US3789271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit board assembly
Assignee: Automatic Equipment Development Corp
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Filing: 1972-11-29
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A circuit board assembly comprising a frame having a stack of printed circuit boards mounted in fixed position thereon and having circuit means associated therewith. Each circuit board carries a plurality of resilient electrically conductive pin connectors which project from opposite surfaces thereof and extend through other circuit boards which comprise the stack. A pressure plate supported on the frame in generally parallel relation to the stack includes another circuit board which has circuit means and holes therethrough which receive the pins associated with the stack. Each hole defines a clamping surface and has a cross-sectional area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of an associated portion of a pin received therein. The pressure plate is supported for shifting movement in one and an opposite direction relative to the frame and transversely of the pins between open and closed positions. When the pressure plate is in its open position, a lead of an associated circuit component may be freely inserted into each hole between the clampin surface thereof and the pin received therein. When the pressure plate is in its closed position, the clamping surface exerts a biasing force on the loead and on the pin associated therewith to clamp the lead in electrically connected engagement with the pin and clamping surface to establish electrical circuit continuity between the leads and circuit means associated with the various circuit boards. A clamping screw on the frame is provided for moving th pressure plate to and releasably retaining it in its closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 J Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:05
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/06; H05K7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
A circuit board assembly for releasably retaining a circuit component in electrically connected relation with circuit means associated with said assembly and comprising a first circuit board having a plurality of parallel resilient electrically conductive first pin connectors mounted thereon and projecting from at least one surface thereof generally normal thereto, said first circuit board having first printed circuit means thereon electrically connected to at least one of said first pin connectors, a pressure plate including a second circuit board having second printed circuit means thereon and including a plurality of holes therethrough, each of said holes defining a clamping surface receiving an associated one of said first pin connectors therein, at least one of said holes having a lining of electrically conductive material defining said clamping surface and electrically connected to said second printed circuit means, each of said holes having a cross-sectional area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of an associated portion of an associated first pin connector received therein, means for supporting said pressure plate in generally parallel relation to said first circuit board for movement in one and an opposite direction generally transversely of said pin connectors and relative to said first circuit board between open and closed positions to simultaneously move each of said clamping surfaces respectively toward and away from an associated one of said pin connectors, each of said clamping surfaces in said open position being spaced from an associated one of said pin connectors a distance sufficient to permit a lead on a circuit component to be inserted freely therebetween, each of said clamping surfaces in said closed position being adapted to exert biasing force on an associated one of said pin connectors when a lead on a circuit component is positioned between said one pin connector and the clamping surface associated therewith to clampingly engage and releasably retain the latter lead, and means for releasably retaining said pressure plate in said closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
323 words
A circuit board assembly for releasably retaining a circuit component in electrically connected relation with circuit means associated with said assembly and comprising a first circuit board having a plurality of parallel resilient electrically conductive first pin connectors mounted thereon and projecting from at least one surface thereof generally normal thereto, said first circuit board having first printed circuit means thereon electrically connected to at least one of said first pin connectors, a pressure plate including a second circuit board having second printed circuit means thereon and including a plurality of holes therethrough, each of said holes defining a clamping surface receiving an associated one of said first pin connectors therein, at least one of said holes having a lining of electrically conductive material defining said clamping surface and electrically connected to said second printed circuit means, each of said holes having a cross-sectional area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of an associated portion of an associated first pin connector received therein, means for supporting said pressure plate in generally parallel relation to said first circuit board for movement in one and an opposite direction generally transversely of said pin connectors and relative to said first circuit board between open and closed positions to simultaneously move each of said clamping surfaces respectively toward and away from an associated one of said pin connectors, each of said clamping surfaces in said open position being spaced from an associated one of said pin connectors a distance sufficient to permit a lead on a circuit component to be inserted freely therebetween, each of said clamping surfaces in said closed position being adapted to exert biasing force on an associated one of said pin connectors when a lead on a circuit component is positioned between said one pin connector and the clamping surface associated therewith to clampingly engage and releasably retain the latter lead, and means for releasably retaining said pressure plate in said closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said circuit boards has electrically connected circuit means associated with opposite surfaces thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 1 including means for biasing said pressure plate toward said open position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for releasably retaining said pressure plate comprises means for moving said pressure plate from said open position to said closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said pressure plate comprises a frame, said first circuit board is mounted in fixed position on said frame and said pressure plate is supported on said frame for movement relative thereto between said open and closed positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said holes is generally cylindrical and each of said first pin connectors has a non-circular cross section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said first pin connectors has a generally rectangular cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for releasably retaining said pressure plate comprises a clamping screw threadably engaging said frame and bearing on said pressure plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 5 including means for biasing said pressure plate toward said open position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for biasing said pressure plate comprises a spring acting between said frame and said pressure plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lining comprises a plated coating of electrically conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said plated coating includes an annular flange surrounding said one hole adjacent an associated surface of said second circuit board and said second printed circuit is electrically connected to said flange.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
252 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a third circuit board parallel to said first circuit board and having another resilient electrically conductive third pin connector mounted thereon and projecting from at least one surface thereof, said third circuit board having third circuit means thereon electrically connected to said third pin connector, said first circuit board having a aperture therethrough receiving said third pin connector therethrough, said supporting means supporting said pressure plate for movement between said open and closed positions relative to both said first and said third circuit boards, said second circuit board having another hole therethrough defining another clamping surface and receiving an associated portion of said third pin connector therein, said other hole having a cross-sectional area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of said associated portion of said third pin connector, said other hole having a lining of electrically conductive material defining said other clamping surface and electrically connected to said first printed circuit means, said other clamping surface in said open position of said pressure plate being spaced from said third pin connector a distance sufficient to permit a lead of a circuit component to be inserted into said other hole between said other clamping surface and said third pin connector and to pass freely therebetween, said other clamping surface in said closed position of said pressure plate being adapted to clamp the latter lead in engagement with said the pin connector and to exert biasing force on said third pin connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A circuit board assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the cross-sectional area of said aperture is substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of an associated portion of said third pin connector disposed in said aperture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB625388A
Cited
US3302065A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |