EP0871261A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improvements in multi-pin electrical connector
Assignee: ABB Installation Products International LLC
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Filing: 1998-04-08
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2018-04-08
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly provides for connection between a mating connector and a printed circuit board. The assembly includes an elongate insulative housing having a connection face and an opposed mounting face. A plurality of elongate electrical contacts are supported within the housing. The contacts include connection ends adjacent the connection face and contact tails extending from the mounting face for insertion into through-holes of the printed circuit board. The contacts further define a securement member between the connection end and the opposed tail. The housing includes contact support members adjacent the mounting face. At least one of the contact support members is positioned at a location closer to the connection face than the other contact support members so as to position the connection end of at least one contact at a different longitudinal position than the other contacts. The contacts of the present invention may be stamped from a flat metal stamping at closer centers reducing the amount of scrap material. Furthermore, the connector may include a L-shaped connector securement clip for insertion into a mounting opening in the printed circuit board. The L-shaped securement clip includes a needle eye compliant section extending therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 Terrence S. Ward
- 👤 Bernard H. Hammond
- 👤 John T. Doyle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R43/00; H01R43/16; H01R12/7005; H01R12/7011; H01R12/7064; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/405; H01R13/415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of forming a plurality of electrical contacts comprising the steps of: providing a flat metal stamping strip of conductive material; stamping a contact pattern from said stamping strip, said contact pattern defining a
plurality of side-by side elongate contact elements, each contact element having a first
connection end, an opposed second connection end and a contact securement member
therebetween, said first connection end, said second connection end and said securement
member of one said contact element being in non-transverse alignment with an adjacent contact
element; reconfiguring said contact element to place said first connection end, said second
connection end and said securement members in transverse alignment
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said stamping step includes: defining said contact pattern so that said securement member extends in a transverse
direction such that said securement members of adjacent contacts elements overlap along a
longitudinal dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of claim 2 wherein said stamping step includes: defining said contact pattern such that said one of said contact elements has a greater
longitudinal length than said adjacent contact element
Claim 4
Independent Claim
27 words
A method of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said reconfiguring step includes:
jogging at least one portion of said one of said contact elements
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector comprising: an elongate insulative housing having a connection face for connection to a mating
connector and an opposed mounting face for securement to a printed circuit board; and a plurality of electrical contacts, said contacts having a connection end, an opposed tail
and a securement member therebetween, each said contact defining a substantially identical
contact expanse measured between said connection ends and said tails with said securement
members being located at a substantially identical location along said contact expense; said contacts being supported within said housing such that said connection ends are
positioned adjacent said connection face and said tails extend outwardly of said mounting
face for securement to said printed circuit board; said housing including contact support members adjacent said mounting face, at least one
of said contact support members being positioned at a location closer to connection face than the
other said contact support members so as to position said connection end of at least one contact
at a different longitudinal position than the other said contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical connector of claim 5 wherein said contact securement members include
transversely directed contact shoulders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said contact support members include support
surfaces for abutting engagement with said contact shoulders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electrical connector comprising: an elongate insulative housing having a connection face for connection to a mating
connector and an opposed mounting face for mounting to a printed circuit board; a plurality of electrical contacts supported in said housing, said contacts having a
connection end and an opposed tail extending from said mounting face for insertion into through-holes
in said printed circuit board; connector securement clips supported by said housing, each said connector securement
clip including an L-shaped component having a first portion extending along said mounting face
of said housing and a second portion extending at substantially a right angle therefrom for
insertion into a mounting opening in said printed circuit board, said connector securement clip
having a needle-eye compliant section extending along said first and said second portions of said
L-shaped component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said connector securement clip is electrically
conductive for establishing electrical connection between said printed circuit board and mating
connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said insulative housing includes housing feet
extending from said mounting surface as to space said mounting surface above said printed
circuit board so as to position said first portion of said L-shaped component off of said printed
circuit board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising: an elongate insulative housing having a connection face for connection with a mating
electrical connector and an opposed mounting face for securement adjacent a printed circuit
board; a plurality of elongate electrical contacts supported within said housing, said contacts
having an connection end adjacent said connection face and contact tails extending from said
mounting face for insertion into through holes in said printed circuit board; and an elongate connector spacer attachable to said mounting face of said insulative housing,
said spacer including passageways therein for permitting passage of said tails therethrough said
connector spacer spacing said insulative housing from said printed circuit board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector assembly of claim 11 wherein said passageways are defined by
passageway walls establishing electrical insolation between adjacent contact tails.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical connector assembly of claim 12 wherein said contacts include stabilizing
elements adjacent said tails, said stabilizing elements being in frictional engagement with said
passageway walls for stabling said tails extending therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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