(19)
(11) EP 2 846 415 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A1)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
16.03.2016 Bulletin 2016/11

(88) Date of publication A3:
11.03.2015 Bulletin 2015/11

(43) Date of publication:
11.03.2015 Bulletin 2015/11

(21) Application number: 14183464.8

(22) Date of filing: 03.09.2014
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H01R 13/24(2006.01)
 H01R 12/58(2011.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 06.09.2013 US 201361874626 P
28.04.2014 US 201461984942 P

(71) Applicant: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
Attleboro, MA 02703 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Willlner, Andrew
    Attleboro, MA 02703 (US)
  • Fraone, Giovanni
    Mansfield, MA 02048 (US)
  • Wiersma, Dedde Hedzer
    7411HC Deventer (NL)
  • LeGendre, Andrew
    Dedham, MA 02026 (US)
  • Mandeville, Raymond E.
    Cumberland, RI 02864 (US)
  • Chen, Shuo Robert
    Providence, RI 02908 (US)
  • Medeiros, Edward
    North Smithfield, RI 02896 (US)
  • Nelson, Matthew
    Watertown, MA 02472 (US)

(74) Representative: Legg, Cyrus James Grahame et al
Abel & Imray 20 Red Lion Street
London WC1R 4PQ
London WC1R 4PQ (GB)

   


(54) Stepped spring contact


(57) In an embodiment, a stepped spring contact may have a first portion, a transition portion, and a second portion. The first portion may include a plurality of windings whose pitch may vary. The second portion may include a plurality of windings that are closely wound. A pitch of the windings contained in the second portion may be, for example, constant. The transition portion may include a winding that may make mechanical and electrical contact with a first electrical conductor (e.g., a pad contained on a printed circuit board (PCB)). The first portion may include a tip. The tip may be, for example, flat shaped or conically shaped. The tip may make electrical contact with a second electrical conductor (e.g., a terminal connector). In operation, the stepped spring contact may provide electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.