Having Opposed Cantilevered Clamping Fingers Resiliently Urged Toward One Another Patents (Class 439/856)
  • Patent number: 7175487
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electrical terminal element with a crimp section and a socket section which forms a receiving chamber for a plug and which has a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein in each case a locking projection is provided in the region of an insertion opening for the plug on opposed first side walls of the socket section. The invention further concerns a terminal element housing with at least one receiving chamber for receiving an electrical terminal element of this kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Urbaniak, Gregor Frimmersdorf, Eduard Cvasa
  • Patent number: 7168990
    Abstract: A female side connector for high current includes at least one contact unit including a contact, a contact support section, and a connection terminal: and a connector housing for placing the contact support section. The contact is provided by superposing a plurality of L-shaped and thin plate-like contact elements in the plate thickness direction, the contact element has a rectangular base end and a pair of elastically deformable arms that extend from the upper part of the rectangular base end and that respectively have opposing contact points at the neighborhood of the tip end. The contact support section supports the contact. The connection terminal is integrated with the contact support section and electrically contacts with outside. The contact is provided such that at least two or more contact elements having respectively different distances from the arm tip end to the contact point are superposed in the plate thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Suzuki, Yuji Nakamura, Kenji Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7137854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a female electrical contact terminal obtained from a single plate of electrically conductive metal including a rear part making possible a crimped connection with an electrical wire, a front part including a cage 4a consisting of a bottom, a top, two sides, at least one strip ensuring a contact with a complementary male contact terminal, a transition part linking the front part with the rear part, an extension leg at least traversing the transition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Claude Casses, Gérard Mulot
  • Patent number: 7135808
    Abstract: A lead portion 10 is made of a rod-like metal conductor and has a step portion 13 at its end portion. A first side plate 11 and a second side plate 12 are formed by using thinned portions of the end portion of the lead portion 10. The first and second side plates 11 and 12 face each other with a distance. One end of the first side plate 11 and one end of the second side plate 12 are continued to each other while the other end of the first side plate 11 and the other end of the second side plate 12 form open end edges 111 and 121 respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Takahashi, Katsuyuki Takei
  • Patent number: 7104849
    Abstract: A terminal (10) has opposite front and rear ends and a receiving plate with lateral edges. Front and rear connecting pieces (17A, 17B) project up from the lateral edges and then curve inwardly. The front connecting piece (17A) is shorter in a front-to-rear direction than the rear connecting piece (17B). The connecting pieces (17A, 17B) extend beyond the widthwise center of the receiving plate (15). Thus, the curved connecting pieces (17A, 17B) overlap when viewed in forward and backward directions. The connecting pieces (17A, 17B) have window holes (19A, 19B) for weakening. The provision of front and rear connecting pieces (17A, 17B) causes inserting force peaks at the front and rear when a mating tab-shaped terminal is inserted. As a result, a peak value is lowered to reduce the inserting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Nimura
  • Patent number: 7077703
    Abstract: A plug connector for plugging together with a complementary plug connector in a plugging direction, in particular for use in a motor vehicle, comprises a contact element receiver for receiving a contact element, preferably at least two contact elements, a screen which at least partly surrounds the contact element receiver and a housing which at least partly accommodates the contact element receiver and the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Martin Herlitz, Peter Paul Schekalla
  • Patent number: 7048597
    Abstract: A female terminal for heavy current reduces the contact resistance relative to a male terminal, and correctly positions the male terminal's blade. The body part of the female terminal includes a first elastic piece, provided at least on one side in the height direction of a receiving space so that it can undergo elastic deformation in the height direction, and having, on the inner side thereof, a first contacting part extending for a certain width. The body part further includes a second elastic piece, provided at least on one side in the width direction of the receiving space so that it can undergo elastic deformation in the width direction, and having, on the inner side thereof, a second contacting part extending for a certain height. When the blade is inserted into the receiving space, the first contacting part pressingly contacts a top or bottom face of the blade and the second contacting part pressingly contacts a side face of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 7044811
