US2911610A - Terminal connector for circuit boards - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1959 R. E. KIRK 2,911,610

TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR CIRCUIT BOARDS Filed Feb. 17. 1958 INVENTQR. F 'g 5 R008 E. K/r/r Hi8 Attorney United States Patent TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR CIRCUIT BOARDS Robert E. Kirk, Warren, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1958, Serial No. 715,680

4 Claims. (Cl. 339- 17) This invention relates to electrical connectors, and, particularly, to a multiple chamber connector body having therein terminal means adapted to establish electrical connections relative to a printed circuit board.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved terminal and connector for use with a printed circuit board.

Another object of this invention is to provide a con nector means having a multiple chamber connector body adapted to receive a terminal having a looped end portion engageable against a printed circuit conducting ma terial of an insulating panel adapted for mounting the connector body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector means having an insulating body provided with a guide means and mounting flanges engageable with a mounting panel on which there is provided a printed circuit conducting material electrically connectible with projecting ends of terminal means inserted and locked into recesses of the insulating body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ;ter-. minal means adapted to be locked into a chamber of an insulating body by engagement of lateral portions and a tongue projecting from a body of the terminal means into recessed portions of the chamber and having a terminal-means looped-end portion projecting from an end of the chamber and adapted to have a crownyof the end portion resiliently engageable against a printed cuit conducting material and adapted to have atleast one shoulder of the looped end portion engageable :against an abutment adjacent to an opening near one end of the chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide a terminal means for an insulator connector body that is adapted to be mounted relative to a panel having a printed circuit of conducting material thereon, the terminal means having a body providing lateral wing portions for connection of wiring to the terminal means and providing lateral projections slidable into guide grooves provided on opposite sides of a chamber in the insulating body, the terminal means also having an end loop portion with at least one shoulder engageable against .a projection extending inwardly relative to the chamber .of the insulating body adjacent to one end opening .through which a crown of the looped-end portion projects, and the terminal means further having a tongue ,:projecting from the terminal body in a direction away from the crown and engageable against a shoulder provided in the insulating body extending inwardly toward an intermediate portion of the terminal means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein -a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

:Fig. 1 is an end view of a terminal connector of the 2 present invention taken looking in the direction of arrow 1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken along line 2H-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a (fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing a terminal means inserted in a chamber of the connector.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of'a blank used for making the terminal shown in Fig. 4. j

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fragment of an insulating board or panel on which there is provided a printed cirl cuit conducting material adapted to be engaged by the connector and terminal means of the present invention.

With particular reference to Fig. 1 there is shown an electrical connector means generally indicated by numeral 10 having an insulating body 12 provided with a plurality of radially outwardly extending projecting portions 12a. In the specific connector means illustrated in Fig. 1, there are six of these radially outwardly projecting body portions 12a and each of these portions is provided with a pair of substantially radial walls 12b which are connected relative to each other at their radial outer ends by a lateral wall 120. At the radially inner ends. of the walls 12b there is an inner connection between each of the portions 12a as well as the walls 12b because the body 12 joins all of the portions 12a into a single hex-1 agona l-type structure as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Each of the portions 12a is provided with a passage or opening 12d and, in addition to the six passages 12d provided in the portions 12a, the body 12 is further provided with similar passages or openings 12e located in the central body portion of the connector. It is to'be understood that the passages or openings 12d and 12e are substantially identical to each other and fulfill a purpose which will be apparent in the following description. Cavities or recesses 12r can be provided in be tween passages or openings 12e in the central body portion.

The connector 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1 does not illus-' trate mounted therein terminal means in accordance with the present invention for use in the body portions 12a. The terminal means are omitted from the view of Fig. 1 for purposes of clarity and are shown more clearly in another view of the drawings to be described in detail below. It is to be noted that the connector 10 shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a pair of web portions 10a located diametrically opposite each other and extending laterally between pairs of adjacent body portions 12a. These webs 10a have an outer peripheral edge 10c which coincides substantially with an outer surface edge of the lateral wall 12c of each of the body portions 12a. The webs 10:: also are provided with laterally outwardly extending flange portions 10d which project radially at substantially diametrically opposite locations as indicated in Fig. 1 and which each terminate in a lug portion 10:: adapted to be locked into engagement relative to a mounting panel having complementary slots for forming a bayonet-type fastening relative to the connector means 10. The connector means 10 is further provided with a central guide pin 10g visible in Fig. 1 as well as in Fig. 2.

The guide pin 10g and the lugs 10:: can be better seen in the view of Fig. 2 taken along line 22 of Fig. 1. As visible in Fig. 2, the body 12 is integral with the guide pin 10g which extends longitudinally of the body and projects outwardly at opposite ends of the body. At the end of the body opposite to the end where the flanges 10a and lugs We are provided, the guide pin 10g is provided with a hollow interior 10h which can be adapted I to be engageable by a tool insertable in the ,hollow por-,

tion IOhfor. positioning and removing the connector means 10 relativeto amounting panel. However, since the connector pin 10g extends longitudinally of the surface of-the body .12 at the side where the hollowportion 10h is' provided, it isalso possible for the extending portion that..terminates.at an annular edge 10: to be-used as ahan'dle"engagedby fingers-orother-means for in serting and removing the connector means 10'relative to a mounting panel.

At thegopposite end of the guide pin 10g there isprovided a projecting longitudinalportion' 10 located centrally relative to the" body 12. ".The' projecting portion 10 is provided with a key 10k extending laterally outwardly from one side of'the projecting portion'ltlj. {This key has an arcuate dimension of approximately onesixteen'thof an inch. 'Itjis to be.understood that'the projecting portion 10] could alsobe provided with. a laterally or radially inwardly-extending recess'or slot extending longitudinally of the projectingportions ttijmand having adimension twice the above sample dimension so that a, projecting pin ofa mounting panel canbe inserted relative to the key orwrecess. 'When such a .structure is provided, the projecting portions of the mounting panelsho'uld preferablylhave an arcuate dimension half that'of the arcuate width or dimension of the key-slot or recess portion. In the embodiment 'illustrated,. the.projecting. portion 10j is, adapted to be inserted'throngh an opening in an insulating panel, and the projecting portion 101' as well as the lugs'10e and'flange portions or the lugs 10d .are insertable relative-toa mounting panel having openings provided with'slots complementary to laterally-outwardly extendingkey. 10k and lugs 18c.

.Inv Fig. 6.there isIshown a mounting panel. generally indicated by..numeral 14 including an insulating board 14a. provided .with .a. central opening or passage'14i including.a-radial wkeyor. slot portion 14k adapted to be complementary .to the. projecting portion =10j. and key 10k of the body 12illustrated in Fig.. 2. The key 10k extends radially outwardlyand hasa lateral dimension substantially less than the lateral dimension ofthe key slot 14k. It is to be understood thatif the key and slot relationship of-.the: projecting portion andupanel arereversed, the same relative difference between the lateral dimensions of the relative'projecting; portions and slots. is required so. thattheconnector body 12 can be turned in a clockwise or. counterclockwisedirection for effecting locking engagementof the lugs'10e relative to the insulating board-14a. Theinsulating board 14a is providedwith an arcuate; cutout. portion: 14d located substantially diametrically opposite to .eachother relative to the central passage/14 and each of the cutout portions 14d is provided:; at diametrically opposite positions with radially outwardly. extending slots 142 through which the lugs-10e 'can'rbe. inserted. 'As' the lugs.10e are inserted through the radially outwardly extending slots 14e, it is necessary that theikey 10k be alignedtinfthe .corner of the slot 14k which is diametrically. in alignment between the slots 142. In other -words,- the.key' 10k must be in the lower left hand corner 'ofikey-slot 14k so that there-is proper alignment ofthe' lugs 10e relative to the radially outwardly extendingsslots 142. ITermin'al'means are adapted to be fitted inside the insulating-body 12 for connectionrelative:to conducting material portions provided on the insulating bodyI114a.

i Fig. 6-illustrates a plurality -of conducting material portions 14p attached to or carried on the insulating board 14a. :Eachof these conducting material portions Mpterminates in a Substantially cylindrically'shaped contacfi l4c as illustrated in Fig. 6. It is apparent that'the cylindrical contact portions -14c-of the-conducting material- 1412 on theinsulating board 14a are provided-in substantially the same-pattern as the'openings- 12d provided with eachof theportions. 12a of the insulating body 12 described in -Fig. l. Also thereare three contact-portions 14c substantially in alignment :with openings 122 mentioned in the description earlier. The key 10k insertable relative to-the key-slot'14k assures proper alignment of these passages 0r openings relative to the contact portions 140.

It is apparent that the flange portions 10d provided extending radially outwardly from the web portions 10:: also extend longitudinallyof the body '12 for a predetermined distance parallel to the projecting portion 10 of the guide means or pin 10g. The longitudinal dimension of the flange .portions 10d is dependent upon the thickness of the insulating board14a. In any event, the body 12 has a surface 12 adjacent to the projecting portion 10] and. this surface 12 is substantially perpendicular relative to the projecting portion "10j. Longitudinally spaced from the surface 12 there isa curved lug surface 191 which is seen most clearly in the view of Fig. 3. This arcuate lug surface ltlz extends longitudinally toward the surface 12 but is located radially outwardly thereof and is spaced longitudinally thereof at all times. As the lugs 10e are inserted through the radial slots-14c of the insulating board'14a; the crown-or central portion of the lug surface'10z issubstantially in alignmentrelative .to an under-surface of the insulatingboard-Ma. Thus the arcuate or crown surface-10z of eachof the lugs 10a is adapted to be locked into engagement underneath aflange portion'14z oftheinsulating board 14!:

in a bayonet-typefastening-provided as the insulating body 12 is rotated in a clockwise-direction relative to the insulating board as viewed'in' Fig;j6.

As illustrated in Fig.2, the insulating body 12 of the connectorlt) is provided with longitudinally extending cavities or chambers 12m and'theprojecting'portions 12a of thebody 12 are provided with longitudinal chambers 1212. The chambers 12m, are openrat one end through the passages or openings 122 mentioned earlier and are open at an opposite end through an aperture 12x. Similarly, each of the cavities or ,chambersglzn is open at one longitudinal end throughthe passage or, opening 12d and open at an opposite end through an aperture-12y. It is to be understood that apertures 12x and 12y are provided for each ofthe chambers or cavities having'the openings or passages :12e and .12d, respectively, described earlier. Each ofthe cavities 12m are provided with undercutportions or laterally extending grooves 12w and .eachof these cavities or chambers 1211 have undercut portions or grooves 12v. 'fTheundercut portions or grooves 12w and 12v extend laterally outwardly from sidewalls of the chambers 12m and 12n and are adapted to provide longitudinal guideslots' for positioning of terminal means generally indicated by numeral 16 .of Fig. 4. A pair of inclines or sloped'shoulders 13s are provided for each guide slot on one side of transverse portion 12t. These inclines or sloped'shoulders 13s seryeas guides for facilitating wedging of lateralportions of the terminal means into the undercuts such as 12v.

The terminal means 16 are clearly visible in the cross sectional view of'Fig. 4 and each of the terminal means 16 is formed of a blank stamped out of a' sheet of metal as shown in a developed view of'the blankprovidedin Fig. 5. The terminal means 16 includes a body 16a and laterally extending flanges 16f projecting outwardly from the body 16a at locations opposite to each other. The flange or lateral portions 16;) as illustrated-in Fig: Shave a greater width than the body 16a. The flanges 16f-are adapted to be slida-ble longitudinally 'intothe undercut portions such as 12w and 12v provided extending laterally outwardly of the cavities or chambersin the insulating body 12. The bodyportion -16a is-further provided with a tongue -16t that is attached at one end 16u relative to the body .portionbut which has a'free end 16s provided extending away from the bodyportion-between the flange or lateral portions 16 The-free end' 16s of the tongue 162. is adapted to be engageable against an abutment or shoulder 12! provided extending transversely-relative to the chamber into which the terminal means 16 is inserted.

The abutting relationship of the end 16s relative to the transverse shoulder Hi can be best seen in Fig. 4.

The terminal means 16 is further provided with a terminal end portion 16z extending longitudinally from body portion 16a adjacent to the flange or lateral portions 16 The terminal end portion 16z is provided with two pairs of laterally extending tangs 16v'and 16w which are adapted to be crimped and bent into engagement with a wire 18v and an insulating portion 18w of a conductor generally indicated by numeral 18 as shown in Fig. 4. The body portions 16a further extends in a direction opposite to the direction of the terminal end portion 16z and forms a terminal-contact end including multiple segments. The body portion at the contact end is bent to include a resilient arm segment 16r extending transversely relative to the flange or lateral portions 16f. The width dimension of the body portion 16a is substantially equal to the width of the chamber such as 12m or 1211 provided extending longitudinally through the insulating body 12 or radial portions 12a of the insulating body. The contact end of body portion 16a is formed further to include a longitudinally extending segment 161' which is located intermediate the resilient arm segment 16r and a laterally inwardly bent shoulder segment 16y engageable against an inwardly extending flange y provided adjacent to and extending laterally of the opening 12y mentioned earlier. The flange 10y serves as a stop to limit insertion of the terminal means 16 relative to the insulating body 12 having the cavities or chambers into which each of the terminal means is fitted.

The terminal means 16 extends further from the shoulder segment 16y into a crown or curved contact segment 16c clearly shown in Fig. 4. The contact segment 160 is an arcuate or semi-annular section that extends longitudinally outwardly through the opening 12y and has an intermediate outer periphery that projects longitudinally beyond the surface 12f of the insulating body 12 so that the crown or contact segment 16c can be engaged resiliently against the cylindrical contact portions 140 of the conducting material 14p carried on the insulating board 14a of mounting panel 14. The curved or semiannular or circular crown segment 160 is positioned in the aperture 12y between flange 10y and a pair of lugs or abutments 10:: extending laterally inwardly from the insulating body relative to the opening 12y at locations in corners opposite the location of the flange 10y. The terminal means has an end segment 16b bent over to extend laterally from the semi-arcuate or crown segment 16c. Laterally opposite ends 16e of the bent end segment 16b are adapted to be engageable against the lugs 10x. Thus the contact segment 160 is maintained in engagement relative to the insulating body due to the cooperation of the flange segment 16y and ends or tips 16e of bent end segment and lugs 10x of the insulating body.

Since the free end 16s of tongue 16f is engageable relative to the transverse portion 121 located in an intermediate position relative to the chamber in which the terminal is inserted, there is a locking of the terminal means 16 relative to the insulating body by engagement of the end 16s-relative to portion 12t, of segments 16y relative to flange 10y, and ends or tips of bent end segment 16b relative to lugs 10x as illustrated in Fig. 4. Lateral movement of the terminal means 16 is prevented due to engagement of the flanges or lateral portions 16 relative to the undercut laterally-extending slots such as 12v and 12w provided extending laterally outwardly relative to each of the chambers in the insulating body.

It is to be noted that when the connector and terminal means of the present invention are locked into engagement with the mounting panel 14, the surface 121' is positioned adjacent to a top surface of the insulating board 14a as well as a top surface of the conducting material 14p. The arcuate shape of the surface 10z of the lugs We used for the bayonet fastening of the connector 10 relative to the insulating board 14a is provided to assure a resilient locking action of the insulating body relative to the insulating board. It is to be noted also that the opposite ends 16e of the bent end segment 16b of the terminal means '16 are each completely free to be moved away from engagement relative to lugs 10x as the crown or semi-annular segment 160 of the terminal means is resiliently engaged relative to a cylindrically shaped contact portion 140 of the conducting material14p of the printed-circuittype provided on insulatingboard 14a. Whenever the crown or semi-annular contact segment 16c is engaged relative to the circular or cylindrically shaped contact there is a flexing of the crown or semi-annular contact segment 16c relative to flange portion 16y and intermediate, segment 161' relative to resilient arm segment 16r causing longitudinal separation of the opposite ends 16e of bent segment 16b from the lugs 10x. The contactsegment flexing about flange segment 16y through intermediate segment 16i and resilient arm segment 16r causes force to be transmitted longitudinally from the contact end of the terminal means body portion 16a as far as a connecting portion 16a between the body portion 16a and the tongue 16! that extends laterally away from the body portion and terminates in the free end 16s engageable against the transverse portion 12t. The tongue 12t transmits reaction force from the transverse portion 16! of the connector body resisting and counterbalancing the flexing force. Lugs ltle of the connector body resilient- 1y abut against the underside of the mounting panel and flexing of the contact segment 16c enhances resilient engagement of the connector relative to the panel. The terminal means permits resilient displacement of the crown or contact segment 16c but does not permit the terminal means 16 to be displaced out of engagement with the transverse portion 121 because the tongue end 16s is firmly locked into engagement with the transverse portion 12t.

The transverse portion 12t has a lateral surface 121: against which the end portion 16s abuts and also an inclined surface 121 over which the tongue 16t passes as the terminal is inserted longitudinally into the cavity 12n as illustrated in Fig. 4. Whenever the crown or contact segment is engaged resiliently against the printed circuit conducting material or contacts 140, the semi-circular crown or contact segment is moved as a unit into a longitudinally retracted position located within the opening 12y. The crown portion can also be referred to as a hooked-end portion or looped contact which is resiliently engageable relative to the cylindrical or circular-shaped contact 140. The flange portions 16 and tongue 162. as well as flange segment 16y and bent end segment 16b, serve to stabilize the terminal against lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the insulating body chamoer in which the terminal is inserted. The terminal means can be removed from the chamber if a tool or blunt instrument like a screw driver is inserted in space between lugs 10x and is forced longitudinally underneath the tongue 16t for disengaging end portion 16s from transverse portion 12t.

