Patent Publication Number: US-6217396-B1

Title: Electrical connector with U-shaped spring contacts

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and in particular to a wire harness connector having a small size. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     An electrical connector for connecting individual wires to an electronic device is well known in the electronics field. A wire harness connector has an insulative housing for retaining a number of spring contacts therein. Individual wires are connected to the contacts by soldering or crimping. The contacts of the conventional wire harness connector have a wire securing section extending from an engaging section in a longitudinal direction. Such an arrangement occupies a large amount of space. Thus, the conventional connector has a bulky size which hinders the miniaturization of electronic devices. 
     It is thus desired to provide a wire harness connector having a small size. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness connector having a small size. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness connector having preloaded spring contacts for ensuring proper electrical engagement with an electronic device. 
     To achieve the above objects, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing defining a plurality of spaced channels for receiving and retaining conductive spring contacts therein. Each contact is U-shaped and comprises an anchoring section fixed in the corresponding channel and an engaging section resiliently attached to the anchoring section by a U-shaped bent section and partially extending beyond the housing for engaging with an electronic device. An opening is defined in the bent section through which a wire extends with a conductive core of the wire being fixed to the anchoring section whereby the engaging section overlaps the wire for reducing the space occupied thereby. The engaging section has a free end having side projections received and retained in recesses defined in side walls of the corresponding channels for preloading the engaging section. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the electrical connector of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the electrical connector of the resent invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  12  defining a plurality of spaced channels  14  therein for receiving and retaining conductive spring contacts  16 . 
     Each contact  16  is U-shaped and comprises an anchoring section  18  and a resilient engaging section  20  which is resiliently attached to the anchoring section  18  by a U-shaped bent section  22 . An opening  24  is defined in the bent section  22  through which a wire  26  extends. A soldering section  28  is formed on a free end of the anchoring section  18 , serving as an extension thereof. Barbs  30  are formed on opposite edges of the anchoring section  18 . 
     The engaging section  20  of each contact  16  has a convex central portion (not labeled) on which a raised portion  32  is formed. Transversely extending side projections  34  are formed on a free end of the engaging section  20 . 
     Each channel  14  of the housing  12  is defined by a bottom panel  40 , an end wall  38  and two spaced side walls  36  extending therefrom. The anchoring section  18  of the corresponding contact  16  is positioned on the bottom panel  40 . A slit  42  is defined in each side wall  36  for interferentially receiving the barbs  30  of the corresponding anchoring section  18  thereby fixing the contact  16  in the channel  14 . Recesses  44  are defined in the side walls  36  and form stops  46  to engage with and retain the side projections  34  of the engaging section  20  of the corresponding contact  16 . The contact  16  is dimensioned so that the resilient engaging section  20  is preloaded when the side projections  34  engage with and are retained by the stops  46 . The convex central portion of the engaging section  20  partially extends beyond a top surface of the housing  12  for electrically engaging with an electronic device. 
     The wire  26  extending through the opening  24  of the bent section  22  of each contact  16  has a stripped leading end, and a conductive core  48  thereof is exposed and soldered to the soldering section  28  of the contact  16 . As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of holes  50  is defined in the end wall  38  of the housing  12  through which the wires  26  extend. The bent section  22  of each contact  16  may be arranged to abut against the end wall  38  for resisting a pulling force exerted on the wire  26 . 
     By means of the overlapping arrangement of the soldering section  28  and the resilient engaging section  20 , the space occupied by the contact  16  is reduced compared to the conventional design. Furthermore, the preloading of the engaging section  20  ensures proper engagement between the raised portion  32  of the contact  16  and the electronic device. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.