Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-08-07
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270373
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a connector having a contact. More particularly, it finds use in the field of connections, of telephony and computer applications, particularly of the RJ45 type. In prior art, in order to electrically connect two elements, for instance a cable and a printed circuit, two complementary connectors are used, each comprising a contact complementary to the other. These two contacts are to be connected together. Each contact is connected by a first end to one of the two elements, and has, at the other end, a rigid surface to be applied to the one of the complementary contact. The invention provides a single contact, comprised in a single connector, which may be directly connected to the two elements to be electrically connected. The interest of the invention lies in that a lower number of components is needed to connect two elements together.
In prior art, a first contact is connected to a first element. This first element is, for instance, a cable. The first contact is comprised in a first connector. This first contact includes an insulation displacement device, to allow electric connection thereof to the conductors of the cable. It also has a free edge for contacting a second contact. The edge of the first contact is a flat and rigid surface. The second contact is connected to a second element. This second element is, for instance, the metal plating of a printed circuit. In this case, the second contact is fastened to this second element by welding. The second contact is comprised in a second connector, complementary to the first connector. It also has accessible flat and rigid surfaces, which may contact the edge of the first contact.
Prior art connectors involve a first dimensional problem. In fact, prior art connectors are composed of many components: at least two complementary connectors and two contacts being allowed to be connected together. The provision of two connectors implies a construction which is incompatible with the miniaturization of the assembly.
The number of components of the assembly implicitly requires a number of actions for assembling such connection device and for making the connection. In fact, contacts have to be inserted into a connector, connectors have to be connected to the elements and finally, connectors have to be connected together.
Also, a prior art RJ45 connector cannot allow to reversibly connect two elements like a cable and a printed circuit. In fact, the printed circuit is flat and rigid. It has no cavity allowing to accommodate the RJ45 connector which also has flat and rigid contacts. Further, even when the printed circuit has a device for fastening a RJ45 connector, the quality of electric connections between two flat contacts is not assured. In fact, if a gap or clearance exists between the contact of the connector and the metal plating of the printed circuit, which is not foreseen by the fastening device, the connection will not be effected. Such a connector does not allow direct connections to printed circuits whose flatness is imperfect. If a jaw is provided as a fastening device, carried by the connector for accommodating the printed circuit, the thickness variation of printed circuits is such that electric contact is not effectively ensured.
It is an object of the invention to obviate the above drawbacks by providing a single connector comprising a contact which may be electrically connected by its ends to two elements. The contact particularly allows a first end to be connected to a cable thanks to an insulation displacement device for insulator removal. At a second end, the contact has an elastic tongue which allows to force said tongue against a rigid and flat element, e.g. a printed circuit. The elastic tongue is a device which allows to ensure a reliable electric connection to a rigid element. This second rigid and flat element is thereby connected to the cable.
Also, the contact in accordance with the invention has a joint for connecting these two ends. This joint allows, on the one hand, to dispose the elastic tongue in the connector, in a location wherein it will be free and capable to contact a printed circuit. Further, this joint allows a wider displacement of the elastic tongue with respect to the contact body. The contact thus conceived may be adapted to contact several different types of rigid and flat elements, other than printed circuits, or printed circuits with different thicknesses.
A RJ45 plug, wherein this contact is inserted, is designed to fit into a receptacle. Such receptacle has a printed circuit projecting out of one of its apertures. Here, the printed circuit is held perpendicular to the plane formed by the aperture. The tongue of this contact is forced against the metal plating of the printed circuit upon introduction of the printed circuit in the aperture. The curve followed by the tongue ensures electric connection to the metal plating, while admitting a slight variability of the circuit position, as well as a slight variation of its thickness.
Therefore, the invention addresses a connector having a contact which comprises a body provided at one end with a rigid blade holding an insulation displacement means for connection to a conductor of a cable, characterized in that it has an elastic tongue at a second end, and an arm joining the rigid blade to the elastic tongue.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4915645 (1990-04-01), Konnemann et al.
patent: 5194014 (1993-03-01), McClune et al.
patent: 5749750 (1998-05-01), Yu et al.
patent: 6007368 (1999-12-01), Lorenz et al.
patent: 0194052 A1 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 0227153 A1 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 0478364 A1 (1992-04-01), None
FCI Besancon SA
Nguyen P
Paumen Gary
Perman & Green LLP
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