[0001] The present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies and more particularly
but not exclusively to such assemblies comprising a male connector and a female connector
detachably connectable to each other.
[0002] hitherto when a circuit board housing an edge connector (i.e. a'hale connector")
has been inserted into its socket (i.e. a "female connector") it has been usual for
the edge of the board to be used to displace the contacts of the socket to permit
the insertion. Thus each time the board is inserted the edge thereof scrapes the'electrical
contact area. Whilst some wiping action of the electrical contact area on insertion
is desirable to remove any film which may have built up, the scraping action causes
some damage to the contact area and may, if several insertions and removals of a particular
board are required result in the removal of the precious metal plating of the contact
area.
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly
in which one connector causes displacement of the contact members of the other connector
on insertion therein without interfering with the electrical contact area of the contact
members.
[0004] According to the present invention in an electrical connector assembly of the kind
comprising a male connector and a female connector each of which has at least one
respective contact member and which are detachably connectable one to the other, the
or each contact member of a first of the connectors has at least one displacement
member associated therewith, said displacement member being disposed to one side of
the contact member and being arranged to provide an inclined surface longitudinally
of the direction of insertion of one connector in the other, the or each contact member
of the other one of the connectors has a portion arranged to co-operate with said
displacement member, and said portion and said displacement member are adapted to
co-operate with each other as mating of the connectors proceeds such that initially
contact between the or each pair of corresponding contact members is prevented and
subsequently contact between the or each pair of corresponding contact members is
permitted so that, during mating of the connectors, leading edges of each of the contact
members are prevented from scraping contact areas of the corresponding opposite contact
member.
[0005] Preferably, contact between the or each pair of corresponding contact members is
permitted after the leading edges of each of the contact members have passed over
the contact areas of the corresponding opposite contact member and before completion
of mating of the connectors so that the contact areas wipe across each other to assist
displacement of any disruptive film which may be present.
[0006] The displacement member may have a second inclined surface sloping in the opposed
directions to said inclined surface so as to cause the contact members to come into
contact gradually. The two inclined surfaces of the displacement member may be mechanically
linked by a plateau such that the displaced contact member traverses apart from and
substantially parallel to the corresponding opposite contact member for part of the
distance traversed during mating of the connectors.
[0007] The displacement member may be associated with the male connector which connector
may be either attached to or integral with a printed circuit board.
[0008] According to a feature of the present invention an attachment for a male connector
or a circuit board arranged to provide a displacement member for the or each contact
member of such a connector or board for the purpose of converting the connector or
board for use in a connector assembly in accordance with the invention comprises a
moulding having a forward ramp member and an integral oppositely inclined rearward
ramp member arranged when attached to a male connector or a circuit board during mating
of such a male connector or board with a female connector initially to displace a
contact member of a said female connector laterally of the direction of insertion,
and subsequently to permit that contact member to return substantially to its non-displaced
position.
[0009] Preferably the attachment provides a plurality of displacement members integrally
formed in the shape of a comb.
[0010] A connector assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described by way
of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:-
Figure 1 shows a view of the assembly with the male and female connectors fully disconnected;
Figure 2 shows a fragmentary view on the line II-II of Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 show a similar view to Figure 2 with the two connectors at different
stages of mating;
Figure 5 shows a similar view to Figure 2 with the two connectors fully mated;
Figure 6 shows a fragmentary view at right angles to the view of Figure 2 of part
of a female connector of the assembly;
Figure ? shows an isometric view of a part of the circuit board of Figure 1.
[0011] Referring to the drawings the assembly has a male connector 1 which is shown as integral
with a printed circuit board 2 (only a part of which is shown) and a female connector
3.
[0012] The female connector 3 is similar in construction to many known connectors, and comprises
an insulated housing holding a number of female contact members 5 in alignment and
in pairs. Each female contact member 5 is connected -to a respective further member
4 to which connection may be made by soldering or wire wrapping for example. For the
purposes of description the face of the female connector 3 at the same end as that
at which the contact member 5 is not connected to the further member 4 is referred
to as the front of the female connector 3. It is here noted that the term mating face
as used herein relates to the front end when applied to the female connector.
[0013] Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 6 each of the contact members 5 has a contact
area 6 (shown shaded in Figure 6) which is the part of the contact most susceptible
to having its plating removed by the edge of an inserted male connector. The contact
members 5 are of resilient material for example phosphor bronze. the contact area
6 being spot plated with a precious metal for example.gold.
[0014] At the front of each contact member 6 a semicircular portion 7 is provided which
is wider than the contact areas 6 each that, referring also to Figure 7, when the
male connector 1 is presented for insertion a respective displacement member 8 of
each corresponding male contact member 9 causes the contact member 5 to open.
[0015] It is here noted that each of the displacement members 8 forms an upper displacement
member for one of the male contact members 9 and a lower displacement member for an
adjacent male contact member.
[0016] Referring now to Figures 2 to 5 as the circuit board 2 is presented to the female
connector 3, the respective displacement members 8 engage with the edges of the semi-
circular portions 7 which as mating of the connectors continues are displaced so as
to cause the contact members 5 to provide an opening which is wider than the circuit
board 2. Thus the semi-circular portions ? ride up a forward ramp and as the edge
of the male connector 1 reaches the respective contact areas 6 so the portions 7 reach
(Figure 3) a plateau which is substantially of the same width as the contact area.
[0017] As insertion of the male connector 1 continues (Figure 4) so the portions 7 ride
down a rearward ramp of the displacement members 8 which permits the contact area
6 of the female contact members 5 to come into contact with the male contact members
9.
[0018] It will be appreciated that some wiping of the contact areas 6 on the male contact
membem9 is desirable to remove disruptive film and the like. This wiping occurs once
the semi-circular portions 7 have reached the end of the rearward ramp of the displacement
members 8 as the circuit board 2 and the male connector 1 are pushed fully home in
the female connector 3.
[0019] Referring again to Figure 1 the displacement members 8 may be suitably provided by
a moulding of plastics material which may be in the form of a comb having a continuous
rear strip for attachment to the male connector 1 or the circuit board 2 by rivetting
for example.
[0020] It is noted that whilst as described herein the invention is realised by attachment
of a moulding to the circuit board 2, the invention may be similarly implemented by
attachment of a suitable moulding to a male connector of the kind arranged for subsequent
attachment to tracks of a circuit board or for wiring connections.
[0021] In the case of a male connector it will also be realised that displacement members
could be integrally moulded with the insulating material of the connector housing.
1. An electrical connector assembly of the kind comprising a male connector (1) and
a female connector (3) each of which has at least one respective contact member (5,
9) and which are detachably connectable one to the other characterised in that the
or each contact member (9) of a first of the connectors (3) has at least one displacement
member (8) associated therewith and disposed to one side thereof, said displacement
member (8) being arranged to provide an inclined surface longitudinally of the direction
of insertion of one connector (3) in the other (1) the or each contact member (5)
of the other one of the connectors (1) has a portion (7) arranged to cooperate with
said displacement member (8), and said portion (7) and said displacement member (8)
are adapted to cooperate with each other as mating of the connectors (1,3) proceeds
such that initially contact between the or each pair of corresponding contact members
(5, 9) is prevented and subsequently contact between the or each pair of contact members
(5, 9) is permitted so that during mating of the connectors (1, 3) leading edges of
each of the contact members (5, 9) are prevented from scraping contact areas (e.g.
6) of the corresponding opposite contact member (9, 5).
2. An electrical connector assembly according to Claim 1 further characterised in
that contact between the or each pair of corresponding contact members (5, 9) during
mating is permitted after the leading edges of each of the contact members (5, 9)
have passed over the contact areas (e.g. 6) of the corresponding opposite contact
member (9, 5) and before completion of the mating of the connectors (1, 3) so that
the contact areas (e.g. 6) wipe across each other to assist displacement of any disruptive
film which may be present.
3. An electrical connector assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 further characterised
in that the displacement member (8) has a second inclined surface sloping in the opposed
direction to tne first said inclined surface so as to cause the contact members (5,
9) to come into contact gradually.
4. An electrical connector assembly according to Claim 3 further characterised in
that said first and second inclined surfaces of the displacement member (8) are mechanically
linked by a plateau such that the displaced contact member (5) traverses apart from
and substantially parallel to the corresponding opposite contact member (9) for part
of the distance traversed during mating of the connectors (1, 3).
5. An electrical connector assembly according to any preceding claim further characterised
in that the displacement member (8) is associated with the male connector (1).
6. An electrical connector assembly according to Claim 5 further characterised in
that the male connector (1) is either attached to or integral with a printed circuit
board (2).
7. An attachment for a male connector (1) or a printed circuit board (2) arranged
to provide a displacement member (8) for a or each contact member (9) of such a connector
(1) or board (2) so as to convert the connector (1) or board (2) for use in a connector
assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the attachment
comprises a moulding having a forward ramp member and an integral oppositely- inclined
rearward ramp member arranged when attached to a male connector (1) or circuit board
(2) during mating of such a male connector (1) or board (2) within a female connector
(3) initially to displace a contact member (5) of a said female connector (3) laterally
of the direction of insertion, and subsequently to permit that contact member (5)
to return substantially to its non-displaced position.
8. An attachment as claimed in Claim 7 further characterised in that said ramp members
are integrally linked by a plateau.
9. An attachment as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 further characterised in that a
plurality of displacement members are integrally formed in the shape of a comb.