Patent · US Expired

Low profile surface-mounted connector having curved cantilevered spring contacts

US5820388A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
4References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 17, 1997
Grant dateOct 13, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R12/716
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A low profile, surface-mounted receptacle includes a housing having a cavity defined at least in part by the interior surfaces of the sidewalls thereof. The interior surface of at least one sidewall has a groove, one wall of the groove being defined by an inclined portion. An electrical spring contact is received within the groove, the contact being of the curved, dual cantilever type having a first leg, a curved transition portion and a second leg. The contact being disposed to define a clearance space between itself and the inclined. The legs and curved portion responding to the introduction of a male plug by cantilever toward the inclined sidewall and undergoing a reduction in the radius of curvature, thereby displacing to an extent sufficient to exert a predetermined normal force on the plug, despite dimensional variations in the housing due to manufacture.

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