Patent · US Expired

Electrical connector with torsional contacts

US4872851A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
9References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 1989
Grant dateOct 10, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R12/89
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical connector for providing electrical connection to a substrate having contact elements thereon (e.g., a printed circuit board) wherein torsional contacts are utilized. The contacts, actuated by a vertically moving, slidable member (e.g., a cam plate) and horizontally moving actuator (e.g., a linear cam), resume a normal, twisted configuration to effect such connection with the respective contact elements. Each contact, preferably metallic (e.g., beryllium copper), includes a curvilinear edge segment while each contact element (e.g., plated copper wire) in turn includes a curvilinear contacting surface, these two members thus providing a single point form of contact while assuring effective wiping motion to remove undesirable contaminants, debris, etc. which may be located thereon. Relatively high contact forces (e.g., 200,000 PSI) are possible using the invention.

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