Solderless flex termination for motor tab

• US 6,511,336 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pancon Illinois LLC
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Turek, James A., Irish, Kenneth G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US09/578,548
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 439/947, 439/246, 439/247, 439/248, 439/249, 439/250, 439/251, 439/857, 439/55, 439/84, 439/252, 439/382
• US Class Current: 439/249
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/58 terminals for insertion into holes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/718 Contact members provided on the PCB without an insulating housing contacts for abutting H01R12/714
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/113 co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2211/03 Machines characterised by circuit boards, e.g. pcb
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/00 Casings; Enclosures; Supports
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/24 specially adapted for suppression or reduction of noise or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/947 PCB mounted connector with ground terminal

Abstract

An electrical connector for connecting and mounting a motor upon a printed circuit board comprises a flexible connection between contact fingers of the connector and a base portion of the connector which serves to isolate the motor from the printed circuit board such that vibrations generated by the motor are not transmitted to the printed circuit board. Movable support members mounted upon the base portion also effectively rigidly support the flexibly mounted contact fingers so as to facilitate insertion of motor tab contacts into engagement with the contact fingers of the connector. The printed circuit board is also a printed thick film type printed circuit board, and the connector comprises three dependent leg members which are adapted to be inserted through apertures defined within the printed circuit board and folded beneath the board so as to secure the connector upon the board.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to a printed thick film type printed circuit board, comprising:

a base portion;

means for attaching said base portion to the board;

electrical contacts for electrically connecting the component to said base portion;

means interposed between said electrical contacts and said base portion for vibrationally isolating said base portion, and the board, from said electrical contacts such that any vibrations generated by the component are not transmitted to said base portion and the board; and

support members for supporting said electrical contacts during insertion of the component relative to said electrical contacts.

2. The electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said means for vibrationally isolating said base portion from said electrical contacts comprises a flexible member integrally connecting said electrical contacts to said base portion.

3. The electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said flexible member has a substantially S-shaped configuration.

4. The electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said flexible member has a substantially question-mark (?) shaped configuration.

5. The electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said electrical contacts are mounted in a cantilevered manner upon said base portion through means of said flexible member.

6. In combination, an electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to a support panel, comprising:

the support panel;

the component to be mounted upon said support panel;

an electrical connector for electrically connecting said component to said support panel, said electrical connector comprising a base portion;

means for attaching said base portion to said support panel;

electrical contacts for electrically connecting said component to said base portion;

means interposed between said electrical contacts and said base portion for vibrationally isolating said base portion, and said support panel, from said electrical contacts such that any vibrations generated by said component are not transmitted to said base portion and said support panel;

said support panel comprising a printed circuit board;

said printed circuit board comprising a printed thick film type printed circuit board; and

support members for supporting said electrical contacts during insertion of the component relative to said electrical contacts.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said component comprises a motor.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said means for vibrationally isolating said base portion from said electrical contacts comprises a flexible member integrally connecting said electrical contacts to said base portion.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said flexible member has a substantially S-shaped configuration.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said flexible member has a substantially question-mark (?) shaped configuration.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said electrical contacts are mounted in a cantilevered manner upon said base portion through means of said flexible member.

12. An electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to a support panel, comprising:

a base portion;

means for attaching said base portion to a support panel;

electrical contacts flexibly mounted upon said base portion for and adapted to receive electrical connection tabs of a component so as to electrically connect the component to said base portion; and

means interposed between said electrical contacts and said base portion for movement between a first position at which said means are fixedly engaged with both of said electrical contacts and said base portion so as to support said electrical contacts in a substantially non-flexible manner whereby electrical connection of the electrical connection tabs of the component to said electrical contacts of said electrical connector can be facilitated, and a second position at which said means are not fixedly engaged with both of said electrical contacts and said base portion so as to permit said electrical contacts of said electrical connector to be flexibly mounted upon said base portion in order to flexibly mount the component, through means of its electrical connection tabs, upon said base portion of said electrical connector.

13. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said movable means comprises at least one electrical contact support member mounted upon said base portion in a cantilevered manner.

14. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said electrical contacts are mounted upon an electrical contact support beam member; and

said movable means comprises a pair of electrical contact support members for engaging opposite lateral sides of said electrical contact support beam member.

15. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said at least electrical contact support member is provided with a cut-out apertured region so as to render the same more flexibly movable between said first and second positions.

16. An electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to a support panel, comprising:

a base portion;

electrical contacts for electrically connecting a component to said base portion; and

means for attaching said base portion to a support panel comprising a first leg member attached to said base portion and adapted to be inserted through a first aperture defined within the support panel and folded onto the support panel, a second leg member attached to said base portion and adapted to be inserted through a second aperture defined within the support panel and folded over a first portion of said first leg member, and a third leg member attached to said base portion and adapted to be inserted through a third aperture defined within the support panel and folded over a second portion of said first leg member whereby said three folded leg members secure said electrical connector to the support panel.

17. The electrical connector as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said base portion comprises a three-sided member having a substantially C-shaped configuration;

said first leg member is fixedly attached to an end portion of said base portion; and

said second and third leg members are fixedly attached to oppositely disposed sides of said base portion.

18. In combination, an electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to a support panel, comprising:

a support panel having first, second, and third apertures defined therein; and

an electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to said support panel,

said electrical connector comprising a base portion;

electrical contacts for electrically connecting a component to said base portion; and

means for attaching said base portion to said support panel comprising a first leg member attached to said base portion and inserted through said first aperture defined within said support panel and folded onto said support panel, a second leg member attached to said base portion and inserted through said second aperture defined within said support panel and folded over a first portion of said first leg member, and a third leg member attached to said base portion and inserted through said third aperture defined within said support panel and folded over a second portion of said first leg member whereby said three folded leg members of said base portion of said electrical connector secure said electrical connector to said support panel.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said support panel comprises a printed circuit board.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said printed circuit board comprises a printed thick film type printed circuit board,

whereby said securement of said electrical connector to said printed circuit board by said three folded leg members secures said electrical connector to said printed circuit board in a solderless manner.

21. The combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said base portion comprises a three-sided member having a substantially C-shaped configuration;

said first leg member is fixedly attached to an end portion of said base portion; and

said second and third leg members are fixedly attached to oppositely disposed sides of said base portion.

22. An electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to a support panel, comprising:

a base portion;

means for attaching said base portion to the support panel;

electrical contacts for electrically connecting the component to said base portion;

means interposed between said electrical contacts and said base portion for vibrationally isolating said base portion, and the support panel, from said electrical contacts such that any vibrations generated by the component are not transmitted to said base portion and the support panel;

said means for vibrationally isolating said base portion from said electrical contacts comprising a flexible member integrally connecting said electrical contacts to said base portion;

said flexible member having a substantially S-shaped configuration; and

support members for supporting said electrical contacts during insertion of the component relative to said electrical contacts.

23. An electrical connector for electrically connecting a component to a support panel, comprising:

a base portion;

means for attaching said base portion to the support panel;

electrical contacts for electrically connecting the component to said base portion;

means interposed between said electrical contacts and said base portion for vibrationally isolating said base portion, and the support panel, from said electrical contacts such that any vibrations generated by the component are not transmitted to said base portion and the support panel;

said means for vibrationally isolating said base portion from said electrical contacts comprising a flexible member integrally connecting said electrical contacts to said base portion;

said electrical contacts being mounted in a cantilevered manner upon said base portion through means of said flexible member; and

contact support members for supporting said electrical contacts during insertion of the component relative to said electrical contacts for providing requisite support force and resistance to deflection of said contacts.