Surface-mountable connector with structure permitting to easily check flatness of contact terminals by use of a gauge and the gauge

• Main Authors: HASHIGUCHI OSAMU, SHINDO TAKESHI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.02.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRICITY; LINE CONNECTORS

A connector (1) comprises an insulator (2) and four rows of contacts (3). The insulator (2) has a shape of an almost rectangular parallelepiped and has two cut-off like shaped edges (2B) and a groove (2C). The cut-off like shaped edges (2B) are provided on a lower side in an X-direction and on opposite sides in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction. The groove (2C) is provided on a lower surface (2F) of the insulator (2). The cut-off like shaped edges (2B) and the groove (2C) straightly extend in a Z-direction perpendicular to the X- and Y-directions. Each of the contacts (3) has a curved portion (3B) and a flat terminal end portion (3C). The curved portions (3B) and the flat terminal end portions (3C) of the contacts (3), which belong to two rows nearest the side surfaces (2E), are positioned within the cut-off like shaped edges (2B). The other curved portions (3B) and the other flat terminal end portions (3C) are positioned within the groove (2C). All of the flat terminal end portions (3C) are normally on the same level. To check this, the gauge (6) is used. During the check, the connector (1) is slid on the upper surface (6A) of the gauge while the flat terminal end portions (3C) are inserted into the respective gaps (6B2, 6C2, 6D2, 6D4) of the gauge (6). If one of the flat terminal end portions (3C) collides with side projections (6B1, 6C1, 6D1, 6D3) of the gauge (6), the connector (1) is judged as a defective one.