Low Insertion Force Connection Arrangement

The present invention relates to arrangements for establishing connection to printed wiring boards and more particularly to a low insertion force arrangement for interconnecting two or more printed wiring boards.

Printed wiring board interconnect arrangements are very well know to those skilled in the art. One type, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,100 issued on Nov. 6, 1973 to Norman Leonard Reed. This type includes a contact which is integrally formed by folding a sheet metal blank. It comprises a pair of elongated spring arms supported longitudinally and spaced apart at one of their ends by an elongated body portion. The arms extend in opposite directions away from their supporting ends and each arm extends toward the supporting end of the other arm so that they overlap or cross. Contact portions are -ocated at the free ends of each arm adjacent to the supported end of the other arm and they face away from the spring body. Each contact is mounted in a slot within a carrier block of insulating material by latch arms formed on the body portion which project away from the spring arms and engage a shoulder formed in the carrier block.

Another arrangement for interconnecting printed wiring boards is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,736 which issued in Mar. 18, 1975 to Carter, et al. This patent teaches an electrical connector mounted in a housing to electrically and mechanically interconnect a pair of parallel adjacent printed wiring boards and to connect the printed wiring boards to an adjacent terminal. Pairs of resilient, parallel, spaced apart legs extend from a connector body and are adapted to resiliently grip the printed wiring boards therebetween.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,003, which issued on Mar. 10, 1981 to William E. Berg, teaches an electrical connector for interconnecting conductive paths of two circuit elements by means of the following: A contact member including a concave portion interposed between two convex portions; a resilient member conforming to the contact member in part; and a connector body, so formed that when the body is forced against the circuit elements, the resilient member forces the contact member into engagement with the circuit element conductive paths.

Devices permitting connection to printed wiring boards are also well known in the art. In this regard, zero insertion force, edge board connectors have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,200 issued Feb. 19, 1980 to Yeager, et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,861 issued July 3, 1979 to Anhalt. These connectors include cantilevered contacts biased toward the printed wiring board and positioned out of engagement with the board for insertion purposes. Connectors including cantilevered contacts biased against the printed wiring board and temporarily retracted from contact with the board directly by means of an actuator are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,609 issued Feb. 19, 1974 to McIver, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,221 issued Nov. 12, 1974 to Lee. Finally, a low insertion force connector including cantilevered contacts biased out of engagement with the printed wiring board and positioned into engagement with the printed wiring board through the use of actuators is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,900 issued Dec. 4, 1979 to Heinz, et al.

The art cited is seen to teach various arrangements of cantilevered or resiliently biased contact springs for connecting to or interconnecting printed wiring boards.

The present invention provides a low insertion force arrangement for establishing a connection between at least two printed wiring boards. Each board is of the type that includes at least one printed wiring board terminal. The connection arrangement includes the following: at least one connection spring having first and second contacts, each contact engageably positioned relative to a corresponding one of the terminals; a pivot point; and first and second actuator engaging areas. A fulcrum is included in the arrangement and is positioned to engage the spring at the pivot point. First and second actuators are also included and located proximate to the spring at the actuator engaging areas. Each actuator is positioned in a first position relative to the spring to pivot the spring and engage a respective one of the contacts with its respective terminal. Each actuator is further positioned in a second position relative to the spring to pivot the spring and disengage the respective contact from its respective terminal.

Various features and advantages of a zero insertion force connection arrangement in accordance with the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a zero insertion force connection arrangement for two printed wiring boards in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a zero insertion force connection arrangement for four printed wiring boards in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the present invention taken along the line 5--5 in FIG. 6b;

FIG. 6a is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIG. 5 showing a linear actuator adapted to simultaneously actuate the connection springs of the present invention;

FIG. 6b is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIG. 5 showing the connection springs simultaneously actuated by the linear actuator;

FIG. 7a is a sectional view taken along the line 7--7 in FIG. 5 showing an alternate linear actuator adapted to sequentially actuate groups of the connection springs of the present invention; and

FIG. 7b is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 5 showing the connection springs actuated by the alternate linear actuator.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown an arrangement for connecting a first printed wiring board 1 to a second printed wiring board 2. The first printed wiring board 1 includes a first plurality of terminals 3 located on a first side 4 and a second plurality of terminals 5 located on a second side 6. The first terminals 3 and the second terminals 5 are located near a edge 7 of the first printed wiring board 1. Similarly, the second printed wiring board 2 includes a first plurality of terminals 8 located on a first surface 9 and a second plurality of terminals 10 located on a second surface 11. The first plurality of terminals 8 and the second plurality of terminals 10 are located near an edge 12 of the second printed wiring board.

A connector body 15 is provided with a first groove 16 including a first wall 17, a second wall 18, and a floor 19. The connector body 15 also includes a second groove 20 including a first wall 21, a second wall 22, and a floor 23.

A plurality of spring receiving cavities 24 are formed in the connector body 15 in alignment with corresponding groups of one of each of the terminals 3, 5, 8, and 10. The cavities 24 extend between a first side 25 and a second side 26 of the connector body 15 and include a pair of parallel opposite walls 27 (such walls are shown in FIG. 2). A first fulcrum 28 and a second fulcrum 29 are formed centrally located and between the opposite walls 27 of each of the spring receiving cavities 24.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first pair of recesses 32 and a second pair of recesses 33 are formed in the walls 27 of each of the spring receiving cavities 24 near the first and second fulcrums 28 and 29 respectively. Referring again to FIG. 1, each of the recesses 32 and 33 includes an upper edge 36 and a lower edge 37. Each of the spring receiving cavities 24 intersects the first printed wiring board receiving groove 16 and the second printed wiring board receiving groove 20.

Each of the spring receiving cavities 24 includes an elongated first spring 39 positioned therein. Each of the first springs 39 includes a first contact 40, a second contact 41 positioned at opposite ends thereof. The first contact 40 of each of the first springs 39 is positioned proximate to a corresponding one of the first contacts 3 of the first printed wiring board 1 and the second contact 41 of the first spring 39 is positioned proximate to a corresponding one of the first contacts 8 of the second printed wiring board 2. Each of the first springs 39 includes a first actuator engaging area 42 and a second actuator engaging area 43 positioned on a side of the spring facing toward the printed wiring boards 1 and 2 and located between the first contact 40 and the second contact 41. A pivot point 44 is positioned on a side of each of the first springs 39 facing away from the printed wiring boards 1 and 2 and located between the actuator engaging areas 42 and 43. Similarly, each of the spring receiving cavities 24 includes a second spring 45 including a first contact 46 positioned proximate to a corresponding one of the second terminals 5 of first printed wiring board 1 and a second contact 47 positioned proximate to a corresponding one of the second terminals 10 of the printed wiring board 2. Each of the second springs 45 includes a first actuator engaging area 48 and a second actuator engaging area 49 positioned on a side of the spring facing toward the printed wiring boards 1 and 2 and located between the first contact 46 and the second contact 47. A pivot point 50 is positioned on a side of the second spring 45 facing away from the printed wiring boards 1 and 2 and located between the actuator engaging areas 48 and 49. The pivot points 44 and 50 are positioned to engage fulcrums 28 and 29 respectively when the springs 39 and 45 are operated as described below.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the first springs 39 and the second springs 45 includes a pair of retaining fingers 51 to retain each of the springs within each of their spring receiving cavities 24 while permitting spring movement about the pivot points 28 and 29 respectively. Referring again to FIG. 1, the pairs of retaining fingers 51 are attached to each of the first springs 39 near the pivot point 44 and to each of the second springs 45 near the pivot point 50.

Referring to FIG. 3, a first actuator 53 is slidably positioned in a first channel 52 between each of the first actuator engaging areas 42 and 48. Similarly, and again referring to FIG. 1, a second actuator 53' is slidably positioned in a second channel 54 between each of the second actuator engaging areas 43 and 49. The first actuator 53 and the second actuator 53 each includes a first sloping ramp surface 55, a second sloping ramp surface 56, a first side surface 57 and a second side surface 58. The first sloping ramp 55 and the second sloping ramp 56 of the first actuator 53 are arranged to engage and spread apart first actuator engaging areas 42 and 48 when the actuator is slid past them within its channel 52. Similarly, the first sloping ramp 55 and the second sloping ramp 56 of the second actuator 53' are arranged to engage and spread apart second actuator engaging areas 43 and 49 when the actuator is slid past them within its channel 54.

The actuators may be separately provided for each set of connection springs and may be positioned to simultaneously operate the springs. The actuators may be alternately offset or separately operatable with respect to each other to sequentially operate each set of connection springs.

The connector of the present invention is operated by sliding the actuators 53 and 53' past each of the springs 39 and 45 to deflect the springs and place the first side surfaces 57 in contact with the actuator engaging areas 42 and 43 and the second side surfaces 58 in contact with actuator engaging areas 48 and 49 respectively. In this position, the first springs 39 and the second springs 45 are in their actuated positions. The first contacts 40 and 46 are out of engagement with the first contacts 3 and the second contacts 5 of the first printed wiring board 1. Similarly, the second contacts 41 and 47 are out of contact with the first terminals 8 and the second terminals 10 of the printed wiring board 2.

