US6309228B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
C-shaped compliant contact
Assignee: DDK Ltd
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Filing: 2001-01-23
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Granted: 2001-10-30
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Expires: 2021-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A C-shaped compliant contact is composed of a connection portion to be connected to an electric cable or the like, a press-fitting portion to be press-fitted in a through-hole of the printed circuit board, and a contact portion to contact a contact of a mating connector. The press-fitting portion has an inner periphery forming a U-shaped groove in section and an outer periphery forming at least one arc portion. The circle inscribing the inner periphery of the U-shaped groove is in an eccentric relation to the arc portion of the outer periphery. The thickness of the arc portion in cross-section progressively decreasing on proceeding toward the open end of the U-shaped groove to make longer the arc portion contacting the through-hole of the printed circuit board. The U-shaped groove is formed with a ramp surface located inside the inner periphery near to the connection portion, connected to the bottom of the U-shaped groove and inclined to make shallower the U-shaped groove, thereby preventing the connection portion of the contact from being bent when it is being press-fitted into the through-hole of the printed circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomonari Otsuki
- 👤 Jinichi Mashiyama
- 👤 Yoshiaki Takeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/58; H01R12/585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A C-shaped compliant contact composed of a connection portion to be connected to an electric cable or a connector on the rear side of a printed circuit board, a press-fitting portion to be fixed in a cylindrical through-hole of the printed circuit board by press-fitting, and a contact portion to be in contact with a contact of a mating connector, said press-fitting portion formed to have an inner periphery forming a U-shaped groove in cross-section having flexible sidewalls with an outer periphery having at least one arc portion in cross-section, circles inscribing said inner periphery of said U-shaped groove and circumscribing said sidewall arc portion of said outer periphery being in an eccentric relation, and the thickness of said arc portion in cross-section progressively decreasing on proceeding toward the open end of the U-shaped groove to make said arc portion contacting said through-hole of said printed circuit board longer, wherein said U-shaped groove is formed with a ramp surface located inside said inner periphery adjacent to said connection portion and merging with the bottom of said U-shaped groove and inclined to make said U-shaped groove shallower, and a protrusion projecting from the center of the bottom of said U-shaped groove toward the outside thereof is provided along substantially the full length of said U-shaped groove, the protrusion being configured such that it serves to prevent the separation of the distal ends of the sidewalls of the U-shaped groove from the inner surface of said through-hole without adversely affecting the flexibility of said distal ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A C-shaped compliant contact composed of a connection portion to be connected to an electric cable or a connector on the rear side of a printed circuit board, a press-fitting portion to be fixed in a cylindrical through-hole of the printed circuit board by press-fitting, and a contact portion to be in contact with a contact of a mating connector, said press-fitting portion formed to have an inner periphery forming a U-shaped groove in cross-section having flexible sidewalls with an outer periphery having at least one arc portion in cross-section, circles inscribing said inner periphery of said U-shaped groove and circumscribing said sidewall arc portion of said outer periphery being in an eccentric relation, and the thickness of said arc portion in cross-section progressively decreasing on proceeding toward the open end of the U-shaped groove to make said arc portion contacting said through-hole of said printed circuit board longer, wherein said U-shaped groove is formed with a ramp surface located inside said inner periphery adjacent to said connection portion and merging with the bottom of said U-shaped groove and inclined to make said U-shaped groove shallower, and a protrusion projecting from the center of the bottom of said U-shaped groove toward the outside thereof is provided along substantially the full length of said U-shaped groove, the protrusion being configured such that it serves to prevent the separation of the distal ends of the sidewalls of the U-shaped groove from the inner surface of said through-hole without adversely affecting the flexibility of said distal ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The C-shaped compliant contact as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said ramp surface is provided such that grooves on both sides of said protrusion become progressively shallower with a decrease in size of the press-fitting portion adjacent to the connection portion for easy insertion into said through-hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The C-shaped compliant contact as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the merging portion of said ramp surface to said inner periphery of the U-shaped groove, at a location where the walls of the U-shaped groove close together on the side of the connection portion, is located between the top of the protrusion and the outer periphery of the press-fitting portion of the contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The C-shaped compliant contact as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said merging portion of said ramp surface to said inner surface of the U-shaped groove is located at the outer periphery of the press-fitting portion of the 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) | 2004-10-29 | 2005-04-30 | 2005-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-29 | 2009-04-30 | 2009-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-29 | 2013-04-30 | 2013-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |