US4973270A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit panel socket with cloverleaf contact
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1990-05-04
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Granted: 1990-11-27
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Expires: 2010-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A single in-line memory module socket employing edge stamped contacts positioned within an insulative housing is disclosed. Each terminal has opposed beams with a loop section intermediate the ends of upwardly extending portions of those beams. Inwardly inclined arms extend downwardly from the top of the opposed beams and the contacts are configured so that majority of the deflection of the beams occurs in these inwardly inclined arms. A central post extends upwardly from the base of the terminals and engages housing ribs located within a central spine located along the bottom of a panel receiving slot in the insulative housing. Cavities intersect the slots receiving the circuit panels and the terminals can be inserted into the respective cavities from the bottom, with the posts extending upwardly from the base securing the terminals by engagement with the central spine. Panel support guides extend upwardly at either end of the housing and ridges on flexible walls in the housing stabilize the modules in the sockets.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy B. Billman
- 👤 Roger L. Thrush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/721
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A terminal for use in establishing electrical contact with traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, comprising a member edge stamped from a spring meal blank, the terminal having opposed spaced apart beams extending upwardly from a base between the beams, the beams being deflectable upon insertion of a circuit panel therebetween, each beam having an upwardly extending portion connected to the base and a downwardly extending potion extending from the top of the upwardly extending portion, the upwardly extending portions each having an inwardly extending U-shaped loop section between the base and the downwardly extending portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A terminal for use in establishing electrical contact with traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, comprising a member edge stamped from a spring meal blank, the terminal having opposed spaced apart beams extending upwardly from a base between the beams, the beams being deflectable upon insertion of a circuit panel therebetween, each beam having an upwardly extending portion connected to the base and a downwardly extending potion extending from the top of the upwardly extending portion, the upwardly extending portions each having an inwardly extending U-shaped loop section between the base and the downwardly extending portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The terminal of claim 1 wherein the portion of the upwardly extending portion above the loop section is inclined inwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The terminal of claim 2 wherein the downwardly extending portion diverges from the inwardly inclined portion of the upwardly extending portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The terminal of claim 3 wherein a contact point comprising the innermost extent of the downwardly extending portion is located adjacent the end of each beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The terminal of claim 2 wherein the loop section is located below the downwardly extending portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The terminal of claim 1 wherein the terminal has a barb extending upwardly from the base, between the two opposed beams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The terminal of claim 6 wherein the top of the barb has substantially the same elevation as the loop sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The terminal of claim 7 wherein a downwardly extending contact tail extends from the bottom of the base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The terminal of claim 8 wherein the contact tail is aligned with the barb.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The terminal of claim 1 wherein the loop section is positioned so that the majority of the deflection of the terminal occurs in the loop section, the base, and the portion of the terminal between the base and the loop section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
An electrical connector for use in establishing electrical contact adjacent the edge of traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, the connector comprising: a plurality of terminals, each having opposed beams with inwardly inclined arms extending downwardly from the top of the beams; an insulative housing having at least one upwardly open slot and a plurality of upwardly open cavities communicating with the slot, the terminals being positioned in the cavities with the inwardly inclined arms projecting into the slot from opposite sides, contact points being located adjacent the lower end of each inwardly inclined arm; and a post on each terminal aligned with the slot, the upper surface of the post extending above the bottom of each cavity and being located below the contact points of each arm, whereby the circuit panel can be inserted into the slot with an edge of the circuit panel juxtaposed to the post so that the contact points engage the traces adJacent the edge thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
165 words
An electrical connector for use in establishing electrical contact adjacent the edge of traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, the connector comprising: a plurality of terminals, each having opposed beams with inwardly inclined arms extending downwardly from the top of the beams; an insulative housing having at least one upwardly open slot and a plurality of upwardly open cavities communicating with the slot, the terminals being positioned in the cavities with the inwardly inclined arms projecting into the slot from opposite sides, contact points being located adjacent the lower end of each inwardly inclined arm; and a post on each terminal aligned with the slot, the upper surface of the post extending above the bottom of each cavity and being located below the contact points of each arm, whereby the circuit panel can be inserted into the slot with an edge of the circuit panel juxtaposed to the post so that the contact points engage the traces adJacent the edge thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein the post comprises a member projecting upwardly from a base between the opposed beams.