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EP0568971A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical connector with contact anti-overstress means

Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1993-05-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-05-04
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Abstract

Abstract An anti-overstress system is provided in an electrical connector (10) which includes a dielectric housing (12) having a contact-receiving cavity (16) with a slot (18) communicating the cavity with a mating surface (20) on the outside of the housing. A contact (14) is received in the cavity and includes a cantilevered spring contact arm (26) disposed in the slot. The arm has a contacting portion (30) projecting beyond the mating surface of the housing for engagement with a complementary contact (62) of the mating connector (64). The spring contact arm flexes in the slot upon engagement of the contacting portion by the complementary contact. The anti-overstress system is provided between the contact and the housing and includes a pair of wings (48) projecting from opposite sides of the spring contact arm (26) engageable with a pair of ledges (22) formed in opposite sides of the slot (18) after a given amount of flexing of the spring contact arm.

Inventors

  • 👤 Mathew Wilhite

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2442; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714; H01R13/26; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
In an electrical connector (10) which includes a dielectric housing (12) having a contact-receiving cavity (16) with a slot (18) communicating the cavity with a mating surface (20) of the housing, and a contact ((14) received in the cavity with a cantilevered spring contact arm (26) disposed in the slot and having a contacting portion (30) projecting beyond the mating surface for engagement with a complementary contact (62) of a mating connector (64), whereby the spring contact arm (26) flexes in the slot upon engagement of the contacting portion by the complementary contact, the improvement comprising anti-overstress means (22, 48) between the contact and the housing including at least one projection (48) extending outwardly of the spring contact arm (26) and stop surface means (22) on the housing (12) for abutment by the projection after a given amount of flexing of the spring contact arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 26 words
In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop surface means comprises a ledge (22) in a side of said slot (18).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said projection comprises one of a pair of wings (48) projecting from opposite sides of the spring contact arm (26).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 3, wherein said stop surface means comprise a pair of ledges (22) in opposite sides of said slot (18).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 47 words
In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contact (14) is generally U-shaped with the spring contact arm being defined by one leg (26) of the U-shape and the other leg (28) defining a contact base fixed in the cavity in the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein said contacting portion is defined by a bent crest portion (30) intermediate the ends of the arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein said projection (48) is located between the crest portion (30) and a juncture (38) of the spring contact arm (26) and the other leg (28) of the U-shaped contact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
In an electrical connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein the distal end (32) of the spring contact arm (26) is located under a shoulder (48) of the housing, with the spring arm in a partially flexed condition, to preload the contact.

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