Electrical connector assembly for flat cables

• US 4,526,432 A
• Filed: 12/26/1979
• Issued: 07/02/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Cronin, Michael J., Hamra, Victor W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US06/107,260
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 339/17 F, 339/176 MR, 339/94 M, 339/256 R, 339/256 RT, 339/75 M
• US Class Current: 439/320
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/777 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts H01R12/78, H01R12/79 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/927 Conductive gasket

Abstract

The invention is an electrical connector assembly (10) for coupling flat cable conductors (60) to electrical terminals (40). The invention comprises a receptacle (12) having a dielectric surface (31) with a pattern of first contact pads (33) extending therefrom coupled to the electrical terminals (40). A flat conductor cable (60) is provided having a pattern of second contact pads (64) mounted to a lower side (63), which are in a geometric pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first contact pads (33). A pressure means (72, 76) is provided to force the first and second contact pads (33, 64) into intimate contact, thereby electrically connecting the flat cable conductors (67) to the electrical terminals (40). The pressure means preferably comprises a resilient compression member (72) movably attached to a screw cap cover (76) which is adapted to engage the receptacle (12), such that upon the engagement of the cover (76) with the receptacle (12) the resilient compression member ( 72) forces the first and second contact pads (33, 64) together electrically connecting the flat and round cable conductors (67, 44).

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a receptacle having a surface and a pattern of first contact pads mounted to said surface terminating first electrical conductors, said pads having pins protruding therefrom;

a flat cable having first and second sides and a pattern of second contact pads mounted on a portion of said first side terminating second electrical conductors, said pattern of second contact pads having positions that are complementary to said first contact pads, said second contact pads and said cable having apertures adapted to receive said pins;

securing means adapted to urge said first and second contact pads together to electrically connect said first and second conductors; and

wiper means adapted to be secured to said pins and to wipe both said first and said second contact pads when under compression.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises

a resilient compression member adapted to receive said pins;

and

a cover means movably secured to said resilient compression member and adapted to engage said receptacle.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a pattern of third apertured contact pads mounted on a portion of said second side of said flat cable terminating said second electrical conductors and complementary to said second contact pads; and

contact means adapted to engage said third contact pads and said pins.

4. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a dielectric member having a first substantially planar surface;

a plurality of conductive contact pins perpendicularly extending from said first planar surface and having contiguous therewith a like number of first electrical contact pads;

a flat cable comprising a flexible dielectric sheet and having first and second surfaces, a portion of said first surface have disposed thereon a pattern of second electrical contact pads connected to corresponding electrical conductors in said cable, said pattern of second electrical contact pads having locations which are complementary to those of said first electrical contact pads;

compression means confronting a portion of said second surface of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second electrical contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable; and

wiper means adapted to wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said compression means comprises:

a resilient dielectric member having a planar surface which is substantially coextensive with said portion of said second surface of said cable; and

means selectively engageable with said dielectric member for urging said first and second contact pads together.

6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said wiper means comprises a washer having compressible protruding tabs, said tabs adapted to cause a wiping action on said contact pads.

7. An electrical connector for electrically connecting at least one first pattern set of contact pads terminating first electrical conductors to a flat-cable end portion having first and second sides and a second pattern set of contact pads mounted on a portion of said first side terminating second electrical conductors, said first pattern set and said second pattern set having relative positions that are complementary, comprising:

said first set of contact pads including pins protruding therefrom;

a receptacle including a cylinder portion terminating at one end in a base portion, said base portion including, within the area defined by said cylinder end an integral dielectric portion having a first substantially planar surface to which said first set of contact pads are mounted, said cylinder portion including a notch in the wall thereof for receiving said flat cable end portion; and

securing means adapted to urge said first and second sets of contact pads together, said securing means including compression means adapted to confront a portion of said second surface of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second sets of electrically contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable, said compression means comprising a resilient dielectric compression member having a planar surface which is substantially coextensive with said portion of said second surface of said cable; and

means selectively engageable with said dielectric compression member for urging said first and second contact pads together, said resilient compression member including means adapted to receive said pins;

wiper means adapted to forceably fit over said pins and wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.

8. An electrical connector for electrically connecting at least one first pattern set of contact pads terminating first electrical conductors to a flat-cable end portion having first and second sides and a second pattern set of contact pads mounted on a portion of said first side terminating second electrical conductors, said first pattern set and said second pattern set having relative positions that are complementary, comprising:

said first set of contact pads including pins protruding therefrom;

a receptacle including a cylinder portion terminating at one end in a base portion, said base portion including, within the area defined by said cylinder end an integral dielectric portion having a first substantially planar surface to which said first set of contact pads are mounted, said cylinder portion including a notch in the wall thereof for receiving said flat cable end portion; and

securing means adapted to urge said first and second sets of contact pads together, said securing means including compression means adapted to confront a portion of said second surface of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second sets of electrical contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable, said compression means comprising a resilient dielectric compression member having a planar surface which is substantially coextensive with said portion of said second surface of said cable and means selectively engageable with said dielectric compression member for urging said first and second contact pads together, and said resilient compression member having pin contact means secured therein in a pattern complementary to said pattern of said pins and adapted to engage said first set of contact pads and pins, and

wiper means adapted to forceably fit over said pins and wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.

9. An electrical connector for electrically connecting at least one first pattern set of contact pads terminating first electrical conductors to a flat-cable end portion having first and second sides and a second pattern set of contact pads mounted on a portion of said first side terminating second electrical conductors, said first pattern set and said second pattern set having relative positions that are complementary, comprising:

said first set of contact pads including pins protruding therefrom, said connector including disc means having conductive apertures therein positioned complementary to said pins, said conductive apertures being coupled in a preselected manner to electrically couple electrical conductors;

a receptacle including a cylinder portion terminating at one end in a base portion, said base portion including, within the area defined by said cylinder end an integral dielectric portion having a first substantially planar surface to which said first set of contact pads are mounted, said cylinder portion including a notch in the wall thereof for receiving said flat cable end portion; and

securing means adapted to urge said first and second sets of contact pads together, said securing means including compression means adapted to confront a portion of said second side of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second sets of electrically contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable; and

wiper means adapted to forceably fit over said pins and wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.