Patent US3646504A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3646504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-17
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-10-17
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector for printed circuit boards consisting of a series of contact members each having a curved contact section extending into the recess in an insulating block of generally cubical shape in which the printed circuit board is inserted and an external section provided with an integral terminal portion. The metallic contact member is in the form of an open loop and, being resilient, is mounted about the outer surface of the insulating block by spreading the ends of the loop to clear the locking protuberance formed on the bottom of said block. The curved contact section of the contact member forms a beam, the lower end of which is free to move as the beam is deformed by the insertion of the printed circuit board, and the pressure on the board contact or terminal decreases as the beam is deflected. As the circuit board is inserted into or withdrawn from the connector, the wiping action provides for good contact surfaces on the opposing contacts, and the withdrawal force required is greater than the force required to insert the circuit board in the connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin O Classon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A multiple contact connector, comprising: an insulating block of generally cubical shape having a central recess with inside surfaces for receiving a conductor bearing terminal board; a plurality of planar contact members each in the form of an open loop having upper and lower arcuate end portions disposed on opposite ends of a straight intermediate portion; separate end portions extending from said upper arcuate end portions disposed inside said recess; said block being grooved to position said contact members side by side on the outside surface of said block and said block having rounded upper and lower protuberances about which said upper and lower arcuate end portion snap for removably retaining said contact members thereon; the inside end portions of each contact member being arched at the point of contact with said terminal board to provide a positive wiping contact with the conductors thereon; and offset end portions connected to said arched inside end portions having sliding contact with said inside surface of said recess for supporting said arched inside end portions and for further removably retaining said contact members upon said block.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A multiple contact connector, comprising: an insulating block of generally cubical shape having a central recess with inside surfaces for receiving a conductor bearing terminal board; a plurality of planar contact members each in the form of an open loop having upper and lower arcuate end portions disposed on opposite ends of a straight intermediate portion; separate end portions extending from said upper arcuate end portions disposed inside said recess; said block being grooved to position said contact members side by side on the outside surface of said block and said block having rounded upper and lower protuberances about which said upper and lower arcuate end portion snap for removably retaining said contact members thereon; the inside end portions of each contact member being arched at the point of contact with said terminal board to provide a positive wiping contact with the conductors thereon; and offset end portions connected to said arched inside end portions having sliding contact with said inside surface of said recess for supporting said arched inside end portions and for further removably retaining said contact members upon said block.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A multiple contact connector according to claim 1, in which said contact members are removably retained in position on said insulating block by the four point spring contact thereof including the contact of the offset end portions connected to said arched inside end portions, the contact of said upper arched portions about said upper rounded protuberances, the contact of said straight intermediate portions along said outside surface of said insulating block, and the contact of said lower arcuate portions about said lower rounded protuberances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A multiple contact connector according to claim 2, in which the contact members are arranged in two rows with the inside end portions thereof mounted on opposite inside surfaces of the central recess in said insulating block, and the arched sections of at least one opposing pair of contacts are in electrical contact when the terminal board is removed from the connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
A multiple contact connector, comprising: an insulating block of generally cubical shape having a central recess of rectangular cross section opening into the top face of said block to receive a terminal board; said block having rounded protuberances on at least one upper and lower outside edge thereof adjacent to and opposite the opening of said central recess; contact members on said insulating block; said contact members each including an arched contact section extending within said recess; a flattened end portion extending from said arched contact section of each contact member within said recess for slidable contact with the inside surface of said recess when the arched contact section of the contact member is depressed by the insertion of a terminal board in said connector; said contact members each including an open loop having upper and lower arcuate portions engaging said upper and lower rounded protuberances on said block joined by a straight intermediate portion, wherein said upper and lower arcuate portions and said flattened end portions removably snap assemble said contact members in place upon said block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
A multiple contact connector, comprising: an insulating block of generally cubical shape having a central recess of rectangular cross section opening into the top face of said block to receive a terminal board; said block having rounded protuberances on at least one upper and lower outside edge thereof adjacent to and opposite the opening of said central recess; contact members on said insulating block; said contact members each including an arched contact section extending within said recess; a flattened end portion extending from said arched contact section of each contact member within said recess for slidable contact with the inside surface of said recess when the arched contact section of the contact member is depressed by the insertion of a terminal board in said connector; said contact members each including an open loop having upper and lower arcuate portions engaging said upper and lower rounded protuberances on said block joined by a straight intermediate portion, wherein said upper and lower arcuate portions and said flattened end portions removably snap assemble said contact members in place upon said block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
189 words
An electrical connectoR, comprising; an insulating cubical block with inner surfaces forming a recess in an upper surface, side surfaces, a lower surface, and rounded protuberances at the jointure of said upper and lower surfaces with said side surfaces; contact members to be removably mounted upon said insulating block; said contact members each including: an end portion slidably engaging said inner surfaces of said insulating block of the electrical connector; an arched portion integral with said end portion; a curved portion integral with said arched portion engaging said rounded protuberance at the jointure of said upper surface and side surface; a straight intermediate portion integral with said curved portion engaging said side surface; a second curved portion integral with said intermediate portion engaging said rounded protuberance at the jointure of said lower surface and said side surface thereby interacting with said first mentioned curved portion for demountably securing said contact member to said insulating block through the four point contact therewith of said end portion, first curved portion, intermediate portion and second curved portion; and a terminal end portion integral with said second curved portion of the contact member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
189 words
An electrical connectoR, comprising; an insulating cubical block with inner surfaces forming a recess in an upper surface, side surfaces, a lower surface, and rounded protuberances at the jointure of said upper and lower surfaces with said side surfaces; contact members to be removably mounted upon said insulating block; said contact members each including: an end portion slidably engaging said inner surfaces of said insulating block of the electrical connector; an arched portion integral with said end portion; a curved portion integral with said arched portion engaging said rounded protuberance at the jointure of said upper surface and side surface; a straight intermediate portion integral with said curved portion engaging said side surface; a second curved portion integral with said intermediate portion engaging said rounded protuberance at the jointure of said lower surface and said side surface thereby interacting with said first mentioned curved portion for demountably securing said contact member to said insulating block through the four point contact therewith of said end portion, first curved portion, intermediate portion and second curved portion; and a terminal end portion integral with said second curved portion of the contact member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A multiple contact connector according to claim 4, additionally comprising: a skirt section in the form of a flat plate integral with one end of said contact members beyond said lower arcuate portions for supporting said contact members in accurate alignment and for snap assembling said contact members in said insulating block; and said contact members being scored adjacent the point of attachment to said skirt section to facilitate separation of the contact members from said skirt section after said snap assembling for permitting individual disassembly of said contact members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |