(19)
(11) EP 0 035 354 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
30.12.1981 Bulletin 1981/52

(43) Date of publication A2:
09.09.1981 Bulletin 1981/36

(21) Application number: 81300751

(22) Date of filing: 24.02.1981
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 03.03.1980 US 126221

(71) Applicant: AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation)
 ()

(72) Inventors:
  • Showman, Robert Linn
     ()
  • Weber, Robert Ney
     ()

   


(54) Zero insertion force electrical connector


(57) Zero Insertion Force Electrical Connector.
The connector has an insulating housing (10) having a channel (18) for receiving a circuit board (not shown). A cam follower (14) is movable by a cam (12) between a first position in which contact springs (50) of terminals (16) in the housing (10) are in an open position in which the circuit board can be inserted into the channel (18) with substantially zero insertion force and a second position in which the contact springs (50) are in a closed position so as to engage the circuit board.
To ensure that the cam follower (14) is positively returned to its second position and is not subject to unintended movement therefrom, e.g. as a result of vibration, the cam follower (14) has a hooked extension (40) which is engageable by the cam (12) to return the cam follower (14) and to secure it in its second position.






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