Electrical contact for plug-in connector

Details Electrical contact for plug-in connector Electrical contact for plug-in connector

2002-12-20

2003-10-07

Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...

Spring actuated or resilient securing part

C439S848000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06629864

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A plug connector for applications such as in mobile telephones, commonly includes a row of contacts that make electrical connection with corresponding terminals on the mating connector, and a separate latch that holds the connectors together. It is possible for the contacts to provide some retention force, but such retention force is usually low so reliable latching requires a separate latch. It would be desirable if the contacts themselves provided a strong latch and the contacts could be constructed at low cost of sheet metal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, applicant provides a contact that includes a durable latch function in addition to an electrical contacting function, in a contact that can be constructed at low cost. The contact includes a piece of sheet metal that is bent to form a biasing plate and at least one guide plate, the two plates joined by a bend and the two plates lying facewise adjacent to each other. Front portions of the plates, which are designed to mate to a terminal of a matting connector, have tops and bottoms. The top of the front portion of the biasing plate forms a nose whose top initially lies above an adjacent location on the guide plate, but which can be resiliently deflected downwardly. Accordingly, when the front portion of the contact enters a cavity of the mating connector, the height of the contact can be reduced by downward deflection of the nose, and the contact then resiliently expands vertically.
The bottom of the guide plate has a recess that receives a terminal of the mating connector. The resilient vertical expansion of the contact, assures that the terminal presses firmly against the walls of the recess, and allows shoulders formed by the terminal and recess to resist pull out of the contact out of the cavity.
The contact is preferably formed with two guide plates, and with the bias plate sandwiched between the guide plates. The lower ends of the guide plates are joined by a longitudinally-extending bend that lies under the bias plate. The top of the bias plate is joined in a bend to the top of one of the guide plates.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4932903 (1990-06-01), Bonhomme
patent: 5004438 (1991-04-01), Cabourne
patent: 5791923 (1998-08-01), Picaud et al.
patent: 2736664 (1984-02-01), None
patent: 4411306 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 4443010 (1998-07-01), None
patent: 0 407 249 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 2363526 (2001-12-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Electrical contact for plug-in 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 contact for plug-in connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrical contact for plug-in connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3153709