Low insertion force connection arrangement

• US 4,597,619 A
• Filed: 12/10/1984
• Issued: 07/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corp. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GTE Communication Systems Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Reimer, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Application Number:
  US06/679,794
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 339/17 L, 339/17 LM, 339/74 R, 339/75 MP, 339/176 MP, 339/204, 339/205
• US Class Current: 439/260
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/88 acting manually by rotating or pivoting connector housing parts

Abstract

A low insertion force arrangement for establishing a connection to a printed wiring board of the type including at least one printed wiring board terminal. The arrangement includes a plurality of connection springs including at least one actuator engaging area, and at least one pivot point, contact, and a terminal. A first embodiment includes an actuator engaging area located centrally on the spring between two pivot points which are located between a contact and a connection spring terminal. The actuator is a adapted to sequentially pivot a plurality of connection springs. A other embodiment includes at least one connection spring including a pivot point centrally located on the spring between an actuator engaging area and a second pivot point both of which are located between a contact and a connection spring terminal. In both embodiments the contact is located at one end of each connection spring in alignment with a corresponding printed wiring board terminal. A connector body is provided including a groove adapted to receive and retain a printed wiring board. The connector body includes at least one cavity in which the connector spring is retained. An actuator engages the actuator engaging area to pivot the connection spring about its pivot point to engage the spring contacts with or disengage the spring contacts from the printed wiring board terminal.

Claims

1. In combination, a first printed wiring board including a plurality of terminals, and low insertion force arrangement for establishing a connection to said printed wiring board, said arrangement comprising:

a plurality of connection springs, each spring including a contact, a first and a second pivot point, a connection spring terminal, and an actuator engaging areas, one of said pivot points located between said contact and said actuator engaging area, said contact engageably positioned relative to a corresponding one of said printed wiring board terminals and said connection spring terminal permitting connection to external points;

a first and second fulcrum each positioned to engage each of said springs at a corresponding one of said pivot points;

an actuator located proximate to each of said springs at said actuator engaging area, said actuator positioned in a first position relative to said spring to pivot said spring and engage said contact with said printed wiring board terminal, and positioned in a second position relative to said spring to pivot said spring and disengage said contact from said printed wiring board terminal; and

a connector body including a printed wiring board receiving cavity and a plurality of spring receiving cavities, said printed wiring board positioned within said printed wiring board receiving cavity and said connection springs positioned within corresponding ones of said spring receiving cavities.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said actuator includes means to sequentially pivot said connection springs.