Electrical connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector for interfacing terminals along one edge of a printed circuit board and contact pins having external circuits connected thereto, comprising: an electrically nonconductive core having opposite edges, one edge being formed to edge-connect with the printed circuit board, and one side with a recess formed therein extending from adjacent said one edge to the other edge; a contact spring having bifurcated arms positioned in said recess, the distal ends of said arms being adjacent to said other edge of said core, and a base portion extending from said one edge of said core and forming a contact point thereon engageable by a selected one of the terminals of the printed circuit board; and an electrically nonconductive retaining means removably connected to said core and said spring for retaining said spring within said recess.

Claim 3

A connector according to claim 1 wherein said arms are inclined toward each other from the base portion and from the distal ends to form contacts displaced from each other along the length of said arms.

Claim 4

A connector according to claim 2 further comprising: an alignment pin held in said core and extending outwardly from said one edge of said core and positioned to insert in a corresponding hole in the one edge of the printed circuit board.

Claim 5

A connector according to claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises: a cover slidable over said edge of said core for retaining said spring in said recess and having an opening therein registering with the distal ends of said arms for receiving a contact pin therebetween.

Claim 6

An electrical connector for interfacing a printed circuit board having a plurality of terminals along a ribbed edge thereof and a contact pin block having a plurality of pins connected to discrete external circuits, comprising: an electrically nonconductive core having opposite edges, one edge being formed to edge-connect with the ribbed edge of the printed circuit board, and parallel sides each having a plurality of recesses formed therein extending from adjacent said one edge to the other edge; contact springs each having bifurcated arms positioned in respective ones of said recesses, the distal ends of said arms being adjacent to said other edge of said core, and each having a base portion extending from said one edge of said core and forming a contact point thereon engageable by a selected one of the terminals of the printed circuit board; and an electrically nonconductive retaining means connected to said core and said springs for retaining said springs within said recesses.

Claim 7

An electrical connector for interfacing a printed circuit board having a plurality of terminals along a ribbed edge thereof and a contact pin block having a plurality of pins connected to discrete external circuits, comprising: an electrically nonconductive core having opposite edges, one edge being formed to edge-connect with the ribbed edge of the printed circuit board, and parallel sides each having a plurality of recesses formed therein extending from adjacent said one edge to the other edge; contact springs each having bifurcated arms positioned in respective ones of said recesses, the distal ends of said arms being adjacent to said other edge of said core, and each having a base portion extending from said one edge of said core and forming a contact point thereon engageable by a selected one of the terminals of the printed circuit board; and an electrically nonconductive retaining means connected to said core and said springs for retaining said springs within said recesses.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the arms of each of said springs are inclined toward each other from the base portion and the distal ends to form contacts displaced from each other along the length of said arms.

Claim 9

A connector according to claim 6 wherein said retaining means comprises: a cover slidable over said other edge of said core for retaining said springs in said recesses and having openings therein registering with the distal ends of respective ones of said arms for receiving the pins of said contact pin block therebetween.

Claim 10

A connector according to claim 7 further comprising: a plurality of alignment pins held in said core and extending outwardly from said one edge of said core and positioned to insert in corresponding holes in said one edge of the printed circuit board.

Claim 11

A contact spring for interconnecting a terminal of a printed circuit board and a contact pin, comprising: a base portion formed to be connected to a terminal of the circuit board; and a pair of bifurcated arms extending from said base portion, the arms being inclined toward each other from their base portions and from their distal ends, the apices formed thereby being displaced from each other along the length of said arms.

Claim 12

A contact spring for interconnecting a terminal of a printed circuit board and a contact pin, comprising: a base portion formed to be connected to a terminal of the circuit board; and a pair of bifurcated arms extending from said base portion, the arms being inclined toward each other from their base portions and from their distal ends, the apices formed thereby being displaced from each other along the length of said arms.