EP0406102A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Zero separation force connector
Assignee: Augat Inc
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Filing: 1990-06-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A zero separation force electrical connector (10) which utilizes resilient energy developed and stored during mating to demate the mated contacts and separate the connector with zero separation force. In one embodiment, the contacts of first (12) and second (14) housing members are mated in combination to provide the stored resilient energy for subsequent demating of the contacts and the respective housing members (12, 14) with zero separation force. The first housing member (12) includes male contacts (30) with tapered ends and the second housing member (14) includes female contacts (32) with spring fingers (34). A securing mechanism is utilized to mate the first and second housing members in combination. During mating the tapered ends (36) of the male contacts (30) coact with corresponding spring fingers (34) of the female contacts (32), biasing the fingers outwardly, to store resilient energy therein. Releasing the securing mechanism causes the resilient energy in the spring fingers (34) to be exerted against the tapered ends of the male contacts (30) to demate the contacts (30, 32) and separate the first and second housing members (12, 14) with zero separation force. In another embodiment, the electrical connector consists of a single housing member containing female contacts with spring fingers and a securing mechanism which is mated in combination with the male pin grid array of an electronic device such as a printed circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 William B. Walkup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/633; H01R13/635; H01R13/621; H01R13/6215; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A zero separation force electrical connector, comprising: a first housing member having a plurality of contact cavities; a second housing member having a plurality of contact cavities; a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed in said contact cavities of said first housing member and having means for coacting with corresponding contacts disposed in said second housing member; a second plurality of electrical contacts disposed in said contact cavities of said second housing member and having means for coacting with said coacting means of corresponding ones of said plurality of first contacts to develop and store a resilient force; and means associated with said first and second housing members and operable for securing said first housing member in mated combination with said second housing member; said securing means causing said coacting means of said first plurality of electrical contacts to mechanically and electrically engage said coacting means of said second plurality of electrical contacts to develop and store said resilient force therein; said resilient force stored in said coacting means of said second plurality of electrical contacts coacting against said coacting means of said first plurality of electrical contacts upon release of said securing means to demate said first and second pluralities of electrical contacts and to separate said first and second housing members with zero separation force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A zero separation force electrical connector, comprising: a first housing member having a plurality of contact cavities; a second housing member having a plurality of contact cavities; a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed in said contact cavities of said first housing member and having means for coacting with corresponding contacts disposed in said second housing member; a second plurality of electrical contacts disposed in said contact cavities of said second housing member and having means for coacting with said coacting means of corresponding ones of said plurality of first contacts to develop and store a resilient force; and means associated with said first and second housing members and operable for securing said first housing member in mated combination with said second housing member; said securing means causing said coacting means of said first plurality of electrical contacts to mechanically and electrically engage said coacting means of said second plurality of electrical contacts to develop and store said resilient force therein; said resilient force stored in said coacting means of said second plurality of electrical contacts coacting against said coacting means of said first plurality of electrical contacts upon release of said securing means to demate said first and second pluralities of electrical contacts and to separate said first and second housing members with zero separation force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The zero separation force electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of electrical contacts are male contacts and wherein said coacting means of each said male contact is a tapered end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The zero separation force electrical connector of claim 2 wherein each said tapered end of said male contacts is a conical end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The zero separation force electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of electrical contacts are female contacts and wherein said coacting means of each said female contact is a plurality of spring fingers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The zero separation force electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes: said first housing member having a threaded bore formed therein; said second housing member having a bore formed therethrough; and a screw configured to be inserted through said bore formed through said second housing member and threaded into said threaded bore formed in said first housing member to mate said second housing member in combination with said first housing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The zero separation force electrical connector of claim 1 further including: a shaped member depending outwardly from said first housing member; and said second housing member having a complementary shaped cavity configured to receive said shaped member; said shaped member coacting with said complementary shaped cavity to align said first and second housing members for mating in combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
173 words
A zero separation force electrical connector for mating with an electronic device, the electronic device including an externally projecting grid array of contact elements, comprising: a housing member having a plurality of contact cavities; a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in said contact cavities of said housing member and having means for coacting with the contacts elements of the externally projecting grid array of the electronic device to develop and store a resilient force; and means associated with said housing member and the electronic device and operable for securing said housing member in mated combination with the electronic device; said securing means causing coacting means of said plurality of electrical contacts to mechanically and electrically engage the contact elements of the externally projecting grid array to develop and store said resilient force; said stored resilient force providing for demating between said plurality of electrical contacts and the contact elements of the externally projecting grid array and zero force separation of said housing member from the electronic device upon release of said securing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
173 words
A zero separation force electrical connector for mating with an electronic device, the electronic device including an externally projecting grid array of contact elements, comprising: a housing member having a plurality of contact cavities; a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in said contact cavities of said housing member and having means for coacting with the contacts elements of the externally projecting grid array of the electronic device to develop and store a resilient force; and means associated with said housing member and the electronic device and operable for securing said housing member in mated combination with the electronic device; said securing means causing coacting means of said plurality of electrical contacts to mechanically and electrically engage the contact elements of the externally projecting grid array to develop and store said resilient force; said stored resilient force providing for demating between said plurality of electrical contacts and the contact elements of the externally projecting grid array and zero force separation of said housing member from the electronic device upon release of said securing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The zero separation force electrical connector of claim 7 wherein said plurality of electrical contacts are female contacts and wherein said coacting means of each said female contact is a plurality of spring fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The zero separation force electrical connector of claims 7 wherein said securing means comprises: said housing member having a bore formed therethrough; and a screw configured for insertion through said bore formed through said housing member; said screw threadingly engaging a threaded inset in the electronic device to mate said housing member in combination with the electronic device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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