    Abstract: A plug contact is provided which comprises a first pin connected to two contact plates arranged parallel to one another. The contact plates are also connected to two further pins which are arranged on a side of the contact plates opposed to the first pin. The three pins are arranged parallel to one another. The two contact plates are connected by connecting elements to the two further pins which are arranged in the region of the connection of the first pin and are guided via a 180° bend to the two further pins. The two contact plates comprise reciprocally associated notches between which a contact region is formed for contacting a contact pin. Owing to the selected geometry it is possible to introduce a contact pin from different directions into the contact region and retain the contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Chritz, Gerhard Fischer
  • Patent number: 7011548
    Abstract: A side-entry, blade-receiving electrical connector is provided for mounting on a printed circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a bottom wall and a blade-receiving receptacle at a side of the housing. At least one conductive terminal is mounted on the housing and includes a contact section exposed within the receptacle for electrically engaging a terminal blade of a complementary mating connecting device inserted into the side receptacle generally parallel to the printed circuit board. A mounting section is exposed exteriorly of the housing below the bottom wall thereof for mounting the connector on the printed circuit board. A flex section joins the mounting section to the contact section and performs a dual function of (a) spacing the bottom wall of the housing above the printed circuit board and (b) providing a yielding flexibility between the connector and the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven B. Bogiel, Robert A. Owsley, Arvind Patel
  • Patent number: 6997760
    Abstract: A terminal structure of an electrical connector has continuous terminals and a connection material tape with projections reapectively connected to the continuous terminals, which are formed by pressing a metal plate. Each terminal includes an extension having a first end and a second end, a connection having a first end connected to the first end of the extension and a second end formed with a to-be-broken portion connected to the projection, and a contact connected to the second end of the extension. The to-be-broken portion is broken to separate the terminal from the material tape. The contact has two elastic arms with a gap therebetween, and the two elastic arms have contact surfaces close to each other. The extension is horizontal and has a twisted portion to make the contact vertical so that the two contact surfaces of the contact may contact an inserted male terminal in vertical directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Chou Hsuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 6979237
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (10) defining a number of passageways (14), and a number of receptacle contacts (20) received in the passageways of the insulative housing. Each receptacle contact has a body portion (22), a pair of arms (30) extending from the body portion, a pair of mating portions (32) formed on free ends of the arms, and a tail portion (24) extending from the body portion. Each mating portion has an upper and a lower enlarged portions (322,321). The upper enlarged portion is vertically aligned with the lower enlarged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: XinHai Xiang, ZenCai Tao, Zheng Li
  • Patent number: 6969263
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for connecting at least one electrical contact pad on a first structure with at least one electrical contact pad on an opposing second structure. The connector assembly has a body and electrical connectors extending from the body, and is mountable relative to the first and second structures such that the electrical connectors engage electrical contact pads on the first and second structures. The electrical connectors are of a springy metal and are configured to be suitably biased against the contact pads when the connector assembly is assembled with the first and second structures, so as to provide a contact biasing force preferably in the range of 0.7N±0.2N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Chao Chen, John A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 6955571
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (20) has a pair of sidewalls (25) standing up from a bottom wall (24) toward an inter-terminal space (12). A pair of resilient contact pieces (30) are formed by cutting parts of the sidewalls (25) and bending the cut parts inward, and the sidewalls (25) are formed with frame-shaped portions (32) extending along the edges of openings (31) left in the sidewalls (25) upon forming the resilient contact pieces (30). Even if an external matter comes closer to the resilient contact pieces (30), it contacts only the frame-shaped portions (32), but cannot come into contact with the resilient contact pieces (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayasu Fujii
  • Patent number: 6955545
    Abstract: An electrical contact for a ball grid array connector includes a plate for holding a solder ball and a contact body having a first end and a second end. The plate is removably coupled to the body first end. A separable interface extends from the body second end. The separable interface is configured to receive a mating contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Francis P. Morana, David S. Szczesny
  • Patent number: 6932660
    Abstract: A contact arrangement for providing an electrical plug connection between an electrical device and an exchangeable storage battery for a current supply of the electrical device has a plug part having at least one contact tong with two oppositely located contact surfaces, a receiving part having at least two oppositely located contact fingers between which the contact tong of the plug part is insertable, the contact fingers at one end being clamped and elastically bendable for clamping at another free end being clamped between the contact fingers of the contact tong in an inserted condition, the contact fingers being bent relative to one another in a configuration from the group consisting at an angle and convexly and being pressed with a contact surface arranged at an apex of a bending against a neighboring contact surface of the contact tong, the apexes of the both contact fingers being offset relative to one another in an insertion direction of the contact tong and overlapping before the insertion of the co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Roepke
  • Patent number: 6910925
    Abstract: A female terminal includes a terminal body, comprised of a first material having excellent corrosion resistance and an elastic piece, comprised of a second material having excellent spring properties, and the elastic piece mounting on the terminal body. An engagement portion is formed on the terminal body. A retaining portion is formed on the elastic piece. The retaining portion is engaged with the engagement portion so that the elastic piece is mounted on the terminal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Endo, Takashi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6884974
    Abstract: A mica board open coil resistance heater assembly includes a mica board subassembly of at least one pair of mica boards, a resistance wire wound around the boards, an electrical connection clip secured to each mica board, wherein each end of the resistance wire is connected to a respective clip. A terminal plate subassembly includes a thermostat, a ceramic two-hole terminal block, and bus wires, the bus wires adapted to be attached to a portion of the electrical connection clip to connect the resistance wire to power. The ceramic two-hole terminal is able to receive push on terminals from power conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Tutco, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Keith Howard, Robert Kirby
  • Patent number: 6875036
    Abstract: A multi-purpose plug-in lamp socket for selectively mounting and electrically connecting lamps of different types, such as PAR36 and AR111 lamps. These lamps, which are extensively used in low voltage commercial and theatrical lighting, are similar in size but have entirely different configurations of contact elements. Typically, they are mounted by seating peripheral flanges of the lamps and separately electrically connecting the contact elements using slide-on contacts and/or spade lugs or the like secured by screws. The disclosure relates to a simple, unitary lamp socket which accommodates plug-in reception and removal of either of the above mentioned styles of lamp, simultaneously mounting and electrically connecting the lamps for use. Strip-like contact elements, mounted at the back of the lamp bodies, are gripped by contact clips mounted in a socket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Lighting Services Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Kan, Jeremy S. Brotchner, Christopher S. Fone
  • Patent number: 6844214
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based sensor comprises: a substrate defining a plane; a first conductive material layer having a first stress, a first portion of the first conductive material layer being connected to the substrate and extending in a substantially parallel direction to the plane defined by the substrate and a second portion being disconnected from the substrate and extending in a substantially non-parallel direction to the plane defined by the substrate; and a sensor material layer formed over at least the second portion of the first conductive material layer, the sensor material layer having a second stress that is less than the first stress of the first conductive material layer. The stresses form a stress gradient that bends the second portion of the first conductive material layer and the sensor material layer formed over the second portion of the first conductive material layer away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox, Corporation
    Inventors: Ping Mei, Decai Sun, Robert A. Street
  • Patent number: 6835107
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (20) and a number of electrical terminals (30). The insulative housing has a base portion (200) defining a number of passageways (203) and a mating portion (210) defining a receiving cavity (211) in communication with the passageways. Every two electrical terminals are received in one passageway and each electrical terminal has a contact portion (301) and a tab (303) extending in the receiving cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6814631
    Abstract: An electrical terminal and a system of the terminal and a housing is disclosed as an example of the present invention. The electrical terminal and the housing have a number of advantages including being sufficiently stiff to prevent arcing and physical damage to the electrical terminal upon being exposed to surge current/voltage. The terminal includes a contact with a base portion from which two spaced apart arms extend outwardly. First portions of the arms are generally parallel to one another. Second portions of the arms converge toward each other and then flare outwardly along third portions of the arms. At the junction of the second and third portions, there is a contact region formed to receive the lead of a surge protection device. The terminal is enclosed in an opening in the electrically insulative housing, the opening being bordered by walls closely adjacent to the first portions of the arms. The spacing of the walls from the arms is about 0.001 inches on each side of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Marconi Intellectual Property (Ringfence) Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Baum, Albert McGovern, Daniel Hoeft, Jane Lee
  • Patent number: 6805591
