Zero insertion force electrical contact assembly
US4781611A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 1987 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R12/82
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A zero insertion force electrical contact assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a bifurcate contact and a trifurcate contact. The bifurcate contact includes a pair of parallel contact beams cantilevered from a base. The contact beams include cam surfaces adjacent outwardly disposed portions remote from the base. The contact beams further include contact surfaces facing one another. The trifurcate contact includes a base, a central contact post extending from the base and a pair of cam arms extending from the base and on opposite sides of the contact post. Inwardly facing portions of the cam arms include converging cam surfaces. The cam arms and the contact posts are dimensioned to enable the contact arms to be disposed between the cam arms and around the contact post with little or no contact forces. Upon sufficient insertion, however, the respective camming surfaces will cause the cantilevered contact beams to be urged toward one another and into electrical contact with the contact post.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.