U.S. patent number 3,740,699 [Application Number 05/204,225] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-19 for printed circuit board connector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to GTE Sylvania Incorporated. Invention is credited to Richard E. Johnson, George D. Powley.
United States Patent |
3,740,699 |
Johnson , et al. |
June 19, 1973 |
PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTOR
Abstract
A printed circuit board connector having an insulative body in
which are positioned a plurality of contacts designed to slidably
engage angular indentations within corresponding recesses situated
within the body during circuit board insertion. This motion results
in a substantial reduction of the insertion forces encountered by
the circuit board, these forces common in most connectors of this
variety.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Richard E. (Sugar
Grove, PA), Powley; George D. (Johnsonburg, PA) |
Assignee: |
GTE Sylvania Incorporated
(Seneca Falls, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22757114 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/204,225 |
Filed: |
December 2, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/637 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
12/721 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H05k 001/07 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/17F,17L,17LC,17LM,17M,65,75MP,176MF,176MP,184M,186M,217S,221M |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
885,040 |
|
Dec 1961 |
|
GB |
|
1,147,643 |
|
Apr 1963 |
|
DT |
|
1,187,323 |
|
Feb 1965 |
|
DT |
|
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Assistant Examiner: Staab; Lawrence J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A printed circuit board connector comprising:
a unitary insulative body having a channel located therein for
receiving a printed circuit board, said channel having a pair of
opposing substantially parallel upstanding walls;
a plurality of recesses formed within said insulative body and
adapted for having open access to said channel, each of said
recesses having at least one surface having an angular indentation
formed therein, said angular indentation comprising a first angular
wall extending a predetermined distance from said surface and
forming an acute angle therewith and a second angular wall mating
with said first angular wall; and
a plurality of electrical contacts established within said
insulative body, each of said contacts having a lower terminal
portion extending from said insulative body, a central portion
having means for retaining said contact within said insulative
body, and an upper angular contacting portion substantially
disposed within one of said recesses and adapted for engaging a
corresponding electrically conducting area of said printed circuit
board, said upper angular contacting portion having a knurled end
located thereon slidably engaging said first angular wall of said
angular indentation during initial insertion of said printed
circuit board into said channel, said knurled end slidably engaging
said second wall of said angular indentation upon further insertion
of said printed circuit board into said channel.
2. The printed circuit board connector according to claim 1 in
which said means for retaining said contact within said insulative
body comprises a plurality of protuberances extending from said
central portion of said contact and adapted for frictionally
engaging an internal surface of said insulative body.
3. The printed circuit board connector according to claim 1 in
which said surface of said recess having said angular indentation
formed therein is substantially parallel to said opposing
upstanding walls of said channel.
4. The printed circuit board connector according to claim 1 in
which said second angular wall is substantially parallel to said
surface of said recess having said angular indentation formed
therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to connectors for printed circuit boards and
more particularly to connectors specifically designed to minimize
the insertion forces occurring due to interference between the
contacts of these connectors and the electrically conducting
surfaces of the circuit boards during board insertion.
Connectors of the prior art which have been particularly adapted
for reducing insertion forces between contact and circuit board
during board insertion have most usually accomplished this
reduction by providing open areas in the connector block in which
portions of the contacts are free to move, once engagement with the
board is initiated. Particular mention is made to U.S. Pat. No.
3,120,988, issued to Gilbert and No. 3,131,017, issued to Mittler.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,988, recesses 40 are provided in the
insulative block to allow lateral movement of the upper portions of
the contacts. In like manner, pockets 48 in U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,017
are provided to compensate for this movement.
While these and similar type connectors substantially reduce the
board insertion forces during insertion, it can be seen that the
provision of these open areas results in a substantial increase in
the overall width of the connector block. In much of today's
electronic circuitry where compactness is a necessity, this
excessive width is a highly undesirable feature.
Mention is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,637, issued to
Gilissen. In this patent the areas previously mentioned are
omitted, resulting in an overall reduction in the width of the
connector. However, the insertion force on the board during
insertion is much greater, due to the stiffer contact arrangement.
An increase in the resulting frictional force increases the
possibility of poor electrical contact after repeated insertions
and removals of the board as a result of uneven erosion of the
surfaces of the circuit board as well as those of the contacts.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a
connector in which the insertion forces encountered by the circuit
board during board insertion is minimal.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide a connector
having a substantially smaller cross-sectional area than those of
similar type connectors of the prior art.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided
a connector having an insulative body with means located therein
for receiving a printed circuit board. A plurality of recesses are
formed within the insulative body, each having open access to the
means for receiving the circuit board. Within each recess there is
provided at least one surface which has an angular indentation
formed therein. A plurality of electrical contacts are provided,
these contacts each having a lower terminal portion, a central
retaining portion, and an upper angular portion substantially
disposed within one of the recesses. Each of these upper angular
portions have means located thereon for slidably engaging the
angular indentation of the recess during insertion of the board
into the channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present
invention about to receive a printed circuit board;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view, in section, as taken along the line
2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view, in section, of the connector of FIG.
