Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-12
2002-10-08
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S078000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06461174
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to a power connector which can be easily and cheaply manufactured.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Referring to
FIG. 9
, U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,055 discloses a conventional power connector
700
for connecting two printed circuit boards together. The power connector
700
comprises a conductive connector body
717
, a dielectric shell
715
surrounding the connector body
717
, a plurality of contacts
714
, a crown band electrical contact
716
, and a metallic pin
718
retained in the connector body
717
. A socket
722
longitudinally extends through the connector body
717
for receiving the crown band
716
and the pin
718
.
The connector body
717
is die-cast and is thus expensive to manufacture. In assembly, the crown band
716
is first fit into the socket
722
and the pin
718
is then slideably inserted into the socket, so that the pin
718
resiliently engages with the crown band
716
. The crown band
716
is delicate and the crown band to pin
718
interface is not robust. The dielectric shell
715
adds further fabrication cost and another step in connector assembly. Manufacture of the power connector
700
, therefore, is relatively complicated and expensive.
Referring to
FIGS. 10 and 11
, U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,120 discloses a male electrical connector
800
for making a power connection between adjacent boards. An insulative housing
814
has openings
858
,
859
at each end thereof with a cavity between the openings. An arched conductive body
817
has latching elements
826
, which, along with an insulative alignment member
818
, retain the body
817
in the housing
814
. An electrical contact band
816
fits within body
817
, and contact pin
848
slides into floating contact with the band
816
. The contact pin
848
is held within the housing
814
by locking portion
866
and beveled surface
868
sandwiching a lip (not labeled) of the opening
858
therebetween. By its design, the pin
848
can move relative to the housing
814
to allow connection between slightly misaligned boards. However, in this design, the band
816
is very delicate and assembly of the connector is relatively complicated.
The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a very simple connector design having cheaply fabricated parts which are easily assembled. The result is a robust connector which has a pin having the freedom of movement necessary to provide a high capacity power connection between two slightly misaligned boards.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive power connector which can provide a high current power connection between two printed circuit boards;
A second object of the present invention is to provide an easily assembled power connector.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a power connector in accordance with the present invention includes an insulative housing, a metal pin, five terminal plates received in the housing, and an insulative bottom cover attached to the housing.
The housing has a front wall defining an opening, and a rear wall opposite the front wall, lateral sidewalls and a top wall. A cavity is defined between the front wall, rear wall, sidewalls, and top wall. Each sidewall defines a plurality of slots communicating with the cavity.
Each terminal plate includes a square-shaped plate with a pair of integral contacts depending from a lower edge of the plate. A center aperture and three rim apertures disposed around the center aperture are punched through the plate.
The metal pin is cylindrically shaped and has a rounded front end and a tapered rear end.
The bottom cover is rectangular shaped and defines a plurality of slits spaced along its lateral sides. A semi-circular trough is formed in a top side of the bottom cover.
Side edges of the terminal plates are secured in the housing with the contacts protruding from a bottom of the housing. The bottom cover is pushed upward into the housing where it is snappingly secured by a wedge and notch arrangement. The metal pin is pressed rear end first through the opening in the front wall of the housing, and sequentially through each center aperture of each terminal plate. The arrangement of the center aperture and the rim apertures provides a resilient engagement between the metal pin and the terminal plates.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3697933 (1972-10-01), Black et al.
patent: 4191440 (1980-03-01), Schramm
patent: 4749357 (1988-06-01), Foley
patent: 4824380 (1989-04-01), Matthews
patent: 4946392 (1990-08-01), Kobler et al.
patent: 4983127 (1991-01-01), Kawai et al.
patent: 5055055 (1991-10-01), Bakker
patent: 5376012 (1994-12-01), Clark
patent: 5807120 (1998-09-01), Matthews
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
LandOfFree
Power connector more easily and cheaply manufactured does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Power connector more easily and cheaply manufactured, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Power connector more easily and cheaply manufactured will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2966144