The printed wiring boards 1 and 2 may now be inserted into the first groove 16 and second groove 20 with low insertion force to the point where edges 7 and 12 abutt groove floors 19 and 23 respectively. Once inserted, the first terminal 3 of the first printed wiring board 1 may be connected to the first terminal 8 of the second printed wiring board 2 and the second terminal 5 of the first printed wiring board 1 may be connected to the second terminal 10 of the second printed wiring board 2 by sliding the actuators 53 and 53'. In this regard, the first actuator 53 is slid within the first channel 52 to remove the first actuator engaging areas 42 and 48 from engagement with the side surfaces 57 and 58. Once freed, the first spring 39 will pivot about the pivot point 44 acting against the fulcrum 28 to place the first contacts 40 into engagement with the first terminals 3. Similarly, the freed second spring 45 will pivot about the pivot point 50 acting against the fulcrum 29 to place the first contact 46 into engagement with the second terminal 5. In like manner, the actuator 53' may be slid to remove it from engagement with the actuator engaging areas 43 and 49 to further pivot the springs 39 and 45 and engage the contacts 41 and 47 with terminals 8 and 10 respectively.

Positioning of the first springs 39 and the second springs 45 within each of the spring receiving cavities 24 is controlled by action of the fingers 51 of the springs against the upper edges 36 and the lower edges 37 of the first and second recesses 32 and 33.

Alternate linear actuators may be employed to operate the springs of the present invention which have the benefit of a reduced linear travel. Such an actuator may be further arranged in the alternative to simultaneously operate groups of springs. In this regard, FIGS. 5, 6a, and 6b show an actuator arranged to simultaneously operate all springs and FIGS. 5, 7a, and 7b show an actuator arranged to sequentially operate groups of springs.

Refering to FIGS. 5, 6a, and 6b there is shown an alternate linear actuator 100 arranged to simultaneously operate the first springs 39 (including springs 39a and 39b) and the second springs 45 (including springs 45a and 45b). The actuator 100 includes a plurality of means to operate each associated spring including a first actuator surface, a second actuator surface, and a sloping ramp surface connecting the two actuator surfaces, all adjacent each of the connection springs 39 and 45. In this regard, the actuator 100 includes a first actuator surface 101a, a second actuator surface 102a, and a sloping ramp surface 103a connecting the first and second actuator surfaces, all positioned proximate to the first connection spring 39a. Similarly, the actuator 100 also includes a first actuator surface 104a, a second actuator surface 105a, and a sloping ramp surface 106a connecting the last mentioned first and second actuator surfaces, all positioned proximate to the second spring 45a. Further, the actuator and ramp surfaces 101b through 106b are correspondingly positioned proximate to the first and second springs 39b and 45b.

The "a" springs, including first spring 39a and second spring 45a, are positioned opposite each other and at a predetermined distance from the adjacent "b" springs including spring 39b and 45b. In similar manner, the unactuated surfaces 101a and 104a are positioned opposite each other, adjacent associated springs 39a and 45a and positioned at the same predetermined distance from the unactuated surfaces 101b and 104b. Actuated surfaces 102a and 105a and sloping ramp surfaces 103a and 106a are similarly positioned relative to their associated springs 39a and 45a and spaced apart the same predetermined distance from their adjacent associated surfaces 102b, 105b, and 103b, and 106b, respectively.

The actuator 100 may be operated from a first position (shown in FIG. 6a to a second position (shown in FIG. 6b) to simultaneously actuate all of the springs 39 and 45. In this regard and refering to FIG. 6a, the actuator 100 will initially be positioned in a first position whereat the unactuated surfaces 101a, 104a, 101b, and 104b are positioned adjacent to their associated springs 39a, 45a, 39b, and 45b, respectively. Upon movement of the actuator 100 in a leftwardly direction, the sloping ramp surfaces 103a, 106a, 103b, and 106b will simultaneously engage their respective springs 39a, 45a, 39b, and 45b. The further movement of the actuator 100 to the left will cause the springs to be deflected outward and engage the actuated surfaces 102a, 105a, 102b, and 105b, respectively (shown in FIG. 6b) thereby simultaneously actuating the springs of the present invention.

The springs of the present invention may be released and permitted to assume an unactuated position by positioning the actuator 100 in a rightwardly direction to permit the unactuated surfaces 101a, 104a, 101b, and 104b, to assume a position adjacent to the springs 39a, 45a, 39b, and 45b respectively. In this regard, the springs 39a, 45a, 39b, and 45b will slide along the actuated surfaces 102a, 105a, 102b, and 105b, respectively in a direction towards the sloping ramp surfaces 103a, 106a, 103b, and 106b, down the sloping ramp surfaces and assume a position proximate to the unactuated surfaces 101a, 104a, 101b, and 104b, respectively (shown in FIG. 6b). With the actuator 100 thus positioned, the springs 39a, 45a, 39b, and 45b will release and assume an unactuated position.

The present invention may employ an alternate actuator arranged to sequentially operate the connection springs of the present invention. In this regard and refering to FIGS. 5, 7a, and 7b, there is shown an alternate actuator 111 so arranged. The actuator 111 is equipped with unactuated surfaces 101a, 104a, 101b, and 104b, actuated surfaces 102a, 105a, 102b, and 105b, and sloping ramp surfaces 103a, 106a, 103b, and 106b in a manner similar to that described above for the actuator 100 (shown in FIGS. 5, 6a, and 6b). However, the actuator 111 differs from the actuator 100 in that the sloping ramp surfaces 103a and 106a are positioned at a greater distance from their associated springs 39a and 45a than the distance between the "b" springs (39b and 45b) and their associated sloping ramp surfaces (103b and 106b). As a result of this increased spacing, when the actuator 111 is positioned in a leftwardly direction from its unactuated position to its actuated position, the sloping ramp surfaces 103b and 106b will engage their associated springs 39b and 45b before the sloping ramp surfaces 103a and 106a engage their associated springs 39a and 45a. The continued leftwardly movement of the actuator 111 will thus result in the "b" springs being actuated and engaging their respective actuated surfaces 102b and 105b before the "a" springs are actuated and engage their actuated surfaces 102a and 105a thereby providing sequenced operation of the "b" springs with respect to the "a" springs.

The actuator 111 may be positioned in a rightwardly direction to release the springs and permit them to assume an unactuated position in a manner similar to that described above for the actuator 100.

While linear types of actuators have been described, it will be appreciated that other types of actuators may be used to deflect the actuator engaging areas 42 and 48 or 43 and 49 away from each other to effect disengagement of the connector spring contacts from the printed wiring board terminals. In this regard, a rotary actuator (not shown may be used, including a pair of opposite low points and a pair of opposite high points, with each low point located between two high points and each low point connected to each adjacent high point by a cam like surface. The rotary actuator may be inserted between the actuator engaging areas 42 and 48 or 43 and 49 and rotated to deflect the actuator engaging areas away from each other.

It will also be appreciated that while the preferred embodiment described above connects two printed wiring boards together, more than two printed wiring boards may be connected in a similar manner. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an arrangement for connecting four printed wiring boards. In this regard, a first printed wiring board 61, a second printed wiring board 62, a third printed wiring board 63, and a fourth printed wiring board 64 are shown positioned within a plurality of grooves 65a-d of a connector body 66. Each printed wiring board includes a first set of terminals 67 and a second set of terminals 68 positioned near an edge 69 of the printed wiring board. Four pluralities of connection springs 70-73 are located between the facing surfaces of adjacent printed wiring boards and are positioned to engage corresponding ones of each of the first terminals 67 and the second terminals 68 via the first contacts 74a-d and the second contacts 75a-d, respectively. In this regard, the first terminal 67 of first printed wiring board 61 is connected to the second terminal 68 of the second printed wiring board 62 by the connection spring 70, and the contacts 74a and 75b thereof. Similarly, the first contact 67 of the second printed wiring board 62 may be connected to the second contact 68 of the third printed wiring board 63 by the connection spring 71 and the contacts 74b and 75c thereof. In like manner, the contacts of the fourth printed wiring board 64 may be connected to corresponding contacts of the first and third printed wiring boards 61 and 63.

Non-adjacent printed wiring boards may be connected by routing connections through intermediate printed wiring boards. In this regard, a connection may be formed between the first terminal 67 of the first printed wiring board 61 and the second terminal 68 of the third printed wiring board 63 by including a connection 77 between the first terminal 67 and the second terminal 68 of the second printed wiring board 62. The connection thus established would include the contact 74a, the spring 70, the contact 75b, the terminal 68 of the printed wiring board 62, the connection 77, the terminal 67 of the printed wiring board 62, the contact 74b, the spring 71, and the contact 75c.

Additional embodiments of the present invention may be realized by combining the details of the first embodiment with the details of the second embodiment. In this regard, a third embodiment (not shown of the present invention may be constructed including a rear connector portion according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and a front connector portion according to the embodiment of FIG. 4. Additionally, a fourth embodiment (also not shown) of the present invention may be constructed including a left side portion according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and a right side portion according to the embodiment of FIG. 4. Such fourth embodiment would yield a three card interconnect connector.

It will now be apparent that a low insertion force arrangement for connecting a plurality of printed wiring boards has been described hereinabove which provides improvements over prior art assemblies. The arrangement may be used to interconnect two printed wiring boards according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 or the invention may be used to interconnect more than two printed wiring boards as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4. Two additional embodiments of the present invention have been mentioned which result from the combination of features of the first two embodiments in different manners.

While but several embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention which shall be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.