US5364294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical device for surface mounting on a circuit board and mounting component thereof
Assignee: Stewart Connector Systems Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-01
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Granted: 1994-11-15
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Expires: 2013-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An electrical device for surface mounting on a circuit board comprises a housing and a plurality of contacts wherein the distance between the region at which the pad-engaging portion of each contact engages its respective pad, and the region of the fulcrum about which the contact deflects, is maximized to reduce the magnitude of the biasing force resulting from the deflection. An improved mounting component for the device comprises a post having tangs that extend from its side which are deflected to allow the post to be inserted into the board opening and which skive into the sides of the opening to prevent the post from retraction therefrom. An improved positioning arrangement for the device comprises a pair of positioning posts having polygonal cross-sections, each having a maximum cross-sectional dimension in single, mutually orthogonal, directions.
Inventors
- 👤 David Hatch
- 👤 Don McClune
- 👤 Mervin Fair
- 👤 Jeff Fleming
- 👤 Louis Csanko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:46
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B19/00; F16B19/002; H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005; H01R12/7011; H01R12/7017; H01R12/7023; H01R12/7064; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A device intended to be surface mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising: a housing formed of insulative material; a plurality of contacts formed of electrically conductive material, each of said contacts including a pad-engaging portion intended to electrically engage a respective terminal pad on the printed circuit board, a mating portion, and a substantially L-shaped intermediate portion including a first leg to which said pad-engaging portion is connected and a second leg having a forward end to which said mating portion is connected; and said housing including means for permitting each of said contacts to deflect with respect to a fulcrum point located on said second leg of said L-shaped intermediate contact portion upon engagement of said pad-engaging contact portion with a terminal pad on the printed circuit board, said housing further including a first wall having surfaces for supporting said second legs of said contacts, and means for fixing a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point to respective supporting surfaces such that said forward portion is clamped between upper and lower supporting surfaces in said housing, a rearward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts rearward of said fulcrum point being movable with respect to said forward portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
A device intended to be surface mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising: a housing formed of insulative material; a plurality of contacts formed of electrically conductive material, each of said contacts including a pad-engaging portion intended to electrically engage a respective terminal pad on the printed circuit board, a mating portion, and a substantially L-shaped intermediate portion including a first leg to which said pad-engaging portion is connected and a second leg having a forward end to which said mating portion is connected; and said housing including means for permitting each of said contacts to deflect with respect to a fulcrum point located on said second leg of said L-shaped intermediate contact portion upon engagement of said pad-engaging contact portion with a terminal pad on the printed circuit board, said housing further including a first wall having surfaces for supporting said second legs of said contacts, and means for fixing a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point to respective supporting surfaces such that said forward portion is clamped between upper and lower supporting surfaces in said housing, a rearward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts rearward of said fulcrum point being movable with respect to said forward portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for fixing a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point to its respective supporting surface comprises a second wall of said housing having a surface overlying said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts, said forward portions of said second legs of said contacts being clamped between said surfaces of said first and second housing walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first wall has a plurality of guide channels formed therein, each of said guide channels defining said lower supporting surface, said second leg of each of said contacts being received within a respective one of said guide channels, said rearward part of said second leg of each of said contacts rearward of said fulcrum point being separable from said supporting surface of said respective guide channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
A device as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for fixing a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point to said supporting surface of a respective guide channel in which said second contact leg is received comprises a second wall of said housing having a surface contiguously overlying said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts, said forward portions of said second legs of said contacts being clamped between said surfaces of said first and second housing walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A device as recited in claim 4 wherein, each of said guide channels includes a forward portion having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of said second leg of a contact received therein, a rearward portion having a depth greater than said contact thickness, and an intermediate inclined portion of varying depth interconnecting said forward and rearward channel portions; said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts being received in said guide channel forward portion, said rearward part of said second leg of each of said contacts includes a rearward portion situated in said rearward guide channel portion, and an intermediate inclined portion situated in said intermediate inclined guide channel portion; and said surface of said second wall contiguously overlying said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts being substantially planar and overlying said rearward and intermediate portions of said second leg of each contact in spaced relationship therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A device as recited in claim 4 wherein, each of said guide channels has a substantially constant depth along its length substantially equal to the thickness of said second leg of a contact received therein; said forward portion and rearward part of said second leg of each of said contacts being substantially colinear and received within a respective guide channel; and said surface of said second wall including a forward portion contiguously overlying said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts, and a rearward portion spaced from said rearward part of each of said contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing includes an outer housing part and an inner housing part received within said outer housing part, said inner housing part including a top wall over which said second leg of each of said contacts extends, and wherein said second outer housing part has a top wall overlying said top wall of said inner housing part over which said second legs of said contacts extend.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as recited in claim 7 wherein said inner housing part includes a portion through which a plurality of bores are formed, each of said bores receiving a respective one of said first legs of said contacts, whereby said first and second legs of said contacts are enclosed within said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as recited in claim 8 wherein said top wall of said inner housing part has a plurality of guide channels formed therein, each of said guide channels receiving a second leg of a respective one of said contacts.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
249 words
A device intended to be surface mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising: a housing formed of insulative material; a plurality of contacts formed of electrically conductive material, each of said contacts including a pad-engaging portion intended to electrically engage a respective terminal pad on the printed circuit board, a mating portion, and a substantially L-shaped intermediate portion including a first leg to which said pad-engaging portion is connected and a second leg having a forward end to which said mating portion is connected; and said housing including means for permitting each of said contacts to deflect with respect to a fulcrum point located on said second leg of said L-shaped intermediate contact portion upon engagement of said pad-engaging contact portion with a terminal pad on the printed circuit board, said means comprising a first wall having a plurality of guide channels formed therein, each of said guide channels having a supporting surface, said second leg of each of said contacts being received within a respective one of said guide channels and supported on said supporting surface thereof, and means for clamping a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point between said supporting surface of a respective guide channel in which said second contact leg is received and a corresponding upper surface, a rearward part of said second leg of each of said contacts rearward of said fulcrum point being separable from said supporting surface of said respective guide channel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