    Abstract: A connector housing having a contact secured therein is provided. The connector housing includes inner walls that define a contact-receiving chamber. The contact-receiving chamber includes a channel along at least a portion of one of the inner walls for receiving a contact retention member. The contact-receiving chamber may include multiple channels for receiving multiple contact retention members. The contact includes a body section having the contact retention member thereon. The contact may include multiple body sections. The contact retention member includes a bulge portion flared outward in a direction transverse to the body section. The contact retention member may include multiple bulge portions and the multiple bulge portions may flare outward and inward in opposite directions from one another. When the contact is loaded into the housing and the contact retention member is received by the channel, the bulge portion frictionally engages at least one of the inner walls of the contact-receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Garland, Daniel Robert Ringler, James Charles Shiffler
  • Patent number: 6802748
    Abstract: A spring contact design used to connect varied electrical components to circuit boards such that the components may be installed onto the board and thereafter removed without soldering and desoldering of the component leads is disclosed. The inventive contacts use integral flexible elements and appropriate contact element shaping to ensure solid multiple electrical connection points between the contact and the electrical component lead. With the use of the inventive spring contacts, components may be easily installed onto a circuit board and tested to ensure functional performance and, if necessary, may be removed or replaced without the need for time consuming soldering and desoldering of the component leads to the board contacts. The inventive contacts are designed to ensure sound electrical connection with component leads of different cross sections, shapes and sizes. Use of the inventive contacts in housings sized and shaped for different electrical components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Lynn Wertz, Philip Clay Brandberg, Brent David Yohn
  • Patent number: 6790102
    Abstract: A flat twisted electrical terminal is provided for connecting a first circuit element to a second circuit element on respective first and second circuit boards. The terminal includes a flat conductive member having a first end for connecting to a first circuit element and a second end for connecting to a second circuit element. The conductive member is axially twisted about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Morris D Stillabower, Roy A. Visser
  • Publication number: 20040157503
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (20) has a pair of sidewalls (25) standing up from a bottom wall (24) toward an inter-terminal space (12). A pair of resilient contact pieces (30) are formed by cutting parts of the sidewalls (25) and bending the cut parts inward, and the sidewalls (25) are formed with frame-shaped portions (32) extending along the edges of openings (31) left in the sidewalls (25) upon forming the resilient contact pieces (30). Even if an external matter comes closer to the resilient contact pieces (30), it contacts only the frame-shaped portions (32), but cannot come into contact with the resilient contact pieces (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayasu Fujii
  • Publication number: 20040116003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical contact element (1) for contacting a contact pin (4), the electrical contact element taking the form of a closed, planar, ring-shaped element; having at least one deformable, inwardly directed, retaining lip (2); and being made out of one piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Jochen Wessner, Werner Birkle, Piotr Deptula
  • Publication number: 20040102105
    Abstract: A spring cap (10), specifically for an electrical component, has a yoke (11) with a central planar area (12) and spring shackles (17) on two opposite sides and handles (13) designed as spring shackles on two opposite sides. The electrical component has a bobbin (20) with connectors (24, 25) attached to it, a magnetic core (30), the parts of which mate with the bobbin by means of a central boss (31), and the spring cap which can be pushed up onto the core which is mated with the bobbin, the handles of which spring cap are in contact with the connectors and the spring shackles of which are in contact with the magnetic core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Eva Steiner, Egon Heringer, Thomas Mielke
  • Publication number: 20040077231
    Abstract: A tabular terminal-use female terminal in which a tabular terminal is inserted is provided, which tabular terminal-use female terminal includes: a pair of elastic holding pieces extending in an insertion direction of the tabular terminal; a holding portion provided on each elastic holding piece for holding the tabular terminal; a guide face extending from each holding portion to an front end portion of each elastic holding piece for guiding the tabular terminal to the holding portion; and a receiving tapered portion provided on a side portion of each guide face, wherein the tabular terminal is able to be laterally inserted into the tabular terminal-use female terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Tomonori Harada, Yoshinori Shigeta, Masanori Wakui, Keiichi Ito
  • Patent number: 6692265
    Abstract: An electrical connection device comprises a socket, a plurality of electrical conducting holder in between, a contact ring and a plurality of solder balls. A plurality of pin holes are placed on the socket to provide the insert function for the pins of a IC package. The electrical conducting holder is placed in the pin holes and comprises an extensional part, a holder on the top of the extension part and a solder pad on the bottom part of the extension part to combine the solder ball. At least one 2D or 3D geometrical structure such as the hole, the convex and concave part or the slope on the bottom surface of the solder pad is formed. The geometrical structure will make the bottom surface of the solder pad not the flat plane. With the geometrical structure and the contact ring, the contact area of the solder pad and the contact ring will be enlarged during the solder reflow process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Moriss Kung, Kwun-Yao Ho
