SOCKET WITH LEAF SPRING TYPE CONTACT

PRISE AVEC CONTACT A RESSORT A LAMES

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
An electrical connector comprising an insulating
housing formed with a plug-receiving socket and a metal
contact mounted in the housing with a spring contact arm
projecting along the socket from an insertion end, a
root end of the arm being adjacent one socket wall in
which the separation of the arm and the wall increases
towards the free end of the arm such that insertion of
the plug into the socket causes a position of engagement
between the arm and the wall to move progressively in
the insertion direction. Preferably, the wall is planar
and the arm bows away from the wall towards its free end.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An electrical connector comprising a cantilever spring contact
arm supported with one end adjacent one planar side of a housing wall and
curving away from the wall towards a free end such that movement of a mating
contact post parallel to the wall from the one end towards the free end in
contact with the spring causes the spring to engage the wall at a position
which provides the fulcrum of the spring, and which moves progressively to-
wards the free end.
2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 in which the contact
includes a second similar arm, the two arms extending in opposed relation
from opposite walls of a channel-section web similarly supported adjacent
opposed walls of a socket housing.
3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 in which the arm is
reversely bent at a root end and one end of the wall is located in the bend,
the root end being integrally joined to a metal plate having a wire-receiving
slot which upstands from a side of the wall remote from the arm.
4. An electrical connector according to claim 2 in which the base
of the web is integrally joined to a metal plate having a wire-receiving
slot upstanding from a side of an adjacent socket wall remote from the arm.

Description

1C~6i4Z8
The invention relates to electrical connectors.
According to the invention an electrical connector
comprises a cantilever spring contact arm supported with
one end adjacent one planar side of a housing wall and
curving away from the wall towards a free end such that
movement of a mating contact post parallel to the wall
from the one end towards the free end in contact with
the spring causes the spring to engage the wall at a
position which provides the ~ulcrum of the spring and
which moves progressively towards the free end.
Thus, the progressive movement of the fulcrum
of the arm causes a progressive increase in the insertion
force.
Specific examples of the invention will now be
descrihed ~ith reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first contact;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a first connector
comprising the contact with a post at a first stage of in-
sertion;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the
post at a further stage of insertion;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second contact;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional elevation of the
housing containing the contact of Figure 4; and,
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional vie~ of part of the
connector taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.
The contact of Figure 1 is stamped and formed from
- 2 -

1~61428 8610
sheet metal 5tvck and comprises a pair of parallel plates
11 spaced apar1: in opposed relatlon and ha~ing aligned
conductor-receiving slots 12 opening out into upper ends
-of the plates which are connected by spaced straps i3.
A supporting foot 14 extends transversely from a lower
end of one plate between the plates and assists in
maintaining a predetermined separation between the plates.
A strip 15 extends transversely from a lower end of the
other plate away from both plates and is reversely bent
defining a contact spring arm 16 which bows progressively
away from the strip 15 towards a free end.
The contact is mounted in a connector housing having
parallel planar walls 17 and 18 defining between them a
post-receiving socket 19 with the wall 17 received in the
bend and the spring arm 16 projecting along the socket
from an insertion end.
An insulated wire can be conne~ted to the plates 11
by forcing it transversely of its axis in'o the slots
through the open ends so that the edges of the slots
penetrate the insulation and contact the core.
Progressive insertion of a contact post 20 into the socket
causes the spring arm 16 to flex awa~ from the wall 18
and the position of engagement with wall 17, i.e. the
fulcrum of the arm, to move progressively in the
insertion direction. The contact post engages the arm
16 at an early stage of insertion so that the arm is
progressivel~ deflected o~er a substant~al insertion
~.
r 3

8610
~(~61428
distance. The conllector, thereore, permits a low
initial i.nsertion force which increases progressively
during insertion to a max~mum.
I~ the second example a pair of opposed spring arms
21 bow towards each other as they progress towards their
free ends and axe located spaced apart at root ends by a
channel-section web 22 which extends transversely from a
slotted plate structuxe similar to that of the fixst
example.
The contact is mounted in a connectox housing 24
with one housing wall received in the web and the arms
projected into a post,-receiving socket 25. Tangs 26
are provided on the web to aid retention of the contact
in the housing. On ~nsertion o a contact post 27 into
the socket fxom the root ends of the arms towards their
free ends a moving fulcrum effect for each arm. simi~ax to
that of the first example is pxoduced.
' '~ .