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:
Mar. 25, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 23, 1997
Albert N. Hopfer, III, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Thaddeus M. Rachwalski, Palos Hills, IL (US);
Charles J. Shedore, Elmhurst, IL (US);
Cinch Connectors, Inc., Lombard, IL (US);
Abstract
The electrical connector can be used to establish mechanical and electrical connection between a flexible component, such as, a flexible circuit or a flexible cable, and a printed circuit board. The connector generally comprises an upper housing, a contact housing, contacts, expandable leg members and post elements. The expandable legs are disposed on the upper housing. The contacts are disposed in openings in the contact housing. In order to use the connector, the flexible component is placed between the contact housing and the upper housing. Alignment posts ensure that the contacts and the conductors on the flexible component are precisely aligned. The connector is mounted to the circuit board by inserting the expandable legs in mounting holes in the circuit board. Once inserted, the expandable legs can be radially expanded by driving the post elements into the expandable legs. The circuit board also include alignment holes which ensure the proper orientation of the contacts to circuit board. The connector may also include an assembly tool which is adapted to both preload the contacts and drive the post elements into the expandable legs. Additionally, the electrical connector may include a removal tool which can be used to drive the inserted post elements out of the expandable legs.