Connector socket

• US 4,632,496 A
• Filed: 10/08/1985
• Issued: 12/30/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dellawill Inc.
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US06/786,143
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 339/256 S
• US Class Current: 439/841
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/33 Contact members made of resilient wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart

Abstract

A socket member has an opening formed therein. A coil spring having offset coils or coils with offset coil portions is located in the opening to electrically receive an electrical pin from one end or to electrically receive electrical pins from opposite ends.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a socket means having an opening formed therein from a first end,

said opening of said socket means comprises first and second portions located along its length,

the wall of at least said second portion of said opening of said socket means being formed of electrical conducting material,

said first portion of said opening of said socket means having a cross-sectional area greater than that of said second portion of said opening of said socket means,

said second portion of said opening of said socket means being cylindrical in cross-section,

said first portion of said opening of said socket means being located next to said first end of said socket means and said portion of said opening of said socket means being spaced away from said first end of said socket means,

a metallic coil spring located in said first and second portions of said opening of said socket means and engaging said wall of said second portion of said socket means,

said coil spring having a central opening formed by the inside structure of its coils for receiving an electrical pin means by way of said first end of said opening of said socket means,

a plurality of said coils of said coil spring each having portions at different angular positions around the central axis of said central opening which are at different distances from said central axis of said central opening,

a plurality of said coils of said coil spring having inside coil portions offset from inside coil portions of adjacent coils relative to said central axis such that said central opening has offset portions along its length,

when said coil spring is located in said first and second portions of said opening of said socket means, said coils of said coil spring in said second portion of said opening of said socket means are held in alignment by said wall of said second portion of said opening of said socket means,

the inside diameter of each of said coils of said coil spring being greater than the outside diameter of said electrical pin means such that said electrical pin means will not engage the coils of said coil spring in said second portion of said opening of said socket means, but said inside offset coil portions of said coil spring in said first portion of said opening of said socket means will engage said pin means in said first portion of said opening of said socket means when said pin means is located in said central opening of said coil spring.

2. An electrical connector comprising:

a socket means having an opening formed therein from a first end,

said opening of said socket means comprises first and second portions located along its length,

the wall of at least said second portion of said opening of said socket means being formed of electrical conducting material,

said first portion of said opening of said socket means having a cross-sectional area greater than that of said second portion of said opening of said socket means,

said first portion of said opening of said socket means being located next to said first end of said socket means and said second portion of said opening of said socket means being spaced away from said first end of said socket means,

a metallic coil spring located in said first and second portions of said opening of said socket means and engaging said wall of said second portion of said socket means,

said coil spring having a central opening formed by the inside structure of its coils for receiving an electrical pin means by way of said first end of said opening of said socket means,

a plurality of said coils of said coil spring each having portions at different angular positions around the central axis of said central opening which are at different distances from said central axis of said central opening,

a plurality of first coils of said coil spring being offset from a plurality of second coils of said coil spring transversely to said axis of said central opening of said coil spring such that said central opening has offset portions along its length whereby portions of the inside structure of said coil spring will engage said pin means when it is located in said central opening of said coil spring,

when said coil spring is located in said first and second portions of said opening of said socket means, said first and second coils of said coil spring in said second portion of said opening of said socket means are held in alignment by said wall of said second portion of said opening of said socket means,

the inside diameter of each of said coils of said coil spring being greater than the outside diameter of said electrical pin means such that said electrical pin means will not engage the coils of said coil spring in said second portion of said opening of said socket means when said pin means is located in said central opening of said coil spring.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein:

the size of said first portion of said opening of said socket means is sufficient to allow said coils of said coil spring to be moved transversely relative to each other by said pin means as it is inserted into said central opening of said coil spring.

4. An electrical connector comprising:

a socket means having an opening formed therein from a first end,

said opening of said socket means comprises first and second portions located along its length,

the wall of at least said second portion of said opening of said socket means being formed of electrical conducting material,

said first portion of said opening of said socket means having a cross-sectional area greater than that of said second portion of said opening of said socket means,

said first portion of said opening of said socket means being located next to said first end of said socket means and said second portion of said opening of said socket means being spaced away from said first end of said socket means,

a metallic coil spring located in said first and second portions of said opening of said socket means and engaging said wall of said second portion of said socket means,

said coil spring having a central opening formed by the inside structure of its coils for receiving an electrical pin means by way of said first end of said opening of said socket means,

said coil spring having offset portions along its length relative to the axis of its central opening,

when said coil spring is located in said first and second portions of said opening of said socket means, said coils of said coil spring in said second portion of said opening of said socket means are held by said wall of said second portion of said opening of said socket means in positions such that said electrical pin means will not engage the coils of said coil spring in said second portion of said opening of said socket means, but said offset portions of said coil spring in said first portion of said opening of said socket means will engage said pin means in said first portion of said opening of said socket means when said pin means is located in said central opening of said coil spring.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:

the inside diameter of each of said coils of said coil spring being greater than the outside diameter of said electrical pin means.