, each of said ridges having a forward end spaced axially rearward from the distal end of the contact finger and a rearward end spaced axially rearward of the root end of the contact finger, each of said ridges being substantially diametrically opposite one another and each extending radially inwardly from the respective contact finger, each said contact finger distal end being inwardly concave for engaging an inserted pin, the ridge deflects so that it is positioned laterally opposite of the inserted pin and out of contact therewith.

5. A socket-type contact for use with a pintype contact, said socket-type contact comprising:

a contact sleeve of resilient conductive material having a forward pin mating end and a rearward wire terminating end; and

a cylindrical tube disposed in external telescopic relation with and having a rearward end portion secured to an intermediate portion of the contact sleeve;

said contact sleeve being open at the forward end and including a plurality of arcuately shaped contact fingers extending as cantilever beams from their roots in the sleeve with each contact finger being separated by a longitudinal slot; and

a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing ridges, each ridge being centrally disposed on a respective contact finger and each ridge having a forward end spaced rearwardly of the finger end and a rearward end spaced rearwardly of the roots, each of the ridges being directed radially inwardly towards one another from their respective contact fingers and from the cylindrical tube, such that when the pin-type contact is received by the forward ends of the contact fingers, the ridge deflects so that it is positioned laterally opposite of the inserted pin and out of contact therewith, each said contact finger forward end being inwardly concave for engaging said pin.