US3631381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple electrical connector
Assignee: Industrial Electronic Hardware Corp
•
Filing: 1970-04-02
•
Granted: 1971-12-28
•
Expires: 1990-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A multiple electrical connector for a printed-circuit board embodying a receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving a printed-circuit board and contact elements spaced from one another along said receptacle trough, featured by contact elements formed in the flat as from a sheet of conductive material and each comprising a base and a pair of spring legs of different lengths extending up from the base, the contact element being positioned in the receptacle in a plane normal to the plane of the printed-circuit board. The spring legs provide a redundancy in that the legs function independently to provide an electrical connection to the contact areas of the board and have independent deflection and resonant frequencies.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert B Pittman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 1, in which the two spring legs of the contact element have different resonant frequencies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 1, in which the base of the contact element is fOrmed with a slot between the spring legs configured to determine different contact pressure or load characteristics that may be applied to said legs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 1, in which the base of the contact element is formed with lateral protuberances for engaging walls at the base of the receptacle for mounting and retaining the contact element in the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a multiple electrical connector for a printed-circuit board comprising a receptacle having an open-topped trough for receiving a printed-circuit board having conductive contact areas, a contact element adapted to be received by said receptacle for connection to the conductive areas of said board, said contact element being formed from a sheet of conductive material and comprising a base and inner and outer spring legs extending up from the base, said sheet-formed contact element being positionable in said receptacle in a plane normal to the plane of the printed circuit board received therein, said base extending laterally outwardly beyond said outer spring leg and being relatively snugly received in said receptacle, a substantial lateral clearance being defined between said receptacle and said outer leg, one of the spring legs being longer than the other and the two spring legs having laterally extending portions adapted to engage the contact areas on the board, each of said spring legs functioning independently to provide an electrical connection with the contact area on the board, and the said spring legs having deflection properties one independently of the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The contact element of claim 5, in which the two spring legs have different resonant frequencies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The contact element of claim 5, in which the base of the contact element is formed with a slot between the spring legs configured to determine different contact pressure or load characteristics that may be applied to said legs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The contact element of claim 5, in which the base of the contact element is formed with lateral protuberances for engaging walls at the base of the receptacle for mounting and retaining the contact element in the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 1, in which said base engages said receptacle with an interference fit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 1, in which said base extends laterally inwardly beyond said inner spring leg.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 1, in which when said base is received in said receptacle said inner leg is located outwardly of said trough but the laterally extending portion of said inner leg extends into said trough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 5, in which said base engages said receptacle with an interference fit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 5, in which said base extends laterally inwardly beyond said inner spring leg.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The multiple electrical connector of claim 5, in which when said base is received in said receptacle said inner leg is located outwardly of said trough but the laterally extending portion of said inner leg extends into said trough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |