The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1997
Michael G Kaminski, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael R Butler, Livermore, CA (US);
Stuart A White, Middleboro, MA (US);
Diane M White, Middleboro, MA (US);
Volex Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A device and method for making an electrical connection (40) has a body (42) constructed from an electrically-insulating material and the body (42) defines a plurality of channels (44). Each of at least some of the channels (44) forms a media bore (46) and a connector bore (50). The body (42) also forms a connection void (41) which intersects at least two of the channels (44) to form connection cavities (48) in those channels (44). Energy-transmitting media, such as wires (52), may be inserted into the media bores (50) such that each of the media extends into a different one of the connection cavities (48). Energy-transmitting means, such as pins (56), may be inserted into the connector bores (50) so that each of the energy-transmitting means extends into a different one of the connection cavities (48). Solder (54) is placed in all the connection cavities (48) in order to connect electrically the energy-transmitting media and the energy transmitting means in each of the connection cavities (48) simultaneously. The solder may then be processed, e.g. reflowed, to isolate the various electrical connections thus formed. In some embodiments of the body (42) a pin stop (60) is disposed above each of the media bores (46) in order to limit the depth to which energy-transmitting means may be inserted into the connector bores (50). In further embodiments, the energy transmitting means is the pins of a contact stick such as a Low Force Helix ('LFH') contact stick. The device (40) may be formed with a stacking cavity (58) located to receive a bus bar (70) on a like device (40') when the devices are stacked.