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical connector of claim 12 wherein the post is received within a central housing spine located between cavities on opposite sides of the corresponding slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the upwardly projecting post comprises a barb securing the corresponding terminal to the central spine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein the cavities are open on the top and the bottom on opposite sides of the upwardly open slot, the spine including a pair of housing ribs in each cavity, each terminal post being secured between the two ribs in the corresponding cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein each opposed beam has an inwardly extending loop section adjacent the post.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 further comprising panel support members located at opposite ends of the insulative housing, the panel support members each including inwardly facing grooves communicating with each slot and extending upwardly from the slot, each groove including a panel gripping portion spaced above the open upper end of the slot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein relief slots are located on opposite sides of the grooves to define flexible walls on opposite sides of the grooves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical connector of claim 18 wherein the panel gripping portion comprises ridges extending from flexible walls.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein contact points of opposed beams are spaced apart by a distance less than the local width of the central spine, opposed beams being outwardly deflectable so that the opposed beams can be inserted into the housing from the bottom of the insulative housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical connector of claim 20 wherein the opposed beams of each terminal includes a loop section extending inwardly at least partially above the upper end of the barb.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
208 words
An electrical connector for use in establishing electrical contact adjacent the edge of traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, the connector comprising: a plurality of terminals, each having opposed beams with inwardly inclined arms; an insulative housing having at least one upwardly open slot and a plurality of upwardly open cavities communicating with the slot, the terminals being positioned in the cavities with the inwardly inclined arms projecting into the slot from opposite sides, contact points being located adjacent the lower end of each inwardly inclined arm; panel support members located at opposite ends of the insulative housing, the panel support members each including inwardly facing grooves communicating with each slot and extending above the slot, each groove including a panel gripping means spaced above the open upper end of the slot; and a relief slot located adjacent each of the grooves to define a flexible wall on one side of each groove, the flexible walls being joined as part of the panel support members at each end of the flexible walls, the panel gripping means being located on the flexible walls, whereby the circuit panel can be inserted into the slot so that the contact points engage the traces adjacent the edge thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
208 words
An electrical connector for use in establishing electrical contact adjacent the edge of traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, the connector comprising: a plurality of terminals, each having opposed beams with inwardly inclined arms; an insulative housing having at least one upwardly open slot and a plurality of upwardly open cavities communicating with the slot, the terminals being positioned in the cavities with the inwardly inclined arms projecting into the slot from opposite sides, contact points being located adjacent the lower end of each inwardly inclined arm; panel support members located at opposite ends of the insulative housing, the panel support members each including inwardly facing grooves communicating with each slot and extending above the slot, each groove including a panel gripping means spaced above the open upper end of the slot; and a relief slot located adjacent each of the grooves to define a flexible wall on one side of each groove, the flexible walls being joined as part of the panel support members at each end of the flexible walls, the panel gripping means being located on the flexible walls, whereby the circuit panel can be inserted into the slot so that the contact points engage the traces adjacent the edge thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical connector of claim 22 wherein the terminals are insertable into the insulative housing from below.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The electrical connector of claim 22 wherein the insulative housing has two parallel upwardly open panel receiving slots and the panel support members have an open pocket between flexible walls between the two panel receiving slots, the relief slots adjacent each panel gripping means on each flexible wall comprising an extension of the pocket.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
117 words
A terminal for use in establishing electrical contact with traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, comprising a member edge stamped from a spring metal blank, the terminal having opposed beams extending upwardly from a base between the beams, the beams being deflectable upon insertion of a circuit panel therebetween, each beam having an upwardly extending portion connected to the base and a downwardly extending portion extending from the top of the upwardly extending portion, the upwardly extending portions each having an inwardly extending U-shaped loop section between the base and the downwardly extending portion, the downwardly extending portions being spaced apart and each loop section being spaced from the adjacent downwardly extending portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
117 words
A terminal for use in establishing electrical contact with traces on at least one side of a circuit panel, comprising a member edge stamped from a spring metal blank, the terminal having opposed beams extending upwardly from a base between the beams, the beams being deflectable upon insertion of a circuit panel therebetween, each beam having an upwardly extending portion connected to the base and a downwardly extending portion extending from the top of the upwardly extending portion, the upwardly extending portions each having an inwardly extending U-shaped loop section between the base and the downwardly extending portion, the downwardly extending portions being spaced apart and each loop section being spaced from the adjacent downwardly extending portion.
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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) | 1993-11-26 | 1994-05-28 | 1994-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-26 | 1998-05-28 | 1998-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-26 | 2002-05-28 | 2002-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |