(19)
(11) EP 0 717 468 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.01.1998 Bulletin 1998/05

(43) Date of publication A2:
19.06.1996 Bulletin 1996/25

(21) Application number: 95308237.7

(22) Date of filing: 17.11.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: H01R 13/648
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT NL SE

(30) Priority: 15.12.1994 US 356620
28.03.1995 US 412044
28.03.1995 US 412177

(71) Applicant: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Buchter, Randoph Lee
    Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17112 (US)
  • Veith, William Edward
    Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109 (US)
  • Kocher, Timothy Lee
    Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 (US)

(74) Representative: Warren, Anthony Robert et al
BARON & WARREN, 18 South End, Kensington
London W8 5BU
London W8 5BU (GB)

   


(54) Make-first-break-last ground connections


(57) An electrical connector assembly (2) comprises mating blade and receptacle connectors (4,6), each having a plurality contacts disposed in an insulated housing (8, 72). The blade connector (4) includes power or signal blade contacts having contact blades (70) and a ground blade contact having a contact blade (42). A tab (64) projects in the mating direction from the forward edge (66) of the ground contact blade (42). Each receptacle contact (96) has contact springs (108, 114) having contact surfaces (110, 120). One receptacle contact (96) is a ground contact, and the other receptacle contacts (96) are power or signal contacts. When the connectors (4, 6) are mated, the tab (64) first engages the ground receptacle contact (96) thus making the,ground circuit of the connector assembly (2). The forward edges (66, 71) of the contact blades (42, 70) then pass substantially simultaneously between the contact surfaces (110, 120) of the respective receptacle contacts (96) and the tab (64) is received in an opening (124) defined between the contact springs (108,114) of the ground receptacle contact (96).






Search report