Minimal space printed cicuit board and electrical connector system

Claim 2

A connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards, said printed circuit boards comprising multiple through apertures and electrical conductors associated therewith wherein the electrical conductors are plated to the boards and extend within the apertures, said connector comprising: a unitary conductor body having top and bottom surfaces each configured to fit against a corresponding surface of the printed circuit boards to be interconnected thereby, and at least one electrical connecting element mounted within said connector body and including a pin-type connecting section at one end thereof, and a socket-type connecting section at the other end thereof, said socket-type section being adapted to receive therein a pin-type connecting section for establishing a sliding electrical contact therebetween, said pin-type connecting section of said electrical connecting element having a solid cross-section and projecting outwardly from said connector body for a distance sufficient for said pin-type section to project through the apertures in a printed circuit board into a socket-type connecting section of a corresponding connecting element of another such connector thereby establishing a sliding electrical and mechanical connection between the pin-type connecting section of said connector, said circuit board, and said socket-type connecting section of said other connector.

Claim 3

The connector according to claim 1 wherein said pin-type connecting section has a substantially cylindrical cross-section.

Claim 4

The connector according to claim 1 wherein the pin-type connecting section of at least one of said electrical connecting elements comprises a tip divided into two or more sections, said tip having a nominal outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the corresponding socket-type connecting section of said electrical connecting element.

Claim 5

The connector according to claim 3 wherein said sectional tip of said pin-type connecting section has a substantially cylindrical cross-section.

Claim 6

In combination, at least one printed circuit board interconnected with another printed circuit board or a source of signals such as a ribbon connector, by a circuit board connector, said printed circuit board comprising multiple through apertures and electrical conductors are plated to the boards and extend within the apertures, said circuit board connector comprising: a connector body having opposed surfaces configured to fit against a corresponding surface of said circuit board, and a plurality of electrical connecting elements mounted within said connector body and including a pin-type connecting section at one end thereof and a socket-type connecting section at the other end thereof, said socket-type section being adapted to receive therein a pin-type connecting section from a first other circuit board connector for establishing a sliding electrical contact therebetween, said pin-type connecting section of each of said connecting elements comprising a solid cross-section projecting outwardly from said connector body and through the apertures in said circuit board for a distance sufficient to project into a socket-type connecting section of a second other circuit board connector thereby establishing sliding electrical contact between the plurality of connecting elements of said connector, said circuit board, and said second other connector, wherein said plurality of connecting elements comprises a first group of elements adapted to provide electrical contact between said connector and said circuit board, and a second group of elements adapted to provide both electrical and mechanical connection between said connector and said circuit board.

Claim 7

In combination, at least one printed circuit board interconnected with another printed circuit board or a source of signals such as a ribbon connector, by a circuit board connector, said printed circuit board comprising multiple through apertures and electrical conductors are plated to the boards and extend within the apertures, said circuit board connector comprising: a connector body having opposed surfaces configured to fit against a corresponding surface of said circuit board, and a plurality of electrical connecting elements mounted within said connector body and including a pin-type connecting section at one end thereof and a socket-type connecting section at the other end thereof, said socket-type section being adapted to receive therein a pin-type connecting section from a first other circuit board connector for establishing a sliding electrical contact therebetween, said pin-type connecting section of each of said connecting elements comprising a solid cross-section projecting outwardly from said connector body and through the apertures in said circuit board for a distance sufficient to project into a socket-type connecting section of a second other circuit board connector thereby establishing sliding electrical contact between the plurality of connecting elements of said connector, said circuit board, and said second other connector, wherein said plurality of connecting elements comprises a first group of elements adapted to provide electrical contact between said connector and said circuit board, and a second group of elements adapted to provide both electrical and mechanical connection between said connector and said circuit board.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 wherein said first and second group of connecting elements have pin-type connecting sections with a substantially cylindrical cross-section.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein the pin-type connecting sections of said second group of elements have tips divided into two or more sections, said tips having a nominal outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the corresponding socket-type connnecting sections of said connecting elements.

Claim 10

A printed circuit board system comprising: a. first and second spaced printed circuit boards, each board having multiple through apertures and electrical conductors associated therewith wherein the associated electrical conductors are plated to the boards, and extend within the apertures; and b. first and second connectors each including a plurality of electrically conductive assemblies associated therewith for electrically and mechanically connecting the first board to the second board, each electrically conductive assembly comprising: i. a socket at a first end, the socket having an inner surface and an outer surface; and ii. a pin at a second end, said pin including means for fixedly engaging the inner surface of a socket; wherein the outer surface of the socket of a first electrically conductive assembly associated with the first connector is fittably and removably engaged with an aperture of the first printed circuit board thereby making electrical contact with the associated electrical conductor, the pin of a second electrically conductive assembly associated with the second connector fixedly engages the inner surface of the socket of the first electrically conductive assembly, and wherein the outer surface of a socket of the second electrically conductive assembly is fittably and removably engaged with an aperture of the second printed circuit board thereby making electrical contact with the associated electrical conductor, whereby the first and second printed circuit boards are mechanically and electrically connected.

Claim 11

A printed circuit board system comprising: a. first and second spaced printed circuit boards, each board having multiple through apertures and electrical conductors associated therewith wherein the associated electrical conductors are plated to the boards, and extend within the apertures; and b. first and second connectors each including a plurality of electrically conductive assemblies associated therewith for electrically and mechanically connecting the first board to the second board, each electrically conductive assembly comprising: i. a socket at a first end, the socket having an inner surface and an outer surface; and ii. a pin at a second end, said pin including means for fixedly engaging the inner surface of a socket; wherein the outer surface of the socket of a first electrically conductive assembly associated with the first connector is fittably and removably engaged with an aperture of the first printed circuit board thereby making electrical contact with the associated electrical conductor, the pin of a second electrically conductive assembly associated with the second connector fixedly engages the inner surface of the socket of the first electrically conductive assembly, and wherein the outer surface of a socket of the second electrically conductive assembly is fittably and removably engaged with an aperture of the second printed circuit board thereby making electrical contact with the associated electrical conductor, whereby the first and second printed circuit boards are mechanically and electrically connected.

Claim 12

The printed circuit board system of claim 8 wherein the means for fixedly engaging the inner surface of a socket include a pin tip divided into two or more sections, said tip having a nominal outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the socket.