Patent · US Expired

Thermally responsive electrical connector

US4621882A · kind A · utility

142Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 26, 1985
Grant dateNov 11, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 26, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R12/61
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A common problem in the art of connecting two electrical components is the providing of a convenient and effective zero insertion force coupling therebetween especially where a plurality of parallel conductors along one component are to be connected with a corresponding plurality along the other. The present apparatus and method address this problem by providing a split tube edge along one of the two electrical components, the split tube including a memory shape material therein. When the split tube is opened, the second electrical component is inserted therein whereupon the split tube can be closed. Conductors along the split tube make contact with corresponding conductors along the second component when the tube is closed. The memory shape material in the split tube acts to either open the split tube or close the split tube when the material reaches a characteristic transition temperature.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.