Printed circuit board terminal

The invention is a printed circuit board terminal, having a housing which has an inner wall and outer wall, a clamp spring, a contact element arranged inside the housing, and a connector element arranged outside the housing, wherein the contact element and the connector element are conductively connected to each other, and wherein the contact element is arranged flush with the inner wall and the connector element is arranged flush with the outer wall.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to German Patent Application 10 2014 116 237.4, filed on Nov. 7, 2014.

No federal government funds were used in researching or developing this invention.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING INCLUDED AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a printed circuit board terminal.

Background of the Invention

Printed circuit board terminals are known which have a clamp spring arranged in a housing for the purpose of fixing an electrical conductor which is inserted into the housing. In addition, a contact element is arranged inside the housing, and has an electrically conducting connection to a connector element arranged outside the housing. The clamp spring in the known printed circuit board terminals presses the electrical conductor against the contact element. The electrically conducting connection between the inserted electrical conductor and the printed circuit board can be produced via the connector element, which can either be directly soldered to a printed circuit board, or can be attached to the printed circuit board by means of a pin. In known printed circuit board terminals, the contact element is generally a complex punched/bended part with multiple surfaces angled with respect to each other, said part also particularly supporting a contact leg of the clamp spring inside the housing.

The problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a more cost-effective printed circuit board terminal.

The problem is addressed according to the invention by a printed circuit board terminal having the features described herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, a printed circuit board terminal, having a housing which has an inner wall and an outer wall, a clamp spring, a contact element arranged inside the housing, and a connector element arranged outside the housing, wherein the contact element and the connector element are conductively connected to each other, wherein the contact element is arranged flush with the inner wall and the connector element is arranged flush with the outer wall.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the contact element and the connector element are arranged at least partially, and preferably to a large degree or entirely, in planes which are parallel to each other.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the contact element lies flush on a single side wall of the housing and/or the connector element lies flush on a single side wall of the housing, wherein the contact element and the connector element preferably lie on the same side wall of the housing.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the contact element and the connector element are connected to each other as a single piece.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the contact element and the connector element are designed as punched/bended elements.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein a strap, a projection, a tab, or another raised contour, or a depression, is arranged on the contact element.

The printed circuit board terminal according to one of the previous claims, wherein the contact element and/or the connector element are formed by a metallic surface attached to the housing.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the metallic surface is generated galvanically, chemically, by painting, or by applying a thin metal film, for example by gluing.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the connector element and the contact element form legs of a U-shaped element or a Z-shaped element.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the housing is open to one side, and this side can be covered by a cover, wherein the electrically conducting connection between the contact element and the connector element is guided between the housing and the cover through a slot.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the cover is formed by an adjacent housing of a further printed circuit board terminal.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, further comprising wherein the housing has a plug opening for an electrical conductor to be connected.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, further comprising wherein the housing has an actuating element, by means of which the clamp spring can be displaced against the spring force.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the clamp spring is made of a metal.

In another preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein a solder pin is arranged as a single piece on the connector element.

