CN1399373A - electrical contact device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical contact assembly (100) is disclosed having a series of 4 electrical receptacles (102, 104, 106, 108). Each receptacle includes an upper cantilever member (110) and a lower cantilever member (112). The upper transverse arms (114) are conductively interconnected by an upper bridge portion (116). Accordingly, the lower transverse arms (118) are conductively interconnected by a lower bridge portion (120). The upper transverse arm (114) and the upper bridge portion (116) form a pair of contact surfaces or edges (122). Accordingly, the lower transverse arm (118) and the lower bridge portion (120) form a pair of lower contact surfaces or edges (124). Further, a one piece upper cantilevered member (128) is provided at a location inboard of the upper transverse arm (114). An inboard lower cantilevered member (130) is disposed directly beneath the inboard upper cantilevered member (128) and is located in the spatial region formed by the lower transverse arm (118) and the lower bridge portion (120). An inboard upper cantilevered member (128) is formed to form a contact surface (140) on a lower surface thereof. Accordingly, the inner lower cantilever member (130) is configured to form an electrical contact surface or edge (142) on the upper surface thereof.

Description

electrical contact device

technical field

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to electrical terminals and, more particularly, to multiple contact structures for electrical engagement of blade-shaped terminals within mating sockets.

Background technique

Various types of assemblies have been developed throughout history for placing conductive couplings in electrical communication with a power source. For example, it is known to place permanent electrical receptacle assemblies (via fusible links, circuit breakers, or other emergency disconnect components) in various spatial areas of residential, commercial, and industrial equipment that are electrically coupled to one of the main utility power sources. or multiple sources. Each receptacle assembly typically includes one or more mating assemblies, which are commonly referred to in everyday parlance as jack plates.

These receptacle assemblies are usually mounted on a fixed wall, or alternatively, in modern formwork office installation systems, in a movable wall panel, or even within the surface of the workpiece. Devices to be energized often include plugs having two or more prongs or blade-shaped terminals for conductively engaging within a jack plate. Pointed or blade shaped end buttons are often referred to in everyday parlance as a "male" plug, point, blade or end button. These plugs are usually interconnected to the electrical circuitry of the device for energization by means of wires running through flexible insulated cables or the like.

Such male/female electrical interconnections form a movable or releasable conductive engagement which is used in numerous electrical connector arrangements. For example, in addition to powering larger and self-contained devices such as lights, televisions, stereos, typewriters, etc., male/female electrical interconnect structures are used inside electrical devices such as computers and related peripherals. In addition, male/female electrical interconnection devices are used in several other applications, such as internal circuit wiring of electrical installations in modular offices and the like.

In the design of the male/female electrical interconnection, it is of utmost importance to provide a firm and stable electrical contact between the conductive surface of the electrical socket part and the conductive surface of the tine or blade end button. It is also important to provide a surface connection with low resistance. As noted above, various types of interfaces have been developed for engaging a plug or blade end button with a mating jack plate. For example, it is known to employ a pair of opposing cantilevered beams within a jack plate which provide a single point of contact on each side of an inserted male terminal button. Other known arrangements use a single cantilever spring pressure supported by a steel or similar spring supported within a plastic housing. Such devices typically provide a single point of contact on the electrical interface.

It is known that it is desirable to provide as many interface contact points as reasonably possible while maintaining releasable engagement. For example, a device providing four contact points is disclosed in US Patent No. 4,795,379, issued June 3, 1989 to Sasaki et al. The Sasaki et al. patent relates to certain types of electrical connection concepts that have been used in computers, communications equipment, and other data processing equipment in the form of socket contacts having four resiliently cantilevered contact members extending forwardly from a base. The contact members are adapted to form electrical connections with the tab contacts inserted from the front of the receptacle assembly. The tab contacts are electrically engaged by 4 foils from 4 sides. The 4 sheets can be arranged in opposing pairs, with each pair arranged perpendicular to each other.

In such devices, electrical engagement is achieved by contact of the fin contacts at 4 points, thereby increasing the reliability of the receptacle contacts relative to contact devices having only 2 contacts. However, Sasaki et al. also show that incomplete electrical engagement can occur due to the presence of foreign matter on the tab contact surfaces. Additionally, one of the contact member pairs may engage an edge surface of the fin contact. Instead, the edge surface of the tab contact is typically the surface edge formed when the contact is made by stamping a thin sheet of conductive material. Its surface is often rougher than the flat rolled or formed surface of the sheet and thus has lower contact reliability. therefore. These contact members may not provide a reliable electrical connection and require high insertion force when inserted.

As an improvement, Sasaki et al. propose a receptacle contact having opposing leaf spring members formed from two parallel sheets formed by a U-shaped portion extending between adjacent sides of the leaf spring members. connected. The leaf spring member includes first and second spring arms integrally formed with the spring member.

The first spring arm and the second spring arm are opposed to each other, while outer and inner contact members are formed on the free ends of the spring arms, which are also opposed to each other. Additional contact members are located rearwardly of the first set of contact members. The spring arms extend in parallel from the leaf spring member, and the outer contact member is slightly more than twice as wide as the inner contact member. The contact member is in an arc shape for accelerating the insertion of the fin contacts therebetween.

The receptacle contacts described in the Sasaki et al. patent are formed by stamping a suitable sheet of metal having the desired conductive and resilient properties. The stamping process is achieved by forming a sheet of metal into the appropriate shape, then folding the spring arm into the desired shape while simultaneously folding the other part into a U shape. In use, the tips of the fin contacts are insertable into spaces between mutually opposing outer contact members at a front portion of the socket contact. Upon insertion, the upper and lower surfaces of the contacts enter wiping engagement with the outer contact member. Therefore, foreign substances on the upper and lower surfaces of the contacts are removed. As the contact continues to be inserted, the upper and lower surfaces, which have been cleaned by the outer contact members, are again wipedly engaged by the inner contact members. In this way, greater electrical connection reliability can be formed between the tab contact and the inner contact member. In addition, the outer and inner contact members electrically engage the upper and lower planar surfaces of the tab contacts, rather than the side surfaces, which may include the cut edge surfaces of the contacts. Accordingly, the force required to insert the contacts into the socket contacts is reduced, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection.

Furthermore, the length of the spring arm providing the contact force between the outer contact member and the tab contact is greater than the length of the spring arm providing the contact force between the inner contact member and the tab contact. Therefore, the insertion force is reduced due to the reduction of the contact force established between the tab contact and the outer contact member, which cleans the upper and lower surfaces of the tab contact. In this way, the initial insertion force of the tab contact into the outer contact member is less than the insertion force of the inner contact member.

Contents of the invention

According to the invention, the electrical socket means comprises at least one electrical socket adapted to electrically conductively engage a blade end button or the like. The electrical socket includes upper means extending forwardly and having a lower surface on which at least first, second and third upper contact locations are formed. A lower device is provided which extends forwardly, is conductively interconnected to the upper device, and is disposed substantially directly below the upper device. The lower means includes an upper surface on which at least first, second and third lower contact locations are formed. The receptacle is sized and shaped so that the blade end button can be inserted between the upper and lower means and adapted to conductively contact the receptacle at first, second and third upper and lower contact locations. In this way, the socket is formed with at least 6 conductive contact locations.

The first, second and third upper contact locations may be substantially shaped in a single upper plane and form a triangular shape in the upper plane. Accordingly, the first, second and third lower contact locations may be formed substantially in a single lower plane and form a triangular shape in the lower plane. Each of the first, second and third lower contact locations is disposed substantially directly below each of the first, second and third upper contact locations.

The upper device may include at least one pair of forwardly extending upper transverse arms. The upper device may also include an upper bridge portion disposed across the front portion of the upper transverse arm. The upper bridge part and the upper transverse arm form an upper room area. The upper cantilever means is positioned substantially in the region of the upper space and comprises an arcuate shape on which the first upper contact location is formed. Accordingly, the second and third upper contact locations can be formed on the interconnection of the upper bridge portion and the upper transverse arm.

The lower surface of the upper unit is formed by the lower surface of the upper cantilever unit and the lower surfaces of the upper bridge portion and the upper transverse arm. The upper cantilever arrangement is conductively interconnected to the upper transverse arm.

The lower device may include at least one pair of forwardly extending lower transverse arms. A lower bridge portion can be disposed across the front portion of the lower transverse arm and conductively interconnected to the lower transverse arm. The lower bridge part forms a lower space area with the lower transverse arm. Lower cantilever means are provided which are positioned substantially in the region of the lower space and comprise an arcuate shape on which the first lower contact point is formed. Correspondingly, the second and third lower contact locations are formed on the interconnection of the lower bridge portion and the lower transverse arm.

The upper surface of the lower device is formed by the upper surface of the lower cantilever device and the upper surfaces of the lower bridge portion and the lower transverse arm. The lower cantilever arrangement is conductively interconnected to the lower transverse arm.

According to another aspect of the invention, the socket arrangement may comprise 4 electrical sockets. The device may also include a connecting beam symmetrically located in the center of the 4 sockets with respect to them. The connecting beam has a rectangular shape and is integrally connected to each of the sub-connecting portion pairs by a pair of U-shaped connecting portions formed on the ends of the connecting beam. Each connecting portion can form an integral support portion of the upper device.

The device can also include a common terminal input channel conductively interconnected to the receptacle. A pair of curled baffles are formed on lateral sides thereof.

The upper unit can include a pair of substantially parallel and elongate upper transverse arms extending forwardly. The upper bridge portion is conductively interconnected to the upper transverse arm. The upper bridge portion and the upper transverse arm form an upper room area. The upper cantilever member is extendable forward in the upper space region and includes an arcuate shape forming a first upper contact location on its lower surface. The upper bridge portion slopes upward in a forward direction, and the upper transverse arm slopes downward in a forward direction. The intersection of the upper bridge portion and the upper transverse arm forms second and third upper contact locations. The upper cantilever member is resilient in construction and includes a downwardly sloping rear portion integrally connected at its front portion to an upwardly sloping front portion. The first upper contact location can be formed at the interface of the downwardly sloping rear portion and the upwardly sloping front portion.

Description of drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical contact device proposed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the contact device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the contact device shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is an end view of the contact device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a bottom view viewed from the opposite side of the contact device shown in Figure 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the contact device taken along section line 6-6 in Fig. 2;

Figure 7 is a side view showing an example of configuration when the blade end button is inserted into the contact device;

Fig. 8 is the view similar to Fig. 7, and it shows the further insertion of blade end button; And

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the final inserted position of the blade end knob.

Detailed ways

The principles of the present invention will now be disclosed, by way of example, with respect to the electrical contact assembly 100 shown in FIGS. 1-9. Although the electrical contact assembly 100 described in the following sections herein includes a series of four electrical receptacles, the principles of the present invention are not limited to the use of four such receptacles however. For example, the principles of the present invention may be incorporated into one electrical outlet or any other desired number of electrical outlets. The contact assembly 100 described herein provides at least six contact locations with respect to electrical engagement of the male blade end button with the electrical contact assembly. In addition, the contact assembly 100 proposed by the present invention also provides a better triangular arrangement of contact points, thereby maintaining a stable electrical connection between the blade end button and the electrical socket part.

Referring first to FIG. 1 , an electrical contact assembly 100 includes a series of four electrical receptacles 102 , 104 , 106 and 108 . As shown in FIGS. 1-6 , each electrical receptacle 102 , 104 , 106 and 108 includes an outer, elongated upper cantilevered member 110 , and an opposing lower cantilevered member 112 . Each upper cantilever member 110 includes a pair of transverse, parallel elongate arms 114 united at their forward ends by a bridge portion 116 . Correspondingly, each lower cantilever member 112 includes a corresponding transverse arm 118 integrally connected at their forward ends by a lower bridge portion 120 .

As shown primarily by FIGS. 3 and 6 , the upper lateral arm 114 has a slightly downwardly sloping shape, while the upper bridge portion 116 is slightly upwardly sloping. While having this shape, a contact surface or edge 122 is formed on the integral interface between the upper bridge portion 116 and each lateral arm 114 . Correspondingly, the lateral arm 118 of the lower cantilever member 112, as further illustrated in Figures 3 and 6, slopes slightly upward, while the lower bridge portion 120 slopes slightly downward. While having this shape, a contact surface or edge 124 is formed at the interface integrally connected between the lateral arm 118 and the lower bridge portion 120 .

As shown primarily by FIGS. 2 and 5 , the lateral arm 114 of the upper cantilever member 110 and the bridge portion 116 form an arcuate space region 126 which is located inside the arm 114 in the bridge portion 116 . The same spatial region 127 is formed by the lateral arm 118 of the lower cantilever member 112 and the lower bridge portion 120 . With particular reference to FIG. 2 , each receptacle 102 , 104 , 106 and 108 also includes an inner, upper cantilever member 128 extending forwardly within the space region 126 formed by the lateral arm 114 and bridge portion 116 . The opposing inner cantilever member 130 is formed within the corresponding spatial region 127 of the lower cantilever member 112 and also extends forwardly. As shown primarily by FIGS. 3 and 6 , each upper cantilever member 128 has a resilient construction and a downwardly sloping rear portion 132 integrally connected to an upwardly sloping front portion 134 on the front portion. Accordingly, each inner lower cantilever member 130 includes an upwardly sloped rear portion 136 integrally connected to a downwardly sloped front portion 138 on its forward end. The interface between the downwardly sloping rear portion 132 and the upwardly sloping front portion 134 of the upper cantilever member 128 forms a contact surface or edge 140 . Accordingly, a contact surface or edge 142 is formed at the interface integrally connected between the upwardly sloping rear portion 136 and the downwardly sloping front portion 138 of the lower cantilever member 130 .

The opposing upper and lower cantilever members 110, 112 and the opposing inner cantilever members 128, 130 are flexible and resilient in nature so that when a male blade end button (shown in FIGS. 7-9) is inserted between the opposing cantilever members , can be properly bent. Furthermore, as will be apparent from the additional description herein, contact surfaces 122 and 140 associated with upper cantilever member 110 and upper cantilever member 128 form a triangular contact surface shape with the male blade end button. Correspondingly, the contact surfaces 124 and 142 form an opposing triangular contact surface shape to form six points of contact between the electrical receptacles 102, 104, 106 and 108 and the inserted male blade end knobs. This triangular shape, while correspondingly providing six contact points, also provides a significant stabilizing effect for the interconnection between the male blade end button and the electrical socket.

Referring again mainly to FIGS. The connecting beam 144 has a rectangular shape and is integrally connected to each of the two secondary connecting portions 146 by means of a U-shaped connecting portion 148 formed on an end of each connecting beam 144 . Each connecting portion 146 also constitutes an integral inner support portion of the upper cantilever member 110 and the upper cantilever member 128 .

As further illustrated by FIGS. 1 , 2 and 5 , the 4-socket assembly 100 includes a common button input channel 150 having a pair of crimped baffles 152 integrally formed on lateral sides of the channel 150 . Channel 150 includes a transition portion 154 integrally connecting common button input channel 150 and connecting beam 144 . In addition to the above, the receptacle assembly 100 also includes a pair of tabs 156 , each tab 156 being formed on one side of each sub-connection portion 146 . These tabs 156 provide a means of controlling the positioning of the "boxes" formed by the surfaces of the connecting beam 144 , the secondary connecting portion 146 and the U-shaped connecting portion 148 .

The use of the electrical contact assembly 100 and corresponding insertion of the male blade end button 158 will now be described with respect to FIGS. 7-9. The male blade end button or tab contact 158 includes a tapered surface on its front portion to facilitate insertion into electrical receptacles 102 , 104 , 106 and 108 as shown in FIGS. 7 , 8 and 9 . For illustration purposes, only one electrical socket 106 is shown in FIGS. 7 , 8 and 9 . The front portion of the blade end button 158 is inserted first into the space region formed between the upper bridge portion 116 and the lower bridge portion 120 . When blade end button 158 is inserted, the upper and lower surfaces of end button 158 will contact upper contact surface 122 and lower contact surface 124 formed at the interface between bridge portions 116 , 120 and lateral arms 114 , 118 . When the blade end button 158 is inserted further, the front portion of the end button 158, on its upper and lower surfaces near its central portion, will engage contact surfaces 140, 142 in electrical contact, which are integrally formed The interface between downwardly sloped portion 132 and upwardly sloped front portion 134 of upper cantilever member 128 is integrally connected at the interface between upwardly sloped portion 136 and downwardly sloped portion 138 .

As previously mentioned, upper contact surfaces 122 and 140 form a triangular shape with three electrical contact locations. This triangular shape provides a significant stabilizing effect which prevents poor contact if the interconnection between the male blade end button 158 and the corresponding receptacle is not coordinated, or is otherwise subject to "jack" movement. Accordingly, the three locations of the lower contact formed by the contact surfaces 124 and 142 form a corresponding triangular contact surface shape opposite the upper contact shape. Along with the 3 points of lower contact, the interconnection and engagement between the male blade end button 158 and the corresponding electrical socket provides 6 contact positions. Furthermore, if the dimensions of the male blade end button 158 are properly specified with respect to the relative positioning of the bridge portions 116, 120, the surfaces of the bridge portions 116, 120 will form a "wipe" with the central portion of the upper and lower surfaces of the blade end button 158. engage. This wipe-off engagement will ensure that the central portion of the blade end button 158, which will be in electrical contact with the inner upper cantilever member 128 and inner lower cantilever member 130, is free of any foreign matter, as the bridge portions 116, 118 perform a "cleaning" function. Since each electrical socket 102, 104, 106 and 108 has 6 contact positions, the current carrying capacity of the socket is greatly improved. In addition, compared to the specific 4-socket assembly 100 shown herein, the 4 sockets only need to have a single steel wire crimp structure in the integral end button, thereby effectively utilizing the space in the joint system. Also, the triangular positioning of the three contact locations on each upper and lower surface of the male blade end button provides a substantially "stable" platform for the male blade end button 158.

From the foregoing it is clear that the electrical connector assembly 100 can be formed by stamping and forming from a suitable metal sheet having suitable conductive and resilient characteristics. Such a stamping process can be obtained by applying a suitably shaped sheet metal, which is then folded over the part to form the upper cantilever member 110 and the secondary connection portion 146 .

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that other embodiments of the electrical contact assembly can be obtained according to the invention. That is, the principles of the electrical contact assembly proposed by the present invention are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. For example, the electrical contact assembly according to the present invention can be used with electrical sockets other than 4 electrical sockets. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and other changes may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. An electrical socket arrangement comprising at least one electrical socket adapted to conductively engage a blade end button or the like, said electrical socket comprising: a pair of substantially parallel and elongated upper transverse walls extending forwardly; an upper bridge portion conductively interconnecting the upper transverse arm, the upper bridge portion and the upper transverse arm forming an upper space region; a pair of substantially parallel and elongated lower transverse arms extending forwardly and disposed substantially directly below said pair of upper transverse arms; a lower bridge portion conductively interconnecting said lower transverse arm, said lower bridge portion and said lower transverse arm forming a lower space region; an upper cantilever member extending forward in said upper space region and having an arcuate shape forming a first upper contact location on its lower surface; a lower cantilever member extending forward in said lower space region and having an arcuate shape forming a first lower contact location on its upper surface; The interconnection of the upper bridge portion to the upper transverse arm forms second and third upper contact locations and the interconnection of the lower bridge portion to the lower transverse arm forms second and third lower contact locations ;as well as The upper bridge portion and the upper transverse arm are conductively interconnected to the upper cantilever member, lower cantilever member, lower bridge portion and lower transverse arm, and the receptacle is sized and shaped to be inserted into the said male blade end button between the upper and lower bridge portions is adapted to conductively contact said socket at said first, second and third upper and lower contact locations, thereby making at least six electrical contacts with said socket Location. 2. An electrical socket arrangement comprising at least one electrical socket adapted to conductively engage a blade end button or the like, said electrical socket comprising: an upper device extending forwardly and having a lower surface on which at least first, second and third upper contact locations are formed; Lower means extending forwardly, conductively interconnected to said upper means and disposed substantially directly below said upper means, having an upper surface having at least first, second and third lower contact locations formed thereon ;as well as The receptacle is sized and shaped so that the blade end button can be inserted between the upper and lower means and is adapted to contact on the first, second and third upper and lower Locations electrically conductively contact the receptacle, thereby forming at least 6 electrically conductive contact locations with the receptacle. 3. An electrical socket arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said first, second and third upper contact locations are formed substantially in a single upper plane and form a triangular shape in said upper plane. 4. The electrical socket assembly of claim 2, wherein said first, second and third lower contact locations are formed substantially in a single lower plane and form a triangular shape in said lower plane. 5. The electrical socket assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said first, second and third lower contact locations is disposed substantially directly on each of said first, second and third upper contact locations under. 6. The electrical socket assembly of claim 2, wherein said upper means comprises: at least one pair of forward extending upper transverse arms; an upper bridge portion disposed across the front portion of the upper cross arm and conductively interconnecting the upper cross arm, the upper bridge portion forming an upper space region with the upper cross arm; and An upper cantilever means positioned substantially in the region of said upper space and having an arcuate shape on which said first upper contact location is formed. 7. An electrical socket arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said second and said third upper contact locations are formed on the interconnection of said upper bridge portion and said upper transverse arm. 8. The electrical socket assembly of claim 6, wherein said lower surface of said upper means is formed by the lower surface of said upper cantilever means and the lower surfaces of said upper bridge portion and said upper transverse arm. 9. The electrical socket arrangement of claim 6, wherein said upper cantilever arrangement is conductively interconnected to said upper transverse arm. 10. The electrical socket assembly of claim 2, wherein said lower means comprises: at least one pair of forwardly extending lower transverse arms; a lower bridge portion disposed across a front portion of said lower transverse arm and conductively interconnecting said lower transverse arm, said lower bridge portion forming a lower space region with said lower transverse arm, and A lower cantilever means positioned substantially within said lower space region and having an arcuate shape on which said first lower contact location is formed. 11. An electrical socket arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said second and said third lower contact locations are formed on interconnecting portions of said lower bridge portion and said lower transverse arm. 12. An electrical socket arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said upper surface of said lower means is formed by the upper surface of said lower cantilever means and the upper surfaces of said lower bridge portion and said lower transverse arm. 13. The electrical socket assembly of claim 10, wherein said lower cantilever means is conductively interconnected to said lower lateral arm. 14. The electrical socket assembly of claim 2, wherein said socket assembly comprises four of said electrical sockets. 15. An electrical socket assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a connecting beam located symmetrically with respect to said four sockets at their centers. 16. An electrical socket arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said connecting beam has a rectangular shape and is integrally connected to each of the pair of secondary connecting parts by a pair of U-shaped connecting parts, the pair of U-shaped connecting parts A connecting portion is formed on an end of the connecting beam. 17. An electrical socket arrangement according to claim 16, wherein each said secondary connection portion forms an integral support portion of said upper arrangement. 18. An electrical socket assembly according to claim 14, wherein said assembly further comprises a common terminal input channel conductively interconnected to said socket and having a pair of crimped baffles formed on lateral sides thereof . 19. The electrical socket assembly of claim 2, wherein said upper means comprises: a pair of substantially parallel and elongated upper transverse arms extending forward; an upper bridge portion conductively interconnecting the upper transverse arm, the upper bridge portion and the upper transverse arm forming an upper space region; an upper cantilever member extending forward in said upper space region and having an arcuate shape forming a first upper contact location on its lower surface; and The upper bridge portion slopes upwardly in a forward direction, and the upper cross arm slopes downwardly in a forward direction, and the intersection of the upper bridge portion and the upper cross arm forms the second and first Three upper contact positions. 20. An electrical socket assembly according to claim 19, wherein said upper cantilever member is of resilient construction and includes a downwardly sloping rear portion which is integrally connected at its front portion to an upwardly sloping and the first upper contact location is formed on the interface of the downwardly sloping rear portion and the upwardly sloping front portion.

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