Patent ID: 6547607
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A contact element (10, 20) for electrically connecting two contact pieces (13, 15, 16, 17) opposing each other with contact surfaces (18), wherein the contact element (10, 20) extends along a longitudinal axis (19) and encompasses numerous separate, identical spring-mounted individual elements (12, 22) made of a first material that are arranged essentially parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis (19), and which are attached to a separate continuous carrier band (11, 21) made of a second material different from said first material extending in direction of the longitudinal axis (19), and establish the electrical contact between the contact surfaces (18), the individual elements being designed as interlaced contact bridges (12, 21),the contact bridges being essentially V-shaped, with two free ends and a central bend (121, 221) lying in between, and wherein the free ends of the contact bridges (12, 22) are secured to the carrier band (11, 21) in such a way that their central bend (121, 221) lies at a predetermined height above the carrier band (11, 21), and a plane defined by the V-shaped contact bridge (12, 22) being oriented at an incline relative to a plane of the carrier band (11, 21) and the carrier band (11, 21) being designed that the contact bridges (12, 22) secured to the carrier band (11, 21) can be resiliently moved toward the carrier band (11, 21) with their central bend (121, 221), the carrier band (11, 21) being divided into individual band sections (111, 211) sequentially arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis (19), wherein each band section (111, 211) is allocated a contact bridge (12, 22) and wherein each band section (111, 211) encompasses two spring-mounted arms (112, 113; 212, 213) that extend from a central web (110, 210) running in a central axis of the carrier band (11, 21) and transverse to the longitudinal axis (19) whereby the two free ends of said two spring-mounted arms are secured to the free ends of the accompanying contact bridges (12, 22), and guide brackets (114, 115; 214, 215) extending from the free ends of the spring-mounted arms and beyond the contact bridges (12, 22), to guide the contact element (10, 20) into engagement with a dovetailed puncture (14) of the contact piece (13).