Zero insertion force edge card connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector for receiving and contacting a mating electrical connector upon application of substantially no insertion force, comprising: a housing having a fulcrum portion and a stop portion in parallel spaced relation defining an access opening therebetween; and a plurality of connector spring contacts fixedly mounted in said housing, each said contact including a yoke portion having two interconnected parallel arms with an electrical contact on one of said arms and a follower contact on the other of said arms, a horizontal cantilever spring and a vertical cantilever spring connected in series, a contact support portion connected to one end of said spring series and said yoke connected to the other end of said spring series, and a terminal portion connected to said contact support, said support portion being fixedly mounted in said housing with said terminal portion extending from said housing and said yoke aligned with said access opening, whereby said mating connector is inserted into said access opening without engaging said spring contacts and is rotated about said fulcrum portion to abut said stop portion and engage said spring contacts.

Claim 3

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed from an electrical insulation material.

Claim 4

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises registration means at least at one end of said access opening adapted to align said mating connector.

Claim 5

The electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal cantilever spring is connected to said support portion and said yoke portion is connected to said vertical cantilever spring and positioned to open vertically to receive vertically disposed mating connectors.

Claim 6

The electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said vertical cantilever spring is connected to said support portion and said yoke portion is connected to said horizontal cantilever spring and positioned to open horizontally to receive hoRizontally disposed mating connectors.

Claim 7

The electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said mating connector is a printed circuit board, said electrical contacts on each of said spring contacts engaging with edge contact pads of said board.

Claim 8

The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mating connector is a male plug.

Claim 9

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises mounting means for attaching said housing to a support base.

Claim 10

An electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said mounting means comprises resilient feet adapted to snap fit within openings in said support base.

Claim 11

An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said mounting means comprises outwardly directed flange portions having openings therein adapted to receive means to secure said housing to said support base.

Claim 12

An electrical connector according to claim 8 further comprising support means fixed to said support base spaced from said housing and adapted to engage said mating connector.

Claim 13

An electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein said support means is formed of a resilient material and includes a support base mounting groove, a mating connector mounting groove, a stand-off portion between said grooves and a pull tab whereby said support means is stretched to pass through an opening in said mating connector and released to hold said mating connector in a relatively fixed position with respect to said housing and said support base.

Claim 14

An electrical connector system requiring substantially zero insertion force for receiving and contacting mating electrical connector, such as a printed circuit board, comprising: a support base; a housing having a fulcrum portion and a stop portion in parallel spaced relation defining an access opening therebetween and registration means at least at one end of said opening, said housing fixedly mounted on said support base; a plurality of connector spring contacts mounted in said housing, each said contact including a U-shaped yoke portion having an electrical contact point on one arm and a follower contact point on the other arm, a support portion adapted to engage the housing, serially connected horizontal and vertical cantilever springs connected between said support portion and said yoke portion and arranged to position said yoke portion to open towards said access opening, and a terminal portion connected to said support portion and extending from said housing; and support means mounted on said support base spaced from said housing and adapted to releasably engage said mating electrical connector, whereby a contact bearing edge portion of said mating connector is inserted into said opening without engaging said contacts and subsequently pivoted about said fulcrum portion until engaging said contacts and abutting said stop portion and is secured in said last mentioned position by engagement with said support means.

Claim 15

An electrical connector system requiring substantially zero insertion force for receiving and contacting mating electrical connector, such as a printed circuit board, comprising: a support base; a housing having a fulcrum portion and a stop portion in parallel spaced relation defining an access opening therebetween and registration means at least at one end of said opening, said housing fixedly mounted on said support base; a plurality of connector spring contacts mounted in said housing, each said contact including a U-shaped yoke portion having an electrical contact point on one arm and a follower contact point on the other arm, a support portion adapted to engage the housing, serially connected horizontal and vertical cantilever springs connected between said support portion and said yoke portion and arranged to position said yoke portion to open towards said access opening, and a terminal portion connected to said support portion and extending from said housing; and support means mounted on said support base spaced from said housing and adapted to releasably engage said mating electrical connector, whereby a contact bearing edge portion of said mating connector is inserted into said opening without engaging said contacts and subsequently pivoted about said fulcrum portion until engaging said contacts and abutting said stop portion and is secured in said last mentioned position by engagement with said support means.