Deformable pin connector for multiple PC boards

• US 5,761,050 A
• Filed: 08/23/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Archer, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): SPARKS, DONALD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/702,348
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 174/138 G, 361/735, 361/744, 361/790, 361/791, 439/45, 439/46, 439/75, 439/82, 439/870, 439/751, 439/943, 439/109, 29/838, 29/837, 29/845, 324/755, 324/756, 324/761, 324/765, 324/538, 411/500
• US Class Current: 361/791
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/523 by an interconnection through aligned holes in the boards or multilayer board
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/585 Terminals having a press fit or a compliant portion and a shank passing through a hole in the printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10303 Pin-in-hole mounted pins
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1059 Connections made by press-fit insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10856 Divided leads, e.g. by slot in length direction of lead, or by branching of the lead
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/308 Adaptations of leads connectors to printed circuits H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/368 parallel to each other H05K3/361 takes precedence

Abstract

A press-fit or compliant section or deformable pin electrical connector. The connector is designed to be inserted into several plated through holes in printed circuit boards. Specifically, the pin connector can electrically and mechanically connect two or more printed circuit boards (PCBs). Uniquely, it is possible to have a single pin that is both electrically and mechanically connected to two PCBs and have the pin extending through a plated through hole of a third PCB without establishing any electrical or mechanical contact with the third PCB. Additionally, the pin has at least two compliant sections for press fitting into a plated through-hole in a PCB or the like. Each compliant section has a different size diameter. Specifically, the top compliant section is the smallest, the bottom compliant section is the largest in diameter, and the remaining compliant sections will gradually increase in size as they are located from the tip to the base of the pin.

Claims

1. A combination connector pin and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, comprising:

a) a first, second, and third PCB each having a hole therein, the first PCB having the hole being smaller than the second and third PCB holes and the second PCB having the hole smaller than the third PCB hole, wherein the holes are designed to fit deformable connector pin heads to press therein;

b) a multiple headed deformable connector pin, having;

b1) a shaft having a first and second end;

b2) a first and second head;

b3) the first head having a smaller width than the second head;

b4) the first head located near the first end; and

b5) the second head located near the second end; and

c) the first head is deformably held within the first hole, the second head is deformably held within the second hole, and the shaft extends through the third PCB without making electrical contact therewith.

2. The combination connector pin and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second heads having portions therein defining a hole in each head.

3. The combination connector pin and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of claim 2, wherein the third PCB is located between the first and second PCB.

4. The combination connector pin and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of claim 3, wherein the all connector holes in the first PCB are a same size.

5. The combination connector pin and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of claim 4, wherein all the connector holes in the second PCB are a same size.

6. The combination connector pin and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of claim 5, wherein all the connector holes in the third PCB are a same size.