Electrical contacts

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical socket contact, and more particularly to a solderless electrical wire terminal of a socket connector which can be formed from a sheet of conductive material and a portion for receiving a pin contact element is completely surrounded by four side walls.

Description: This invention relates to electrical contacts, as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and as known from e.g. EP-A-0 136 836. The invention relates to an electric socket contact to be connected with a pin contact, which can be manufactured from a strip or sheet of conductive material by means of press or forming machine. In general, it is desirable to make electric socket contact so as to protect a contact spring section including two resilient arms which are used to connect a pin contact element from surroundings. To this end, usually, the contact spring section is surrounded by three sides, that is, the opposing side walls and an upper wall which can be formed by bending the strip. According to this type of a conventional socket contact, the back side of the contact spring section is not completely surrounded by the side walls, and therefore there are disadvantageous that the pin contact element is frequently inserted between the back of the contact spring section and a wall of the casing. Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical socket contact having good structural integrity in which the contact spring section is completely surrounded by four side walls which are of a generally box-like configuration. The present invention as defined in claim 1 and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of the socket contact of the present invention attached to carrier strips at one stage of manufacture thereof; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the electric socket contact of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a partial sectional view illustrating a spring section and cutting off one of the side walls. Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to Figure 1 wherein an electrical socket contact of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 attached to the first and second carrier strips 12 and 13. The contact 10 has undergone a first step of manufacture wherein the contact and associated carrier strips have been punched from a strip or sheet of conductive material, and wherein one of the ends to form a solderless electrical wire receiving portion 14 has been formed by providing a first break line 16 between the contact 10 and the first carrier strip 12. In the same manner as the above, a second break line 20 is provided between a center contact arm which forms a base portion 18 of the contact 10 and the second carrier strip 13. As shown in Figure 2, in order to form the contact 10 into the shape as actually used, the portions are respectively bent in opposed directions. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, when the contact 10 is in the fully formed condition, the wire receiving portion 14 is formed by an insulation cover holding portion 22 and a wire contact portion 24. A first side flange which is parallel with the base portion 18 is bent to at an angle of 90° with the base portion 18 to form a first side wall 26 and a side portion which is parallel with the first side wall 26 is bent to at an angle of 90° with the first side wall 26 to form a spring base 28. Both ends of the spring base 28 are respectively bent in U-configuration to form an inner spring arm 30 and an outer spring arm 32. The outermost ends of each of the inner and outer arms 30 and 32 partially overlap each other. In order to contact tightly the outer spring arm 32 of the connector of the present invention with a pin contact (not shown) inserted into the socket contact, the spring arm 32 is preferably provided with a protruded contact portion 34 and a nose portion 36. A second side flange which is opposite to the first side flange and parallel with the base portion 18 is bent at an angle of 90° to form a second side wall 38. A third side flange adjacent to the second side wall 38 is inwardly bent at an angle of 90° to form a top wall 40. An end of the top wall 40 is longitudinally toward the second carrier strip 13 and bent at an angle of 90° to form a front cover 42 of an opening into which the pin contact is inserted. It will be understood from the foregoing, the socket contact of the present invention can be formed by punched from a flat strip or sheet of conductive material. The socket contact may be formed by the base portion 18, the second and third side walls 26 and 38 which are respectively bent from each side of the base portion, the spring base 28 which is inwardly bent from the first side wall 26 and the inner and outer spring arms 30 and 32 which are respectively folded in U-like form from each end of the spring base portion 28 so as to overlap each other. In addition to the above, the top wall 40 can enclose the spring base portion 28 from the outside thereof, and the spring arms 30 and 32 are completely surrounded by the base portion 18, the side walls 26 and 38 and the top wall 40. And also the inner and outer spring arms 30 and 32 are respectively protected by the front cover 42 from the outside of the opening into which the pin contact is inserted. Consequently, the spring arms 30 and 32 which are essential in contact with the pin contact are protected against an exterior force and the pin contact can be inserted into between them precisely. While the preferred form of the present invention has been described, it is to be understood that modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: An electrical socket contact adapted to receive a pin contact element, the socket contact being formed from a single sheet of conductive material comprising a base portion (18), first and second side walls (26,38) which are respectively folded from each side of the base portion, a spring base (28) folded from one side of the first wall to define a spring contact opposed to said base portion (18) and a top wall (40) folded from one side of the second wall to overlie the spring base (28) characterised in that opposite ends of the spring base (28) are defined by a pair of arms which are bent into U-configuration to overlap one another and thereby define an inner spring arm (30) and an outer spring arm (32). An electrical socket contact according to Claim 1, characterised in that an end portion (42) of the top wall (40) is bent inwardly to define a front cover for preventing insertion of the pin contact between the top wall (40) and the spring base (28). An electrical socket contact according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the outer spring arm (32) is provided with a protruded contact portion (34) and a nose portion (36).

Inventors: ENDO HIROSHI, ENDO, HIROSHI
Applicants: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRON, JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R43, H01R13