Hinge type circuit board connector block

Claim 2

A connector assembly comprising a base, a number of contacts on the base, support means adjacent said contacts for removably holding a circuit member, a hinge connection between said support means and said base whereby a circuit member held by said support means may be moved into engagement with said contacts by pivoting said support means relative to said base about said hinge connection, means biasing said support means for pivotal movement about the hinge connection away from said contacts, and means for limiting movement of the support means away from said contacts.

Claim 3

A connector assembly as in claim 1 wherein said hinge connection comprises a flexible metal part secured to both said support means and said base.

Claim 4

A connector assembly comprising a flat base member, a number of exposed contacts mounted on said base member, a unitary circuit member and means for forming a hinge connection between the circuit member and the base member including an opening formed through said base member with a portion of said circuit member extending freely into said opening and engaging one side thereof to permit free rotation of the circuit member relative to the base member for engagement with said contacts.

Claim 5

A connector assembly comprising a flat base member, a number of exposed contacts mounted on said base member, a unitary circuit member and means for forming a hinge connection between the circuit member and the base member including an opening formed through said base member with a portion of said circuit member extending freely into said opening and engaging one side thereof to permit free rotation of the circuit member relative to the base member for engagement with said contacts.

Claim 6

A connector assembly comprising a base member, a number of exposed contacts mounted on said base member, a daughter board, and means for forming a hinge connection between the daughter board and the base member whereby the daughter board may be moved into engagement with said contacts by pivotal movement about the hinge connection toward the contacts, said means comprising a slot in the base member for reception of one edge of the daughter board, said contacts including spring contact means for engaging printed circuit pads on the daughter board to form a wiped pressure connection therebetween, and latch means for holding the daughter board against said contacts.

Claim 7

A connector assembly comprising a base member, a number of exposed contacts mounted on said base member, a daughter board, and means for forming a hinge connection between the daughter board and the base member whereby the daughter board may be moved into engagement with said contacts by pivotal movement about the hinge connection toward the contacts, said means comprising a slot in the base member for reception of one edge of the daughter board, said contacts including spring contact means for engaging printed circuit pads on the daughter board to form a wiped pressure connection therebetween, and latch means for holding the daughter board against said contacts.

Claim 8

A connector assembly comprising a socket for receiving and holding a circuit member, at least one hinge projection extending from said support, a base having a number of contacts projecting therefrom and at least one opening located adjacent said contacts for receiving said projection, said projection extending into said opening to form a hinge connection between said support and said base, said support being formed from sheet metal and said socket including a window therein for exposing part of the circuit member to said contacts.

Claim 9

A connector assembly comprising a socket for receiving and holding a circuit member, at least one hinge projection extending from said support, a base having a number of contacts projecting therefrom and at least one opening located adjacent said contacts for receiving said projection, said projection extending into said opening to form a hinge connection between said support and said base, said support being formed from sheet metal and said socket including a window therein for exposing part of the circuit member to said contacts.

Claim 10

A connector assembly of the type useful for forming electrical connections between a board and a circuit element comprising a base on the board, a support for the circuit element, a hinge connection between said base and said support, said base, hinge connection and support being formed of a single piece of plastic material with the hinge comprising a thin flexible portion of plastic material, a plurality of spring terminals mounted on the board and latch means for holding the circuit element in engagement with the terminals, said latch means comprising a flexible latch projection extending from said base and through openings in both said circuit element and said support to hold the circuit element in electrical connection with the spring terminals and to lock the circuit element within the socket and support.

Claim 11

A connector assembly of the type useful for forming electrical connections between a board and a circuit element comprising a base on the board, a support for the circuit element, a hinge connection between said base and said support, said base, hinge connection and support being formed of a single piece of plastic material with the hinge comprising a thin flexible portion of plastic material, a plurality of spring terminals mounted on the board and latch means for holding the circuit element in engagement with the terminals, said latch means comprising a flexible latch projection extending from said base and through openings in both said circuit element and said support to hold the circuit element in electrical connection with the spring terminals and to lock the circuit element within the socket and support.

Claim 12

A connector assembly comprising a base, a socket on one side of the base, a flexible hinge connection joining the socket to the base, a flat circuit member seated within the socket, a plurality of terminals on said side of the base having contacts adapted to make electrical connection with conductors in the circuit member seated in said socket, window means in one side of the socket exposing the circuit member to the terminals, latch means on the base, and a latching surface on the circuit member located outwardly of said socket and engagable with said latch means to hold the socket and circuit member therein adjacent the base for engagement between said conductors and terminaLs, said socket being rotatable away from said terminals about said hinge connection to permit insertion of a circuit member into the socket without engaging said terminals.

Claim 13

A connector assembly comprising a base, a socket on one side of the base, a flexible hinge connection joining the socket to the base, a flat circuit member seated within the socket, a plurality of terminals on said side of the base having contacts adapted to make electrical connection with conductors in the circuit member seated in said socket, window means in one side of the socket exposing the circuit member to the terminals, latch means on the base, and a latching surface on the circuit member located outwardly of said socket and engagable with said latch means to hold the socket and circuit member therein adjacent the base for engagement between said conductors and terminaLs, said socket being rotatable away from said terminals about said hinge connection to permit insertion of a circuit member into the socket without engaging said terminals.

Claim 14

A connector assembly as in claim 7 wherein said socket and hinge connection are formed from an integral plastic member.

Claim 15

A connector assembly as in claim 7 wherein said latch means comprises a flexible latch extending away from said one side of said base, and including a hole formed through the thickness of said circuit member to receive said flexible latch, whereby upon rotation of the socket and circuit member toward the base the hole in the circuit member is moved over one end of the flexible latch and the flexible latch snaps back to engage the side of the circuit member away from the base.

Claim 16

A connector assembly as in claim 7 wherein said terminals include spring means biasing said circuit member away from said base.