Electrical Connector.

摘要

1,182,913. Two-part couplings. AMP Inc. 6 Jan., 1969 [29 Jan., 1968], No. 768/69. Heading H2E. An electrical edge-connector comprises a channel-shaped insulating housing containing a plurality of contact elements, each of which has portions extending through respective openings in the housing side walls and engaging the side wall, so that the side walls are supported by the contact elements and the contact elements are located in the housing by the side walls. In a preferred embodiment, (Figs. 1, 2), each element comprises two contact arms 8 formed integrally with lugs 10 and oppositely bowed contact flanges 12 which extend in a direction normal to the plane of the base part 6. The lugs 10 engage the housing 4 at portions 37 adjacent key-hole slots 36 in a manner sequentially illustrated in Fig. 1. A detent 18, engaging the base of the housing, prevents withdrawal of the element, and flanges 14 support and locate it when in position on a printed circuit board 42, (Fig. 2). The U-shaped post 20 extends through the base of the housing, and may be soldered to printed circuit contacts 46. The housing may be of a resilient plastics material, which may be hot or cold formable, e.g. polyvinyl chloride or dichloride, or a non- polymeric material such as insulating paper. Manufacture of the housing may be by shaping in outline a strip of plastics material, punching out the slots in the base and side walls, and bending to channel-shape, after which contact elements may be inserted mechanically (Fig. 4, not shown). Alternatively, the housing may be produced by extrusion followed by a punching operation. In a modification (Figs. 5, 5A, not shown), the contact is substantially uniplanar, and has a slot in the end of each contact arm to engage a vertically extending portion of the housing. A boss (72) replaces the retaining detent 18. In a further embodiment (Figs. 6, 7, not shown), the contact element comprises a pair of tubular portions (96, 98) connected by straps (100), upstanding ears (103) engaging a portion of the housing extending parallel to the base. Contact springs (102) extend inwardly between the tubular portions (96, 98). The locking boss (101) may be replaced by a resilient detent (110) engaging a further opening in the side wall (Fig. 8, not shown). In a further embodiment, the insulating housing has a wider base (Fig. 9, not shown), so that contact tabs may be inserted from the side of the housing. Ears (138) engage the housing walls, which are sufficiently spaced for the contact to be inserted through them. In a further embodiment (Figs. 11, 12, not shown), the connector comprises two leaf spring contact members (150), from each of which is struck an upstanding ear (160) to engage the housing. The contact members are joined by an insulating yoke (164) which carries a retaining boss (165).