Molded electrical connector having integral spring contact beams

• US 4,969,842 A
• Filed: 11/30/1989
• Issued: 11/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Davis, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCGLYNN, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US07/443,979
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 439/629-637, 439/886
• US Class Current: 439/629
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/035 Plated dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/931 Conductive coating

Abstract

The molded connector 10 includes a dielectric housing 12 having a transverse wall 14 with a plurality of apertures 20 extending therethrough and first and second molded sections 24, 32 extending outwardly from the periphery of and at opposite ends of respective apertures 20, the corresponding first and second molded sections 24, 32 being associated with each other and including first surface portions 26, 34 extending continuously from a common sidewall 22 of the respective aperture 20. The first and second molded sections 24, 32 include an inner dielectric core integrally molded with the housing wall 14 and at least one layer 40 of plating disposed on first surface portions 26, 34 thereof and along the respective common aperture sidewall 22 thereby defining first and second contact sections 42, 46 connected by a continuous conductive surface 44 extending therebetween. The first and second molded sections 24, 42 are adapted to interconnect first and second contact means in engagement with the first and second contact sections 42, 46 respectively. In the preferred embodiment at least one contact section is a complient beam and the plating thereon strengthens the beam such that the beam provides sufficient compression force to maintain electrical contact with a mating article without the need for elastomeric support.

Claims

1. A molded electrical connector comprising:

dielectric housing including a transverse wall having at least one aperture extending therethrough from a first to a second side thereof;

at least one first molded section extending outwardly from said first side of said wall and extending from the periphery of a respective said aperture; and

at least one second molded section extending outwardly from said second side of said wall and extending from the periphery of said aperture, each said first and second molded section being associated with each other and including first surface portions extending continuously from a common sidewall of said respective aperture;

each said first and second molded sections including an inner dielectric core integrally molded with said wall of said housing and at least one layer of plating disposed on said first surface portions thereof and along said common sidewall thereby defining first and second contact sections connected by a continuous conductive surface extending therebetween;

whereby

said first and second molded sections are adapted to interconnect first and second contact means in engagement with said first and second contact sections respectively.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said at least one first molded section includes an arcuate free end convex in a first lateral direction along said first surface portion.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein said continuous conductive surface includes the plated convex surface of said arcuate free end of said first molded section, said first molded section defining a spring beam deflectable at said arcuate free end in a second direction opposed from said first direction upon deflectable engagement with corresponding contact means of a mating electrical article, said at least one plating layer providing mechanical strength at least to said arcuate end of said spring beam thereby reducing the stress relaxation of said spring beam.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer of plating comprises a nickel-iron alloy.

9. The connector of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer of plating comprises a nickel-iron alloy.

5. A molded electrical connector comprising:

dielectric housing including a transverse wall having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough from a first to a second side thereof;

a plurality of first molded sections extending outwardly from said first side of said wall and extending from the periphery of respective ones of said apertures; and

a plurality of second molded sections extending outwardly from said second side of said wall and extending from the periphery of respective ones of said apertures, corresponding ones of said first and second molded sections being associated with each other and including first surface portions extending continuously from a common sidewall of respective ones of said apertures;

each said first and second molded sections including an inner dielectric core integrally molded with said wall of said housing and at least one layer of plating disposed on said first surface portions thereof and along said common sidewall thereby defining a plurality of associated first and second contact sections connected by a continuous conductive surface extending therebetween;

whereby

said plurality of first and second molded sections are adapted to interconnect a plurality of first and second contact means in engagement with corresponding ones of said plurality of said first and second contact sections respectively.

6. The connector of claim 5 wherein said plurality of first molded sections including respective arcuate free ends convex in a first lateral direction along said first surface portion.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein said continuous conductive surface includes the plated convex surface of said arcuate free ends of said first molded sections, said first molded sections defining respective spring beams deflectable at said arcuate free ends in a second direction opposed from said first direction upon deflectable engagement with corresponding contact means of a mating electrical article, said at least one plating layer providing mechanical strength at least to said arcuate end of said spring beam thereby reducing the stress relaxation of said spring beam.

8. A molded electrical connector comprising:

dielectric housing including a transverse wall having at least one aperture extending therethrough from a first to a second side thereof;

at least one first molded section extending outwardly from said first side of said wall and extending from the periphery of a respective said aperture; and

at least one second molded section extending outwardly from said second side of said wall and extending from the periphery of said aperture, each said first and second molded section being associated with each other and including first surface portions extending continuously from a common sidewall of said respective aperture;

each said first and second molded sections including an inner dielectric core integrally molded with said wall of said housing, at least said first molded section including an arcuate free end convex in a first lateral direction along said first surface portion, and at least one layer of plating disposed on said first surface portions of said first and second molded sections and along said common sidewall thereby defining first and second contact sections connected by a continuous conductive surface extending therebetween with said first contact section including the plated convex surface of said arcuate free end of said first molded section; and

said first molded section defining a spring beam deflectable at said arcuate free end in a second direction opposed from said first direction upon deflectable engagement with corresponding contact means of a mating electrical article;

whereby

said first and second molded sections are adapted to interconnect first and second contact means in engagement with said first and second contact sections respectively, said at least one plating layer providing mechanical strength at least to said arcuate end of said spring beam thereby reducing the stress relaxation of said spring beam.