Patent · US Expired

Compliant electrical connector pin

US4878861A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
19References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 1988
Grant dateNov 7, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 1, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R12/585
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A compliant electrical connector pin for press-fit connection to a plated hole in a circuit board is disclosed. A compliant section is provided on the pin to frictionally engage the hole walls, thereby retaining the pin within the hole. The compliant section includes two V-shaped troughs having flat bottom faces. These faces define a web which compresses when the compliant section is pressed into the hole. Barrier walls in the bottom of each trough normal to the flat bottom face guide the compression of the web and prevent the web from splitting or shearing. The sides of the trough define two flanges, the exterior of which contact the hole in the circuit board. The outer corners of the flanges are angled to match more closely the circular shape of the hole, thereby reducing hole damage from sharp corners on the compliant section and enabling the pin to fit smaller diameter holes.

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