In another preferred embodiment, a connector socket comprising at least one printed circuit board terminal as described herein, wherein the connector socket has a connector socket housing which is designed to be open to one side, and which has at least one metal contact which has a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is arranged inside the connector socket housing, and when a printed circuit board terminal is inserted, lies flush on the connector element of the printed circuit board terminal, wherein the second section is guided outward through an opening of the connector socket housing, forming a solder connection for a printed circuit board.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector socket as described herein, further comprising wherein multiple metal contacts are arranged in the connector socket housing, and it is possible to plug multiple printed circuit board terminals according to claim1, preferably adjoining each other, into the connector socket, wherein each of the printed circuit board terminals is contacted by one metallic contact.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector socket as described herein, wherein the first section has a spring-elastic design.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector socket as described herein, wherein the first section has a spherical design.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector socket as described herein, wherein the opening through which the second section of the metallic contact is guided outward is arranged either in the rear wall which is opposite the open side, or in a side wall adjacent to the open side.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector socket as described herein, further comprising wherein one opening is arranged in the rear wall which is opposite the open side, and one opening is arranged in at least one of the side walls adjacent to the open side, wherein the second section of the metallic contact can be guided outward through the same.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector socket as described herein, wherein the printed circuit board terminal can be locked in the connector socket.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector socket as described herein, wherein the connector socket housing has pins for positioning on the printed circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The printed circuit board terminal according to the invention, having a housing which has an inner wall and an outer wall, a clamp spring, a contact element arranged inside the housing, and a connector element arranged outside the housing, wherein the contact element and the connector element are conductively connected to each other, is characterized in that the contact element is arranged flush with the inner wall and the connector element is arranged flush with the outer wall. The contact element is substantially formed by a single surface which is substantially flat, which is connected to the connector element via a connecting element. The connector element is likewise designed as a substantially flat surface. As a result, there is no need for a complex contact element with multiple surfaces angled with respect to each other, and the printed circuit board terminal can therefore be produced more cheaply.

The contact element and the connector element are advantageously at least partially, and preferably to a large degree or even entirely, arranged in planes which are parallel to each other, which further simplifies the manufacture thereof.

The contact element preferably sits flush on a single side wall of the housing, and/or the connector element preferably sits flush on a single side wall of the housing, wherein the contact element and the connector element preferably sit flush on the same side wall, but on opposite surfaces of the side wall, of the housing. A particularly more space-saving, compact, and consequently more cost-effective construction results.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact element and the connector element are connected to each other as a single piece. This further simplifies the manufacturing thereof.

The contact element and the connector element can advantageously be designed as a punched/bended element, wherein particularly fewer bending processes are needed in comparison to conventional contact elements with connector elements arranged on the same.

In one advantageous implementation of the invention, a strap, a projection, a nose, or another raised contour, or a depression, is arranged on the contact element, such that it is thereby possible to increase the electrical contact between an inserted electrical conductor and the contact element, and to increase the wire extraction force.

The contact element and/or the connector element are preferably formed by a metallic surface applied to the housing. Such a metallic surface can be generated, by way of example, galvanically, chemically, by painting, or by applying a thin metal film, for example by gluing. Such metallic surfaces are fixed to the housing, thereby making the same loss-proof.

The connector element and the contact element preferably form legs of an element which is substantially U-shaped or substantially Z-shaped, and which can be easily produced.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing is open to one side, and this side can be covered by a cover, wherein the electrically conducting connection between the contact element and the connector element is guided through the housing and the cover by a slot. Such a slot is particularly simple and cost-effective to produce. The open housing also makes possible a simple attachment of the contact element before the housing is closed by the cover.

The cover is advantageously formed by an adjacent housing of a further printed circuit board terminal. This is particularly the case when printed circuit board terminals are arranged in a row, and enables a simple and cost-effective, space-saving arrangement of multiple printed circuit board terminals next to each other.

The housing particularly has a plug opening for an electrical conductor to be connected. In this case, the clamp spring is advantageously positioned relative to the plug opening in such a manner that when the electrical conductor is inserted through the plug opening, the clamp spring opens against the spring force, and when the electrical conductor is further inserted through the clamping legs, the clamp spring is fixed and clamps.

The housing preferably has an actuating element by means of which the clamp spring can be displaced against the spring force. Such an actuating element particularly makes it possible to easily release the clamping hold on the electrical conductor.

The clamp spring is preferably made of a metal so that, on the one hand, the clamp spring is given sufficient stability, and on the other hand the configuration ensures a cost-effective manufacture of the clamp spring.

A solder pin can advantageously be arranged as a single piece on the connector element in order to enable a design of the printed circuit board terminals which is adapted for through-hole techniques.

In one alternative, preferred embodiment, for the purpose of providing a pluggable printed circuit board terminal according to the invention, there is a connector socket in which is inserted at least one printed circuit board terminal according to the invention, wherein the connector socket has a connector socket housing which is designed to be open to one side, and which has at least one metal contact which has a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is arranged inside the connector socket housing, and when a printed circuit board terminal is inserted, said first section lies flush on the contact element of the printed circuit board terminal, wherein the second section is guided out through an opening of the connector socket housing, forming a solder connection for a printed circuit board. The solder connection can be designed as a solder surface or as a solder pin, and can be accordingly soldered to the printed circuit board with a surface-mounting or through-hole technique (SMT or THT). It is possible to produce a pluggable printed circuit board terminal in a simple manner by the insertion of a printed circuit board terminal, having a solder surface, into such a connector socket.

In one advantageous implementation of the connector socket, multiple metal contacts are arranged in the connector socket housing, and it is possible to plug multiple printed circuit board terminals according to the invention, advantageously arranged next to each other in a row, into the connector socket, wherein each of the printed circuit board terminals is contacted by one metallic contact. This makes it possible to design multiple, directly solderable printed circuit board terminals as pluggable printed circuit board terminals.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first section has a spring-elastic design in order to enable a secure electrically-conducting contact between the metallic contact of the connector socket and the connector element of the printed circuit board terminal.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first section has a spherical design in order to enable a secure contact.

The opening through which the second section of the metallic contact is guided outward is preferably arranged in the rear wall, which is opposite the open side, or in a side wall adjacent to the open side, in order to enable various relative orientations between the printed circuit board and the plugging direction.

It is particularly preferred that one opening is arranged in the rear wall which is opposite the open side, and one opening is arranged in each of the side walls adjacent to the open side, wherein the second section of the metallic contact can be guided outward through said openings in order make it possible to dispense with the need for two different embodiments of the housing of the connector socket for different relative orientations between the printed circuit board on which the connector socket is mounted and the plugging direction.

The printed circuit board terminal can preferably be locked in the connector socket in order to enable a secure fixing thereof.

The connector socket housing advantageously has pins for the purpose of positioning the printed circuit board in order to make it possible to fix the relative orientation between the connector socket and the printed circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3show various views of one embodiment of a printed circuit board terminal10. The printed circuit board terminal10has a housing20with an inner wall20aand an outer wall20b. The housing20has a rear wall21a, wherein four side walls21b,21c,21d,21eadjoin the same preferably at right angles. The side opposite the rear wall21ais open and can be covered by a cover28. As an alternative, the open side can also be covered by an adjacent housing20, particularly the rear wall21athereof. The result is a printed circuit board terminal10which can be added to in a row. To make it possible to connect adjacent housings20to each other, multiple recesses24are arranged on the housing20, on the outer wall20bof the rear wall21a, while multiple pins25are arranged on the open end faces of the housing20. The housings20can therefore be arranged adjacent to each other in such a manner that the recesses24of one of the housings20receive the pins25of a different housing20. The housing20which is positioned on the side on which no further printed circuit board terminals10will be arranged can be closed with the cover28.

A plug opening22is arranged in the housing20of the printed circuit board terminal10, wherein an electrical conductor50can be inserted into the housing20through the same. The plug opening22is on the side wall21b, for example.

A clamp spring30is arranged in the interior of the housing20. The clamp spring30has a contact leg32and a clamping leg34, particularly arranged at an acute angle to each other such that the clamp spring30overall has a V-shaped design. The clamp spring30can be fixed in the housing20in a suitable manner, for example by a projection29which is arranged in the interior of the housing20, by way of example on the rear wall21a, in such a manner that a fixing slot is formed between the projection29and one or two of the side walls21b,21c,21d,21e. The contact leg32of the clamp spring30lies in this case directly against the inner wall20aon one of the side walls, for example side wall21c. A free end34aof the clamping leg34of the clamp spring30projects into the interior space of this housing20in such a manner that the electrical conductor50inserted into the housing20through the plug opening22can displace the clamping leg34against the spring force, and then fix the free end34aby clamping. So that it is possible to release the clamping hold, in one embodiment, an actuating element27can be inserted into an actuating opening23of the housing20in such a manner that, when pressure is applied to the actuating element27, the clamping leg34is pushed back against the spring force of the clamp spring30to then release the electrical conductor50fixed by clamping.

A contact element40is arranged inside the housing20, flush against the inner wall20a. The contact element40is designed in particular as a rectangular and substantially flat surface, and particularly lies against only one of the side walls—for example side wall21e. The contact element40can have a small, drawn strap40aas in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2. The electrical conductor50is pressed by the clamping leg34of the clamp spring30against the contact element40. The electrically conducting contact is established by the conductor50touching the contact element40, and can be improved by the strap40a. The strap40acan also increase the wire extraction force. Aside from the strap40aor another tab, contour, projection, or depression, which can be constructed on the contact element40as an alternative to the strap40a, the contact element40has a flat design and particularly only lies against the side walls21b,21c,21d,21e. The contact element40particularly has no angled surfaces which are oriented parallel to the rear wall21aand to the side wall21c—opposite the side wall21e—on which lies the contact leg32of the clamp springs30, and therefore does not have a cage-like structure.

The housing20furthermore has a connector element42which is designed to lie flush against the outer wall20bof the housing20. A solder pin can be arranged on the connector element42. However, the connector element42is preferably designed as a flat surface which is particularly oriented parallel to the plane of the contact element40, and advantageously is arranged lying against the same side wall21eas the contact element40. The electrically conducting contact to a printed circuit board can be established via the connector element42.

The connector element42and the contact element40are connected to each other conductively, particularly by means of a connecting element44. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the connecting element44is substantially perpendicular to the planes of the contact element40and the connector element42, resulting in a particularly U-shaped element46. Such a U-shaped element46can be pushed onto the side wall21ein such a manner that the contact element40comes to lie against the inner wall20aand the connector element42comes to lie against the outer wall20bof the side wall21e. So that the housing20can be covered by the cover28or an adjacent housing20, the side wall21eis advantageously shortened in such a manner that a slot49is formed between the housing20and the cover28and/or the adjacent housing20in the region in which the U-shaped element46is pushed onto the side wall21e, wherein the connecting element44comes to lie in said slot [49]. The contact element40and the connector element42in this case are particularly arranged opposite each other on the side wall21e. The free ends of the contact element40and the connector element42, facing away from the connecting element44, face the rear wall21awhen arranged in the housing20.

FIG. 4shows a further embodiment of a printed circuit board terminal10, which differs from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3by the geometry of the contact element40, the connector element42, and the connecting element44. The contact element40is again designed as a flat surface aside from the strap40aor another contour for the purpose of increasing the wire extraction force, and lies against the inner wall20aof the side wall21e. The connector element42is arranged flush with the outer wall20bof the same side wall21e—however, this time preferably not opposite the contact element40. The contact element40and the connector element42are connected to each other via the connecting element44in such a manner that a nearly S- or Z-shaped element48results. The connecting element44comes to lie in a slot49awhich is arranged in the side wall21e. The slot49ahas an elongation, particularly in the direction which is perpendicular to the rear wall21a, which is greater than the elongation of the slot49perpendicular to the rear wall21aof the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3. The elongation of the slot49ain the direction parallel to the side wall21e, particularly parallel to the insertion direction of the electrical conductor50, corresponds to the thickness of the contact element40and of the connecting element44. In this embodiment, the free end of the contact element40which faces away from the connecting element44faces the side wall21d, while the free end of the connector element42which faces away from the connecting element44faces the side wall21b.

FIG. 5shows a further embodiment of a printed circuit board terminal10, which differs from the embodiment shown inFIG. 4by the geometry of the contact element40, the connector element42, and the connecting element44. The contact element40and the connector element42again form, together with the connecting element44, a U-shaped element46, which, however, is inserted into a slot49bof the side wall21ein such a manner that the free ends of the contact element40and the connector element42which face away from the connecting element44both face one of the side walls which adjoins the side wall21e—in particular the side wall21d. As can particularly be seen in the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, the surfaces of the contact element40and of the connector element42need not necessarily be the same size, nor must the legs of the U-shaped element46necessarily be the same length.

In the examples described above, the contact element40, the connector element42, and the connecting element44are designed as separate components, in particular as a single-piece punched/bended part which can be pushed onto the side wall21e.

As an alternative, the contact element40, the connector element42, and the connecting element44can be formed by a metallic surface attached to the housing20, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, which show a further embodiment of a printed circuit board terminal10. Such a metallic surface can be designed as a molded interconnected device (MID). Such a metallic surface can be generated, by way of example, galvanically, chemically, by painting, or by applying a thin metal film, for example by gluing. Such a metallic surface can have the geometries corresponding to the embodiments described above. The geometry illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7is particularly comparable to the geometry illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3.

In place of the exposed strap40aaccording to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the contact element40in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7can have a metalized edge40bwhich is formed either by applying additional metallic material, or by a tab constructed in advance in the side wall21e, which is coated with metal.

FIGS. 8 and 9show different views of a connector socket60, wherein printed circuit board terminals10according to the described embodiment or further alternatives can be inserted into the same. The connector socket60has a connector socket housing70which has a rear wall71aand four side walls71b,71c,71d,71earranged substantially perpendicular to the rear wall71a. The connector socket housing70is open to the side opposite the rear wall71a.

The connector socket70has at least one, and advantageously multiple, metallic contacts80which each have a first section81and a second section82. The metallic contact80is arranged in such a manner that the first section is arranged inside the connector socket housing70, and the second section82is guided outward through an opening72a,72b, and forms a solder pin for a printed circuit board. The connector socket housing70has one opening72a,72b, at least for each of the metallic contacts80, which is positioned either in the rear wall71aor one of the side walls—for example the side wall71b. One opening72ais advantageously arranged in the rear wall71a, and one opening72bis advantageously arranged in the side wall71b, for each metallic contact80, in order to make it possible to insert the metallic contact80into the desired opening72a,72bdepending on the application and desired orientation of the plug direction relative to the printed circuit board on which the connector socket housing70is mounted.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the metallic contacts80are inserted into the openings72bwhich are arranged in the side wall71b. The first section81has a particularly spring-elastic design, and can preferably have a spherical design.

So that it is possible to fix the connector socket60on a printed circuit board in a desired position, the connector socket housing70advantageously has one or more pins75.

FIGS. 10, 11, and 12illustrate the connector socket housing70according toFIGS. 8 and 9, wherein the metallic contacts80are inserted into the rear wall71arather than into the side wall71b. The concrete geometric shape of the metallic contacts80is accordingly adapted thereto. However, the metallic contacts80in turn are arranged in such a manner that the first section81is arranged in the interior of the connector socket housing70, while the second section82which forms a solder connection site for a printed circuit board, and particularly can be soldered to the same, projects out of the connector socket housing70.

FIG. 12shows how a block of multiple printed circuit board terminals10according to the invention, which are particularly adjoined, can be inserted into the connector socket housing70, and the connector elements42in this case can be contacted by the first section81of the metallic contacts80with a spring load. The printed circuit board terminals10can lock into locking recesses76of the connector socket housing70via locking tabs26. The printed circuit board terminals10can be constructed as a pluggable embodiment, without other modifications, by inserting the printed circuit board terminals10according to the invention, which have flat connector elements42which can be directly soldered to the printed circuit board, into the connector socket housing70.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

The references recited herein are incorporated herein in their entirety, particularly as they relate to teaching the level of ordinary skill in this art and for any disclosure necessary for the commoner understanding of the subject matter of the claimed invention. It will be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the above embodiments may be altered or that insubstantial changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is determined by the scope of the following claims and their equitable equivalents.