Patent ID: 6099356
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A compression connector comprising:an insulative housing defining a plurality of contact receiving channels each forming an opening in a rear face of the housing and being partially exposed to a top face of the housing; anda spring contact retained in each contact receiving channel of the housing and comprising crimping tabs adapted to retain a leading end of a wire with the wire extending through the corresponding opening of the rear face of the housing, the spring contact comprising a resilient substantially U-shaped contact section biased to partially project beyond the top face of the housing for being adapted to engage with an external conductive member;wherein the spring contact comprises a base section retained in the contact receiving channel, the contact section comprising a first beam extending from the base section and a second beam connected to the first beam by a U-shaped bent portion whereby the second beam is resiliently supported and partially projects beyond the top face of the housing;wherein the second beam comprises an offset end engaged with and retained by a top panel of the housing for pre-loading the second beam;wherein two extensions from the base section are formed on opposite sides of the first beam and are received in recesses defined in inside surfaces of the corresponding contact receiving channel, each extension forming at least one transversely extending barb interferentially engaging with an inside face of the corresponding recess for securely retaining the spring contact in the contact receiving channel;wherein the housing comprises a base releasably received in a cover;wherein the cover comprises a bottom panel and a top panel defining an interior space therebetween for receiving the base, the base having a bottom face supported on the bottom panel and a top face engaging the top panel of the cover thereby retaining the base in the cover;wherein at least one barb is formed on the bottom face of the base for engaging with a notch defined in the bottom panel of the cover to retain the base in the cover;wherein passages are defined in the base corresponding to the channels for receiving the contact sections of the corresponding spring contacts therein the passage being exposed to the top face of the base for projection of the second beam therethrough;wherein a cutout is defined in the top panel of the cover and bounded by two side flanges for receiving the base therein, and wherein steps are formed on opposite ends of the base for engaging with and supporting the side flanges.