Right angle electrical connector

Claim 2

In combination with an electrical connector of the type haviNg a housing and a plurality of electrical contact receiving slots that extend from a first side of said housing to a second adjacent side of said housing, each of said slots having end portions defining a groove beneath said first and second sides of said housing for receiving end portions of said electrical contact, said electrical contact comprising: a first leg; a second leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from said first leg by a marked angle therebetween greater than 90* but less than 180* when said contact is not in said slot, said first and second legs each including an arm resiliently attached thereto that includes an end retention portion and a contact portion, said arms extending from said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said marked angle and towards the apex of said marked angle so that when a force is applied to said legs that reduces the marked angle and said contact is placed in said slots in said connector with the retention end portions of said contact said first and second sides in said groove beneath said second side of said housing and the force is removed from said legs, said retention end portions of said arms are in pressure contact with the walls of said grooves whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector.

Claim 3

In combination with an electrical connector of the type haviNg a housing and a plurality of electrical contact receiving slots that extend from a first side of said housing to a second adjacent side of said housing, each of said slots having end portions defining a groove beneath said first and second sides of said housing for receiving end portions of said electrical contact, said electrical contact comprising: a first leg; a second leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from said first leg by a marked angle therebetween greater than 90* but less than 180* when said contact is not in said slot, said first and second legs each including an arm resiliently attached thereto that includes an end retention portion and a contact portion, said arms extending from said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said marked angle and towards the apex of said marked angle so that when a force is applied to said legs that reduces the marked angle and said contact is placed in said slots in said connector with the retention end portions of said contact said first and second sides in said groove beneath said second side of said housing and the force is removed from said legs, said retention end portions of said arms are in pressure contact with the walls of said grooves whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector.

Claim 4

In combination with an electrical connector of the type haviNg a housing and a plurality of electrical contact receiving slots that extend from a first side of said housing to a second adjacent side of said housing, each of said slots having end portions defining a groove beneath said first and second sides of said housing for receiving end portions of said electrical contact, said electrical contact comprising: a first leg; a second leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from said first leg by a marked angle therebetween greater than 90* but less than 180* when said contact is not in said slot, said first and second legs each including an arm resiliently attached thereto that includes an end retention portion and a contact portion, said arms extending from said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said marked angle and towards the apex of said marked angle so that when a force is applied to said legs that reduces the marked angle and said contact is placed in said slots in said connector with the retention end portions of said contact said first and second sides in said groove beneath said second side of said housing and the force is removed from said legs, said retention end portions of said arms are in pressure contact with the walls of said grooves whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector.

Claim 5

An electrical connector for connecting in electrical circuit relationship a tape cable to a circuit board, said tape cable being in the form of an insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel conductors therein arranged in a predetermined spaced relationship, the conductors of the tape being bared at one end of the cable and said circuit board being in the form of an insulating board having an electrical circuit thereon which includes a plurality of electrical inputs in the form of a plurality of conducting paths arranged in generally parallel and spaced relationship along one side of said board, the electrical connector comprising: a housing having a first side, a second side adjacent to said first side and a plurality of slots arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said tape cable, said slots extending between said first and second sides, each of said slots having end portions defining a groove beneath said first and second sides of said housing for receiving end portions of an electrical contact: a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in said housing slots, each of said contacts extending beyond the first and second sides of said housing, each of said electrical contacts comprising: a first leg; a second leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from said first leg by an angle of about 90* said first and second legs each including an arm resiliently attached thereto that includes an end retention portion and a contact portion, said arms extending from said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle and towards the apex of said marked angle, and each of said contacts retained in one of said slots by the resilient action of the legs which force said retention end portions of said arms in a direction away from said angle and in pressure contact with the walls of said groove whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector; means for mounting and positioning said tape cable on said first side so that each of said conductors of said tape cable is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots; and means for mounting and positioning said circuit board on said second side so that each of said circuit board inputs is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots whereby said circuit board is connected in electrical circuit relationship to said tape cable.

Claim 6

An electrical connector for connecting in electrical circuit relationship a tape cable to a circuit board, said tape cable being in the form of an insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel conductors therein arranged in a predetermined spaced relationship, the conductors of the tape being bared at one end of the cable and said circuit board being in the form of an insulating board having an electrical circuit thereon which includes a plurality of electrical inputs in the form of a plurality of conducting paths arranged in generally parallel and spaced relationship along one side of said board, the electrical connector comprising: a housing having a first side, a second side adjacent to said first side and a plurality of slots arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said tape cable, said slots extending between said first and second sides, each of said slots having end portions defining a groove beneath said first and second sides of said housing for receiving end portions of an electrical contact: a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in said housing slots, each of said contacts extending beyond the first and second sides of said housing, each of said electrical contacts comprising: a first leg; a second leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from said first leg by an angle of about 90* said first and second legs each including an arm resiliently attached thereto that includes an end retention portion and a contact portion, said arms extending from said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle and towards the apex of said marked angle, and each of said contacts retained in one of said slots by the resilient action of the legs which force said retention end portions of said arms in a direction away from said angle and in pressure contact with the walls of said groove whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector; means for mounting and positioning said tape cable on said first side so that each of said conductors of said tape cable is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots; and means for mounting and positioning said circuit board on said second side so that each of said circuit board inputs is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots whereby said circuit board is connected in electrical circuit relationship to said tape cable.

Claim 7

The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said means for mounting and positioning said tape cable comprises: a base having a groove therein for receiving and positioning the bared end of said tape cable; and meAns for mounting and positioning said base on said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said tape cable is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots.

Claim 8

An electrical connector for connecting in electrical circuit relationship a tape cable to a circuit board, said tape cable being in the form of an insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel conductors therein arranged in a predetermined spaced relationship, the conductors of the tape being bared at one end of the cable and said circuit board being in the form of an insulating board having an electrical circuit thereon which includes a plurality of electrical inputs in the form of a plurality of conducting paths arranged in generally parallel and spaced relationship along one side of said board, said electrical connector comprising: a housing having a first side, a second side and a plurality of slots arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said tape cable, said slots extending between said first and second sides, each of said slots having end portions defining a groove beneath said first and second sides of said housing for receiving end portions of an electrical contact; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in said housing slots, each of said contacts extending beyond the first and second sides of said housing, each of said contacts comprising: a first leg; a second leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from said first leg by an angle of about 90*, said first and second legs each having a free end and a raised portion, said free ends and said raised portions extending from said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle, and each of said contacts retained in one of said slots by the resilient action of the legs which force said free end portions of said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle and in pressure contact with the walls of said groove whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector; means for mounting and positioning said tape cable on said first side so that each of said conductors of said tape cable is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots; and means for mounting and positioning said circuit board on said second side so that each of said circuit board inputs is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots whereby said circuit board is connected in electrical circuit relationship to said tape cable.

Claim 9

An electrical connector for connecting in electrical circuit relationship a tape cable to a circuit board, said tape cable being in the form of an insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel conductors therein arranged in a predetermined spaced relationship, the conductors of the tape being bared at one end of the cable and said circuit board being in the form of an insulating board having an electrical circuit thereon which includes a plurality of electrical inputs in the form of a plurality of conducting paths arranged in generally parallel and spaced relationship along one side of said board, said electrical connector comprising: a housing having a first side, a second side and a plurality of slots arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said tape cable, said slots extending between said first and second sides, each of said slots having end portions defining a groove beneath said first and second sides of said housing for receiving end portions of an electrical contact; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in said housing slots, each of said contacts extending beyond the first and second sides of said housing, each of said contacts comprising: a first leg; a second leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from said first leg by an angle of about 90*, said first and second legs each having a free end and a raised portion, said free ends and said raised portions extending from said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle, and each of said contacts retained in one of said slots by the resilient action of the legs which force said free end portions of said legs in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle and in pressure contact with the walls of said groove whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector; means for mounting and positioning said tape cable on said first side so that each of said conductors of said tape cable is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots; and means for mounting and positioning said circuit board on said second side so that each of said circuit board inputs is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots whereby said circuit board is connected in electrical circuit relationship to said tape cable.

Claim 10

The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for mounting and positioning said tape cable comprises: a base having a groove therein for receiving and positioning the bared end of said tape cable; and means for mounting and positioning said base on said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said tape cable is in contact with one of said contacts mounted in said housing slots.

Claim 11

In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a plurality of resilient electrical contacts retained in slots in said electrical connector by the resilient action of said contact, each of said slots including end portions defining a groove beneath a first and second side of said connector, the improvement wherein said resilient contact comprises: a member having a first leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from a second leg by an angle of about 90*; a first arm resiliently connected to the end of said first leg of said member, said first arm adjacent the first leg of said member and extending in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle, said first arm having a portion in pressure contact with said groove in said first side of said connector; and a second arm resiliently connected to the end of said second leg of said member, and said second arm adjacent said second leg of said member and extending in a direction away from the space between said leg definIng said angle, said second arm having a portion in pressure contact with said groove in said second side of said connector, whereby said contact is retained in said slot in said connector.

Claim 12

In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a plurality of resilient electrical contacts retained in slots in said electrical connector by the resilient action of said contact, each of said slots including end portions defining a groove beneath a first and second side of said connector, the improvement wherein said resilient contact comprises: a member having a first leg resiliently connected to and angularly spaced from a second leg by an angle of about 90*; a first arm resiliently connected to the end of said first leg of said member, said first arm adjacent the first leg of said member and extending in a direction away from the space between said legs defining said angle, said first arm having a portion in pressure contact with said groove in said first side of said connector; and a second arm resiliently connected to the end of said second leg of said member, and said second arm adjacent said second leg of said member and extending in a direction away from the space between said leg definIng said angle, said second arm having a portion in pressure contact with said groove in said second side of said connector, whereby said contact is retained in said slot in said connector.

Claim 13

The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second arms each include a raised portion that extends in a direction away from said the space between said legs defining said angle and beyond the respective side of the connector.

Claim 14

The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said first arm includes a portion, extending from the resilient connection to said first leg, that is generally parallel to said first leg; and said second arm includes a portion, extending from the resilient connection to said second leg, that is generally parallel to said second leg.

Claim 15

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said first arm includes a portion, extending from the resilient connection to said first leg, that is generally parallel to said first leg; and said second arm includes a portion extending from the resilient connection to said second leg, that is generally parallel to said second leg.

Claim 16

The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein the marked angle between said first and second leg is greater than 90* when said contact is not in said slot so that when a force is applied to said legs that reduces the marked angle and said contact is placed in said slot in said connector and the force is removed said portions of said arms parallel to said legs are in pressure contact with the walls of said groove whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector.

Claim 17

The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein the marked angle between said first and second leg is greater than 90* when said contact is not in said slot so that when a force is applied to said legs that reduces the marked angle and said contact is placed in the slot in said connector and the force is removed said portions of said arms parallel to said legs are in pressure contact with the walls of said groove whereby said electrical contact is retained in said connector.

Claim 18

An electrical contact comprising: an electrical conducting member having a first leg resiliently connected to a second leg which is angularly spaced from said first leg by a marked angle greater than 90* but less than 180*. a first arm resiliently connected to the end of said first leg of said member, said first arm extending outside said space between said legs that define said marked angle and adjacent said first leg, said first arm including a raised portion extending away from said first leg and outside said space between said first and second legs that define said marked angle; and a second arm resiliently connected to the end of said second leg of said member, said second arm extending outside said space between said legs that define said marked angle and adjacent said second leg, said second arm including a raised portion extending away from said second leg and outside said space between said first and second legs that defines said marked angle, whereby when a force moves one of said arms or legs from its original position, the resilient action of the contact returns said arm or leg to its original position when said force is removed.

Claim 19

An electrical contact comprising: an electrical conducting member having a first leg resiliently connected to a second leg which is angularly spaced from said first leg by a marked angle greater than 90* but less than 180*. a first arm resiliently connected to the end of said first leg of said member, said first arm extending outside said space between said legs that define said marked angle and adjacent said first leg, said first arm including a raised portion extending away from said first leg and outside said space between said first and second legs that define said marked angle; and a second arm resiliently connected to the end of said second leg of said member, said second arm extending outside said space between said legs that define said marked angle and adjacent said second leg, said second arm including a raised portion extending away from said second leg and outside said space between said first and second legs that defines said marked angle, whereby when a force moves one of said arms or legs from its original position, the resilient action of the contact returns said arm or leg to its original position when said force is removed.

Claim 20

The electrical contact as recited in claim 12 wherein said first arm includes a portion, extending from the resilient connection to said first leg, that is generally parallel to said first leg; and said second arm includes a portion extending from the resilient connection to said second leg, that is generally parallel to said second leg.