  • Publication number: 20040009714
    Abstract: A female terminal includes a terminal body, comprised of a first material having excellent corrosion resistance and an elastic piece, comprised of a second material having excellent spring properties, and the elastic piece mounting on the terminal body. An engagement portion is formed on the terminal body. A retaining portion is formed on the elastic piece. The retaining portion is engaged with the engagement portion so that the elastic piece is mounted on the terminal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Endo, Takashi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6599155
    Abstract: A connector structure includes a connector body having a hollow portion and an axis. The connector body includes a male terminal extending along the direction of the axis of the hollow portion. The connector body includes a sacrificial electrode mounted either on part of the connector body or on the male terminal. The tip of the sacrificial electrode extends outwardly farther than the male terminal tip along the axis. The connector structure includes a female terminal to be fitted along the axis. The female terminal includes a first sacrificial fold and a second sacrificial fold separated by an electrode path extending along the axis of the hollow portion, such that the sacrificial electrode is positioned between the first and second sacrificial folds before the female terminal has been fitted with the male terminal. With such a construction, the connector structure can be miniaturized and simplified, and durably protected from the damage caused by an electric arc discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6568955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector which at least partially receives a foil with printed conductors embedded therein, and comprises an insulating housing with an insertion aperture for the foil and at least one foil contact with a contact section for contacting the printed conductors. The foil contact has a connection section for connection to an electric component and an actuating zone to receive mechanical pressure. To ensure reliable contacting and inexpensive production and simplified assembly of the components, the foil contact is bent as one piece from a punched spring sheet and has at its first contact arm an end section which is bent approximately to a U-shape, which can be brought into contact with the two contact arms by mechanical pressure. According to the invention, the connector also comprises an actuator to actuate this foil contact in which retaining webs are integrally formed which penetrate the foil when the actuator is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Gheorghe Hotea, Claudius Rieder, Josef Woller
  • Patent number: 6551143
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery connector equipped with an insulating housing. Contacts are attached to the housing and are soldered to a circuit board. Each of the contacts has a flat-plate-form base part and a pair of side wall parts that rise from both sides of the base part. A pair of contact arms extend, facing each other, from the side wall parts of the pair of side wall parts, and contact mating contacts. The bottom surface of the base part forms a soldering surface that is soldered to the circuit board. The invention increases the soldering strength of the contacts with respect to the circuit board so that separate reinforcing members are not required. The area occupied by the battery connector on the board is also reduced, and the balance of the soldering positions on the bottom surface of the connector is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics, AMP, K.K.
    Inventors: Kaoru Tanaka, Kazuaki Kodaira
  • Patent number: 6548934
    Abstract: A motor brush lead frame having one end that is folded upon itself to form a pair of pinching surfaces which are adapted to pinch an electrical terminal to establish electrical contact with the electrical terminal. By folding the lead frame member upon itself to form a pair of pinching surfaces, the problems and costs associated with crimping or otherwise attaching a conventional electrical connector to the lead frame member are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene B. Porter, Otway A. Southall, Richard Q. Harding
  • Publication number: 20030064635
    Abstract: A contact sheet for providing an electrical connection between two or more electronic devices each having spherical or planar terminals is provided. The contact sheet includes a plurality of insulative elastic substrate sheets having a plurality of through holes formed therethrough and a plurality of conductive elastic contacts each having a first end interposed and fixed between two of the insulative elastic substrate sheets at a fixed point proximate an edge of a respective through hole, and a second end arranged to bend as a cantilever extending from the fixed point. Each contact also includes a centrally located bending portion. The width of the contact continuously varies to be greater at portions of the contact which are subjected to larger stresses and less at positions of the contact which are subjected to smaller stresses when a load is applied to the second end of the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshimasa Ochiai
  • Patent number: 6533591
