US4017138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Substrate connector
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 1975-06-16
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Granted: 1977-04-12
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Expires: 1995-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector for a substrate including a housing having a base, an elongated channel and a plurality of cantilever contacts mounted in the base extending into the channel, and a member operatively mounted in the channel having a base including an aperture receiving each contact mounted in the base of the insulating housing. Inter-engaging latch arms on the housing and member provide for zero insertion force loading of the substrate in the member in a loading position. A cam surface in each aperture cams each contact into engagement with a conductive pad on the substrate and provides a wiped, graduated force electrical connection when the substrate and member are operatively engaged in the housing in a loaded position and the substrate, member and housing are secured by the inter-engaging latch arms on the member and housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Franklin Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
An electrical connector for receiving a substrate having a plurality of conductive pads along a surface adjacent an edge thereof comprising: a first housing including a base having a pair of upstanding walls forming a channel, a releasable latch arm mounted on each end of the base of said housing, each latch arm including a latching surface extending from a side away from the channel and a latch release member on the free end of each arm, and a latch surface on each end of each wall spaced a distance away from said base and said latch surface on each said latch arm, a plurality of cantilever contacts mounted in said base of said housing extending into said channel, and a member for receiving the substrate operatively mounted in said channel, said member including a base having an aperture receiving each contact and a surface on the base of said member for receiving an edge of the substrate having conductive pads on adjacent surfaces including a latch arm medially mounted on each end of the base of said member, each said arm on said member having a first free end including a first latch surface operatively engageable with said latch surface on one end of each wall of said housing in a loading position in which said member and said housing are engaged for receiving the substrate with zero contact insertion force against the conductive pads, and a second latch surface operatively engageable with said latch surface on one of said releasable latch arms on said housing in a loaded position in which the substrate, said member and said housing are engaged with a graduated force, wiped electrical connection between each contact and each conductive pad.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
An electrical connector for receiving a substrate having a plurality of conductive pads along a surface adjacent an edge thereof comprising: a first housing including a base having a pair of upstanding walls forming a channel, a releasable latch arm mounted on each end of the base of said housing, each latch arm including a latching surface extending from a side away from the channel and a latch release member on the free end of each arm, and a latch surface on each end of each wall spaced a distance away from said base and said latch surface on each said latch arm, a plurality of cantilever contacts mounted in said base of said housing extending into said channel, and a member for receiving the substrate operatively mounted in said channel, said member including a base having an aperture receiving each contact and a surface on the base of said member for receiving an edge of the substrate having conductive pads on adjacent surfaces including a latch arm medially mounted on each end of the base of said member, each said arm on said member having a first free end including a first latch surface operatively engageable with said latch surface on one end of each wall of said housing in a loading position in which said member and said housing are engaged for receiving the substrate with zero contact insertion force against the conductive pads, and a second latch surface operatively engageable with said latch surface on one of said releasable latch arms on said housing in a loaded position in which the substrate, said member and said housing are engaged with a graduated force, wiped electrical connection between each contact and each conductive pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrical connector, as recited in claim 1, each said medially mounted latch arm including a second free end and having a latch surface on said second free end for engaging an edge of said substrate away from said base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, the base of said member for receiving the substrate, additionally comprising an insulating member extending from said base of said member between each aperture, and a pair of insulating end members at each end of said base, each insulating member including a coplanar, vertical surface spaced from an edge of said base for supporting said substrate vertically with respect to said base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical connector, as recited in claim 3, said latch arms comprising a pair of side members having a medial cross-member connected to a free end of each insulating end member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical connector, as recited in claim 1, said contacts including an outwardly-bowed medial portion and each aperture engaging said outwardly-bowed medial portion away from the base of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical connector, as recited in claim 5, each said aperture including a cam surface operatively engaging each contact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector, as recited in claim 1, said channel including a stop member mounted therein for preventing over-riding of the base of said member and said apertures over the outwardly-bowed medial portion of said contact.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-11 | 1980-10-11 | 1981-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-11 | 1984-10-11 | 1985-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-10-11 | 1989-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |