US3960423A — Multi-contact connector for substrate-to-board co…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 286 words

A multi-contact electrical connector for connecting corresponding terminal pads on a first panel-like member to terminal pads on a second panel-like member, said second panel-like member extending parallel to said first panel-like member, said connector comprising: a contact terminal strip, said terminal strip comprising an elongated strip of relatively thin insulating film and a plurality of conductors of resilient spring metal adhered to said film, said conductors extending in parallel side-by-side relationship across said strip, said conductors being reversely formed with respect to the axis of said film through an angle of substantially 180° with said conductors on the external surface thereof, each of said conductors constituting a resilient conductor spring, each of said conductors having first and second contact zones on said external surface and intermediate the ends of said conductors, said first and second contact zones facing in opposite directions for engagement with corresponding terminal pads on said first and second panel-like members, insulating supporting means, said supporting means having parallel oppositely directed faces for supporting said first and second panel-like members in fixed spaced-apart relation, said contact terminal strip being mounted on said insulating supporting means between said parallel oppositely directed faces with the planes defined by said oppositely directed faces normally extending between said first and second contact zones, whereby upon mounting said first and second panel-like members on said parallel oppositely directed faces, said terminal pads initially engage said first and second contact zones and force said first and second contact zones towards each other thereby flexing said resilient spring metal conductors and generating sufficient contact force between said terminal pads and said contact zones to form an electrical connection between corresponding terminal pads on said first and second panel-like members.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 286 words

A multi-contact electrical connector for connecting corresponding terminal pads on a first panel-like member to terminal pads on a second panel-like member, said second panel-like member extending parallel to said first panel-like member, said connector comprising: a contact terminal strip, said terminal strip comprising an elongated strip of relatively thin insulating film and a plurality of conductors of resilient spring metal adhered to said film, said conductors extending in parallel side-by-side relationship across said strip, said conductors being reversely formed with respect to the axis of said film through an angle of substantially 180° with said conductors on the external surface thereof, each of said conductors constituting a resilient conductor spring, each of said conductors having first and second contact zones on said external surface and intermediate the ends of said conductors, said first and second contact zones facing in opposite directions for engagement with corresponding terminal pads on said first and second panel-like members, insulating supporting means, said supporting means having parallel oppositely directed faces for supporting said first and second panel-like members in fixed spaced-apart relation, said contact terminal strip being mounted on said insulating supporting means between said parallel oppositely directed faces with the planes defined by said oppositely directed faces normally extending between said first and second contact zones, whereby upon mounting said first and second panel-like members on said parallel oppositely directed faces, said terminal pads initially engage said first and second contact zones and force said first and second contact zones towards each other thereby flexing said resilient spring metal conductors and generating sufficient contact force between said terminal pads and said contact zones to form an electrical connection between corresponding terminal pads on said first and second panel-like members.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein clamping means are provided for clamping said first and second panel-like members to said oppositely directed faces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 2 having conductor supporting means located on said insulating supporting means, said conductor supporting means being located between said planes defined by said oppositely directed faces.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 65 words

A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 3 wherein said conductor supporting means comprises transverse oppositely directed recesses along one side of said insulating supporting means, the ends of said conductors being inwardly directed towards each other and positioned in said recesses thereby limiting movement of said ends toward each other with said reversely formed conductors being disposed laterally from said one side.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 3 wherein said contact terminal has oppositely facing sidewalls, said sidewalls being substantially parallel to each other and extending obliquely with respect to said faces of said supporting means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 36 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5, said supporting means comprising one side of a rectangular frame member, the remaining three sides being identical to said one side and having contact terminal strips thereon.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 6, said clamping means comprising a second rectangular frame member in surrounding relationship to said rectangular frame member, and means on said second rectangular frame member extending over a substrate positioned in said frame member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 2 having a second terminal strip, said supporting means having a second side which faces in the opposite direction from said one side, said second terminal strip being mounted on said second side.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 277 words

An electrical connector in combination with first and second panel-like members, said members being in parallel spaced-apart relationship and having first and second terminal pads thereon, said terminal pads being arranged in rows, said connector comprising supporting means and a contact terminal strip, said supporting means comprising a bar-like member located between said panel-like members, said supporting means having oppositely directed faces, said panel-like members being against said faces, said contact terminal strip comprising a strip of polymeric film having parallel side edges, a plurality of conductors adhered to said film on one surface thereof, said conductors being of conductive metal having spring characteristics and extending in parallel side-by-side relationship across said film, the number of said conductors being equal to the number of terminal pads in each of said rows, said conductors being reversely formed transversely of their lengths through an angle of substantially 180° with respect to an axis extending parallel to said polymeric strip and on the surface thereof which is opposite to said one surface whereby said terminal strip has oppositely facing sidewalls, and said conductors are on the external surface thereof, said bar-like member having one side extending transversely between said panel-like members, said edges of said terminal strip being mounted on said one side whereby said conductors extend laterally from said one side, each of said conductors having first and second contact areas on said first and second sidewalls, said first contact areas being in contact with said first terminal pads and said second contact areas being in contact with said second terminal pads whereby, corresponding terminal pads on said first and second panel-like members are electrically connected to each other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 277 words

An electrical connector in combination with first and second panel-like members, said members being in parallel spaced-apart relationship and having first and second terminal pads thereon, said terminal pads being arranged in rows, said connector comprising supporting means and a contact terminal strip, said supporting means comprising a bar-like member located between said panel-like members, said supporting means having oppositely directed faces, said panel-like members being against said faces, said contact terminal strip comprising a strip of polymeric film having parallel side edges, a plurality of conductors adhered to said film on one surface thereof, said conductors being of conductive metal having spring characteristics and extending in parallel side-by-side relationship across said film, the number of said conductors being equal to the number of terminal pads in each of said rows, said conductors being reversely formed transversely of their lengths through an angle of substantially 180° with respect to an axis extending parallel to said polymeric strip and on the surface thereof which is opposite to said one surface whereby said terminal strip has oppositely facing sidewalls, and said conductors are on the external surface thereof, said bar-like member having one side extending transversely between said panel-like members, said edges of said terminal strip being mounted on said one side whereby said conductors extend laterally from said one side, each of said conductors having first and second contact areas on said first and second sidewalls, said first contact areas being in contact with said first terminal pads and said second contact areas being in contact with said second terminal pads whereby, corresponding terminal pads on said first and second panel-like members are electrically connected to each other.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The combination set forth in claim 9, said contact terminal strip being substantially U-shaped.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The combination as set forth in claim 10, said sidewalls of said contact terminal strip being substantially parallel to each other and extending obliquely with respect to said faces of said supporting means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

The combination set forth in claim 11, said supporting means comprising one side of an open rectangular frame, the remaining three sides being identical to said one side and having contact terminal strips thereon.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The combination set forth in claim 12, said clamping means comprising a second open rectangular frame in surrounding relationship to said open rectangular frame, and means on said second open rectangular frame extending over a substrate positioned in said open frame.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 52 words

The combination set forth in claim 10, said side edges of said contact terminal strip being inwardly directed towards each other, said one side of said supporting means having spaced-apart parallel recesses extending therealong, said side edges being received in said recess thereby to mount said terminal strip on said supporting means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination set forth in claim 14, said recess extending beside said oppositely directed faces.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

The combination set forth in claim 10, said contact terminal strip having a web and sidewalls, each of said conductors having first and second contact surfaces for engagement with corresponding first and second terminal pads, one of said contact surfaces being on each of said sidewalls.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The combination set forth in claim 10, having a second terminal strip, said mounting means having a second side which faces in the opposite direction from said one side, said second terminal strip being mounted on said second side.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-06-01	1979-12-01	1980-06-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-06-01	1983-12-01	1984-06-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-06-01	1987-12-01	1988-06-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-contact connector for substrate-to-board connections

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