    Abstract: A method for forming fine pitch contacts (1) used in a ZIF socket comprises the following steps: stamping a contact strip (3) to form a plurality of contacts each comprising a first portion, a retaining portion (10) and a second portion being coplanar with each other, the first portion comprising a pair of arcuate arms (121) defining a circular receiving space (20) therebetween and a pair of parallel contacting fingers (120) defining engaging space (21) therebetween; bending the first portion to form a contacting portion (12) perpendicular to the retaining portion and the second portion; bending the second portion to form a soldering portion (11) perpendicular to the retaining portion and parallel to the contacting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Genn-Sheng Lee
  • Publication number: 20030049976
    Abstract: An elongated hollow housing is made of a conductive material. The housing includes an opened first end for receiving the male terminal and a second end connected to the power supply. A first contactor made of a conductive material is located in the housing. The first contactor contacts the male terminal received into the housing. A second contactor made of a conductive material is located in the housing at a position closer to the first end than the first contactor is. The second contactor contacts the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the housing. The second contactor is deformed to separate from the male terminal after the male terminal is separated from the first contactor when the male terminal is removed from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kato
  • Patent number: 6530788
    Abstract: A Ball Grid Array IC Socket connection with solder ball is characterized in that the conductive plate is formed from bendable, flexible conductive thin plate surrounded to form slotted cylindrical tube for the insertion and clipping of IC pins. The slotted cylindrical tube is in the form of square shape, wherein the size of the tube diameter can tightly clip the ball wall of a solder ball, such that the tube opening mounted with the solder ball provides a tight connection. On the other end of the slotted cylindrical tube, remote from the end inserted with IC pins, at a position about half the height of the solder ball, an arc-shaped slit is provided so that a blocking plate is joined to the wall of the tube, and the blocking plate touches the top portion of the solder ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Lotes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ted Ju
  • Patent number: 6506081
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a floatable mounting apparatus that enables the connector assembly to correct for misalignment between mounting structures. The connector assembly also includes a connector housing having peripheral surfaces with an outer contour shaped to loosely fit in an inner contour of a mounting structure, such as a card, panel, circuit board, bulk head, rack assembly and the like. The connector housing is slidably inserted into the opening through the mounting structure. A chamber is provided in the connector housing adapted to securely retain contacts. At least one latch beam is formed with the connector housing and aligned to engage the mounting structure. A float gap is located between the inner contour of the opening through the mounting structure and the outer contour of the connector housing to enable relative movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Allen Blanchfield, John Bossert Brown, III, Troy Everette Conner
  • Publication number: 20020187687
    Abstract: An electrical contact assembly is provided that includes insolated blade and receptacle connector housings mateable with one another while moved from initial to final mating positions. A blade contact is provided with a support section that is securely mounted within the insulated connector housing. The blade contact further includes a contact knife projecting from the support section. A receptacle contact is provided having a base section that is securely mounted in the insulated receptacle housing. The receptacle contact includes at least one contact spring projecting from the base section. The blade and receptacle contacts are joined in a mating operation while moved from initial to final mating positions. Blade and receptacle mating zones are defined on the blade and receptacle contacts respectively. The mating zones electrically engage one another when in the final mating position to maintain a primary electrical interface between the blade and receptacle contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Andrew Weller, Lori Ann Mayer
  • Patent number: 6488549
    Abstract: An electrical contact assembly is provided that includes insolated blade and receptacle connector housings mateable with one another while moved from initial to final mating positions. A blade contact is provided with a support section that is securely mounted within the insulated connector housing. The blade contact further includes a contact knife projecting from the support section. A receptacle contact is provided having a base section that is securely mounted in the insulated receptacle housing. Arcing zones are defined on the blade and receptacle contacts that are located separate and apart from mating zones. The arcing zones electrically engage one another only when the blade and receptacle contacts are located in the initial mating position to provide a temporary electrical interface for discharging arcs between the blade and receptacle contacts. After which, the arcing zones disengage one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Andrew Weller, Lori Ann Mayer
  • Patent number: 6482050
    Abstract: A contact having a retention portion, a tail portion and a pair of beams. The beams each have a first portion which displaces the beam from opposite sides of the plane of the retention portion and a second portion extending from, and canted relative to, the first portion. The second portions interact to receive a mating contact therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Lemke, Timothy W. Houtz, Stanley W. Olson, Lewis R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6478593
    Abstract: A connecting terminal provided with an arc discharge contact protruding forwardly and integrally formed at one side of a contact protrusion of a male terminal. The arc discharge contact comes into contact with the side surface of a side wall of a female terminal body before the contact protrusion of the male terminal comes into contact with a contact spring of the female terminal when the male terminal is connected to the female terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Takeya Miwa
  • Patent number: 6478599
    Abstract: A contact (1) for a socket connector includes a base (20) and a pair of arm sections (30). The base has a contact pad (21) and a pair of body sections (22) upwardly extending from opposite ends of the contact pad. The pair of arm sections extend upwardly from upper sides of the pair of body sections. Each arm section comprises a planar clamp (31) at an upper end thereof and a palm (32) outwardly extending from a front end of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert G. McHugh, Genn-Sheng Lee, Hsiu-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 6475041
    Abstract: A one-piece contact spring that includes first and second legs and a connection portion connecting the first and second legs, with the first and second legs and the connection portion lying in a common plane, and with the first and second legs having free ends forming an entrance region and defining opposite mirrored contact rounded cups at the entrance region, and each of the free and being bent off by an angle of 90° from the common plane along an elastic line which extends at an acute angle to an axis of symmetry of the contact spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Erni Elektroapparate GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Lappöhn, Franz Czeschka
  • Patent number: 6471534
    Abstract: A ZIF socket connector (20) includes a base (22), a cover (24), an actuator (26) and a number of electrical contacts (30). The cover is movably assembled to the base and the base defines a plurality of openings extending therethrough to receive the electrical contacts. Each electrical contact has a retention portion (31), a solder portion (32) extending from the retention portion, a first arm (33) and a second arm (34). The first and the second arms extend upwardly from the retention portion and beside each other. The first arm has a beam section, a curved section and a free end. The second arm includes a leg section and a curved contacting section. The free end and the curved contacting section cooperate with each other to press therebetween and electrically connect with a pin of an electronic package received on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Genn-Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 6439935
    Abstract: The invention provides a miniaturized female terminal fitting. A female terminal fitting 10 has resilient contacts 16 within a cover 20. When a male tab 30 is inserted into the cover 20, the resilient contacts 16 bend outwards as they make contact therewith. Side walls 21 have recessed members 25 formed therein, the resilient contacts 16 being capable of entering these recessed members 25. Due to these recessed members 25, at least a portion of the bending space for the resilient contacts 16 is provided within the wall thickness of the side walls 21 of the cover 20. Consequently, the side walls 21 can be positioned further inwards by a distance corresponding to the dimensions gained by locating the bending space within the side walls 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Saka, Koji Okutani
  • Publication number: 20020081916
    Abstract: A spring contact design used to connect varied electrical components to circuit boards such that the components may be installed onto the board and thereafter removed without soldering and desoldering of the component leads is disclosed. The inventive contacts use integral flexible elements and appropriate contact element shaping to ensure solid multiple electrical connection points between the contact and the electrical component lead. With the use of the inventive spring contacts, components may be easily installed onto a circuit board and tested to ensure functional performance and, if necessary, may be removed or replaced without the need for time consuming soldering and desoldering of the component leads to the board contacts. The inventive contacts are designed to ensure sound electrical connection with component leads of different cross sections, shapes and sizes. Use of the inventive contacts in housings sized and shaped for different electrical components are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Darrell Lynn Wertz, Philip Clay Brandberg, Brent David Yohn
  • Patent number: 6402571
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrical socket contact (1) with a base part (2) and two contact spring arms (7) integrated on the base part. The socket contact also has a guide rail (8) which is integrated on the base part in an offset position in relation to the spring arms (7) and which on the introduction of a contact pin of a complementary plug guides and centres the said contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventors: Steffen Muller, Harald Lutsch
  • Publication number: 20020065006
    Abstract: A unitary contact with a box-like contact part, in which two spring legs are oppositely arranged that extend to respective free ends in the direction of the mating face of the contact spring where one of the spring legs is formed by a reverse inward bend and the other spring leg is formed through separation from an opposite wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Hans Jost Heimueller