Self-aligning electrical connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices comprising:
- an electrical contact; and
a terminal system resiliently coupled to the electrical contact by a resilient frame, the resilient frame having a planar portion from which the electrical contact extends with a vertical side wall extending from the planar portion, and a resilient beam extending from the side wall, the resilient frame capable of allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal system along X and Y axes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices includes an electrical contact. A terminal system is resiliently coupled to the electrical contact by a resilient frame. The resilient frame is capable of allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal system along X and Y axes.
54 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A self aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices comprising:
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an electrical contact; and a terminal system resiliently coupled to the electrical contact by a resilient frame, the resilient frame having a planar portion from which the electrical contact extends with a vertical side wall extending from the planar portion, and a resilient beam extending from the side wall, the resilient frame capable of allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal system along X and Y axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A self-aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices comprising:
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a planar portion having edges; an electrical contact extending from the planar portion, the electrical contact comprising two opposed contact tabs located between two openings in the planar portion, the contact tabs being angled upwardly and separated by a gap; a pair of vertical side walls extending upwardly from opposite edges of the planar portion; a pair of resilient beams extending from at least one side wall, the resilient beams capable of deflecting along X and Y axes; and a pair of terminal pins, each terminal pin extending from a respective resilient beam. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A self aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices comprising:
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an electrical contact comprising two opposing contact tabs angled upwardly and separated by a gap; and a terminal resiliently connected to the electrical contact by a resilient frame, the resilient frame having a planar portion from which the electrical contact extends with a vertical side wall extending from the planar portion, and a resilient beam member extending from the side wall, the beam member allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal along at least one axis.
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18. A self aligning electrical connector for a PC board in a smoke detector assembly for providing electrical communication between a rigid contact in the assembly and the PC board, the connector comprising:
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an electrical contact; and a terminal system for mounting to the PC board, the terminal system resiliently coupled to the electrical contact by a resilient frame, the resilient frame having a planar portion from which the electrical contact extends with a vertical side wall extending from the planar portion, and a resilient beam extending from the side wall, the resilient frame capable of allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal system along X and Y axes.
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19. A method of forming a self-aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrical contact; and resiliently coupling a terminal system to the electrical contact with a resilient frame, the resilient frame having a planar portion from which the electrical contact extends with a vertical side wall extending from the planar portion, and a resilient beam extending from the side wall, the resilient frame capable of allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal system along X and Y axes. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A self aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices comprising:
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an electrical contact; and a terminal system resiliently coupled to the electrical contact by a resilient frame, the resilient frame having a planar portion from which the electrical contact extends with a pair of vertical side walls extending upwardly from opposite edges of the planar portion, and two resilient beams extending from at least one side wall, the resilient frame capable of allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal system along X and Y axes. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method of forming a self-aligning electrical connector for providing electrical communication between two electrical devices comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrical contact; and resiliently coupling a terminal system having two downwardly extending terminal pins to the electrical contact with a resilient frame, the resilient frame having a planar portion from which the electrical contact extends with a pair of vertical side walls extending upwardly from opposite edges of the planar portion, and two resilient beams extending from at least one side wall, each terminal pin being resiliently coupled to a resilient beam, each resilient beam having a proximal portion capable of deflecting along one of the X and Y axes and a distal portion capable of deflecting along the other of the X and Y axes, the proximal portion and the distal portion being at right angles relative to each other, the resilient frame capable of allowing the electrical contact to move relative to the terminal system along X and Y axes. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification