GB1564928A – Edge connector plugs
– Google Patents
GB1564928A – Edge connector plugs
– Google Patents
Edge connector plugs
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Info
Publication number
GB1564928A
GB1564928A
GB3085676A
GB3085676A
GB1564928A
GB 1564928 A
GB1564928 A
GB 1564928A
GB 3085676 A
GB3085676 A
GB 3085676A
GB 3085676 A
GB3085676 A
GB 3085676A
GB 1564928 A
GB1564928 A
GB 1564928A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
contact member
housing
blade
open end
printed circuit
Prior art date
1976-07-23
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB3085676A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ferranti International PLC
Original Assignee
Ferranti PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
1976-07-23
Filing date
1976-07-23
Publication date
1980-04-16
1976-07-23
Application filed by Ferranti PLC
filed
Critical
Ferranti PLC
1976-07-23
Priority to GB3085676A
priority
Critical
patent/GB1564928A/en
1977-07-19
Priority to FR7722069A
priority
patent/FR2359565A1/en
1977-07-19
Priority to DE19772732487
priority
patent/DE2732487A1/en
1980-04-16
Publication of GB1564928A
publication
Critical
patent/GB1564928A/en
Status
Expired
legal-status
Critical
Current
Links
Espacenet
Global Dossier
Discuss
Classifications
H—ELECTRICITY
H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
H01R12/70—Coupling devices
H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
H01R12/721—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
Description
(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO EDGE CONNECTOR PLUGS
(71) We, FERRANTI LIMITED, a British
Company, of Hollinwood, Lancashire,
England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to edge connector plugs of the type used to interconnect a printed circuit board and an edge connector socket.
The usual method of making electrical connections to a printed circuit board involves forming contacts on an edge of the board, and inserting the edge into an edge connector socket. Several problems arise when this is done. The contacts on the edge of the board require a surface which is mechanically strong and which will not tarnish to cause bad contacts, and electroplated gold is frequently used. This requires to be deposited by a separate process, and has to be protected during operations intended to solder components to the board.
An additional problem arises from the fact that many boards are now made from a base material reinforced with woven glass fibre.
This is a very abrasive material, and may easily wear through the contacts of a normal edge connector.
To overcome these problems, it is known to use an edge connector plug between the board and the socket. Such a plug comprises a moulded body of insulating material having one side shaped like an edge connector socket the other side formed into a blade, like the edge of a printed circuit board.
Resilient conductive contact members pass through the body from the blade, where they lie on each side of the blade and, with the blade, may be plugged into a socket, to the other side of the body where they may make contact with a printed circuit board. The contact members are usually soldered to the circuit board, thus obviating the need for contact areas of any special material. The blade of the plug is flexible, and bending of it results also in bending of the contact members. This may stress the contact members beyond their elastic limit and cause permanent deformation which could in turn damage the socket.
It is an object of the invention to provide an edge connector plug in which the risk of permanent deformation of the contact members is substantially reduced.
According to the present invention there is provided an edge connector plug comprising an insulating body having a housing with an open end for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board, a blade of insulating material integral with the housing and extending from the other end thereof for insertion into an edge-connector socket, and also extending internally of the housing towards the open end thereof, and a plurality of conductive contact members extending along the blade through the housing and up to and beyond the open end of the housing, each contact member and the body being so shaped that the contact member is pivotally supported for bending at the point where it passes into the housing and is also supported at a support point on the extension of the blade towards the open end of the housing.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating the use of an edge connector plug;
Figure 2 illustrates a known type of plug;
Figure 3 shows the unstressed shape of a contact member of the plug of Figure 2;
Figure 4 illustrates a first embodiment according to the invention;
Figure 5 shows the unstressed shape of a contact member of the plug of Figure 4; and
Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment according to the invention.
Referring now to Figure 1, the edge connector plug comprises a body 10 of electrically insulating material. Basically the body is in two parts formed integral with one another. An open-ended housing 11 is shaped in a similar manner to a normal edge-connector socket so that it will receive the edge of a printed circuit board 12.
Extending from the other end of the housing
11 is the second part of the body, a thin blade
13 of similar shape and dimensions to the printed circuit board itself, and which also extends internally of the housing towards the open end thereof.
A number of electrical contact members 14, of which only two are shown, lie on opposite sides of the blade and extend from the blade of the body 10 through the housing 11 and into contact with the printed circuit board, to which they are secured by soldering.
The plug is used with a standard edgeconnector socket 15 into which the blade 13 of the plug is inserted in place of a printed circuit board.
Figure 2 shows part of the plug of Figure 1 in more detail, together with a view of the relaxed contact member at Figure 3. The same reference numbers have been used as in
Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2 it is usual to recess the contact members 14 into the surface of the blade 13 to make it easier to insert the blade into an edge-connector socket. The contact member 14 is held in its stressed condition by the clamping action of the inner part 16 of the housing 11. The contact member is also supported at the open end of the housing 11 to provide spring pressure at the end of the contact member which touches the printed circuit board 12, so that it is pressed into contact with the printed circuit board at the point where it will be soldered to the board.
The clamping action referred to above gives rises to the problem of deformation of the contact member referred to above. Any bending of the blade 13 causes the contact member 14 to bend also, and all the bending stress must be absorbed by that length of the contact member between the free end of the blade 13 and the point at which the contact member passes into the body, i.e., in the length of the blade. It is possible for the blade itself to be bent elastically to an extent which causes permarient deformation of the much thinner contact member.
Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which reduces the risk of permanent deformation. As shown by the shape of an unstressed contact member at Figure 5, an extra bend 17 is formed at the point where the contact member touches the inner part
18 of the housing 11. The inner part 18 of the housing is itself shapes so that it acts as a pivot rather than a clamp, and the double bend 17 ensures that the contact member mains clear of the housing up to a support joint 19 between the point 18 and the open end of the housing 11.
he effect of this shape is that any bending of the blade 13 causes the contact member 14 between the free end of the blade 13 and the support point 19 to bend also. This much greater length of contact member is more able to absorb the bending stress without permanent deformation, and hence such permanent deformation is less likely to occur.
It will be seen from the above description that the desired result is achieved so long as the contact member 14 is not clamped where it passes through the body into the housing, but is free to pivot. Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the same effect is produced without the need for forming the bend 17 in the contact member. In the arrangement of Figure 6 the blade 13 is cut away so that the contact member is clear of it. The support 19 is formed by a pair of ears 20 on the contact member which are bent over to form the support. Here again a considerable length of the contact member is available to absorb any bending stress imposed upon it.
As an alternative to the ears 20 formed on the contact member, the support 19 may be formed by a projecting rib or stud formed on the blade 13.
The contact member may be formed with a barb such as that shown at 21 in Figure 4 by which the contact member may be retained in position within the housing 11.
The contact member 14 need not touch the housing adjacent to its open end, since repeated insertion of the board 12 will not occur and hence a steady spring pressure between the contact member and the board is unnecessary.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. An edge connector plug comprising an insulating body having a housing with an open end for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board, a blade of insulating material integral with the housing and extending from the other end thereof for insertion into an edge-connector socket, and also extending internally of the housing towards the open end thereof, and a plurality of conductive contact members extending along the blade through the housing and up to and beyond the open end of the housing, each contact member and the body being so shaped that the contact member is pivotally supported for bending at the point where it passes into the housing and is also supported at a support point on the extension of the blade towards the open end of the housing.
2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which said support point is formed by a curved portion of each contact member which engages the extended blade surface.
3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which said support point is formed by at least one projection extending from each contact member to engage the extended blade surface.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (5)
**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.
another. An open-ended housing 11 is shaped in a similar manner to a normal edge-connector socket so that it will receive the edge of a printed circuit board 12.
Extending from the other end of the housing
11 is the second part of the body, a thin blade
13 of similar shape and dimensions to the printed circuit board itself, and which also extends internally of the housing towards the open end thereof.
A number of electrical contact members 14, of which only two are shown, lie on opposite sides of the blade and extend from the blade of the body 10 through the housing 11 and into contact with the printed circuit board, to which they are secured by soldering.
The plug is used with a standard edgeconnector socket 15 into which the blade 13 of the plug is inserted in place of a printed circuit board.
Figure 2 shows part of the plug of Figure 1 in more detail, together with a view of the relaxed contact member at Figure 3. The same reference numbers have been used as in
Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2 it is usual to recess the contact members 14 into the surface of the blade 13 to make it easier to insert the blade into an edge-connector socket. The contact member 14 is held in its stressed condition by the clamping action of the inner part 16 of the housing 11. The contact member is also supported at the open end of the housing 11 to provide spring pressure at the end of the contact member which touches the printed circuit board 12, so that it is pressed into contact with the printed circuit board at the point where it will be soldered to the board.
The clamping action referred to above gives rises to the problem of deformation of the contact member referred to above. Any bending of the blade 13 causes the contact member 14 to bend also, and all the bending stress must be absorbed by that length of the contact member between the free end of the blade 13 and the point at which the contact member passes into the body, i.e., in the length of the blade. It is possible for the blade itself to be bent elastically to an extent which causes permarient deformation of the much thinner contact member.
Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which reduces the risk of permanent deformation. As shown by the shape of an unstressed contact member at Figure 5, an extra bend 17 is formed at the point where the contact member touches the inner part
18 of the housing 11. The inner part 18 of the housing is itself shapes so that it acts as a pivot rather than a clamp, and the double bend 17 ensures that the contact member mains clear of the housing up to a support joint 19 between the point 18 and the open end of the housing 11.
he effect of this shape is that any bending of the blade 13 causes the contact member 14 between the free end of the blade 13 and the support point 19 to bend also. This much greater length of contact member is more able to absorb the bending stress without permanent deformation, and hence such permanent deformation is less likely to occur.
It will be seen from the above description that the desired result is achieved so long as the contact member 14 is not clamped where it passes through the body into the housing, but is free to pivot. Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the same effect is produced without the need for forming the bend 17 in the contact member. In the arrangement of Figure 6 the blade 13 is cut away so that the contact member is clear of it. The support 19 is formed by a pair of ears 20 on the contact member which are bent over to form the support. Here again a considerable length of the contact member is available to absorb any bending stress imposed upon it.
As an alternative to the ears 20 formed on the contact member, the support 19 may be formed by a projecting rib or stud formed on the blade 13.
The contact member may be formed with a barb such as that shown at 21 in Figure 4 by which the contact member may be retained in position within the housing 11.
The contact member 14 need not touch the housing adjacent to its open end, since repeated insertion of the board 12 will not occur and hence a steady spring pressure between the contact member and the board is unnecessary.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. An edge connector plug comprising an insulating body having a housing with an open end for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board, a blade of insulating material integral with the housing and extending from the other end thereof for insertion into an edge-connector socket, and also extending internally of the housing towards the open end thereof, and a plurality of conductive contact members extending along the blade through the housing and up to and beyond the open end of the housing, each contact member and the body being so shaped that the contact member is pivotally supported for bending at the point where it passes into the housing and is also supported at a support point on the extension of the blade towards the open end of the housing.
2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which said support point is formed by a curved portion of each contact member which engages the extended blade surface.
3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which said support point is formed by at least one projection extending from each contact member to engage the extended blade surface.
4. A connector as claimed in any one of
claims 1 to 3 in which each contact member carries a projection operable to retain the contact member in position in the plug.
5. An edge connector plug substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
GB3085676A
1976-07-23
1976-07-23
Edge connector plugs
Expired
GB1564928A
(en)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title
GB3085676A
GB1564928A
(en)
1976-07-23
1976-07-23
Edge connector plugs
FR7722069A
FR2359565A1
(en)
1976-07-23
1977-07-19
BORDER CONNECTION SHEET, ESPECIALLY FOR A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD
DE19772732487
DE2732487A1
(en)
1976-07-23
1977-07-19
CONNECTING PLUG
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title
GB3085676A
GB1564928A
(en)
1976-07-23
1976-07-23
Edge connector plugs
Publications (1)
Publication Number
Publication Date
GB1564928A
true
GB1564928A
(en)
1980-04-16
Family
ID=10314208
Family Applications (1)
Application Number
Title
Priority Date
Filing Date
GB3085676A
Expired
GB1564928A
(en)
1976-07-23
1976-07-23
Edge connector plugs
Country Status (3)
Country
Link
DE
(1)
DE2732487A1
(en)
FR
(1)
FR2359565A1
(en)
GB
(1)
GB1564928A
(en)
Cited By (6)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
JPS5960869A
(en)
*
1982-08-25
1984-04-06
エルフアブ・コ−パレイシヤン
Mutual connection finger piece assembly, electric connector and method of producing same
JPS5967960U
(en)
*
1982-10-26
1984-05-08
田中 清夫
Plug part of printed circuit board
JPS6039585U
(en)
*
1983-08-26
1985-03-19
和泉電気株式会社
Connecting part of printed circuit board
JPS6083269U
(en)
*
1983-11-15
1985-06-08
田中 清夫
Plug part of printed circuit board
EP1113533A3
(en)
*
1999-12-28
2004-12-01
J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Cap and low insertion force connector for printed circuit board
US6890202B2
(en)
1999-12-28
2005-05-10
J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Connector for module
Families Citing this family (3)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
US4687267A
(en)
*
1986-06-27
1987-08-18
Amp Incorporated
Circuit board edge connector
JP3060654B2
(en)
*
1990-12-27
2000-07-10
セイコーエプソン株式会社
Liquid crystal display
DE4408693C2
(en)
*
1994-03-15
1996-10-31
Stocko Metallwarenfab Henkels
Contacting device
Family Cites Families (4)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
FR1542005A
(en)
*
1966-10-28
1968-10-11
Philips Nv
Multiple contact plug
FR2060282B1
(en)
*
1969-09-26
1973-03-16
Francelco Sa
FR2137014B1
(en)
*
1971-05-11
1973-05-11
Mars Alcatel
FR2239839A1
(en)
*
1973-07-31
1975-02-28
Chauchat Jean
Male connector block for PCB has two forms – one with continuous contact strip with orthogonal pin, and other with two strips with spring arms
1976
1976-07-23
GB
GB3085676A
patent/GB1564928A/en
not_active
Expired
1977
1977-07-19
FR
FR7722069A
patent/FR2359565A1/en
not_active
Withdrawn
1977-07-19
DE
DE19772732487
patent/DE2732487A1/en
not_active
Withdrawn
Cited By (6)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
JPS5960869A
(en)
*
1982-08-25
1984-04-06
エルフアブ・コ−パレイシヤン
Mutual connection finger piece assembly, electric connector and method of producing same
JPS5967960U
(en)
*
1982-10-26
1984-05-08
田中 清夫
Plug part of printed circuit board
JPS6039585U
(en)
*
1983-08-26
1985-03-19
和泉電気株式会社
Connecting part of printed circuit board
JPS6083269U
(en)
*
1983-11-15
1985-06-08
田中 清夫
Plug part of printed circuit board
EP1113533A3
(en)
*
1999-12-28
2004-12-01
J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Cap and low insertion force connector for printed circuit board
US6890202B2
(en)
1999-12-28
2005-05-10
J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Connector for module
Also Published As
Publication number
Publication date
DE2732487A1
(en)
1978-01-26
FR2359565A1
(en)
1978-02-17
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Legal Events
Date
Code
Title
Description
1980-07-02
PS
Patent sealed
1989-03-15
PCNP
Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
