Adapter apparatus with deflectable element socket contacts
First Claim
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1. An adapter apparatus comprising:
- a substrate having a pin receiving side and a connection side opposite the pin receiving side, wherein a plurality of openings are defined through the substrate between the pin receiving side and the connection side, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings comprises;
a center pin receiving region extending along at least a portion of an axis of the opening, wherein the center pin receiving region is defined by two opposing surfaces located along the axis, wherein the center pin receiving region comprises a cross-section area orthogonal to the axis that is greater than the cross-section area of a male pin receivable therein, andfirst and second deflection regions, wherein each of the first and second deflection regions are defined by one or more deflection region surfaces opposite the other and adjacent the two opposing surfaces located along the axis and defining the center pin receiving region, wherein each of the first and second deflection regions comprises a cross-section area orthogonal to the axis and adjacent the center pin receiving region that is less than the cross-sectional area of the pin receiving region; and
a plurality of deflectable element socket contacts, wherein each of the plurality of deflectable element socket contacts is provided within a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings, and further wherein each of the plurality of deflectable element socket contacts comprises;
an end connection portion, andfirst and second deflectable elements, wherein the first deflectable element is coupled to the end connection portion and provided at least partially in the first deflection region with a portion thereof in contact with at least a portion of the one or more deflection region surfaces defining the first deflection region, wherein the second deflectable element is coupled to the end connection portion and provided at least partially in the second deflection region with a portion thereof in contact with at least a portion of the one or more deflection region surfaces defining the second deflection region, wherein the first and second deflectable elements are configured to deflect within the first and second deflection regions, respectively, when the male pin is received in the center pin receiving region and in contact between the first and second deflectable elements, wherein each of the first and second deflectable elements is flat and comprises a thickness that is less than a diameter of the male pin receivable in the center pin receiving region.
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Abstract
An adapter apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough. Further, a deflectable element socket contact is provided in each of the openings. When a conductive male pin is positioned in contact between first and second deflectable elements of the deflectable element socket contact, at least a portion of the first and second deflectable elements are caused to deflect within first and second deflection regions, respectively, of the defined opening.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An adapter apparatus comprising:
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a substrate having a pin receiving side and a connection side opposite the pin receiving side, wherein a plurality of openings are defined through the substrate between the pin receiving side and the connection side, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings comprises; a center pin receiving region extending along at least a portion of an axis of the opening, wherein the center pin receiving region is defined by two opposing surfaces located along the axis, wherein the center pin receiving region comprises a cross-section area orthogonal to the axis that is greater than the cross-section area of a male pin receivable therein, and first and second deflection regions, wherein each of the first and second deflection regions are defined by one or more deflection region surfaces opposite the other and adjacent the two opposing surfaces located along the axis and defining the center pin receiving region, wherein each of the first and second deflection regions comprises a cross-section area orthogonal to the axis and adjacent the center pin receiving region that is less than the cross-sectional area of the pin receiving region; and a plurality of deflectable element socket contacts, wherein each of the plurality of deflectable element socket contacts is provided within a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings, and further wherein each of the plurality of deflectable element socket contacts comprises; an end connection portion, and first and second deflectable elements, wherein the first deflectable element is coupled to the end connection portion and provided at least partially in the first deflection region with a portion thereof in contact with at least a portion of the one or more deflection region surfaces defining the first deflection region, wherein the second deflectable element is coupled to the end connection portion and provided at least partially in the second deflection region with a portion thereof in contact with at least a portion of the one or more deflection region surfaces defining the second deflection region, wherein the first and second deflectable elements are configured to deflect within the first and second deflection regions, respectively, when the male pin is received in the center pin receiving region and in contact between the first and second deflectable elements, wherein each of the first and second deflectable elements is flat and comprises a thickness that is less than a diameter of the male pin receivable in the center pin receiving region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19)
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12. A method for use in forming an adapter apparatus, wherein the method comprises:
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providing a substrate having a pin receiving side and a connection side opposite the pin receiving side, wherein a plurality of openings are defined through the substrate between the pin receiving side and the connection side, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings comprises; a center pin receiving region extending along at least a portion of an axis of the opening, wherein the center pin receiving region is defined by two opposing surfaces located along the axis, wherein the center pin receiving region comprises a cross-section area orthogonal to the axis that is greater than the cross-section area of a male pin receivable therein, and first and second deflection regions, wherein each of the first and second deflection regions are defined by one or more deflection region surfaces opposite the other and adjacent the two opposing surfaces located along the axis and defining the center pin receiving region, wherein each of the first and second deflection regions comprises a cross-section area orthogonal to the axis and adjacent the center pin receiving region that is less than the cross-sectional area of the pin receiving region; inserting a deflectable element socket contact into each of the plurality of openings, wherein the deflectable element socket contact comprises; an end connection portion, and first and second deflectable elements, wherein the first deflectable element is coupled to the end connection portion and provided at least partially in the first deflection region with a portion thereof in contact with at least a portion of the one or more deflection region surfaces defining the first deflection region, wherein the second deflectable element is coupled to the end connection portion and provided at least partially in the second deflection region with a portion thereof in contact with at least a portion of the one or more deflection region surfaces defining the second deflection region, wherein each of the first and second deflectable elements is flat and comprises a thickness that is less than a diameter of the male pin receivable in the center pin receiving region; and positioning a conductive male pin in contact between the first and second deflectable elements causing at least a portion of the first and second deflectable elements to deflect within the first and second deflection regions, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification