Lower surface contact type contact

Details Lower surface contact type contact Lower surface contact type contact

1999-09-21

2001-03-13

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector

Butt coupling

C439S826000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06200151

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a lower surface contact type contact which is brought into contact, under pressure, with a lower surface of an external contact of a given electronic part as represented by a wiring board, an IC package, etc.
A typical lower surface contact type contact, as schematically shown in
FIG. 7
, includes an upwardly projecting contact portion
3
which is brought into contact, under pressure, with a lower surface of an external contact
2
of a given electronic part
1
. In order to displace the contact portion
3
resiliently downward, the contact portion
3
is supported by a sidewardly expanding curved spring portion
4
.
The external contact
2
of the electronic part
1
is placed on the contact portion
3
to press the contact portion
3
downward, so that the curved spring portion
4
is compressed and the contact portion
3
is displaced downward. The restoring force of the curved spring portion
4
causes the contact portion
3
to contact, under pressure, the lower surface of the external contact
2
.
The curved spring portion
4
is displaced downward when it is pressed downward by the external contact
2
. The curved spring portion
4
naturally includes a downward displacement component F
1
and a rightward displacement component F
2
. Therefore, the curved spring portion
4
is actually moved in a combined direction F
3
of the components F
1
and F
2
.
This directly reflects on the movement of the contact portion
3
. Specifically, the contact portion
3
moves slantwise downward in the combined direction F
3
from a contact start point P
1
with respect to the external contact
2
and reaches a contact terminal point P
2
. As a consequence, a rightward escape (a movement) amount W is inevitably produced between the contact start point P
1
of the contact portion
3
and the contact terminal point P
2
.
This escape amount W causes the contact portion
3
to slide on the lower surface of the external contact
2
. In the case where the width of the external contact
2
is small, it gives rise to a problem that the contact portion
3
escapes from the lower surface of the external contact
2
. This problem becomes increasingly serious as the external contact is arranged at a smaller pitch. Therefore, a countermeasure is demanded.
The present invention has been accomplished in order to obviate the above problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a lower surface contact type contact capable of obviating the problem inherent in the conventional comparable device.
It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a lower surface contact type contact in which a contact portion is assuredly moved in a vertical direction as much as possible, thereby ensuring a reliable contact relation. Owing to this arrangement, the lower surface contact type contact according to the present invention can effectively cope with the requirement for arranging the external contact at a smaller pitch.
In order to achieve the above object, there is essentially provided a lower surface contact type contact which is to be arranged in array on a connector body made of an insulative material, comprising an upwardly projecting contact portion on which a lower surface of an external contact of an electronic part is placed to press the upward projecting contact portion downward; a leftwardly expanding curved spring portion including a downward displacement component for allowing a downward displacement of the contact portion when the contact portion is pressed downward by the external contact and a rightward displacement component for causing a tendency for rightward displacement of said contact portion; and a support post implanted in the connector body and adapted to support the curved spring portion, the support post being displaced leftward when the contact portion is displaced downward, so as to offset the tendency for rightward displacement.
The support post may be provided on a lower end thereof with a surface mounting terminal element projecting outward from the connector body.
A swing-preventive element may extend downward from a continuous portion between the contact portion and the curved spring portion, so that abutment between lower end of the swing-preventive element and the connector body prevents the contact portion from swinging or twisting.
Preferably, a left side surface of the contact portion is caused to contact, under pressure, with the connector body by resilient force of the curved spring portion.
A more complete application of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3697926 (1972-10-01), Krafthefer
patent: 4268102 (1981-05-01), Grabbe
patent: 4555152 (1985-11-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5230632 (1993-07-01), Baumberger et al.
patent: 5980323 (1999-11-01), Bricaud et al.
patent: 8-213126 (1996-08-01), None

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