EP0385019A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector having preloaded terminals and method of manufacture
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1989-04-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-04-28
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector (2) is disclosed which can electrically terminate flexible cable (200) to a printed circuit board (210). The connector includes an insulating housing (4) having a front mating face (14) and a plurality of terminal receiving cavities extending from the rear thereof, forwardly towards the front face (14). The terminals (150) are each provided with horizontal base sections (152), a retention leg 168 having a first contact portion (166) thereon. The terminals further comprise spring portions (158) having a second contact portion (164) opposed from the first contact portion (166). A lever section (162) extends from the spring portion (158). A cam actuator (100) is inserted within the connector housing (4) with individual cam sections (106) aligned with, and below, the lever sections (162) of the terminals. The cam actuator (100) is rotatable relative to the housing (4) to cam the terminals (150) open for insertion of the flexible cable (200). The cam actuator (100) has a plurality of windows in alignment with the plurality of lever sections (162) which allows for a greater rotation angle as the lever sections (162) pass through the windows (108).
Inventors
- 👤 Johannes Marcelus Broeksteeg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/82; H01R12/85; H01R12/88; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/592
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In an electrical connector for an electrical connection between a substrate (210) having printed circuits thereon, and to further conductive elements (202), where the connector (2) includes an insulating housing (4) comprising a plurality of terminal passageways (56) for receiving a plurality of edge stamped electrical terminals (150), and where the electrical terminals (150) have opposed contact members (164, 166) which effect the electrical connection with the further conductive elements (202), a method of manufacturing the terminals (150) is characterized by the steps of: edge stamping the terminals (150) to provide a horizontal base portion (152) with a spring arm (158) extending upwardly from the horizontal base portion (152), and an extension arm (168) extending from the horizontal base portion (152) at an acute angle relative to the horizontal base portion (152) and in an opposite direction from the spring arm (158), the extension arm (168) having a first contact member (166) extending upwardly therefrom towards the spring arm (158), and the spring arm (158) having a second contact member (164) thereon, which is spaced from the first contact portion (166); and subsequently bending the extension arm (168) towards the spring arm (158) to position the first (166) and second (164) contact portions in an opposed and facing relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In an electrical connector for an electrical connection between a substrate (210) having printed circuits thereon, and to further conductive elements (202), where the connector (2) includes an insulating housing (4) comprising a plurality of terminal passageways (56) for receiving a plurality of edge stamped electrical terminals (150), and where the electrical terminals (150) have opposed contact members (164, 166) which effect the electrical connection with the further conductive elements (202), a method of manufacturing the terminals (150) is characterized by the steps of: edge stamping the terminals (150) to provide a horizontal base portion (152) with a spring arm (158) extending upwardly from the horizontal base portion (152), and an extension arm (168) extending from the horizontal base portion (152) at an acute angle relative to the horizontal base portion (152) and in an opposite direction from the spring arm (158), the extension arm (168) having a first contact member (166) extending upwardly therefrom towards the spring arm (158), and the spring arm (158) having a second contact member (164) thereon, which is spaced from the first contact portion (166); and subsequently bending the extension arm (168) towards the spring arm (158) to position the first (166) and second (164) contact portions in an opposed and facing relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 characterized in that subsequent to the edge stamping, but prior to the bending of the extension arm (168), the first (166) and second (164) contact members are plated.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
39 words
The method of either of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the extension arm (168) is bent into the spring arm (158) in a dimension which preloads the first (166) and second (164) contact portions against each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical connector for use with any of the claims 1-4 characterized in that the housing (4) has a plurality of apertures (50) extending in the housing (4), where the extention arms (168) may reside.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical connector according to claim 4 characterized in that a substrate receiving slot (20) is integral with the housing (4) and extends above and transverse to the apertures (50).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical connector according to any of the claims 1-5 characterized in that the terminal receiving passageways (56) are defined by a floor (51) which extends forwardly to the apertures (50).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical connector according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the lower edge (178) of the horizontal base portion (152) is in abutment with the floor (51).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector of any of the preceding claims characterized in that each of the terminals (150) includes a weakened section (170) between the horizontal base portion (152) and the extension arm (168) to facilitate bending.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical connector of any of the preceding claims characterized in that the floor (51) extends behind the weakened section (170) of the terminals (150).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrical connector of any of the preceding claims characterized in that the upper edges of the extension arms (168) are in abutment with the upper surfaces of the apertures (50), thereby preventing anti-rotation of the extension arm (168) relative to the horizontal base section (52).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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