High density socket contact receptacle

• US 4,891,021 A
• Filed: 03/28/1989
• Issued: 01/02/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Hayes, Earl J., VanDerStuyf, Allen F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pirlot, David
• Application Number:
  US07/331,050
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 439/733-752, 439/595, 439/596, 439/599, 439/351-358
• US Class Current: 439/599
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/114 co-operating with pins or blades having a square transverse section

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a mating receptacle and header. The receptacle includes contacts having beam members integral with and extending between a forward and rearward cylindrical portion. The beam members are formed in opposed pairs with constricted portions at different axial locations. The spacing between the opposed pairs of beams is less than the widths of the beams. The header includes rows of square posts for mating with the socket contacts, the rows of posts being axially offset from each other.

Claims

1. A multicontact electrical connector comprising:

a plurality of contact terminals, each having a contact portion and a conductor termination portion,

an insulative housing having a plurality of cavities extending between a rear face and a mating face, each cavity being dimensioned to receive one contact terminal, each cavity having a constricted opening adjacent the mating face, the contact terminal being larger than the constricted opening so that each contact terminal can only be inserted into a corresponding cavity through the rear face of the housing;

the housing further including a plurality of resilient cantilever beam contact latches each having a fixed end adjacent the mating face and a free end between the mating face and the rear face, the free end of each cantilever beam contact latch being accessible from the exterior of the housing, the free end being outwardly deflectable for disengagement from the corresponding contact terminal, each cantilever beam contact latch having a ramp surface at the free end and a locking surface adjacent the ramp surface, the ramp surface and the locking surface extending inwardly from the cantilever beam contact latch for engagement with a corresponding contact terminal, the corresponding contact terminal engaging the ramp surface during insertion to flex the cantilever beam contact latch outwardly, the locking surface engaging the contact terminal upon complete insertion, each latch comprising at least a portion of an exterior wall of a corresponding cavity;

first overstress means on the housing extending transversely between the fixed end and the free end of the plurality of cantilever beam contact latches on the exterior of the housing; and

a receptacle latch located on the exterior of the housing adjacent at least one cantilever beam contact latch, the receptacle latch having second overstress means thereon extending transversely relative to the at least one cantilever beam contact latch, whereby each resilient cantilever beam contact latch is outwardly deflectable to allow insertion of a corresponding contact terminal into a corresponding cavity.

2. A multicontact electrical connector comprising:

a plurality of contact terminals, each having a contact portion and a conductor termination portion, each contact terminal having a protruding tab between the contact portion and the conductor termination portion, the protruding tab having a ramped contact surface adjacent the contact portion and a locking surface adjacent the conductor termination portion;

an insulative housing having a plurality of cavities in two rows extending between a rear face and a mating face, each cavity being dimensioned to receive one contact terminal inserted through a rear face of the housing, the terminals being positioned in the two rows of cavities with the protruding tabs facing outwardly;

the housing further including a plurality of resilient cantilever beam contact latches each having a fixed end adjacent the mating face and a free end between the mating face and the rear face, each cantilever beam contact latch having a latch ramp surface at the free end and a latch locking surface adjacent the ramp surface, the ramp surface and the locking surface extending inwardly from the cantilever beam contact latch for engagement with a corresponding contact terminal, the corresponding contact terminal engaging the latch ramp surface during insertion to flex the cantilever beam contact latch outwardly, the latch locking surface engaging the contact terminal upon complete insertion, each latch comprising at least a portion of an exterior wall of a corresponding cavity; and

terminal position insert means insertable into the housing from the rear thereof, the terminal position insert means including a forward portion located outwardly of the contact terminals in the two rows of cavities on opposite sides of the housing, the protruding tabs being positioned between corresponding terminal position insert means and corresponding resilient cantilever beam contact latches;

whereby each resilient cantilever beam contact latch is outwardly deflectable to allow insertion of a corresponding contact terminal into a corresponding cavity.

3. The multicontact electrical connector of claim 2 wherein the terminal position insert means is engagable with the locking surface on the protruding tab of a partially inserted contact terminal to move the terminal further into the cavity into locking engagement with the cantilever beam contact latches.