Molex Corporation

Robert C Brakenridge

Emanuel G Banakis

Michael J Miskin

Paul Murphy

Richard A Hays

Harold Keith Lang

Eric J Stenstrom

A zero insertion force electrical connector for use with a device having an array of pin terminals including a lower connector housing having a top surface and a plurality of cavities in the top surface corresponding to the array of pin terminals. Each of the cavities includes a base wall spaced from the top surface. A plurality of resilient terminals are mounted in the cavities. Each of the terminals includes a mounting portion for securing the terminal in the base wall, a free end portion, a contact structure adjacent the free end portion and a spring arm portion between the base wall and the contact structure. The pin terminals are moved in the cavities in a first direction along a path of travel between an unmated position wherein the pins are spaced from the contact structures in the cavities and a mated position wherein the pins are fully mated with the contact structures. The contact structure includes a pin engagement surface at least partly inclined with respect to the path of travel. The spring arm portion of each of the terminals is a generally flat and planar leaf region oriented generally parallel to the first direction. The leaf region includes a first side edge at a side of the terminal where the pin first engages the contact structure and a second side edge extending from the mounting portion to the contact structure at the opposite side of the terminal. Notch means is provided in at least one of the side edges for increasing the flexibility of the leaf portion.

Zero insertion force electrical connector and terminal

A zero insertion force electrical connector including a connector housing having a top surface and a plurality of cavities in the top surface corresponding to an array of pin terminals. Each of the cavities includes a base wall spaced from the top surface and terminal retention openings in the base wall. A plurality of terminals are mounted in the cavities. Each of the terminals is a stamped and formed segment of flat and planar metal stock including a mounting portion substantially in the plane of the stock, a free end portion, a contact structure adjacent the free end portion and a spring arm portion between the mounting portion and the contact structure. The pin terminals are moved in the cavities between an unmated position wherein the pins are spaced from the contact structures in the cavities and a mated position wherein the pins are mated with the contact structures. The terminal mounting portion of each terminal is received in one of the terminal retention openings for securing the terminal in the cavity. The contact structure includes a pin engagement surface raised from the plane of the stock. The terminal retention opening has an enlarged portion permitting entry of the contact structure into the cavity through the base wall. The mounting portion has a projection extending out of the plane of the stock and substantially blocking the enlarged portion when the mounting portion is received in the terminal retention opening.

A system is provided for producing a shielded connector assembly for connecting a round multiconductor cable to a complementary connector having a flat array of terminals. The cable includes a plurality of insulated conductors within a cable shield and surrounded by an outer insulating jacket which is stripped to expose the cable shield and the insulated conductors. An insulating housing has a receptacle for receiving the insulated conductors in a flat array. A plurality of terminals are provided for termination to the received conductors and for mating with the terminals of the complementary connector. A conductive connector shield is mounted on and about a portion of the insulating housing, with a portion of the shield extending into the receptacle. A round conductive crimp ferrule is positioned over the round multiconductor cable in engagement with the exposed cable shield and with the exposed insulated conductors projecting from an end of the crimp ferrule. The exposed insulated conductors are sorted and positioned in a flat array. The round conductive crimp ferrule is crimped into a generally flat configuration onto the cable for holding the conductors in their flat array within the receptacle of the housing for termination to the terminals, and with the crimped ferrule in engagement with the shield portion in the receptacle.

Round-to-flat shielded connector assembly

A one-piece shield is stamped and formed of metal material for substantially surrounding and shielding a dielectric housing of an electrical connector assembly. The housing is generally rectangular and includes a top, bottom, front, rear and opposite sides. The shield includes a top wall for substantially covering the top of the housing, opposite side walls for substantially covering the opposite sides of the housing, a front wall for substantially covering the front of the housing about a receptacle opening in the housing, and a rear wall for substantially covering the rear of the housing. Detent members are provided on at least one side wall and the rear wall to secure the rear wall in a closed position.

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Des Plaines, IL, United States of America

Robert C Brakenridge