Since the insulating body illustrated in the drawings is provided with multiple chambers it is possible to pro vide an electrical connection between multiple conductors such as 18 relative to multiple contact portions 14c pro vided with a printed circuit carried on an insulating board as illustrated in the drawings. At least two contact portions and at least two chambers should be provided for establishing connection of a pair of conductors such as '18 relative to a pair of printed circuit contact portions 140.

The mounting flangm 10a to which the lugs 10e are attached are insertable into openings 14d provided in the insulating board and are adapted to form a bayonet type fastening between the insulating body 12 and the insulating board or mounting panel as described. The guide 10g having the projecting end 10 insertable in the opening Hi and adapted to have the key 10k engageable and complementary relative to the keyslot 14k is. provided for assuring. proper alignment, of the bayonet fastening as ,well as proper alignment of,t he contact, portions 14c relative. to .thelterminal ,rneans crown or contact segments 16c resilientlyengageable relative to .each of thecontact portions v14c.

While the embodimentsof the present invention as herein disclosed constitute-a preferred form, itlis ,to, be understoodthat other forms might-be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows: i

l. A connector and terminal vmeans. for use relative to a printed circuit board, comprising,..a connector body of insulating material having at least two chambers extending parallel. to each other axially. therethrough, said connector body having. lateral, longitudinally-extending slots on opposite sides of eachofthe chambers, aterminal means having lateral flanges provided-to be positioned in the lateral slots, means for locking saidterniinal means in the chamber, and a,crowned, looped-end portion of said terminal-means resiliently engageablerelativeto the printed circuit board, said loopedendjportion protruding atvleast' in partirom an opening. at one end of the chamber.

2. The connector and terminal means of claim 1 wherein said connector body has a guide pin, located betweenrthe chambers and protrudingtfrom .atleast one side of said ,body, a key, means provided by said pin and adapted to be complementary to an opening ,in the printed circuitboard against which said connectoriand, terminal means isengageable, and a pair of lugs,.protruding'from saidbody in locations parallel tosaidguide pin, said lugs being adapted to be complementaryfindiengageable relative to a pair of slots in the printed circuit board relative to which said guidepin aligns said body for aligned connection of said looped-endportions of said terminal means relative to the printed circuit board.

3. The connector and terminal means of claim 1 wherein said means "for' locking said terminalmeans in the chamber include a transverse shoulder portion provided in said body, a tongue projecting outwardly from said terminal means and having a'free end engageable against said shoulder portion, a flange extending inward- 8 1y from s aid body onpne, side ofan opening at oneend of the;chamber, a pair. ,of abutments extending inwardly from said body, in oppositecorners across irom said flange in thevopening, 'gsaid loopedend portion having shoulders adjacenttheretojior engaging said shoulder-portion, and Said. abutments, one ofthe shouldersvof said loopedend portion beingengageable,at free terminating ends thereof againstj.saidabntments laterally spaced relative to each other.

4. A connector and. terminal means for userelative to a printed circuit board, comprising, a connector body of insulating materialhaving at least two chambers extending, parallel .to each, other axially therethrough, said connector -body, having. lateral, longitudinally-extendin g slots on,opposite sides. of, eachofthe chambers, a terminal means having lateral flanges provided to be positioned in thelateral slots,. a, tongue projecting outwardly from said terminal means, ,a transversevshoulder portion provided in said body and,,haying one surface engaged by said tongue for preventing removal of said terminal means longitudinally from the chamber saidwshoulder portion having an .-in clined surface overwhich ,said tongue is guided to. thetsurface, engaged fonpreventing removal of said .terminalmeans, a flange. extending inwardly from saidbody onv a side .of thefchamber opposite said shoulder portion and located ,on oneside of an opening at one end. of the chamber, a pair vofabutments extending inwardly from said bodydin opposite corners, across from said flange: in thesqopenin g, and a semiaannular contact portion of said terminal means havingshoulders engageable against said fiangeand said pair ,0f.a -mcnts, said abutments providing space therebetween, through which said. tongue can be reached andsuitably flexed. to eflect dislocation ofsaid tongue from the locking. surface of said transverseshoulder. portion to,perrnit removal of said terminal means from said body.

,References' Cited inthe ,file of this, patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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