Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

2000-04-25

2002-03-19

Bradley, P. Austin (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation

Reexamination Certificate

active

06358100

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an electrical connector in which metal contacts have a press-fitting fastening part that is fastened to a housing by press-fitting, and a contact part which contacts both opposite major surfaces of a stamped mating contact of a mating connector engaged parallel to a circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The electrical connector shown in
FIGS. 7A-7C
is a conventional electrical connector for engaging a mating connector in a direction parallel to a circuit board on which the electrical connector is mounted (see Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. HEI 9-289053). This electrical connector
100
is equipped with an insulating housing
110
which is mounted on a circuit board (not shown in the figures), and a plurality of contacts
120
which are attached to the housing
110
in a row. Each of the contacts
120
is formed by the stamping of a metal plate, and has a press-fitting fastening part
121
which is fastened to the housing
110
by press-fitting, a contact part
122
which is positioned further forward than the press-fitting fastening part
121
, which protrudes from the front surface
111
of the housing
110
, and which contacts the mating contact (not shown in the figures) of a mating connector engaged parallel to the circuit board with both opposite major surfaces of the stamped metal plate, and a solder connection part
123
which extends from the rear end portion of the press-fitting fastening part
121
, and which is connected by soldering to a through-hole in the circuit board. The press-fitting fastening part
121
has a plurality of projections
121
a
and
121
b
which are formed on the upper and lower shear edges of the stamped metal plate, and which fasten the contact
120
in place by biting into the housing
110
. As a result of two points of contact being formed with the mating contact, contact with the mating contact can be securely accomplished even by one side in the direction of thickness of the plate, so that the reliability of this contact can be increased.
However, in the case of this conventional electrical connector
100
, the press-fitting fastening parts
121
of the respective contacts
120
are fastened by press-fitting toward the front surface
111
of the housing
110
from the rear surface
112
of the housing
110
. Accordingly, when the mating contacts of the mating connector contact both opposite major surfaces of the contact parts
122
of the contacts
120
in the direction extending from the front surface
111
of the housing
110
toward the rear surface
112
of the housing
110
, the projections
121
a
and
121
b
of the press-fitting fastening parts
121
may move in cases where the contact force is large. As a result, the contacts
120
may slip out of the housing
110
.
Furthermore, the rear edges
124
of the contacts
120
on the opposite sides of the contacts
120
from the contact parts
122
are exposed to the outside from the rear surface
112
of the housing
110
. As a result, in cases where dirt or other members, e. g., housing bodies or electrical parts such as resistors, etc., approach the exposed portions of the respective contacts
120
after the solder connection parts
123
have been connected to the circuit board by soldering, adjacent exposed portions may be short-circuited by such dirt, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector in which the contacts do not slip out of the housing when the mating contacts of the mating connector contact both opposite major surfaces of the contact parts of the contacts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which is devised so that even in cases where dirt or other members, e. g., housing bodies or electrical parts such as resistors, etc., approach the rear edges of the contacts, there is no short-circuiting of adjacent contacts by such dirt, etc.
The electrical connector of the present invention comprises an insulating housing that is mounted on a circuit board, and a plurality of contacts that are attached to the housing. Each of the contacts is formed by the stamping of a metal plate, and has a press-fitting fastening part that is fastened to the housing by press-fitting, and a contact part which is positioned further forward than the press-fitting fastening part, and which contacts the mating contact of a mating connector engaged parallel to the circuit board with both opposite major surfaces of the stamped metal plate. The press-fitting fastening parts of the contacts are fastened to the housing by press-fitting from the bottom side of the housing along a direction perpendicular to the direction of engagement of the mating connector, and substantially the entire rear edge of the contacts on the opposite side of the contact from the contact part is covered by the housing.
Furthermore, it is effective if each of the contacts has a solder connection part which is connected by soldering to a through-hole in the circuit board, and solder connection inspection recesses which are located in positions corresponding to the solder connection parts of the contacts, and which extend from the rear surface of the housing to the front surface, are formed in the bottom surface of the housing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5221210 (1993-06-01), Bormuth et al.
patent: 5667392 (1997-09-01), Kocher et al.
patent: 9-289053 (1997-11-01), None

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