Electrical contact having upper contact with thickened base portion

An electrical contact (1) comprises an upper contact (10), a lower contact (12) and a spring (14) located between the upper contact (10) and the lower contact (12). The upper contact (10) comprises a first contacting portion (104) at one end thereof and a first mating end (108) comprising two contacting sheets overlapped at an opposite end thereof, and a lower contact comprises a second contacting portion and a second mating end defining a channel, the channel providing a space to allow movement of the first mating end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical contact, and more particularly to a contact terminal having a thickened tail portion so as to readily incorporate with a complement lower portion such that the lower contact can be readily and easily manufactured and an adverse and unwanted disconnection therebetween can be prevented.

2. Description of the Prior Art

An conventional electrical contact is used to electrically connecting a Central Processing Unit (CPU) with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The electrical contact comprises an upper contact, a lower contact and a spring disposed between the upper contact and the lower contact. The upper contact comprises a flat base portion with a first contact portion at the top end. The lower contact comprises a flat body portion and a pair of arm portions extending upwardly from the body portion. The bottom end of the body portion has a second contact portion. The base portion is sandwiched between the arms and the arms which can move along the base portion.

When the CPU presses down the upper contact, the upper contact moves downwardly and presses the spring accordingly; the arms moves along the base portion of the upper contact and contacts with the base portion all along. When the CPU is removed, the elastic force of the spring will push the upper contact to move upwardly to the initial stage. The upper contact is made of sheet material and the thickness of the base portion is comparably thin. Thus, the distance between the pair of arms has to be precisely dimensioned and controlled to ensure the interconnection with the base portion. Therefore, this type of lower contact is difficult to be manufactured. Furthermore, disconnection may occur between the upper contact and the lower contact.

In view of the above, a new electrical contact that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide to an electrical contact having a thickened tail portion so as to readily incorporate with a complement lower portion such that the lower contact can be readily and easily manufactured and an adverse and unwanted disconnection therebetween can be prevented.

To fulfill the above-mentioned object, an electrical contact comprises an upper contact, a lower contact and a spring located between the upper contact and the lower contact. The upper contact comprises a first contacting portion at one end thereof and a first mating end comprising two contacting sheets overlapped at an opposite end thereof, and a lower contact comprises a second contacting portion and a second mating end defining a channel, the channel providing a space to allow movement of the first mating end.

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, the electrical contact1is used to electrically connecting a Central Processing Unit (CPU) (not shown) with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (not shown). The electrical contact1comprises an upper contact10, a lower contact12and a spring14disposed and located between the upper contact10and the lower contact12.

The upper contact10comprises a base portion100, a connecting portion102extending from one side of the base portion100, a first contacting portion104bent upwardly from the connecting portion102, a retaining portion106extending from a bottom end of the base portion100, and a first mating end108extending along a vertical direction from the retaining portion106. The first mating end108comprises two contacting sheets1080,1082overlapped each other. The two contacting sheets1080,1082each defines a hook1084for engaging with the lower contact12.

The lower contact12comprises a base120and a second mating end122extending upwardly from a top portion of the base120. The second mating end122comprises two spaced arms. A channel is defined between those two arms for allowing movement of the first contacting end108. The lower contact12defines a second contacting portion124extending vertically from a bottom portion of the second mating end122. A pair of stoppers1200is located at opposite sides of the base120for positioning the spring14. Referring toFIG. 3, the first contacting portion104and the second contacting portion124are located at two different vertical planes, respectively. Thus, the electrical contact1may be used under condition that a pad of an electrical package and a corresponding pad of a PCB located at different vertical planes.

The spring14is located between the upper contact10and the lower contact12. Referring toFIG. 3, one end of the spring14is supported by the pair of stoppers1200and opposite end of the spring14abuts against a step formed on a lower portion of the inner walls of the upper housing21. Elastic force is generated by the spring14due to elastic deformation thus ensuring reliable electrical connection between the PCB and the electrical package.

Three preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided. The lower contact12of each embodiment are the same. The upper contact has three embodiments. Difference between the three upper contacts is the first mating end.

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, the upper contact10of the first embodiment is shown. The two contacting sheets1080,1082are integrally formed by the art of stamping. The contacting sheet1082bends from a side of the contacting sheet1080.

Referring toFIG. 5, the upper contact10′ of the second embodiment is shown. The upper contact10′ comprises a base portion100′, a connecting portion102′ extending from one side of the base portion100′, a first contacting portion104′ bends upwardly from the connecting portion102′, a retaining portion106′ extending from a bottom end of the base portion100′, and a first mating end108′ extending along a vertical direction from the retaining portion106′. The contacting sheet1082′ bends from a bottom end of the contacting sheet1080′.

Referring toFIG. 6, the upper contact10″ of the third embodiment is shown. The upper contact10″ comprises a base portion100″, a connecting portion102″ extending from one side of the base portion100″, a first contacting portion104″ bend upwardly from the connecting portion102″, a retaining portion106″ extending from a bottom end of the base portion100″, and a first mating end108″ extending along a vertical direction from the retaining portion106″. The contacting sheet1082″ bends from a bottom end of the contacting sheet1080″. Two contacting sheets1080″,1082″ are separable from each other.

Referring toFIG. 3, the electrical contact1of the first embodiment is received in the housing2. The upper contact10and the lower contact12are received in the upper housing21and a lower housing22, respectively. The first mating end108of the upper contact10is inserted into the channel of the second mating end122of the lower contact12. Because the upper contact10comprises two overlapped contacting sheets1080,1082, so that the pair of arms contact with the two contacting sheets1080,1082respectively, so the distance between the pair of arms are added. Thus, the lower contact12is easy to be manufactured and can prevent the disconnection between the hooks1084and the two contacting sheets1080,1082.