Electrical connector with stress-distribution features
First Claim
1. An electrical connector capable of being mounted on a substrate, the electrical connector comprising:
- a housing defining a housing surface; and
a contact mounted in the housing, the contact comprising a body, a plurality of terminal pins extending from a first edge of the body and capable of being received by penetrations in the substrate, and a plurality of contact beams extending from a second edge of the body, wherein at least a portion of one of the contact beams is spaced from the housing surface by a gap of no more than 0.002 inch when the electrical connector is not mounted on the substrate such that engagement between the at least a portion of one of the contact beams and the housing surface limits bowing of the contact as the terminal pins are press-fit mounted into the substrate.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector capable of being mounted onto a substrate is disclosed. Such a connector may include a housing, and a contact mounted within the housing. The contact may include a body, terminal pins extending from a first edge of the body, contact beams extending from a second edge of the body, and a flared portion. The edges of a first contact beam and a second contact beam of the contact beams may be positioned proximate respective adjacent surfaces of the housing. The flared portion may also be positioned proximate a respective adjacent surface of the housing. The relationship between the first contact beam and its respective adjacent surface, the relationship between the second contact beam and its respective adjacent surface, and the relationship between the flared portion and its respective surface may inhibit bowing of the body of the contact when the connector is mounted on the substrate.
348 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electrical connector capable of being mounted on a substrate, the electrical connector comprising:
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a housing defining a housing surface; and a contact mounted in the housing, the contact comprising a body, a plurality of terminal pins extending from a first edge of the body and capable of being received by penetrations in the substrate, and a plurality of contact beams extending from a second edge of the body, wherein at least a portion of one of the contact beams is spaced from the housing surface by a gap of no more than 0.002 inch when the electrical connector is not mounted on the substrate such that engagement between the at least a portion of one of the contact beams and the housing surface limits bowing of the contact as the terminal pins are press-fit mounted into the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical connector capable of being mounted on a substrate, the electrical connector comprising:
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a housing defining a housing surface; and a contact mounted in the housing, the contact comprising a body, a plurality of terminal pins extending from a first edge of the body and capable of being received by penetrations in the substrate, and a plurality of contact beams extending from a second edge of the body, wherein the body includes a flared portion, the flared portion being spaced from the housing surface by a gap of no more than 0.002 inch when the electrical connector is not mounted on the substrate such that the flared portion engages the housing surface to limit bowing of the contact as the terminal pins are press-fit mounted into the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of restricting bowing in an electrical connector configured for connection to a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing defining opposing first and housing surfaces; and disposing a contact in the housing, wherein the contact includes a contact body having opposing first and second edges, a plurality of terminal pins extending from the first edge, and a plurality of contact beams extending from the second edge, such that first and second contact beams of the plurality of contact beams are spaced from the first and second housing surfaces, respectively, by a gap of no more than 0.002 inch; press-fitting the terminal pins into the substrate so as to mount the electrical connector onto the substrate; and during the press-fitting step, causing the first and second contact beams to engage the first and second housing surfaces so as to limit bowing of the contact. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An electrical connector capable of being mounted on a substrate, the electrical connector comprising:
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a housing defining a housing surface; and a contact mounted in the housing, the contact comprising a body, a plurality of terminal pins extending from a first edge of the body and capable of being received by penetrations in the substrate, and a plurality of contact beams extending from a second edge of the body, wherein at least one of the contact beams engages the housing surface as the terminal pins are press-fit into the substrate so as to cause each of the terminal pins to receive a substantially equal force as the terminal pins are press-fit mounted into the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrical connector capable of being mounted on a substrate, the electrical connector comprising:
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a housing defining a housing surface; and a contact mounted in the housing, the contact comprising a body, a plurality of terminal pins extending from a first edge of the body and capable of being received by penetrations in the substrate, and a plurality of contact beams extending from a second edge of the body, wherein engagement between one of the contact beams and the housing causes the terminal pins to extend into the penetrations in the substrate at a substantially constant depth when the terminal pins are press-fit mounted into the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification