EP0142922A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hingeable electrical connector
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1984-09-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-09-21
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly (10) establishes electrical contact and hingeable connection between a pair of circuit boards (20). The assembly comprises pairs of mating terminals (14, 16) each adapted to form electrical contact with a respective one of the circuit elements (24, 25). The terminals co-operate to permit the hinging movements and the hinge axis (64) is formed between dielectric housing parts (50, 52), formed with recesses (54) which receive and bias the terminals (14, 16) into electrical contact with one another, by means of trunnions (62) on one housing part (50) and yoke arms (68) journalling the trunnions.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Bamford
- 👤 Yasuhiro Ichijo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R35/00; H01R35/04; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An electrical connector assembly (10) for establishing electrical contact between a pair of circuit elements (20), the connector assembly comprising a pair of mating terminals (14, 16) each adapted to form electrical contact with a respective one of the circuit elements, the terminals co-operating to permit the elements to be pivoted one with respect to the other along an axis of rotation (64), characterised in that each of the terminals (14, 16) has a generally plate-like contact portion (32) defining a contact surface oriented substantially normally to the axis of the rotation (64); and by means (46, 54) for biasing the contact surfaces together in rotatable electrical interengagement; a multi-piece dielectric housing (12) with said terminals received and supported each in a respective housing piece (50, 52); and means (62, 68) for releasably joining said housing pieces together for pivotal movement one with respect to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An electrical connector assembly (10) for establishing electrical contact between a pair of circuit elements (20), the connector assembly comprising a pair of mating terminals (14, 16) each adapted to form electrical contact with a respective one of the circuit elements, the terminals co-operating to permit the elements to be pivoted one with respect to the other along an axis of rotation (64), characterised in that each of the terminals (14, 16) has a generally plate-like contact portion (32) defining a contact surface oriented substantially normally to the axis of the rotation (64); and by means (46, 54) for biasing the contact surfaces together in rotatable electrical interengagement; a multi-piece dielectric housing (12) with said terminals received and supported each in a respective housing piece (50, 52); and means (62, 68) for releasably joining said housing pieces together for pivotal movement one with respect to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said joining means includes a pair of trunnions (62) formed integrally with one of said housing pieces (50) and a yoke (66) formed integrally with the other of said housing pieces (52) for receiving the trunnions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein the yoke (66) is resiliently deformable such that the trunnions (62) are force fittable in the yoke.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein one of the terminals (14) is formed with a reversely bent plate (38) defining a double-walled female contact portion (40) for receiving the contact portion (32) of the other mating terminal (16).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the contact portion of said one terminal (14) comprises a protrusion (46) extending in a direction generally normally of the surface of the contact portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector assembly of claim 5 wherein the protrusion is positioned centrally of the axis of rotation (64) of the terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The connector assembly of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said dielectric housing includes a recess (54) therein for receiving the female contact portion (14) of the terminal, and the two walls of the female contact portion are closely spaced one to another and the contact portion (32) of the other terminal (16) is receivable between said walls in sliding contact therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The connector assembly of claim 7 wherein the recess (54) for receiving the female contact portion of the terminal is so configured as to maintain the two walls of the contact portion in said closely spaced disposition upon insertion of the other contact portion (32) therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein said circuit elements (20) are circuit boards each having a circuit path defined thereon and the terminals are each adapted to be electrically connectable to a circuit path (24) defined on one of the circuit boards.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3601746A
Cited
GB2027293A
Cited
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