2 showing the displacement of one of the contacts after the circuit
board has been fully inserted;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view, in section, of another embodiment of
the present invention, prior to circuit board insertion;
FIG. 5 is an elevational view, in section, of the connector of FIG.
4, showing partial circuit board insertion; and
FIG. 6 is an elevational view, in section, of the connector of FIG.
4 showing full circuit board insertion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with
other and further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof,
reference is made to the following specification and appended
claims in connection with the accompanying drawings.
With particular reference to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment
of the present invention, connector 11, which comprises an
insulative body 13 and a plurality of electrical contacts 15
retained therein. Also within insulative body 13 are a plurality of
recesses 17 each having open access to a means for receiving
printed circuit board 22, this means illustrated as a channel 19
which has a pair of opposing substantially parallel upstanding
walls 20 and 21 (shown in FIG. 2). Circuit board 22 has a plurality
of electrical conducting areas 23 spaced about a body of insulating
material 25 and positioned to align with corresponding recesses
17.
In FIG. 2, connector 11 is shown about to receive circuit board 22.
Contacts 15 are shown in position prior to board insertion, these
contacts disposed along both sides of channel 19 in insulative body
13. Each contact comprises a lower terminal portion 27 which
extends from insulative body 13, a central portion 29, and an upper
angular contacting portion 31.
Positioned on central portion 29 is a means for retaining contact
15 within insulative body 13, this means illustrated as a plurality
of protuberances 32 for frictionally engaging internal surface 34
of body 13. These protuberances are necessary, primarily for
assuring proper alignment of the contact within the insulative
body.
Each of the upper angular contacting portions 31 of contacts 15 is
substantially disposed in one of the corresponding recesses 17 and
is shown to comprise an angled contact area 33 which engages
electrical conducting area 23 of circuit board 22. Recess 17,
having open access to channel 19, permits angled contact area 33 to
partially extend into channel 19 prior to board insertion. When
circuit board 22 is fully inserted into connector 11, as shown in
FIG. 3, contact area 33 slidably engages electrically conducting
area 23 thereby completing a simple electrical circuit between
conducting area 23 of the board and lower terminal portion 27 of
contact 15. Lower portion 27 provides still further circuitry
possibilities by being adaptable for accepting electrical wiring or
for insertion into additional electrical components, such as a
socket or another circuit board.
Contact between conducting area 23 and angled contact area 33
causes area 33 to be moved to the position as shown in FIG. 3. To
allow for this movement and still maintain a relatively thin
insulative body, an angular indentation is provided in surface 37
of recess 17, this indentation illustrated as a first angular wall
36. Surface 37 is substantially parallel to upstanding walls 20 and
21 of channel 19 and forms an acute angle .phi. with first angular
wall 36. Means for slidably engaging first wall 36, illustrated as
knurled end 39, slides along first wall 36 in the direction shown.
Thus it can be seen that frictional force on circuit board 22 and
contact 15 during board insertion is minimal and the relative
thinness of insulative body 13 is still maintained. A further
feature of this invention is that a more durable connector is
possible because a more rugged contact can be employed without a
substantial increase in the frictional force on the board and
contact.
With particular reference to FIG. 4, there is illustrated another
embodiment of the present invention, connector 11' about to receive
printed circuit board 22. Connector 11' closely resembles connector
11 shown in FIGS. 1-3 with the exception that the angular
indentation of recess 17' comprises a first angular wall 36' which
mates with a second angular wall 38, second wall 38 being
substantially parallel to surface 37'. As in connector 11, surface
37' of recess 17' is substantially parallel to upstanding walls 20'
and 21' of channel 19'. Accordingly, contact 15' is substantially
similar to contact 15 utilized in connector 11.
Second angular wall 38 thereby provides a means whereby the force
exerted by contact 15' against circuit board 22 is altered during
insertion. During the initial stage of board insertion knurled end
39' of contact 15' slidably engages first angular wall 36' and
moves in a direction similar to that described for end 39 of
contact 15 in FIG. 3. After moving a predetermined distance,
knurled end 39' engages second angular wall 38, this occurring when
the circuit board has reached a position as illustrated in FIG.
5.
Further board insertion, shown in FIG. 6, forces knurled end 39 to
move along second wall 38 in the direction indicated. Because this
direction of movement is substantially parallel to and opposite the
direction of movement of circuit board 22, the frictional force
between board 22 and contact 15' is somewhat larger than that of
the minimal initial insertion force encountered when knurled end
39' moved along first wall 36' (illustrated in FIG. 5.) This
increased force serves to provide a more reliable means for
maintaining circuit board 22 in channel 19' than that of the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. While walls 36' and 38 serve
to accomplish the above mentioned results, it is obvious that these
walls can be replaced by a single wall of predetermined
configuration to still provide these desired features.
Thus there has been shown and described a printed circuit board
connector which substantially reduces the frictional force
encountered between the board surfaces and contacts within the
connector during insertion of the board. This connector
accomplishes this reduction of force while still maintaining a
relatively thin insulative body, a highly desirable feature in the
design of today's electronic circuitry.
While there have been shown and described what are at present
considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be
obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *