US3915537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal electrical connector
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1974-12-12
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A zero or low insertion force, low actuation force electrical connector adapted for incorporation into a printed circuit board, connector housing or the like and suitable for card edge, input/output, array or dual-in-line module applications. The connector comprises a bifurcated spring yoke having a pair of complementary, flat, longitudinally and upwardly extending arms, each with a cylindrical or barrel-shaped contact surface in opposing and spaced apart relationship at a distance less than the diameter of a male connector pin to be introduced therebetween. The connector has a post or stem portion extending downwardly to create a multispring rate device with a floating action that enables up to 1600 pins per module to be accommodated on 0.050 inch centers despite slight misalignments of the pins. For zero longitudinal insertion force of the male electrical pin, the pin is introduced into the connector area at a position adjacent the contact surfaces and is then guided slideably and transversely between the opposing contact surfaces. Alternatively, the shaping of the contact surfaces and the resiliency of the upwardly extending arms provides an electrical connector having a low insertion force when the pin is longitudinally introduced between the contact surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 John B Harris
- 👤 Kenneth M Hoffman
- 👤 Donald W Hogan
- 👤 John R Mankus
- 👤 Vincent P Subik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/193
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
An electrical connector for connecting a male member to an electric circuit comprising: a channel-shaped yoke having a base and two side portions, said base and said side portions being of equal thickness, a pair of resilient complementarily configured contact arms, each arm extending parallel to the axis of said channel and connected to the end of one of said side portions, said contact arms together with the side portion of said base having a contact spring rate in an arm-spreading direction that is within the range from 22.6 to 43.3 grams/mil, two convexly shaped contact surfaces mounted on said contact arms, a chamfered edge on one side of each of said contact surfaces to facilitate lateral entry of said male member, a planar stem, said stem being the same thickness as said base and of narrower width than said base, the plane of said stem being parallel to said base, said stem being in line with the axis of said channel and connected to the central portion of said base, said stem having an alignment spring rate in said arm-spreading direction that is within the range of about 3.8 to 6.5 grams/mil, said stem having a seating spring rate in a direction transverse to said arm-spreading direction that is within the range of 1.1 to 1.9 grams/mil, whereby said alignment spring rate is lower than said contact spring rate and said seating spring rate is lower than said alignment spring rate so that said connector has a free floating action with greater flexibility in said alignment direction than in said arm-spreading direction, and greater flexibility in said seating direction than in said alignment direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
An electrical connector for connecting a male member to an electric circuit comprising: a channel-shaped yoke having a base and two side portions, said base and said side portions being of equal thickness, a pair of resilient complementarily configured contact arms, each arm extending parallel to the axis of said channel and connected to the end of one of said side portions, said contact arms together with the side portion of said base having a contact spring rate in an arm-spreading direction that is within the range from 22.6 to 43.3 grams/mil, two convexly shaped contact surfaces mounted on said contact arms, a chamfered edge on one side of each of said contact surfaces to facilitate lateral entry of said male member, a planar stem, said stem being the same thickness as said base and of narrower width than said base, the plane of said stem being parallel to said base, said stem being in line with the axis of said channel and connected to the central portion of said base, said stem having an alignment spring rate in said arm-spreading direction that is within the range of about 3.8 to 6.5 grams/mil, said stem having a seating spring rate in a direction transverse to said arm-spreading direction that is within the range of 1.1 to 1.9 grams/mil, whereby said alignment spring rate is lower than said contact spring rate and said seating spring rate is lower than said alignment spring rate so that said connector has a free floating action with greater flexibility in said alignment direction than in said arm-spreading direction, and greater flexibility in said seating direction than in said alignment direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
228 words
An electrical connector for connecting a male member to an electric circuit comprising: a channel-shaped yoke having a base and two side portions, said base and said side portions being of equal thickness, a pair of resilient complementarily configured contact arms, each extending parallel to the axis of said channel and connected to one of said side portions, said contact arms together with said side portions of said base having a particular contact spring rate in an arm-spreading direction, two convexly shaped contact surfaces mounted on said contact arms, a chamfered edge on one side of each of said contact surfaces to facilitate lateral entry of said male member, a planar stem, said stem being the same thickness as said base and of narrower width than said base, the plane of said stem being parallel to said base, said stem being in line with and connected to the central portion of said base, said stem having an alignment spring rate in said arm-spreading direction that is substantially lower than said contact spring rate, said stem having a seating spring rate in a direction transverse to said arm-spreading direction that is substantially lower than said alignment spring rate, whereby said connector has free floating action with greater flexibility in said alignment direction than in said arm-spreading direction, and greater flexibility in said seating direction than in said alignment direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
228 words
An electrical connector for connecting a male member to an electric circuit comprising: a channel-shaped yoke having a base and two side portions, said base and said side portions being of equal thickness, a pair of resilient complementarily configured contact arms, each extending parallel to the axis of said channel and connected to one of said side portions, said contact arms together with said side portions of said base having a particular contact spring rate in an arm-spreading direction, two convexly shaped contact surfaces mounted on said contact arms, a chamfered edge on one side of each of said contact surfaces to facilitate lateral entry of said male member, a planar stem, said stem being the same thickness as said base and of narrower width than said base, the plane of said stem being parallel to said base, said stem being in line with and connected to the central portion of said base, said stem having an alignment spring rate in said arm-spreading direction that is substantially lower than said contact spring rate, said stem having a seating spring rate in a direction transverse to said arm-spreading direction that is substantially lower than said alignment spring rate, whereby said connector has free floating action with greater flexibility in said alignment direction than in said arm-spreading direction, and greater flexibility in said seating direction than in said alignment direction.
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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) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |