Multi-pin electrical connectors

• US 6,139,373 A
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Doyle, John T., Ward, Terrance S., Hammond, Bernard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US09/053,884
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 439/733.1, 439/80, 439/101, 439/108, 439/607, 439/608, 439/609, 439/610, 439/586, 439/869, 439/571, 439/567, 439/924, 439/689, 433/181
• US Class Current: 439/733.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7064 Press fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/712 co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit H01R12/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/415 by permanent deformation of contact member
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly provides for connection between a mating connector and a printed circuit board. The assembly includes an elongate insulative housing having a connection face and an opposed mounting face. A plurality of elongate electrical contacts are supported within the housing. The contacts include connection ends adjacent the connection face and contact tails extending from the mounting face for insertion into through-holes of the printed circuit board. The contacts further define a securement member between the connection end and the opposed tail. The housing includes contact support members adjacent the mounting face. At least one of the contact support members is positioned at a location closer to the connection face than the other contact support members so as to position the connection end of at least one contact at a different longitudinal position than the other contacts. The contacts of the present invention may be stamped from a flat metal stamping at closer centers reducing the amount of scrap material. Furthermore, the connector may include a L-shaped connector securement clip for insertion into a mounting opening in the printed circuit board. The L-shaped securement clip includes a needle eye compliant section extending therethrough.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

an elongate insulative housing having a connection face for connection to a mating connector and an opposed mounting face for securement to a printed circuit board; and

a plurality of electrical contacts, substantially geometrically identical said contacts having a connection end, an opposed tail and a securement member therebetween, each said contact defining a substantially identical contact expanse measured between said connection ends and said tails with said securement members being located at a substantially identical location along said contact expanse;

said contacts being supported within said housing such that said connection ends are positioned adjacent said connection face and said tails extend outwardly of said mounting face for securement to said printed circuit board;

said housing including contact support members adjacent said mounting face, at least one of said contact support members being positioned at a location closer to connection face than the other said contact support members so as to position said connection end of at least one contact at a different longitudinal position than the other said contacts.

2. An electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said contact securement members include transversely directed contact shoulders.

3. An electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said contact support members include support surfaces for abutting engagement with said contact shoulders.

4. An electrical connector of claim 3 wherein said support surface of said at least one said support member is recessed from said support surfaces of said other contact support members with respect to said mounting face of said housing.

5. An electrical connector of claim 1 wherein each said contact further includes a board mounting element adjacent said tail, said board mounting element being frictionally insertable into a through-hole in said printed circuit board.

6. An electrical connector of claim 5 wherein said board mounting element of said at least one contact is positioned at a different longitudinal position than said board mounting element of said other said contacts.

7. An electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said board mounting element of each said contact has a longitudinal expanse of sufficient length to as to frictionally engage said printed circuit board through-hole for both said at least one contact and said other contacts.

8. An electrical connector comprising:

an elongate insulative housing having a connection face for connection to a mating connector and an opposed mounting face for mounting to a printed circuit board;

a plurality of electrical contacts supported in said housing, said contacts having a connection end and an opposed tail extending from said mounting face for insertion into through-holes in said printed circuit board;

connector securement clips supported by said housing, each said connector securement clip including an L-shaped component having a first portion extending along said mounting face of said housing and a second portion extending at substantially a right angle therefrom for insertion into a mounting opening in said printed circuit board, said connector securement clip having a needle-eye compliant section formed in both said first and second portions of said L-shaped component.

9. An electrical connector claim 8 wherein said needle eye compliant section has a longitudinal and transverse dimension and wherein said longitudinal dimension substantially exceeds said transverse dimension.

10. An electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said connector securement clip includes an upstanding connection extent extending towards said connection face.

11. An electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said connector securement clip is electrically conductive for establishing electrical connection between said printed circuit board and mating connector.

12. An electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said insulative housing includes housing feet extending from said mounting surface as to space said mounting surface above said printed circuit board so as to position said first portion of said L-shaped component off of said printed circuit board.

13. An electrical connection of claim 12 wherein said connector securement clips are located at opposed ends of said elongate housing and said housing feet are located thereadjacent.

14. An electrical connector assembly for establishing electrical connection therebetween a mating electrical connector and plated through-hole of a printed circuit board comprising:

an elongate insulative housing, said housing having a connection face for connection with said mating electrical connector and a mounting face for securement on said printed circuit board;

plural elongate conductive contacts, geometrically identical said contacts each including a connection extent supported at said connection face, an opposed contact tail extending from said mounting face for insertion into said through-holes of said printed circuit board and an intermediate securement member for positionally securing said contacts within said insulative housing; and

said insulative housing including engagement surfaces for accommodating said securement members at differing positions within said housing so as to dispose said connection extents of said contacts at differing positions.

15. An electrical connector of claim 14 wherein said contact tails include compliant engagement elements adjacent an end thereof, said compliant engagement elements being insertable into said plated through-holes of said printed circuit board so as to establish electrical connection therebetween.

16. An electrical connector of claim 15 wherein said compliant engagement elements have sufficient longitudinal expanse so as to provide said engagement with said through-holes at said differing positions.