Patent · US Expired

IDC Terminal with back-up spring

US5458502A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
11References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 1994
Grant dateOct 17, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R13/17
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An IDC terminal is shown comprising a contact body and a back-up spring having an IDC back-up portion for resiliently supporting the IDC contacts. The back-up spring further has a contact spring section comprising bowed-in resilient beams supported on both ends to cavities respectively that are supported to side walls of the contact body. The contact spring section forms a top wall of the contact and provides a very high spring force onto a complementary male tab for producing high contact pressure. The IDC back-up portion comprises a central reinforcing rib for increasing the spring strength thereof, whereby positioning the IDC back-up spring within the IDC contact section, provides for a very compact design. Due to the use of a back-up spring, the contact material can be optimally chosen. Advantageously therefore, the terminal is compact yet has a high current carrying capability and is well adapted for cost-effective automated assembly.

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