US3815077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector assembly
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
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Filing: 1973-02-28
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1993-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly for interconnecting an electrical circuit element having a plurality of electrical leads extending therefrom with a printed circuit board having conductive strips thereon. The connector assembly comprises an insulated housing which is releasably mounted on the board and contains a plurality of compartments each receiving an electrical contact. Slots are formed in the upper wall of the housing for receiving the electrical leads of the electrical circuit element while apertures are formed in the lower wall thereof. Each contact has the general configuration of the numeral ''''9.'''' The lower curved portion of the contact extends across the aperture in the housing to contact a conductive strip on the printed circuit board. The free end of the lower curved portion of each contact extends into a recess in the wall of the housing to retain the contact therein.
Inventors
- 👤 J Anhalt
- 👤 D Goodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:10
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/10; H05K7/1015; H05K7/103; H05K7/1038; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
An electrical connector assembly for receiving an electrical circuit element having electrical leads extending therefrom comprising: a mounting member having conductive strips on the upper surface thereof; an insulated housing member releasably mounted on the upper surface of said mounting member, said housing member having upper and lower walls; a plurality of compartments formed in said housing member, each said compartment defining first and second end surfaces; a recess formed in each said first end surface near the lower portion thereof; slots in the upper wall of said housing member opening into said compartments for receiving the electrical leads of said electrical circuit element, each said slot being adjacent to said first end surface; apertures in the lower wall of said housing member opening into said compartments; and a contact positioned in each of said compartments, said contact being formed of a spring metal strip and being insertable into said compartment through said aperture, said contact having a generally straight vertically extending intermediate portion adjacent to said second end surface, a first curved portion extending upwardly from the upper end of said intermediate portion and downwardly under said slot adjacent to said first end surface, a second curved portion extending downwardly from the lower end of said intermediate portion and across said aperture to contact said conductive strip, said second curved portion extending below the lower surface of said housing member when said housing member is detached from said mounting member, and the free end of said second curved portion extending into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
An electrical connector assembly for receiving an electrical circuit element having electrical leads extending therefrom comprising: a mounting member having conductive strips on the upper surface thereof; an insulated housing member releasably mounted on the upper surface of said mounting member, said housing member having upper and lower walls; a plurality of compartments formed in said housing member, each said compartment defining first and second end surfaces; a recess formed in each said first end surface near the lower portion thereof; slots in the upper wall of said housing member opening into said compartments for receiving the electrical leads of said electrical circuit element, each said slot being adjacent to said first end surface; apertures in the lower wall of said housing member opening into said compartments; and a contact positioned in each of said compartments, said contact being formed of a spring metal strip and being insertable into said compartment through said aperture, said contact having a generally straight vertically extending intermediate portion adjacent to said second end surface, a first curved portion extending upwardly from the upper end of said intermediate portion and downwardly under said slot adjacent to said first end surface, a second curved portion extending downwardly from the lower end of said intermediate portion and across said aperture to contact said conductive strip, said second curved portion extending below the lower surface of said housing member when said housing member is detached from said mounting member, and the free end of said second curved portion extending into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the free end of said first curved portion of said contact extends back toward said intermediate portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: each said compartment also includes an upper surface; and said contact is positioned in said compartment so that said intermediate portion engages said second end surface, and said first curved portion engages both said first end surface and said upper surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said contact has the general configuration of the numeral 9.''''
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: each of said first and second curved portions have a generally constant radius of curvature before mounting in said compartments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said first and second curved portions have an approximately equal radius of curvature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said housing member has a pair of rows of said compartments therein, the contacts in one pair of rows facing in a direction opposite to the contacts in the other pair of rows.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said housing member includes a pair of elongated upstanding side walls, an enlongated intermediate wall and transverse walls between said side walls and intermediate wall defining said pair of rows of compartments, the opposite sides of said intermediate wall defining a pair of said second end surfaces, said intermediate portions of said contacts engaging said intermediate wall of said housing member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein: said recesses are windows extending through said side walls whereby said free ends of said second curved portions of said contacts may be pushed inwardly through said walls from outside said housing member to withdraw said contacts from said compartments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including: a protuberance formed on said first curved portion of each said contact positioned to be engaged by said electrical leads of said electrical circuit element when said leads are inserted into said slots; and a protuberance formed on the lower surface of each said second curved portion for engaging said conductive strips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
An electrical connector assembly for receiving an electrical circuit element having electrical leads extending therefrom comprising: an insulated housing member having upper and lower walls; a plurality of compartments formed in said housing member, each said compartment defining first and second end surfaces; a recess formed in each said first end surface near the lower portion thereof; slots in the upper wall of said housing member opening into said compartments for receiving the electrical leads of said electrical circuit elements, each said slot being adjacent said first end surface; apertures in the lower wall of said housing member opening into said compartments; and a contact positioned in each of said compartments, such contact being formed of a spring metal strip and being insertable into said compartment through said aperture, said contact having a generally straight vertically extending intermediate portion adjacent to said second end surface, a first curved portion extending upwardly from the upper end of said intermediate portion and downwardly under said slot adjacent to said first end surface, a second curved portion extending downwardly from the lower end of said intermediate portion and across said aperture, said second curved portion extending below the lower surface of said housing member, and the free end of said second curved portion extending into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
An electrical connector assembly for receiving an electrical circuit element having electrical leads extending therefrom comprising: an insulated housing member having upper and lower walls; a plurality of compartments formed in said housing member, each said compartment defining first and second end surfaces; a recess formed in each said first end surface near the lower portion thereof; slots in the upper wall of said housing member opening into said compartments for receiving the electrical leads of said electrical circuit elements, each said slot being adjacent said first end surface; apertures in the lower wall of said housing member opening into said compartments; and a contact positioned in each of said compartments, such contact being formed of a spring metal strip and being insertable into said compartment through said aperture, said contact having a generally straight vertically extending intermediate portion adjacent to said second end surface, a first curved portion extending upwardly from the upper end of said intermediate portion and downwardly under said slot adjacent to said first end surface, a second curved portion extending downwardly from the lower end of said intermediate portion and across said aperture, said second curved portion extending below the lower surface of said housing member, and the free end of said second curved portion extending into said recess to retain said contact in said compartment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein: the free end of said first curved portion of said contact extends back toward said intermediate portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein: said contact has the general configuration of the numeral 9.''''
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |