Abstract:
An electrical contact strip comprises a carrier and a plurality of contacts projecting from and linking with the carrier. A plurality holes are defined on the carrier for securing the carrier. A plurality of supporting portions and protrude beyond the contact in a thickness direction for protecting the contacts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a carrier strip, and more particularly to a contact carrier strip in which a stand off is formed along with each contact terminal such that a geometry of the contact terminal is well protected when the carrier strip is rolled up. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Electrical connector typically has a plurality of contacts for establishing electrical connection between an electronic package and a printed circuit board. The contacts are known to be configured on a metal strip before assembled to the electrical connector so that it easy to automatic mass production, plating and assembly the contacts. 
         [0005]    Taiwanese Utility Pat. No. 362635 issued to Liu on Jun. 21, 1999 discloses a piece of a metal strip including a contact carrier and an assistant carrier connecting and being coplanar with the contacts carrier. The contact carrier has a contact strip with a plurality of contacts and anchor holes formed thereon, and the assistant carrier has also been provided with a plurality of supporting portions and holes. The supporting portions extend outwardly from two opposite sides of the strip and each has a curved section at a free end thereof. The supporting portions extend beyond free ends of the contacts so as to withstand exterior force prior to the contacts. Therefore, the contacts will not be easily damaged and deformed during packaging, moving and placing. However, the strip needs to have an adequate width due to formation of the assistant carrier, furthermore, the assistant carrier will be scraped when the contacts are assembled to the electrical connector, that will increase costs and waste material. 
         [0006]    Chinese Utility Pat. No. 201122788 issued to Liu on Sep. 24, 2008 further discloses a contact strip assembly generally having a plurality of contacts protruding from the contacts strip. The contact strip comprises a base, linkage portions extending from one side of the base to connecting with the contacts, and supporting portions disposed on the opposite side of the base. Although this contact strip assembly does not have the assistant strip as what above-mentioned Liu &#39;635 disclosed. However, the supporting portions located at an edge of the base also increase a width of the contact strip and the cost. 
         [0007]    Therefore, an improved contact strip is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical contact strip having supporting portions extending from holes thereof to save material and reduce cost. 
         [0009]    To achieve the aforementioned object, an electrical contact strip comprises a carrier and a plurality of contacts projecting forwardly from of the contact strip. A plurality holes are defined on the carrier for aligning and advancing the carrier and a plurality of supporting portions formed from the formation of the holes. Each supporting portion projects forwardly from an inner edge of the hole to an extent that is beyond an outmost point of the contact terminal. 
         [0010]    To achieve the aforementioned object by another project, an electrical contact strip comprises a carrier defining a datum plane itself and a plurality of contacts. The contacts have a first length protruding from the datum plane in a thickness direction of the contact strip. A plurality of holes defines in the carrier and a plurality of supporting portions. Each supporting portion extends from corresponding holes and has a second length protruding from the datum plane in the thickness direction of the carrier, and the second length is longer than the first length. 
         [0011]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a contact strip in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the contact strip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the contact strip shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view, showing a state of the contact strip during processing. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electrical contact strip has a lead-in carrier  11  and a plurality of contacts  12  connecting with the lead-in carrier  11 . 
         [0017]    The lead-in carrier  11  is configured with a zonal base  110  with a plurality of linkage portions  111  extending from bottom side of the base  110 . The base  110  defines a row of holes  112  arranged along the base&#39;s  110  extending direction, each hole  112  configured with an dowel hole  1121  and a receiving hole  1120  communicating with the dowel hole  1121 . A supporting portion  113  includes a curved portion  1130  bent outwardly from an inner edge of the receiving hole  112  and a supporting section  1131  connecting with the curved portion  1130 . The supporting section  1131  extends perpendicularly to the base  110 . 
         [0018]    The contact  12  is configured with a main body  120  with a spring portion  124  extending upwardly thereof, and further with a soldering portion  123  extending downwardly thereof. The main body  120  has a first main body  121  connecting with the linkage portion  111  with a cutting recess  13 , and a second main body  122  extending from one lateral side of the first main body  121  and having an angle with the first main body  121 . The spring portion  124  extends from the second main body  122  and projects outwardly from the base  110  of the lead-in carrier  11 . The soldering portion  123  extends perpendicularly to the first main body  121 . In this embodiment, the spring portion  124 , the second main body  122 , and the soldering portion  123  are all projected outwardly from the base  110  and located at a front side of the base  11 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the contact strip. The base  110  defines as a datum plane itself, and the supporting portion  113  extends forwardly from the datum plane till a line L, the spring arm  124  also extends forwardly but does not reach to the line L, in other word, the supporting portion  113  extends beyond the contact  12  in the thickness direction of the contact strip so that an outside force will exert on the supporting portion  113  to prevent the contact  12  from damage. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the contact strip in processing showing the supporting portions  113  are located in the holes  112  of the base  110 . The contact strip is configured with a carrier and is stamped to form the holes  112 , the supporting portions  113  in corresponding holes  112 , and the contacts  12  in plane shape, then, the supporting portions  113  are bent forwardly from the holes  112 , and the contacts  112  are bent to form final configuration from the carrier. 
         [0021]    In the present invention, the supporting portions  113  are made in the corresponding holes  112  by punching, it not only rationally uses the metal strip but also reduces the width of the contact strip for cost down. 
         [0022]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without in any way departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.