Patent · US Expired

Zero insertion force connector actuated by a stored shape member

US4846729A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 10, 1987
Grant dateJul 11, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 10, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R4/01
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic connector which has a plurality of contacts associated in one or more rows in a connector housing, a shape memory spring associated in the connector housing for driving the contacts, the shape memory spring having a beginning shape and transmitting a recovery force to the contacts generated when the shape memory spring reaches a transformation temperature or higher while recovering a stored shape when the shape memory spring reaches the transformation temperature or higher and returning to the beginning shape by the spring force of the contact when the shape memory spring reaches below its transformation temperature. Thus, the electronic connector can mount or dismount contacts to each other without an inserting or removing force or substantially without an inserting or removing force in a simple structure with a reduced number of parts.

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