Spring connector with slotted conductive pin

• US 6,716,043 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishizuka, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/132,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/482, 439/700, 439/824
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs

Abstract

An insulating holder has a first face and a second face, with a first hole that has a first diameter at the first face, and a second hole that has a second diameter larger than the first diameter and extended from the second face so as to communicate with the first hole. Inside the second hole is a plate-shaped conductive terminal that has a base portion and at least one pair of guide portions extended from the base portion so as to define a concave portion between opposed inner edges of the guide portions. The concave portion faces the first hole. Included in between the opposed inner edges of the guide portions is a conductive pin with a plunger portion that has a diameter smaller than the first diameter and a bulged portion that has a diameter larger than the first diameter. The bulged portion of the pin has opposed grooves at its periphery that run parallel to the plunger portion'"'"'s longitudinal axis and is fitted with the guide portions so as to be slidable along the concave portion. A spring member is also provided in the concave portion so as to urge the pin toward the first face of the holder, so that the plunger portion of the pin is retractably protruded from the first face of the holder through the first hole.

Claims

1. A spring connector, comprising:

an insulating holder, having a first face and a second face, the insulating holder formed with a first hole having a first diameter at the first face, and a second hole having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and extended from the second face so as to communicate with the first hole;

a plate-shaped conductive terminal, having a base portion, at least one pair of guide portions extended from the base portion so as to define a concave portion between opposed inner edges of the guide portions, the terminal fitted into the second hole such that the concave portion faces the first hole;

a conductive pin, including a plunger portion having a diameter smaller than the first diameter and a bulged portion having a diameter larger than the first diameter, the bulged portion of the pin having opposed grooves at its periphery that run parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plunger portion and are fitted with the opposed inner edges of the guide portions so as to be slidable along the concave portion; and

a spring member, provided in the concave portion so as to urge the pin toward the first face of the holder, so that the plunger portion of the pin is retractably protruded from the first face of the holder through the first hole.

2. The spring connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the terminal and the pin are plated with gold.

3. The spring connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first face and the second face of the holder extend in a first direction;

and

wherein the second hole obliquely extends with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The spring connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein a tongue piece portion is extended from the base portion of the terminal so as to be protruded from the second face of the holder.

5. The spring connector as set forth in claim 4, wherein a side face which is other than the first face and the second face of the holder faces a substrate on which a circuit is provided;

and

wherein the tongue piece portion is so bent as to extend along the substrate.

6. The spring connector as set forth in claim 4, wherein a side face which is other than the first face and the second face of the holder faces a substrate on which a circuit is provided;

and

wherein the tongue piece portion is so bent as to elastically contact with the substrate.

7. The spring connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tongue piece portion is so bent as to extend toward the first face of the holder;

and

wherein the holder is formed with a recess to which a tip end of the tongue piece portion is inserted so as to prevent the tongue piece portion from deforming in a direction that the holder is away from the substrate according to a retracting movement of the pin.

8. A conductivity inspection method, comprising the steps of:

providing the spring connector as set forth in claim 1;

providing a conductive pad on which the plunger portion of the spring connector is abutted so that the electrical continuity of the conductive pad and the spring connector may be tested; and

determining that the second hole extends into the holder at an oblique angle with respect to a normal line of the conductive pad.