Bridge connector for electrically connecting two pins

Jumper connector for multiple parallel pins. This connector has a central leg and one pair of branched contacts on each side. Each pair of branched contacts engage a pin from a printed circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a bridge connector for electrically connecting 
mainly parallel pins, for instance, the connector pins mounted on a 
printed circuit board. 
Conventional methods to connect such pins entail the use of a bridge or 
jumper contact which can be slid over the two pins to be connected. 
Generally the location of this bridge contact is such that it extends 
above the top of said pins. The disadvantage inherent in the earlier 
method of interconnection lies in the lack of space available above the 
pin ends, and particularly, in the inaccessibility for subsequent 
connection of said pins by a plurality of bridges to adjacently located 
pins on the printed circuit board. The latter can cause a problem 
especially in applications where it is necessary to mutually connect a 
number of pins for obtaining a desired or programmed electrical 
interconnection. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above disadvantages can be overcome by utilizing an electrical bridge 
connector described in the present invention. This bridge connector is 
characterized by a central leg of resilient material integrally formed 
with at least a pair of branch contacts located at either side of the 
central leg. Each pair of branch contacts comprise: 
(a) an essentially flat section lying in the plane of the central leg and 
(b) a bent or raised section above the plane of the central leg, extending 
in a straight line. 
The level of the central leg and the flat section of branch contact is 
defined as the first level, while the straight portion of the bent section 
is the second level. The two corresponding planes are considered to be 
essentially parallel to each other. For such a pair of branch contacts, 
the ends of the flat section and that of the bent section extend for equal 
distances from and transverse to the central leg. Furthermore, the bent 
section of the first pair of branch contacts is diagonally opposite the 
flat section of the second pair of branched contacts, each being adjoined 
transversely to the central leg at the said first level. 
When such a bridge contact is slid on two adjacent pins, each pin is 
gripped and held by a pair of branch contacts between the flat section in 
the first level, and the straight portion of the bent section in the 
second level. Since the bent section of each branch contact pair is not 
diagonally opposite to each other but are staggered along the length 
direction of the central leg, opposing torsional moments are exerted on 
the two pins being connected. 
This bridge contact is inserted into, an essentially, hollow housing with 
an opening at the top. The two inner side walls of this housing have 
appropriate parallel channels to receive the free ends of branch contacts 
during the insertion of the bridge connector into the housing. 
The bridge connector comprising the bridge contact assembled in the housing 
will preferably be of such dimensions that once the first bridge connector 
has been connected to two pins and is flush with a printed circuit board, 
at least a second bridge connector can be stacked above the first to 
enable interconnection of a third pin adjacent to the initial two pins 
contacted in the printed circuit board. This method can be conveniently 
used to mutually connect a number of pins according to a predetermined 
circuit interconnection. A primary advantage of this bridge connector is 
that the bridge contact is located in the space between adjacent pins, an 
area which otherwise would be redundant and not be utilized. This feature 
is particularly suitable to facilitate optimum space utilization in 
packaging systems with a high population density of pins on the printed 
circuit board. Provided that the bridge connectors of this invention are 
sufficiently small and there is adequate pin length, the free protruding 
pin ends can be freely utilized for subsequent interconnection to other 
pins. 
As a matter of fact these bridge connectors can be utilized in conjunction 
with printed circuit boards of various designs. 
Furthermore the use of these bridge connectors is not limited only to the 
interconnection of pins mounted in printed circuit boards. Neither are the 
dimensions of the bridge connector restricted to those complying with the 
space available between pins on the printed circuit board. 
As explained earlier, once the bridge connector is mounted over two pins, 
opposing torsional moments are generated by each pair of branch contacts 
contacting the two pins. Thus the resultant force exerted finally on the 
central leg is insignificant. This feature is useful to compensate for 
possible mutual deviations in an array of pins in any localized area in 
the printed circuit board. Typical contributors to these deviations are: 
(a) skew of pin; 
(b) nonparallelism of the faces of square pins; 
(c) variation in pin cross-sectional dimensions; 
(d) tolerance deviations in the position of holes, and hence pins, on the 
printed circuit board. 
When the bridge contact is assembled in the housing, the free end of each 
branch contact is located in the corresponding housing channel, separated 
by an interposing ridge. These free ends are then supported on the sides 
of a ridge to give a preloaded condition which is beneficial towards: 
(a) a reduction of insertion force of the pin entering each branch contact; 
(b) facilitating a proper centering of the bridge contact with respect to 
the lead in holes for pins, such that these pins can be introduced easily 
into the connector. 
Preferably the central leg comprises an elongation at one end consisting of 
a neck portion and a shoulder portion. The neck portion is bent 
perpendicularly to the plane of the central leg, while a boradened 
shoulder portion at the end of the neck portion is parallel to the 
previously mentioned first and second levels. The edges of the broadened 
shoulder portion are received in two opposing channels in the housing 
which are parallel to the central leg of the bridge contact. Preferably 
these channels, are located in the open portion of the housing side wall 
perpendicular to the said levels. 
Preferably barbs are provided at the sides of the shoulder portion. Hence 
when the bridge contact is inserted into the enclosure, these barbs dig 
into the plastic material of the appropriate housing channel. The shoulder 
portion has a hole in which an electrical test probe can be anchored. 
The free ends of the branch contact have a localized sectional profile 
shaped to facilitate easy entry of the pin. Such local profiles may be 
spherical or cylindrical in shape depending on sectional profile and shape 
of the pin to be used. These pins may have a rectangular, round or even an 
oval cross section. Appropriate choice of the local sectional profile of 
the branch contact will be made to allow the most suitable electrical 
connection and contacting means. 
At the inner bottom surface is located a cavity. This receives the 
elongated portion of the central leg opposite to the shoulder portion. 
This further enhances the stability and locking of the bridge contact in 
the housing. 
Instead of having one housing for each bridge contact, a plurality of 
bridge contacts can be assembled longitudinally adjacent or side-by-side 
in an appropriately formed housing with a plurality of cavities for the 
bridge contacts. Such a housing with multiple cavities to support the 
bridge contacts will then also have an identical number of holes at the 
bottom for pin introduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The bridge connector terminal, shown in FIG. 1 and more in detail in FIGS. 
2, 3 and 4, comprises a central leg 4, positioned vertically in FIG. 1, 
having at either sides two pairs of branch contacts 16 through 19. These 
branch contacts are integral with the central leg 4, as well as the 
broadened portion 8 shown at the top. The bridge connector terminal can be 
made by punching sheet material, in which it can be suitably bent and, if 
necessary, provided with a plating layer. 
The first pair of branch contacts 17 and 16 extend in FIG. 1 to the left of 
the central leg 4 and the second pair of branch contacts 18 and 19 extend 
to the right of this central leg 4. Each pair consists of a branch 17 and 
19 respectively, extending in the same plane as the central leg as shown 
in the bottom view of FIG. 4, together with a bent branch contacts 16 and 
18 respectively. These bent branch contacts extend partly in a second 
plane which is parallel to the plane of the branch contacts 17 and 19 and 
central leg 4. The bent branch contacts 16 and 18 comprise a first portion 
22, starting at the central leg 4 and bent in a direction almost 
perpendicular to the plane of this central leg. In a second plane these 
bent branch contacts are rebent again, after which the second portion 
extends mainly in the same direction as the unbent flat branch contacts 17 
and 19, and hence extending towards the second imaginary plane. 
Each branch contact is provided towards its ends with contact domes 1 and 
2. These contact domes are applied on the sides of the branch contacts 16 
and 19. These domes are turned towards each other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 
4. The contact domes 1 and 2 may be spherical or cylindrical or any 
combination thereof depending on the pins used in their application. Such 
pins may have a cylindrical cross section, an oval cross section or a 
rectangular cross section. The shape of the contact dome has to be such 
that a good electrical contact is obtained with the cooperating pin to 
promote a high specific pressure at the connections. A simultaneous 
insertion of the pins between the contact domes in the branch contacts 
should be facilitated. In the figures these contact domes are spherical, a 
shape generally preferred for connection with pins having a rectangular 
cross section, i.e., having flat side surfaces. When cylindrical pins are 
to be used, the contact domes will preferably be also cylindrical in 
shape. The center line of the cylindrical contact domes may then run 
parallel to the center line of the cylindrical pins, but may also be 
perpendicular to the center lines of these pins. 
One pin of the printed circuit board, not shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, will 
be slid between the branch contacts 17 and 16 between the contact domes 2 
and 1, respectively, on these branch contacts. The second pin will be slid 
between the branch contacts 18 and 19, and hence between the contact domes 
1 and 2 on these branch contact. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bent 
branch contacts 16 and 18 are provided at the bottom with a swagged edge 3 
to facilitate the entry of the pins. This swagged edge also facilitates 
insertion of the bridge connector terminal into the dielectric housing 24. 
On top of the branch contacts 17 and 18, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the central leg 
4 is bent through 90.degree., so that a neck portion 5 is obtained. This 
portion is rebent through 90.degree. to obtain a broadened shoulder porton 
8. This shoulder portion 8 extends in a plane which is parallel to the 
plane of the central leg 4 and branch contacts 17 and 19. The shoulder 
portion 8 comprises a hole 7 and barbs 6 at the edges. This hole 7 is used 
for facilitating contact with an electrical test probe during circuit 
testing, but also can be used as an anchor or clamping mechanism during 
introduction of the bridge connector terminal in the housing 24, or its 
removal therefrom. 
At the bottom side in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the central leg 4 is provided with 
an elongated portion 20. This elongated portion fits in a corresponding 
cavity 27 provided at the inner bottom of housing 24. In so doing, the 
bridge contact is firmly anchored after assembly in the housing 24. 
The housing 24 is shown in FIG. 1 and in a more detailed fashion in FIG. 5. 
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show the bridge contact terminal after assembly in the 
housing. 
In FIG. 1 the housing 24 consists of a rectangular hollow box which is open 
at the top and closed at the bottom with the exception of holes 14, as 
shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 for pin entry. 
The narrow inner side walls of the housing opposite to each other are 
provided with channels 10 and 11, interposed by a ridge 12. These channels 
and ridge extend almost to the bottom of the housing. The back wall of the 
housing 24 is provided with an opening 25 whose parallel vertical 
side-edge have channels 9. The bottom edge of this opening 25 comprises a 
step 26, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. The front wall of the housing 24 has a 
ridge 13 which extends from the bottom to almost midway the height of the 
housing. Also this ridge 13 extends from the front wall towards the rear 
wall of the housing. Between the ridge 13 and rear wall is a slot, the 
width of the which corresponds with the thickness of the central leg 4 of 
the branch connector terminal. Further the front wall as well as the rear 
wall are provided with ridges 15, extending about halfway the height of 
ridge 13. Ridges 12 are flush with the side walls of the holes 14 and 
serve as guiding surface for the pins in the housing 24. 
The entry holes 14 are widened to the bottom as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, 
which then taper to facilitate the entry of the pins into the housing. 
Also the housing 24 comprises the said cavity 27 for receiving the 
elongated portion 20 of the central leg 4. 
In FIG. 1, the dotted lines show how the bridge connector terminal can be 
introduced into the housing 24. During this process, the terminal is 
lowered until the ends of the bent branch contacts 16 and 18 enter into 
channels 11 and the ends of the nonbent branch contacts 17 and 18 enter 
into the channels 10 on either side of ridge 12. See the plan view in FIG. 
6. Upon pressing further downwardly the broadened shoulder portion 8 will 
slide into channels 9 at both sides of the recess 25 in the rear wall. The 
neck portion 5 of the central leg will then lie in the step recess 26 
located at the bottom edge of recess 25 as also shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. 
Barbs 6 at either side of the shoulder portion 8 dig into the material of 
enclosure 24. The bridge connector terminal will be thus locked in 
position within the housing and cannot be removed unintentionally. The 
central leg 4 will be received in the slot between ridge 13 and the back 
wall of housing 24, whereas the elongated portion 20 will be received by 
the cavity 27 in housing 24. 
The branch contacts 17, 16 and 18, 19, respectively, are bent towards each 
other prior to assembly in the housing. During assembly in the housing, 
ridge 12 moves the branches away from each other. This gives the branch 
contacts a certain preload. 
By combination of barbs 6, the elastic clamp connection of the branch 
contacts and the friction of the elongated portion 20 in the cavity 27, 
the bridge contact is immobilized in the housing. Hence, when the pins 
enter the housing through holes 14, the bridge contact is not pushed out 
of the enclosure through the opening at the top. 
Ridge 13 is useful in centering the bridge connector assembly in the 
housing 24 and also in preventing possible movement of the bridge 
connector terminal during termination to the pins. 
Excessive movement of the branch contacts 16 through 19 during termination 
to the pins is limited by the small dimensions of the channels 10 and 11. 
The above also results in accurate positioning of the housing with respect 
to the terminated pins. As shown in FIG. 8, the central leg 4 and the 
nonbent branches 17 and 19 are flush with the inner surface of the back 
wall of housing 24 and, therefore, are also flush with the edge of the 
entry holes 14. The same applies to the bent branches 16 and 18 at the 
opposite side walls of the entry holes 14. This results in a proper pin 
guidance through the bridge connector. This also prevents the bridge 
connector assembly and housing from being skewed with respect to the pins 
and thus prevents overstressing of the branch contacts. 
Carrier strip 21 is shown in dotted lines. This strip is used in the 
fabrication process for the bridge connector terminals. At the lower edge 
of this strip, a plurality of bridge connector terminals can be formed. 
Subsequently these are detached from strip 21. However, strip 21 is not 
necessary for the fabrication of these bridge connectors. 
FIG. 9 shows the use of the bridge connector of the present invention for 
short circuiting or connecting pins 28 through 31 of the printed circuit 
board 32. In FIG. 9 three bridge connectors with housing 24 are terminated 
on pins 28 through 31, such that these four pins are connected 
electrically with each other. The left-hand lower bridge connector 
connects pins 28 and 30, the right-hand lower bridge connector connects 
pins 29 and 31 and the top bridge connector connects pins 30 and 31. It is 
shown clearly that the bridge connectors are located in a space between 
the different pins. The bridge connectors can be pushed further 
downwardly, so that the pin ends can be used for other bridge connectors 
or other contact means. Thus each connection pattern programming can be 
arranged, as desired for a particular application of the circuit on a 
printed circuit board. 
FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the housing, for receiving a plurality 
of bridge connector terminals. 
The housing 33 comprises a number of cavities in which the same channels 
and ridges are formed as in the single housing 24 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The 
bottom of each housing cavity comprises two holes for the pins. 
As a matter of course, many electrically conducting bridge connector 
terminals can be placed in housings such as shown in FIG. 10. Also these 
bridge connector terminals need not be positioned parallel as shown. Some 
connectors may be placed transversely and even on top of each other. The 
housing 33 in FIG. 10 is of the same height as the housing 24 in FIG. 9, 
so that several housings having a plurality of bridge connector terminals 
can be stacked in order to obtain a particular connecting pattern for the 
pins. 
The present invention offers a new way for short circuiting or mutually 
connecting pins on a printed circuit board. This invention is particularly 
suitable for printed circuit boards with densely packed pins and hardware. 
The present invention offers the possibility to connect components on this 
printed circuit board according to varying and differentiating programs. 
It will be clear, however, that the present invention is not limited to 
the interconnection of pins on printed circuit boards. However, 
advantageous use can be made of the space between the pins. In connection 
herewith, bridge connectors of the present invention generally have very 
small dimensions. With the usual pin distance a single housing will have a 
height of for instance maximum 5.08 mm, a width along the smaller side of 
a maximum of once the pitch of the pins and a width along the larger side 
of a maximum of twice the pitch of the pins. 
It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the shown and above 
discussed embodiments, and that modifications and adaptions are possible 
without departing from the scope of the present invention.