Electrical power connector

• US 7,168,963 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Kolivoski, Christopher J., Minich, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US11/414,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20060194472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 439/79, 439/884, 439/80, 439/881
• US Class Current: 439/79
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7088 Arrangements for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/727 Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49149 by metal fusion bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49151 by deforming or shaping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49218 with deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4922 with molding of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49222 forming array of contacts or terminals

Abstract

A printed circuit board electrical power contact for connecting a daughter printed circuit board to a mating contact on another electrical component. The power contact includes a main section; at least one daughter board electrical contact section extending from the main section; and at least one mating connector contact section extending from the main section. The mating connector contact section includes at least three forward projecting beams. A first one of the beams extends outward in a first direction as the first beam extends forward from the main section and has a contact surface facing the first direction. Two second ones of the beams are located on opposite sides of the first beam and extend outward in a second opposite direction as the second beams extend forward from the main section. The second beams have contact surfaces facing the second direction.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board electrical power contact for connecting a daughter printed circuit board to a mating contact on another electrical component, the power contact comprising:

a main section;

at least one daughter board electrical contact section extending from the main section; and

at least one mating connector contact section extending from the main section, the mating connector contact section comprising at least two forward projecting beams, wherein a first one of the beams extends outward in a first direction as the first beam extends forward from the main section and has a contact surface facing the first direction, and wherein a second one of the beams extends outward in a second opposite direction as the second beam extends forward from the main section and has a contact surface facing the second direction, wherein the first beam is larger than the second beam.

2. A system for connecting a daughter printed circuit board to a mother printed circuit board, the system comprising:

a first power connector adapted to be mounted to the mother printed circuit board, the first power connector having a first housing and first power contacts;

a second power connector adapted to be mounted to the daughter printed circuit board, the second power connector having a plurality of second power contacts, each second power contact having a main section with outwardly bent contact beams having outward facing contact areas, the outwardly bent contact beams comprising a first contact beam which is larger than a second contact beam, wherein the first and second contact beams extend in generally opposite directions from a front end of the main section, and wherein the second power contacts are adapted to be inserted into the first housing;

a first signal connector adapted to be mounted to the mother printed circuit board, the first signal connector comprising male signal contacts; and

a second signal connector adapted to be mounted to the daughter printed circuit board, the second signal connector comprising female signal contacts adapted to receive the male signal contacts therein.

3. An electrical contact comprising:

a main section;

a first electrical contact section extending from the main section, wherein the first electrical contact section is adapted to connect to a first device; and

a second electrical contact section extending from the main section, wherein the second electrical contact section is adapted to connect to a second device, wherein the second electrical contact section comprises at least two beams projecting from the main section in a connection direction for connecting the second electrical contact section to the second device, wherein a first one of the beams extends outward in a first direction as well as in the connection direction from the main section and has a first contact surface facing the first direction, wherein a second one of the beams extends outward in a second direction as well as in the connection direction from the main section and has a second contact surface facing the second direction, and wherein the first beam is larger than the second beam.

4. An electrical contact as in claim 3 wherein the second direction is generally opposite to the first direction.

5. An electrical contact as in claim 3 wherein the second direction is a lateral direction relative to the connection direction.

6. An electrical contact as in claim 5 wherein the second direction is generally opposite to the first direction.

7. An electrical contact as in claim 3 wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the connection direction.

8. An electrical contact as in claim 7 wherein the second direction is generally opposite to the first direction.

9. An electrical contact as in claim 3 wherein the second electrical contact section comprises two of the second beams.

10. An electrical contact as in claim 9 wherein the two second contact beams are located on opposite sides of the first beam.

11. An electrical contact as in claim 3 wherein the second electrical contact section comprises a pair of two of the second beams for each first beam, and wherein each of the second beams are located at directly opposite sides of their respective first beam.