Electrical connector with a constant radius of curvature beam

• US 5,162,003 A
• Filed: 08/12/1991
• Issued: 11/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schwartz, Howell B., Landry, Daniel G., Johnson, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIRLOT, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/744,033
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 439/842-857, 439/861, 439/862
• US Class Current: 439/842
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/111 co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section

Abstract

A female contact for an electrical connector in which the contact comprises a resilient, conductive beam with a curve of constant radius. One end of the beam bears against a flat wall section of a bore into which a male contact pin is inserted to make contact. The strip curves away from the wall, and as the pin is inserted it flattens the strip against the wall.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for receiving a male connector, comprising in combination:

an electrically insulating housing having an interior wall surface;

an electrically conducting female connector assembly disposed in and secure to said electrically insulating housing;

said female connector assembly including a conductive beam member disposed so that a region at one end of said beam member contacts said interior wall surface;

said conductive beam extending from said one end in an arc away from said interior wall surface so that said conductive beam member becomes progressively flattened against said interior wall surface as a male connector moves into said insulating housing in contact with said conductive beam member.

2. An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein said female connector assembly includes a conductive contact stem, said stem extending along said interior wall surface and forming a guide to retard lateral displacement of said conductive beam as it flattens against said interior wall surface.

3. An electrical connector as in claim 2, wherein said arc has a constant radius of curvature.

4. An electrical connector as in claim 3, wherein said arc has a varying radius of curvature, said radius of curvature varying as a function of the distance from said one end along the length of said conductor beam for changing normal contact force versus contact displacement characteristics of said conductive beam as it is progressively flattened against said interior wall.