Low insertion force connector with wipe

• US 6,257,911 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank Shelby, James Goodman
• Original Assignee: James Goodman
• Inventors: Shelby, Frank S., Goodman, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US09/437,647
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 439/268, 439/267, 439/269.1, 439/266, 439/265
• US Class Current: 439/268
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes

Abstract

A low insertion force connector contact assembly (122) has two contacts (136, 144) which are separated by insulation (143) from one another to provide separate circuit paths for separately engaging a mating contact (166) of a mating connector (22) in a Kelvin test configuration. The contact (144) engages the mating contact (166) of the mating connector (22) for applying current and voltage to the mating contact (166). The contact (136) engages the mating contact (166) for measuring the voltages of the mating contact (166). Preferably, the contact (144) is a spring biased plunger which is urged from a retracted position to an extended position. In the extended position, the contact (144) pushes the contact (136) aside of a position for engaging the mating contact (166). When the mating connector (22) is being engaged with the connector assembly (122), the mating contact (166) pushes the spring biased, plunger contact (144) from the extended position to the retracted position, releasing the contact (136) to engage with mating contact (166) with a wipe during a makeup stroke in which the mating contact (166) is engaged within the contact assembly (122). This type of contact assembly connection may be used with mating contacts (166) of various cross sections, such edge connector lands, and square, rectangular and round leads. In a production testing environment, the mating contacts (166) may be cleaned by spraying with a solvent or a discharge of air when being inserted into a connector contact assembly (202).

Claims

1. An apparatus suitable for connecting to an electrical contact lead of a mating unit, said contact lead having an end portion and a side portion, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having an aperture for receiving said contact lead;

said aperture providing an opening to a path into said housing to receive said contact lead;

a contact pin assembly comprising a sleeve and a moveable, electrically conductive cam member;

said pin assembly positioned in said housing and said cam member being capable of moving reciprocally from an extended position near said aperture to a retracted position away from said aperture;

said contact pin assembly electrically connected to a first electrical connecting means for electrically connecting to an external device;

first bias member positioned within said sleeve and operable to urge said cam member towards said aperture; and

contact means located in said housing and comprising an electrical connection portion for being electrically connected to said contact lead, and a second bias member urging said electrical connection portion generally into said path for said contact lead;

said electrical connection portion including a second electrical connection means for electrically connecting to another external device;

said cam member being shaped so that it moves said electrical connection portion out of said path for said contact lead when said cam member is in its extended position and said cam member allowing said electrical connection portion to be moved towards said path by said second bias member when said cam member is moved into its retracted position;

said first and second electrical connection means being electrically insulated from each other when said cam member is in its retracted position.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising said cam member and a portion of the interior of said housing being designed to engage each other when said cam member is moved towards its retracted position, thereby providing a stop feature to inhibit further motion of said cam member away from said aperture.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus is dimensioned so that said electrical connection portion engages said cam member a predetermined distance before the stop feature inhibits further motion of said cam member away from said aperture, thereby defining a wipe of the electrical connection portion.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said apparatus has a wipe length along said contact lead no more than about thirty thousands of an inch.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said contact means comprises a leaf-spring metal to form said second bias member.

6. A method for connecting to an electrical contact lead of a mating unit, said contact lead having an end portion and a side portion, said method comprising:

providing a housing having an aperture for receiving said contact lead;

said aperture providing an opening to a path into said housing to receive said contact lead;

mechanically arranging a contact pin assembly comprising a sleeve and an electrically conductive cam member;

said contact pin assembly positioned in said housing and said cam member being capable of moving reciprocally from an extended position near said aperture to a retracted position away from said aperture;

said contact pin assembly electrically connecting to a first electrical connecting means for electrically connecting to an external device;

positioning within said sleeve a first bias member operable to urge said cam member towards said aperture;

locating in said housing a contact means comprising an electrical connection portion for being electrically connected to said contact lead, and a second bias member urging said electrical connection portion generally into said path for said contact lead; and

said electrical connection portion including a second electrical connection means for electrically connecting to another external device;

said cam member being shaped so that it moves said electrical connection portion out of said path for said contact lead when said cam member is in its extended position and said cam member allowing said electrical connection portion to be moved towards said path by said second bias member when said cam member is moved into its retracted position;

said first and second electrical connection means being electrically insulated from each other when said cam member is in its retracted position; and

moving said contact lead into said aperture to move said cam member to said retracted position resulting in said electrical connection portion electrically engaging said end portion.