Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

2000-02-23

2001-03-13

Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S862000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06200167

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to press-contact type electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector with a contact element not fitted to but merely pressed against a contact element of a mating connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese patent application Kokai No. 6-20737 discloses such an electrical connector as shown in
FIG. 3
, wherein a pair of connectors
50
and
60
have a pair of housings
51
and
61
in which contact elements
52
and
62
are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet. The contact sections
52
A and
62
A of the contact elements are abutted against each other in the plugging direction for making an electrical connection. The contact sections
52
A and
62
A are made convex and project from the windows
53
A and
63
A of front covers
53
and
63
so that when the connectors
50
and
60
are plugged in, they are flexed into the interiors of the front covers
53
and
63
. That is, the contact sections
52
A and
62
A are moved inwardly of the front covers
53
and
63
as shown by arrows
54
and
64
of FIG.
3
. Thus, the contact elements
52
and
62
are electrically connected with a predetermined pressure.
In the connector of
FIG. 3
, the contact sections
52
A and
62
A of contact elements
52
and
62
are bent at the curved portions
55
and
65
and moved only in the direction shown by the arrows
54
and
64
. Consequently, the contact sections
52
A and
62
A are not rubbed each other. As a result, dust and dirt adheres to the contact sections and causes poor contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector capable of producing self-cleaning effects, thus providing stable electrical connection.
An electrical connector comprises a contact support with at least one receiving slot having a front opening; at least one contact element received by the receiving slot and having a wiring section at one end and a free end at the other end in the receiving slot and a contact section adjacent to the free end and projecting from the opening so that when the electrical connector is connected to a mating connector, it is brought into contact with a contact section of the mating connector and pushed rearwardly by the mating connector.
According to the invention, the contact element further comprises a fixing section, a spring section, and a guided section in an order from the wiring section to the free end; the fixing section is held in the receiving slot to hold the contact element in place in the receiving slot; the contact section is made convex so as to project from the opening; the spring section is bent to provide a flexible portion between the fixing and contact sections; the guided section extends obliquely with respect to a plugging direction of the electrical connection and is in sliding relationship to a guiding section of the opening; and the contact section is spaced from the fixing section in a direction perpendicular to the plugging direction.
It is preferred that the guiding section of the opening has a guiding surface made along a sliding direction of the guided section of the contact element.
When the electrical connector is plugged into a mating connector, the contact sections of contact elements are spaced from the fixing sections in the vertical direction so that the contact sections are moved both in the horizonal and the vertical directions. The guided sections extend the oblique direction and are moved along the oblique direction. That is, the contact sections are moved both in the horizonal and the vertical directions. The later movement produces the wiping effect.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5213314 (1993-05-01), Toshiji
patent: 5259769 (1993-11-01), Cruise et al.
patent: 5306177 (1994-04-01), Rodger
patent: 5326290 (1994-07-01), Chailleux et al.
patent: 5904597 (1999-05-01), Doi et al.
patent: 6048228 (2000-04-01), Aso
patent: 2717953 (1995-09-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Electrical connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Electrical connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrical connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2474472