Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-04-17
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
C029S884000, C029S883000, C029S876000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217393
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an appliance connector and the production method thereof.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
A prior multipole appliance connector, one end of which is attached to a printed circuit board prior to use, has a plurality of terminals installed in a connector housing; these terminals are aligned in rows in order to save space, etc., and these rows are distributed in multiple layers on the side of the connector fitting with a corresponding connector. Contact members extend from each terminal on the side of the connector attached to the printed wiring board. These contact members need to be aligned in a single plane so as to be attached by wire bonding with contact points aligned on the edge of the printed circuit board.
Conventionally, when this type of appliance connector is produced, each terminal is formed individually in a shape such that one end can be positioned in the multiple layers and the contact points of the other end can be positioned in a single plane. The housing in which attachment holes for these terminals are aligned is formed separately. Each terminal is attached by being press-fitted into a corresponding attachment hole, with the tab protruding.
However, this conventional production method is extremely cumbersome, particularly as the multipolarity of connectors is increasing, and an improved production method is required.
The present invention has been developed after taking the above problem into consideration and aims to present an appliance connector with a simplified production, and the production method thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an insert-moulded electrical connector having a housing, a first row of spaced terminals each having a respective contact member in a single plane, and a second row of spaced terminals interspersed within said first row and each having a respective contact member in said single plane, said rows of terminals being fixed and located as said housing is moulded thereabout.
Such a construction avoids the need for individual location of each terminal in a separately moulded housing.
The terminals may be in two or more mutually parallel planes, but what is important is that the contact members thereof are uni-planar for connection to the edge of a printed circuit board.
The connector may further include a position fixing member for the terminals, each terminal being located in a respective aperture of the position fixing member. This position fixing member may also be insert-moulded into the housing.
The invention also provides a method of manufacturing an electrical connector having on one side a row of terminals in a single plane, and another side two or more rows of terminals in spaced planes, the method comprising the steps of:
a) forming a first row of spaced terminals in a common plane, the terminals having a common first row carrier,
b) forming a second row of spaced terminals in a common plane, the terminals having a common second row carrier in a plane parallel to the plane of said second row,
c) placing said carriers one above the other such that said first and second row of terminals are interspersed adjacent said carriers,
d) forming a plastics housing to fix and locate said terminals by insert moulding; and
e) shearing said carriers from said first and second rows of terminals, thereby rendering each of said terminals electrically independent whilst being fixed in said housing.
The method may include the preliminary step of forming mutually alignable apertures in the common carriers, and aligning those apertures in the mould with mould alignment pins. Such an arrangement ensures precise location and positioning prior to insert moulding.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3391456 (1968-07-01), Gannoe
patent: 4602830 (1986-07-01), Lockard
patent: 4639056 (1987-01-01), Lindeman et al.
patent: 5201662 (1993-04-01), Roche
patent: 5267875 (1993-12-01), Koegel et al.
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Bradley Paula
Ngandjui Antoine
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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