Elastic sheet structure

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The disclosure relates to conductive contacts, particularly to an elastic sheet structure used in a portable electronic device to electrically connect the electrical components therebetween.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Electronic products are often equipped with elastic sheet structures between electronic components and a circuit board to electrically connect the electrical components to the circuit board. However, the elastic sheet structures are welded to the electronic components or circuit boards, and accordingly are difficult to replace if needed.

[0005] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

[0013] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a first exemplary elastic sheet structure 10. The elastic sheet structure 10 provides electrical connection between electronic components and a circuit board of an electronic device (not shown). The elastic sheet structure 10 can be formed by punching and bending a metallic sheet.

[0014] The elastic sheet structure 10 includes a plate portion 12, two first wedged portions 14, a second wedged portion 16 and a latching portion 18. The plate portion 12 is a substantially rectangular plate and can be electronically connected to electronic components or a circuit board. The two first wedged portions 14 are formed at opposite sides of the plate portion 12 respectively. The first wedged portions 14 can be formed by bending an extending portion of the periphery of the plate portion 12. The wedged portion 14 includes a first wedged section 142 and a second wedged section 144. The first wedged section 142 extends laterally and downwardly relative to the plate portion 12. The second wedged section 144 can be formed by bending the distal end of the first wedged section 142, and the second wedged section 144 is parallel with the plate portion 12. The second wedged portion 16 and the latching portion 18 are formed on opposite ends of the plate portion 12. The second wedged portion 16 is also slanted relative to the plate portion 12. The second wedged portion 16 includes a first wedged section 162 and a second wedged section 164. The first wedged section 162 of second wedged portion 16 is slanted in a direction towards between the first wedged portions 14. The second wedged section 164 can be formed by bending the distal end of the first wedged section 162 and is parallel to the plate portion 12.

[0015] The latching portion 18 can be formed as a folded extension of the plate portion 12. The latching portion 18 is for insertion into a hole 22 of a circuit board 20 to latch with the circuit board 20. Hole 22 is perpendicular to the major operating surface 20a of circuit board 20. The latching portion 18 includes a slanted section 182 opposite to the first wedged section 162, and a latching section 184. The latching section 184 is generally V-shaped and includes a resisting section 1842 connected to the slant section 182, a hook section 1844, and an arcuate connecting section 1846 connecting the resisting section 1842 to the hook section 1844. The resisting section 1842, the hook section 1844, and the connecting section 1846 enclose a substantially V-shaped opening 1848. When the hook section 1844 is pressed toward the resisting section 1842, the hook section 1844 deformably approaches the resisting section 1842, narrowing the opening 1848.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the elastic sheet structure 10 is assembled to a circuit board 20. The latching section 184 of the elastic sheet structure 10 is inserted into a hole 22 of the circuit board 20, the resisting section 1842 and the hook section 1844 elastically resist against the sidewalls of the hole 22 respectively, narrowing the opening 1848. The two second wedged sections 144 can be affixed on the surface of the circuit board 20.

[0017] Referring further to FIG. 5, the elastic sheet structure 10 is applied to electronically connect a first component 30 and a second component 40 to the circuit board 20. The first component 30 is placed on the plate portion 12, and the connecting section 1846 of the latching section 184 is electronically connected to the second component 40. As the first component 30 is pressed further down, the two first wedged portions 14 deform, and the plate portion 12 moves toward circuit board 20 until the second wedged section 164 abuts against the surface of the circuit board 20. Thus, the elastic sheet structure 10 electronically connects the components 30, 40 securely to the circuit board 20 securely.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 6, another elastic sheet structure 50 according to a second exemplary embodiment is shown. The elastic sheet structure 50 includes a plate portion 52, two wedged portions 54, two latching portions 56, and a resisting portion 58. The two wedged portions 54 are formed at opposite sides of the plate portion 52, the wedged portions 54 are structured similar to the wedged portions 14 described in the first embodiment, each wedged portion 54 bends down at the corresponding side of the plate portion 52. The two wedged portions 54 are used to resist against a circuit board. The two latching portions 56 are formed at other opposite sides of the plate portion 52, each latching portion 56 has a resisting section 562 and a hook section 564 formed at a distal end of the resisting section 562, the resisting section 562 is positioned under the plate portion 52 and slanted relative to the plate portion 52. The hook section 564 is used to latch to the circuit board. The resisting portion 58 can be formed by upwardly bending an extending portion of the periphery of the plate portion 52. The resisting portion 58 includes a connecting section 582, a fixing section 584, and a limiting section 586. The connecting section 582 is slanted and connects the plate portion 52 to the fixing section 584; the fixing section 584 is above and parallel with the plate portion 52. The limiting section 586 can be formed by perpendicularly wedged the tail end of the fixing section 584, and a space (not labeled) exists between the tail end of the limiting section 586 and the surface of the plate portion 52. The plate portion 52 can be pressed downwardly.

[0019] When the elastic sheet structure 50 is applied in an electronic device, the two latching portions 56 extend through a hole of a circuit board. The two resisting sections 562 resist against the sidewalls of the hole, and the two hook sections 564 hook the bottom surface of the circuit board. Electronic components can be placed on the top surface of the plate portion 52 and the top surface of the fixing section 584, accordingly, the electronic components are electronically and stably connected to the circuit board.

[0020] It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.