Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-29
2001-11-13
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S876000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315581
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contact for an electrical connector, and particularly to a contact for an electrical connector for being press fitted into a corresponding through hole in a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) where the electrical connector is mounted.
2. Description of Prior Art
Two methods are commonly used in the connector field for connecting contacts of an electrical connector to a PCB defining a plurality of through holes for receiving the contacts therein. One method is to insert tail portions of the contacts into corresponding through holes of the PCB and then solder the tail portions thereto. However, the soldering process is inconvenient and tedious. Therefore, another method, i.e., press-fitting, is more readily applied by the manufacturers to facilitate assembly.
As is illustrated in
FIGS. 4-6
, a tail portion
61
of a conventional press-fitting type contact
6
is formed by stamping a hole
611
in the pre-formed tail portion of the contact
6
. The hole
611
typically has an eye-of-needle shape. By simply press fitting the tail portion
61
of the contact
6
into a corresponding through hole
71
of the PCB
7
, an electrical connection can be established between the contact
6
and the PCB
7
. During the press-fit engagement, the tail portion
61
of the contact
6
is compressed by inner sides
72
of the corresponding through hole
71
, whereby the tail portion
61
is plastically deformed for being securely engaged with the through hole
71
.
However, one problem with this design is that the resiliency of the tail portion
61
of the contact
6
is insufficient, and therefore a large insertion force is required to insert the tail portion
61
into the through hole
71
of the PCB
7
. Consequently, large interference forces may develop between the tail portion
61
and the through hole
71
, which can damage the inner sides
72
of the through hole
71
of the PCB
7
.
Hence, an improved press-fit contact is required to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a press-fit contact having sufficient resiliency for facilitating insertion into a corresponding through hole of a PCB, thereby preventing damage to inner sides of the through hole.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a press-fit contact for an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a retention portion, with a mating portion and a tail portion respectively extending from opposite ends of the retention portion. The mating portion is adapted to mate with a corresponding contact of a complementary electrical connector, and the tail portion is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding through hole of a PCB. The tail portion includes a base section and a pair of arced engaging sections extending from respective opposite side edges of the base section toward each other. A cutout is defined in each engaging section for providing resiliency to the engaging section. A ramp is defined by a lower edge of each engaging section for facilitating insertion into the through hole of the PCB, thereby preventing damage to inner sides of the through hole.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3941449 (1976-03-01), Baumanis
patent: 4076356 (1978-02-01), Tamburro
patent: 4368944 (1983-01-01), DeYoung
patent: 4381134 (1983-04-01), Anselmo et al.
patent: 4802862 (1989-02-01), Seidler
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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