US3918784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature connector for circuit component
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1974-06-05
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-06-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a miniature connector having a dielectric housing which is flexible for conforming to irregularities in the printed circuit board. A plurality of contacts are mounted in the housing. Each of the contacts includes a leaf spring portion in the form of a cantilever beam integral with the base portion and latched to the housing. The housing includes an opening at one end allowing for receipt of projecting posts mounted to a printed circuit board. When the housing is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board the posts are electrically attached to the base portions of the contacts. The housing includes additional openings for pluggable receipt of male electrical terminals wedgingly engaged between the posts and leaf springs which cooperate to engage and grip the terminals.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy Allen Lemke
- 👤 Jay Forrest Vogel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:25
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/10; H05K7/1015; H05K7/103; H05K7/1038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having sidewalls defining an internal cavity, a top wall of said housing having a tapered entrance communicating with said cavity, a bottom wall of said housing having an opening communicating with said cavity, an enlarged recess in the bottom wall of said housing communicating with said opening, integral projections on the housing projecting into said recess, an electrically conducting terminal having a base portion received in said recess and having a resilient cantilever beam portion integral with said base, said projections overlying the edges of said base portion to retain the base portion in said recess, an aperture in said base portion in alignment with said opening, a pair of locking tabs adjacent said aperture, said aperture adapted to receive an electrically conducting post Therethrough, said tabs adapted to lockingly engage a post received through said aperture, and said beam adapted for resilient compression on a male terminal received between said post and said beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having sidewalls defining an internal cavity, a top wall of said housing having a tapered entrance communicating with said cavity, a bottom wall of said housing having an opening communicating with said cavity, an enlarged recess in the bottom wall of said housing communicating with said opening, integral projections on the housing projecting into said recess, an electrically conducting terminal having a base portion received in said recess and having a resilient cantilever beam portion integral with said base, said projections overlying the edges of said base portion to retain the base portion in said recess, an aperture in said base portion in alignment with said opening, a pair of locking tabs adjacent said aperture, said aperture adapted to receive an electrically conducting post Therethrough, said tabs adapted to lockingly engage a post received through said aperture, and said beam adapted for resilient compression on a male terminal received between said post and said beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
A connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having an internal cavity, means having a resilient beam in said cavity and a base portion latched to said housing, said base portion having an aperture and a pair of opposed locking lances adjacent said aperture for locking onto a male terminal, said housing having a first opening adjacent said base for receiving a first male terminal in locked receipt with said lances, and said housing having a second opening adjacent said beam, the second opening of said housing being located on an axis extending between said first male terminal and said beam to permit receipt of another male terminal in said second opening in gripped relationship between said first male terminal and said beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
A connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having an internal cavity, means having a resilient beam in said cavity and a base portion latched to said housing, said base portion having an aperture and a pair of opposed locking lances adjacent said aperture for locking onto a male terminal, said housing having a first opening adjacent said base for receiving a first male terminal in locked receipt with said lances, and said housing having a second opening adjacent said beam, the second opening of said housing being located on an axis extending between said first male terminal and said beam to permit receipt of another male terminal in said second opening in gripped relationship between said first male terminal and said beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
In the combination of a printed circuit board and a connector mounted thereon, the improvement comprising: an array of electrically conducting posts on said printed circuit board connected respectively to circuit paths on said printed circuit board, said connector comprising a dielectric housing receiving therein at least portions of said posts, electrical contacts in said housing having first latching portions latched on said posts, said contacts having resilient second portions separate from said latching portions, and each of said resilient second portions opposing a corresponding post and cooperating with a corresponding post to form an electrical receptacle adapted for gripping receipt of a male electrical terminal pluggably received by said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
In the combination of a printed circuit board and a connector mounted thereon, the improvement comprising: an array of electrically conducting posts on said printed circuit board connected respectively to circuit paths on said printed circuit board, said connector comprising a dielectric housing receiving therein at least portions of said posts, electrical contacts in said housing having first latching portions latched on said posts, said contacts having resilient second portions separate from said latching portions, and each of said resilient second portions opposing a corresponding post and cooperating with a corresponding post to form an electrical receptacle adapted for gripping receipt of a male electrical terminal pluggably received by said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure as recited in claim 3, wherein, said housing comprises a plurality of individual receptacles joined together by a flexible web, each of said receptacles having an internal cavity for receiving at least one of said posts and at least one of said resilient portions of said contacts therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure as recited in claim 3, wherein, each of said latching portions comprises an aperture receiving a corresponding post and a pair of opposed locking tabs adjacent said aperture lockingly engaged on a corresponding post.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure as recited in claim 3, wherein, each of said contacts is latchingly engaged in and thereby retained in said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure as recited in claim 3, wherein, each of said resilient portions comprises an elongated cantilever beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure as recited in claim 7, wherein, each cantilever beam is tapered toward its free end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
A connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having an internal cavity, an electrically conducting terminal latchingly retained in said internal cavity, said terminal having a first portion provided with locking means whereby said locking means is capable of locking engagement on a post received within said internal cavity of said housing, said terminal includes a resilient portion separate from said locking means, and said housing having an entrance opening communicating with said cavity whereby a male terminal pluggably inserted in said opening may be received in resilient gripped relationship between said resilient portion and a post lockingly engaged by said locking means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
A connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having an internal cavity, an electrically conducting terminal latchingly retained in said internal cavity, said terminal having a first portion provided with locking means whereby said locking means is capable of locking engagement on a post received within said internal cavity of said housing, said terminal includes a resilient portion separate from said locking means, and said housing having an entrance opening communicating with said cavity whereby a male terminal pluggably inserted in said opening may be received in resilient gripped relationship between said resilient portion and a post lockingly engaged by said locking means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3673543A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |