DYNAMIC CONTACT ORIENTATING UNIVERSAL CIRCUIT GRABBER

• Main Author: ROBERTS, JOSEPH A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 06.10.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRICITY; LINE CONNECTORS

The invention is an electrical connector that provides a connection system that releasably connects the circuit paths of a flexible conductive circuit to a printed circuit board having a corresponding row of contacts, without the need for soldering, crimping or welding operations, or extensive preparation of the flexible circuit before connection. One embodiment has at least one spring contact formed in a cover; at least one rotatable cam; and a base with a circuit alignment window for initial alignment of a flexible conductive circuit introduced into the connector. The cover and base snap together to house the rotatable cam(s). The connection, when using at least one cam, is made by feeding the circuit into a slot in the cam, then rotating the cam to bring the circuit into contact with the spring contact which has a tapered insulation plane that pierces and peels back the dielectric covering of the conductive circuit to make a direct metal to metal, gas tight contact between the deflectable contact and the conductors of the conductive circuit. Wrapping the circuit around the cam during the connection process provides stability to the connection and takes strain off of the connection site, thereby providing a more stable and reliable connection. In the alternative, a connection module with an activation portion and a contact support portion may be used to house the deflectable spring contact. A deflection ridge is formed in the activation portion. The deflection ridge presses the circuit into the tapered insulation plane of the deflectable contact which is formed in the contact support portion, thereby allowing the tapered insulation plane to pierce the dielectric of the flexible circuit. In all embodiments, the displaced dielectric may be reused, by being heated until it reflows, to add stability to the newly formed connection.