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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings and, in particular, with reference to FIGS 1-3, the electrical connector comprises a receptacle body, indicated generally at 10, fabricated as an integral molding of an insulative material, preferably a glass-filled polyester material. The body is defined by a front wall 12, a rear wall 14, a pair of end walls 16, a top wall 18, and a bottom wall 20. A plurality of spaced apertures or passageways 22 are provided in the body, extending in the body through the top wall, to and through the bottom wall of the body, as most clearly shown in FIG. 3. A metal shell 23, preferably fabricated of steel, encompasses the upper portion of the body.As depicted in FIG. 3, the passageways are oriented in the body to form two parallel rows of spaced passageways. The rows, as further shown in FIG. 2, are staggered with respect to each other. With further reference to FIG. 3, the two rows of passageways are separated by a central wall 24 of the receptacle body. A projecting shoulder 26 is formed on each of the sides 28, 29, of the central wall so as to project into each of the passageways.
As particularly shown in FIG. 3, a contact member 30 is disposed in each of the passageways 22. The contact members 30, which are of the dual-in-line type, are each formed from a blank of electrically conductive material. Each of the contact members is defined by a generally flat shank portion 32, the first end of which terminates in a first convex portion 34, and the second end of which terminates in a bent depending leg 36. First convex portion 34 is provided with a cut-out 38, through which projects the terminal end 40 of a second convex portion 42 which extends from the first end of the shank. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, both the first end second convex portions are disposed on what may be called the pin facing side 43 of the contact.
FIG. 3 depicts the contact members 30 as they appear when disposed within the passageways provided in the receptacle body. Thus, it can be seen that the pin facing side 43 and, hence, the convex portions 34 and 42, face the interior of the passageway, while the pin opposing side 44 of the contact member faces and substantially abuts the interior surface 46 of the front or rear wall of the receptacle body. Each of the contact members is retained in position within its respective passageway by means of a projection 48 provided on the contact member on its pin facing side engaging beneath the shoulder 26 on the central wall of the receptacle body.
When so disposed in a passageway 22, the depending leg 36 of the contact member projects through the passageway at the bottom wall 20 of the receptacle body so as to extend toward the front or rear walls of the receptacle.
The electrical connector as so described is adapted to mate with a plug member (not shown) containing a plurality of male pin or post contacts to which a cable is electrically connected. A typical male pin 50 of such a plug member is illustrated in FIG. 4, which depicts the pin contact as it appears in relation to the female contact member 30 when the pin is inserted into a passageway 22 of the receptacle. As illustrated therein, the first and second convex portions of the female contact provide first and second contact points for the pin member, as well as first and second wiping action points for the male pin, thereby providing redundancy and ensuring a controlled wipe-contact sequence. Full insertion of the pin contact is achieved when the tip of the pin contact abuts the projection 48 on the contact member.
The receptacle, in turn, is intended to be separably mounted on a printed circuit board by means of the legs 36 of the contact members contacting a conductive strip on the printed circuit board under a gas tight contact principle. For this reason, the legs 36 are provided with a non-gold plating, preferably comprising 200 micro inches of tin-lead, by means of which the legs 36 function as gas tight contact and may be brought into electrical contact with the printed circuit board. Upon mating of the contacts at high contact pressures, the soft metals are upset and the resulting joint prevents contamination gases from entering the contact area. The receptacle is adapted to accommodate both standard plated through holes in a printed circuit board, as well as solder pads with no through holes.
FIG. 5 illustrates a board hole and solder pad configuration for the electrical connector, wherein it can be seen that the extended solder pads 51 provide the flexibility of accommodating the separable connector, as well as a conventional compliant pin connector. As previously discussed, however, the contact legs of the electrical connector of the invention are adapted to be associated with solder pads without any holes and without a pad extension.
In order to secure the electrical connector with respect to the associated printed circuit board, the receptacle body is provided proximate the end walls 16 with a jack screw 52. Each of the jack screws passes through the body, and is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding hole in the printed circuit board.
The present invention, therefore, provides an electrical connector in the form of a receptacle containing a pluarlity of dual-in-line female contact members which are provided with two contact portions for electrically engaging a male pin contact and for performing a wiping function with respect to the pin, and having gas tight contact means for separably connecting the connector to a printed circuit board.
Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that...
Continuation > DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
