Spring clip electrical connector for strip conductor cable

• US 4,416,497 A
• Filed: 07/27/1981
• Issued: 11/22/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sperry Corporation (Unisys Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sperry Corporation (Unisys Corporation)
• Inventors: Ebright, Robert L., Brandsness, Gordon T., Orosz, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desmond, Eugene F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pirlot, David
• Application Number:
  US06/286,746
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 339/176 MF, 339/17 F, 339/75 MF
• US Class Current: 439/492
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/774 Retainers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/82 connected with low or zero insertion force

Abstract

A strong U-channel shaped, spring clip of steel is used to retain by dual strong compressive clamping a strip conductor flexible flat ribbon cable at the edge of, and against a flat sheet substrate of epoxy or glass. Spring clamping is evenly uniformly exerted across all conductors across the width of the cable by finger-like spring segments integral with the clip. Stripped conductor ends of the ribbon cable are electrically connected to printed circuit lands upon the edge plane of the substrate by this clamping force. A second strong compressive force normal to the edge of the substrate is exerted by an elastomeric cellular silicone rubber pad at the base of the U-channel shaped spring clip which is held in strong compression when the spring clip is clamped upon the substrate. Assembly, disassembly, and reassembly are readily accomplished at zero sliding force or wear to connected conductors.

Claims

1. An electrical connector apparatus for electrically connecting a multiplicity of printed lands upon, and normal to the edge of, a planar substrate to a like multiplicity of stripped conductor ends within a flexible flat cable, which apparatus comprises:

spring clip means generally U-channel shaped with spring force exerting side planes of the U-channel for exerting squeezing compressive high spring first force normal to, and between, the side planes of the U-channel;

elastomeric pad means affixed to the U-channel interior at a base plane of the U-channel of said generally U-channel shaped spring clip means for exerting an elastomeric expansive second force normal to, and into the U-channel from, said base plane of the U-channel;

retention means for affixing both said planar substrate with a multiplicity of printed circuit lands normal to the edge of said substrate, plus said flexible flat cable with said like multiplicity of stripped conductor ends which is bendably disposed, meaning draped, over the edge of said planar substrate, within said U-channel shaped spring clip means so that both said planar substrate and said flexible flat cable draped thereon are directly compressively squeezed by said compressive high spring first force normal to the side planes of the U-channel of said generally U-channel shaped spring clip means, and so that both said planar substrate and said flexible flat cable draped thereon are forcefully and compressively subject to said elastomeric expansive second force, resultant from said elastomeric pad means, normal to the U-channel base plane of the U-channel of said generally U-channel shaped spring clip means;

whereby with said flexible flat cable bendably disposed between said spring clip means and said planar substrate, said squeezing compressive high spring first force serves to compressively electrically contact said multiplicity of stripped conductor ends of said flexible flat cable against said multiplicity of printed circuit lands upon said planar substrate, while said elastomeric expansive second force serves to retain said flexible flat cable between said spring clip means and said planar substrate.

2. The electrical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring clip means further comprises:

a plurality of finger-like spring segments integral with one of said squeezing compressive high spring first force exerting side planes of said U-channel in order that said squeezing compressive high spring first force, substantially developed in said spring clip means exclusive of said plurality of finger-like spring segments, transmitted therethrough said finger-like spring segments may be substantially equalized in said compressive squeezing, by said compressive high first spring force, of both said planar substrate and said flexible flat cable draped thereon;

whereby said plurality of finger-like spring segments do not substantially develop said compressive high first spring force, but only substantially equalize the transmission thereof such compressive high first spring force.

3. The electrical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring clip means further comprises:

tabs disposed from one or both of said side planes of said U-channel toward the interior of said U-channel; and

wherein said retention means further comprises;

a retainer block affixed to one or both sides of said planar substrate across which retainer block said U-channel shaped spring clip means may be moved during the insertion of both said planar substrate and said flexible flat cable draped thereon said substrate within said U-channel, but which retainer block contacts said corresponding tabs of said side planes of said U-channel shaped spring clip means in order to prevent withdrawal of said planar substrate and said flexible flat cable draped thereon said substrate from said U-channel of said spring clip means in response to said elastomeric expansive second force resultant from said elastomeric pad means.

4. The electrical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric pad means further comprises:

elastomeric pad means of silicone rubber.

5. The electrical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring clip means further comprises:

spring clip means generally U-channel shaped with a rollover edge at the lip of one side plane of said U-channel, said rollover edge being either toward or away from the interior of said U-channel, said rollover edged lip presenting an arched planar surface to said compressively squeezed planar substrate along the linear path of contact therebetween.

6. The electrical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spring clip means further comprises:

tabs disposed from one or both of said side planes of said U-channel toward the interior of said U-channel; and

wherein said retention means further comprises;

a retainer block affixed to one or both sides of said planar substrate across which retainer block said U-channel shaped spring clip means may be moved during the insertion of both said planar substrate and said flexible flat cable draped thereon said substrate within said U-channel, but which retainer block contacts said corresponding tabs of said side planes of said U-channel shaped spring clip means in order to prevent withdrawal of said planar substrate and said flexible flat cable draped thereon said substrate from said U-channel of said spring clip means in response to said elastomeric expansive second force resultant from said elastomeric pad means.

7. The electrical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elastomeric pad means further comprises:

elastomeric pad means of silicone rubber.

8. The electrical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spring clip mean further comprises:

spring clip means generally U-channel shaped with a rollover edge at the lip of one side plane of said U-channel, said rollover being either toward or away from the interior of said U-channel, said rollover edged lip presenting an arched planar surface to said compressively squeezed planar substrate along the linear path of contact therebetween.

9. An electrical connector apparatus for firstly electrically connecting a multiplicity of stripped wire ends within a stripped flexible flat conductor cable to a like multiplicity of printed circuit lands upon a plane of a planar substrate and for secondly providing a clamping force which retains said flat conductor cable in fixed position relative to said substrate, said stripped flexible flat conductor cable being draped across the plane and edge of said planar substrate, said apparatus comprising:

generally U-channel shaped spring clip means for exerting squeezing compressive spring first force, normal to the side planes of the U-channel, against said plane of said planar substrate and said stripped flexible flat conductor cable thereupon said substrate plane as clamped within the U-channel so that by said compressive spring first force said multiplicity of stripped wire ends within said flat conductor cable will be in electrically conductive contact with corresponding said like multiplicity of printed circuit lands upon said plane of said planar substrate, said spring clip means further comprising;

a first side plane of said U-channel ending in a uniform array of cylindrically-rolled-over, backwardly dispersed from the U-channel opening, finger-like spring segments integrally serratedly formed from said first side plane of said U-channel;

a substantially flat base plane to the U-channel; and

a second side plane of said U-channel terminating in two or more integrally formed tabs inwardly disposed within said U-channel opening;

plus

elastomeric pad means affixed to said substantially flat base plane of said U-channel;

retainer block means affixed to said planar substrate upon the opposite side from said first forcible holding of said flat cable, and near said edge plane of said sheet substrate, for positioning and holding the edge side of said sheet substrate with said flexible conductor cable draped thereon within said U-channel by latching said tabs, when said spring clip means are clipped over said sheet substrate with flexible conductor cable draped across the plane and edge, so that said U-channel base plane affixed elastomeric pad means are compressed;

whereby, when clipped, a first compressive electrical connection by a first clamping force is provided by said squeezing compressive spring force, and whereby a second holding clamping force normal to said edge plane of said substrate is provided by said compressed elastomeric pad means.