249 words
A device intended to be surface mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising: a housing formed of insulative material; a plurality of contacts formed of electrically conductive material, each of said contacts including a pad-engaging portion intended to electrically engage a respective terminal pad on the printed circuit board, a mating portion, and a substantially L-shaped intermediate portion including a first leg to which said pad-engaging portion is connected and a second leg having a forward end to which said mating portion is connected; and said housing including means for permitting each of said contacts to deflect with respect to a fulcrum point located on said second leg of said L-shaped intermediate contact portion upon engagement of said pad-engaging contact portion with a terminal pad on the printed circuit board, said means comprising a first wall having a plurality of guide channels formed therein, each of said guide channels having a supporting surface, said second leg of each of said contacts being received within a respective one of said guide channels and supported on said supporting surface thereof, and means for clamping a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point between said supporting surface of a respective guide channel in which said second contact leg is received and a corresponding upper surface, a rearward part of said second leg of each of said contacts rearward of said fulcrum point being separable from said supporting surface of said respective guide channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for clamping a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point to said supporting surface of a respective guide channel in which said second contact leg is received comprises a second wall of said housing having a surface contiguously overlying said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts, said forward portions of said second legs of said contacts being clamped between said surfaces of said first and second housing walls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
A device as recited in claim 11 wherein, each of said guide channels includes a forward portion having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of said second leg of a contact received therein, a rearward portion having a depth greater than said contact thickness, and an intermediate inclined portion of varying depth interconnecting said forward and rearward channel portions; said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts being received in said guide channel forward portion, said rearward part of said second leg of each of said contacts includes a rearward portion situated in said rearward guide channel portion, and an intermediate inclined portion situated in said intermediate inclined guide channel portion; and said surface of said second wall contiguously overlying said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts being substantially planar and overlying said rearward and intermediate portions of said second leg of each contact in spaced relationship therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
A device as recited in claim 11 wherein, each of said guide channels has a substantially constant depth along its length substantially equal to the thickness of said second leg of a contact received therein; said forward portion and rearward part of said second leg of each of said contacts being substantially colinear and received within a respective guide channel; and said surface of said second wall including a forward portion contiguously overlying said forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts, and a rearward portion spaced from said rearward part of each of said contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as recited in claim 11 wherein said housing includes an outer housing part and an inner housing part received within said outer housing part, said inner housing part including a top wall over which said second leg of each of said contacts extends, and wherein said second outer housing part has a top wall overlying said top wall of said inner housing part over which said second legs of said contacts extend.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as recited in claim 14 wherein said inner housing part includes a portion through which a plurality of bores are formed, each of said bores receiving a respective one of said first legs of said contacts, whereby said first and second legs of said contacts are enclosed within said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as recited in claim 15 wherein said top wall of said inner housing part has a plurality of guide channels formed therein, each of said guide channels receiving a second leg of a respective one of said contacts.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
234 words
A device intended to be surface mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising: a housing formed of insulative material; a plurality of contacts formed of electrically conductive material, each of said contacts including a pad-engaging portion intended to electrically engage a respective terminal pad on the printed circuit board, a mating portion, and a substantially L-shaped intermediate portion including a first leg to which said pad-engaging portion is connected and a second leg having a forward end to which said mating portion is connected; and said housing including means for permitting each of said contacts to deflect with respect to a fulcrum point located on said second leg of said L-shaped intermediate contact portion upon engagement of said pad-engaging contact portion with a terminal pad on the printed circuit board, said means comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part received within said outer housing part, said inner housing part including a top wall over which said second leg of each of said contacts extends, and wherein said outer housing part has a top wall overlying said top wall of said inner housing part over which said second legs of said contacts extend such that a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point is clamped between said top wall of said inner housing part and said top wall of said outer housing part.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
234 words
A device intended to be surface mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising: a housing formed of insulative material; a plurality of contacts formed of electrically conductive material, each of said contacts including a pad-engaging portion intended to electrically engage a respective terminal pad on the printed circuit board, a mating portion, and a substantially L-shaped intermediate portion including a first leg to which said pad-engaging portion is connected and a second leg having a forward end to which said mating portion is connected; and said housing including means for permitting each of said contacts to deflect with respect to a fulcrum point located on said second leg of said L-shaped intermediate contact portion upon engagement of said pad-engaging contact portion with a terminal pad on the printed circuit board, said means comprising an outer housing part and an inner housing part received within said outer housing part, said inner housing part including a top wall over which said second leg of each of said contacts extends, and wherein said outer housing part has a top wall overlying said top wall of said inner housing part over which said second legs of said contacts extend such that a forward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts forward of said fulcrum point is clamped between said top wall of said inner housing part and said top wall of said outer housing part.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 17, wherein a rearward portion of said second leg of each of said contacts rearward of said fulcrum point is separable from said top wall of said inner housing part.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as recited in claim 17 wherein said inner housing part includes a portion through which a plurality of bores are formed, each of said bores receiving a respective one of said first legs of said contacts, whereby said first and second legs of said contacts are enclosed within said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as recited in claim 18 wherein said top wall of said inner housing part and said top wall of said outer housing part define a cavity in which said rearward portion of said second leg is deflected upon engagement of said pad-engaging contact portion with the terminal pad on the printed circuit board.
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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) | 1997-11-14 | 1998-05-16 | 1998-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-05-16 | 2002-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-14 | 2006-05-16 | 2006-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |