Electrical connector with elastomeric element and restrainer member to offset relaxation of the elastomer
First Claim
1. A connector for providing electrical connections to wiring on a printed circuit board, comprising:
- connector pads disposed within a contact region on the printed circuit board;
an insulating substrate having first and second sides;
contact members disposed within a contact region on the first side of the substrate, the contact region of the substrate being aligned with the contact region of the printed circuit board;
a compression mat having elongated compressor fingers that contact the second side of the substrate in alignment with the contact regions on the first side, the compressor fingers having a predetermined length and a width that is substantially smaller than the length;
a clamping arrangement that presses the compression mat toward the printed circuit board; and
a restrainer member having holes through which the compressor fingers extend.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector includes contact pads on a printed circuit board and contact members on a substrate. The contact members are pressed against the contact pads by a compression mat having compressor fingers. A clamping arrangement forces the compressor fingers against the substrate and thereby presses the contact members against the connector pads. The compression mat is made of elastomeric material, which has a tendency to relax and thus reduce the pressure after the clamping arrangement is tightened. A restrainer member is used to offset this tendency of the polymer to relax. The restrainer member has holes through which the compressor fingers of the compression mat extend.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A connector for providing electrical connections to wiring on a printed circuit board, comprising:
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connector pads disposed within a contact region on the printed circuit board;
an insulating substrate having first and second sides;
contact members disposed within a contact region on the first side of the substrate, the contact region of the substrate being aligned with the contact region of the printed circuit board;
a compression mat having elongated compressor fingers that contact the second side of the substrate in alignment with the contact regions on the first side, the compressor fingers having a predetermined length and a width that is substantially smaller than the length;
a clamping arrangement that presses the compression mat toward the printed circuit board; and
a restrainer member having holes through which the compressor fingers extend. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for electrically connecting connector pads that are disposed within a contact region on a printed circuit board to contact members that are disposed within a contact region on a first side of an insulating substrate, comprising:
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(a) bracing elongated compressor fingers of a compression mat with a restrainer member having holes through which the compressor fingers extend, the compressor fingers having a predetermined length and a width that is substantially smaller than the length;
(b) placing the contract region of the substrate in face-to-face relationship with the contact region of the printed circuit board;
(c) positioning the compression mat adjacent a second side of the substrate, with the contact fingers being aligned with the contact members on the first side; and
(d) pressing the compression mat toward the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification