Power connectors with contact-retention features

• US 7,762,857 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Houtz, Timothy W., Ngo, Hung Viet
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi; Ross N
• Application Number:
  US12/109,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 439/856, 439/857, 439744-748, 439/871, 439/872
• US Class Current: 439/856
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/432 by stamped-out resilient tongue snapping behind shoulder in base or case

Abstract

A power receptacle contact may include first and second contact beams that deflect independently of one another during mating of the power receptacle contact with a complementary blade contact. Each beam may extend from abutting respective body portions. The power receptacle contact may include a first clip that extends from the first contact beam. The first clip may define a blade receiving area between the first and second contact beams. A power connector may include a housing and a contact received in the housing. The contact may includes first and second protrusions that prevent the contact from moving in a first direction relative to the housing and in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Claims

1. A power contact configured to be inserted in a connector housing, the power contact, comprising:

first and second abutting body portions, the body portions defining opposing upper and lower ends;

a plurality of fingers extending in a first direction from the body portions, the plurality of fingers including angled contact beams and straight contact beams, wherein the fingers are configured to mate with a complementary power contact;

first and second contact beams each extending from the respective body portions in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the first and second contact beams extend from the connector housing when the power contact is inserted in the connector housing, and the first and second contact beams combine to mate with a faston contact; and

a projection extending outward from the upper and lower ends of the body portions in a direction angled with respect to the first and second directions, the projection configured to engage a lip of the connector housing so as to prevent the contact from being removed from the connector housing along the second direction.

2. The power contact of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact beams deflect independently of one another during mating of the power receptacle contact with a complementary blade contact.

3. The power contact of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact beams are part of respective contact halves and wherein the contact half associated with the first contact beam is substantially identical to the contact half associated with the second contact beam.

4. The power contact of claim 1, wherein the first contact beam is offset from a center line of the body portion from which the first contact beam extends.

5. The power contact of claim 1, wherein the first contact beam is offset from a vertical plane defined by a surface of the body portion from which the first contact beam extends.

6. The power contact of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact beams are configured to receive a male contact of another connector.

7. The power contact of claim 1, further comprising a clip extending from the first contact beam and defining a blade receiving area between the first and second contact beams.

8. The power contact of claim 7, wherein an edge of the clip overlaps or abuts the second contact beam.

9. The power contact of claim 7, wherein the clip defines a forward surface configured to engage the housing so as to limit insertion of the contact into the housing.

10. A power connector, comprising:

a housing; and

a contact received in the housing, wherein the contact comprises first and second planar body portions, first and second contact beams extending in a first direction from the first and second body portions, respectively, a plurality of second contact beams extending from the body portions and through the housing in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, a protrusion extending from the body portion and configured to abut the housing when a first force is applied to the contact in the first direction, and a clip connected between the first and second contact beams, wherein the clip is configured to abut the housing when a second force is applied to the contact in the second direction.

11. The power connector of claim 10, wherein the protrusion is angled outward from the planar body portion.

12. The power connector of claim 10, wherein the contact includes first and second substantially identical abutting halves.

13. The power connector of claim 10, further comprising a shroud received by the housing, wherein the shroud surrounds the contact beam.

14. The power connector of claim 13, wherein the shroud defines a bar that engages a projection of the housing.

15. The power connector of claim 10, wherein the first and second contact beams are configured to receive a male contact of another connector.

16. The power connector of claim 10, further comprising a pair of projections extending from the housing and defining a contact-receiving space therebetween that is configured to receive the plurality of second contact beams, wherein first and second surfaces of at least one of the projections defines first and second respective stop configured to abut the protrusion and the clip, respectively.

17. A power contact configured to be inserted in a connector housing, the power contact, comprising:

first and second abutting body portions, the body portions defining opposing upper and lower ends;

a plurality of fingers extending in a first direction from the body portions, the plurality of fingers configured to mate with a complementary power contact;

first and second contact beams each extending from the respective body portions in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a projection extending outward from the upper and lower ends of the body portions in a direction angled with respect to the first and second directions, the projection configured to engage a lip of the connector housing so as to prevent the contact from being removed from the connector housing along the second direction; and

a clip extending from the first contact beam and defining a blade receiving area between the first and second contact beams.

18. The power contact of claim 17, wherein an edge of the clip overlaps or abuts the second contact beam.

19. The power contact of claim 17, wherein the clip defines a forward surface configured to engage the housing so as to limit insertion of the contact into the housing.

20. A power contact configured to be inserted in a connector housing, the power contact, comprising:

first and second abutting body portions, the body portions defining opposing upper and lower ends;

a plurality of fingers extending in a first direction from the body portions, the plurality of fingers configured to mate with a complementary power contact;

first and second contact beams each extending from the respective body portions in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a projection extending outward from the upper and lower ends of the body portions in a direction angled with respect to the first and second directions, the projection configured to engage a lip of the connector housing so as to prevent the contact from being removed from the connector housing along the second direction,

wherein the first and second contact beams deflect independently of one another during mating of the power receptacle contact with a complementary blade contact.

21. A power contact configured to be inserted in a connector housing, the power contact, comprising:

first and second abutting body portions, the body portions defining opposing upper and lower ends;

a plurality of fingers extending in a first direction from the body portions, the plurality of fingers configured to mate with a complementary power contact;

first and second contact beams each extending from the respective body portions in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a projection extending outward from the upper and lower ends of the body portions in a direction angled with respect to the first and second directions, the projection configured to engage a lip of the connector housing so as to prevent the contact from being removed from the connector housing along the second direction,

wherein the first contact beam is offset from a vertical plane defined by a surface of the body portion from which the first contact beam extends.

22. A power contact configured to be inserted in a connector housing, the power contact, comprising:

first and second abutting body portions, the body portions defining opposing upper and lower ends;

a plurality of fingers extending in a first direction from the body portions, the plurality of fingers configured to mate with a complementary power contact;

first and second contact beams each extending from the respective body portions in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the first and second contact beams are configured to receive a male contact of another connector;

a projection extending outward from the upper and lower ends of the body portions in a direction angled with respect to the first and second directions, the projection configured to engage a lip of the connector housing so as to prevent the contact from being removed from the connector housing along the second direction.