Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-11-06
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S931000, C439S951000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312264
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a connecting device comprising a support board, adapted for supporting electrical components and/or electrical conductors, manufactured of non-conductive material and having contact means serving for producing an electrical connection with mating contact means of another electrical component, said support board having a recess open toward one end thereof, side walls delimiting the recess on opposite sides respectively having an electrically conductive contact face of the contact means, which during the existence of such electrical connection is thrust against a mating contact face, fitting into the recess, of the mating contact means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Such a connecting means is disclosed in the German patent publication (utility model) 29,621,580 U1. It is utilized therein for the transmission of electrical energy, more particularly in the form of high frequency signals. However the design thereof would in principle also appear applicable for one use falling within the field of activities of the assignee, in the case of which for example an electrical connection must be produced between an electromagnet, which has the mating contact means, and a drive circuit for driving or, respectively, controlling the electromagnet. The component, which is to be connected electrically with the support board, in the present case the electromagnet, is frequently gotten from a vendor firm so that difficulties with contacts may occur owing to a summation of inaccuracies. Such inaccuracies in the mating contact means may not be easily allowed for by a suitable adaptation of the contact means on the support board because this would represent substantial added complexity of manufacture and high costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is consequently to create a connecting device in the case of which the contact means on the support board ensure a satisfactory electrical connection even despite possible inaccuracy of the mating contact means.
In order to achieve these and/or other objects appearing from the present specification, claims and drawings, in the present invention the contact faces are respectively provided on a spring arm, able to be moved elastically in a transverse direction thereof, of the support board in such a manner that the two spring arms are urged apart by the mating contact means, fitted into the recess, against a return force and act on the mating contact means in the manner of a tongs.
Owing to the spring arms which are resiliently elastic in the transverse direction, inaccuracies in the mating contact means can be compensated for through a relatively wide range so that even in the case of major inaccuracies a satisfactory mechanical and electrical connection is ensured between the contact means and the mating contact means. Furthermore the danger of plastic deformation of the mating contact means is extremely small. Since the gripping force is produced by the return force of the spring arms, no special requirements must be met as regards the production of the mechanical connection, this in turn meaning that the connecting device renders possible use with differently designed mating contact means.
Advantageous further developments of the invention will appear from the claims.
It is convenient for the contact faces of the contact means for the production of two separate electrical connections to be provided with two separate contact elements. For instance, it is possible for the contact faces of the contact means to serve for producing a two-pole electrical connection with the mating contact faces of the mating contact means. It is in this manner that the two electrical connections, which are produced between a respective contact face and the mating, associated contact face, may be placed at two different electrical potentials.
It is an advantage for the contact faces to he provided functionally adjacent to the free outer ends of the spring arms. It is here that the resiliently elastic mobility of the spring arms in the transverse direction is at its greatest with the result that a satisfactory electrical contact may be ensured between the contact faces and the mating contact faces.
It is also convenient for the contact faces to be constituted by electrically conductive material applied to the side walls of the recess in the support board. In this respect any printed wiring applied to the support board may be connected in a simple manner with the contact face, the contact face simultaneously constituting a sort of through the board contact means so that there is the possibility of connecting any printed wiring provided on both sides of the support board in a simple manner with the contact faces.
The two contact faces may furthermore be component parts of two separate conductive layers, which at least partially cover the inner face of the recess. More particularly, the electrical connection can be between at least one component and/or conductor provided on the support board and at least one of the contact faces via the respective conductive layer. It is in this manner that the connection may be ensured at any desired point on the conductive layer so that the position of the component or, respectively, the course of the conductor on the support board may be selected quite freely.
It is furthermore convenient, in a case in which a lug extends from the base side of the recess toward the open side, opposite thereto, of the recess, such lug together with the spring arms, delimiting two engagement zones of the recess, into which, once the electrical connection has been produced, respectively one contact element, having mating contact faces, of the mating contact means may fit. When the electrical connection exists the lug fills up the free space between the two contact elements at least partly and may present an additional face on the two support faces of the support board for the arrangement thereon of components and/or conductors, as for instance printed wiring.
In the case of a further advantageous embodiment a housing is present, on which the support board may be more particularly detachably mounted. In this respect it is possible for the housing to possess an attachment section serving for the attachment of the component having the mating contact means, the mating contact means fitting through at least one associated housing opening into a connection zone of the housing, in which when the support board is applied to the housing the contact means of the board are located. Accordingly positioning of the support board and of the component having the mating contact means is possible using the housing, same ensuring both a secure mechanical connection, and also a secure electrical connection between the contact means and the mating contact means.
In this respect it is an advantage if support projections are provided on the housing opposite to the respective spring arm inside the recess and at a distance, such projections serving for lateral support of the mating contact means acted upon by a spring arm when the connection is produced.
In the case of design it is possible to provide two openings in the housing for each contact element of the mating contact means, the support projections extending from one respective edge zone of one of the housing openings into the connection zone, and, when the support board is fixed to the housing, at a distance from the associated spring arm into the recess in the support board so that they respectively support the contact element, which after making the electrical connection is between the support projection and the associated spring arm, against the return force of the spring arm. Owing to this measure any accidental deformation of the contact elements is prevented even more reliably.
Further advantageous developments and convenient forms of the invention will be understood from the following detailed descriptive disclosure of one embodiment thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2524939 (1950-10-01), Stephan et al.
patent: 292
Bock Jurgen
Franz Jochen
Ruhle Peter
Festo AG & Co.
Hoffmann & Baron , LLP
Patel Tulsidas
Webb Brian S.
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