Zero insertion force connector

Abstract

A thin, board-to-board zero force insertion and withdrawal connector having a housing containing a plurality of contacts with a first end portion of the contacts secured therein. A pair of parallel rows of rib-like elements extend along the length of the housing and define a U-shaped slot into which the edge of a circuit board can be inserted. The ribs form grooves therebetween which are perpendicular to the rows of ribs. The other end portion of each of said contacts extends downwardly into a groove towards the inner sides of said rib-like elements defining a side of said U-shaped slot, and then further extends upwardly towards the outer side of said rib-like elements. A plate is positioned along the length of said housing and secured thereto by a flexible hinge which divides the plate longitudinally along its length into two sections. A first of these sections extends over the said other end portions of said contacts. The other section of said plate has inclined planes formed on the inner surfaces thereof. A flat strip of material, which also has inclined planes on one surface thereof, fits in-between said second section of said plate and said housing, with the inclined plane surfaces mated to each other. By moving the flat strip in a first direction the said plate is pivoted about its flexible hinge so that said first section thereof forces the said other end portions of said contacts down into said U-shaped slot and against the edge of a circuit board inserted therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A circuit board connector comprising a housing and a plurality of contacts retained therein; said housing comprising a first elongated main portion having a pair of parallel ledges extending along the length thereof with their inner surfaces defining a slot to receive the edge of a first circuit board therein;   at least one of said ledges comprising a plurality of ribs forming parallel grooves therebetween which are perpendicular to said ledges;   each of said plurality of contacts having a first end portion thereof secured in said main portion of said housing and the other end portion thereof extending into one of said grooves and configured to have a section thereof extending towards the inner surface of said ledge which defines one side of said slot and with the end of said other end portion extending away from said slot and towards the outer surface of said ledge;   said housing further comprising an elongated plate extending along the length of said housing and secured to said housing by a flexible, hinge-like element which extends along at least a portion of the length of said housing and is parallel to the center line of said elongated plate;   a first section of said plate on one side of said hinge-like element extending over the said other ends of said contacts;   a second section of said plate on the other side of said hinge-like element having its inner surface comprising a series of inclined planes extending longitudinally along said plate; and   an actuator means comprising an elongated flat strip with one of its two major surfaces formed into a series of inclined planes configured to mate with the inclined planes on said plate;   said flat strip insertable in between said main portion of said housing and said second section of said plate, and movable longitudinally in a first direction to cause said mated inclined planes to move with respect to each other, thereby pivoting the said plate about said hinge-like means to cause said first section of said plate to press down upon the ends of said other end portions of said contacts and thereby actuate said sections of said contacts down into said slot and against mating contacts provided on the edge of said circuit board inserted in said slot.   
     
     
       2. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 1 in which said flat strip is movable in a second direction to release the pressure of said first section of said plate upon said ends of said other end portions of said contacts to enable withdrawal of said first circuit board from said slot with substantially zero force. 
     
     
       3. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 1 in which the said other end portion of each of said contacts has a section thereof which is convex with respect to the inner surface of said ribs on said ledge which defines said slot and which extends, when not actuated, inwardly towards the inner surface of said ledge ribs which define said slot, but not into said slot to an extent which will impede the insertion of the edge of said first circuit board. 
     
     
       4. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 1 in which said first end portions of said contacts extend through said main portion of said housing to form terminals which fit into mating terminals contained in a second circuit board, thereby forming a first circuit board to second circuit board connection. 
     
     
       5. A zero entry force circuit board connector comprising a housing and a plurality of contacts retained therein; said housing comprising a first elongated main portion having at least one row of parallel ribs extending along the length thereof and a ledge extending along the length thereof;   said row of parallel ribs and said ledge defining an elongated slot therebetween to receive the edge of a circuit board therein;   said row of ribs forming grooves therebetween which are substantially normal to the longitudinal direction of said elongated slot;   each of said plurality of contacts having one end portion thereof secured in said main portion of said housing and the other end portion thereof extending into one of said grooves and configured to have a section thereof extend towards the inner sides of said ribs which define one side of said slot, and with the end of said other end portion extending away from said slot and towards the outer sides of said ribs;   an elongated plate extending along the length of said housing and secured near its midpoint to the outside surface of said housing by a hinge-like means extending along a line which divides said elongated plate longitudinally into first and second sections;   said first section extending over the said other ends of said contacts;   said second section having its inner surface comprising at least one inclined plane surface extending longitudinally along said elongated plate; and   an actuator means comprising an elongated flat strip with a major surface formed into at least one inclined plane surface configured to mate with the inclined plane surface of said plate;   said flat strip being insertable in between said main portion of said housing and said second section of said plate, and movable longitudinally in a first direction to cause said mated inclined plane surfaces to move with respect to each other and thereby pivot the said plate about said hinge-like means to cause said first section thereof to press down upon said ends of said other end portions of said contacts and thereby actuate said other end portions of said contacts down into said slot and against mating contacts on the edge of said circuit board inserted therein.   
     
     
       6. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 5 in which said flat strip is movable in a second direction to release the pressure of said first section of said plate upon said ends of said other end portions of said contacts to enable withdrawal of said circuit board from said slot with substantiallly zero force. 
     
     
       7. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 5 in which the said other end portion of each of said contacts has a section thereof which is convex with respect to the inner surface of said ribs on said ledge which define said slot and which extends, when not actuated, inwardly towards the inner sides of said ribs which define said slot, but not into said slot to any extent which would impede the insertion of the edge of said circuit board therein. 
     
     
       8. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 5 in which said first end portions of said contacts extend through said main portions of said housings to form terminals which fit into mating terminals contained in a second circuit board, thereby forming a circuit board to circuit board connection. 
     
     
       9. A circuit board connector comprising a housing and a plurality of contacts retained therein; said housing comprising a first elongated main portion having a pair of rows of parallel ribs extending along the length thereof and defining an elongated slot therebetween to receive the edge of a cricuit board therein;   said ribs of each row forming grooves therebetween which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said elongated slot;   each of said plurality of contacts having one end portion thereof secured in said main portion of said housing and the other end portion thereof configured to extend into one of said grooves towards the sides of said ribs which define one side of said slot, and then to extend away from said slot and towards the other sides of said ribs;   an elongated plate extending along the length of said housing and secured to the side of said housing by a hinge-like means extending along a line which divides said elongated plate longitudinally into first and second sections;   said first section extending over the said other end portions of said contacts;   said second section having its inner surface comprising at least one inclined plane extending longitudinally along said plate; and   an actuator means comprising an elongated flat strip with a major surface formed into at least one inclined plane configured to mate with the inclined plane surface of said plate;   said flat strip being insertable in between said main portion of said housing and said second section of said plate, and movable longitudinally in a first direction to cause said mated inclined plane surfaces to move with respect to each other and thereby pivot the said plate about said hinge-like means and cause said first section to press down upon said other end portions of said contacts and thereby actuate said contacts down into said slot and against mating contacts on the edge of said circuit board inserted therein.   
     
     
       10. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 9 in which said flat strip is movable in a second direction to release the pressure of said first section of said plate upon said other end portions of said contacts to enable withdrawal of said circuit board from said slot with substantially zero force. 
     
     
       11. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 9 in which the said other end portion of each of said contacts has a section thereof which is convex with respect to the inner surface of said ribs which define said slots and which extends, when not actuated, inwardly towards the inner sides of said ribs which define said slot, but not into said slot to any extent which impedes the insertion of the edge of said circuit board. 
     
     
       12. A circuit board connector in accordance with claim 9 in which said first end portions of said contacts extend through said main portions of said housings to form terminals which fit into mating terminals contained in a second circuit board, thereby forming a circuit board to circuit board connection. 
     
     
       13. A zero entry force circuit board connector comprising a housing and a plurality of contacts retained therein; said housing comprising a first elongated main portion having at least one row of parallel ribs extending along the length thereof and a ledge extending along the length thereof;   said row of parallel ribs and said ledge defining an elongated slot therebetween to receive the edge of a circuit board therein;   said ribs forming grooves therebetween which are substantially normal to the longitudinal direction of said elongated slot;   each of said plurality of contacts having one end portion thereof secured in said main portion of said housing and the other end portion thereof extending into one of said grooves towards the sides of said ribs which define one side of said slot and then extending away from said slot and towards the outer sides of said ribs;   an elongated plate extending along the length of said housing and secured to the side of said housing by a hinge-like means extending along a line which divides said elongated plate longitudinally into first and second sections;   said first section extending over the said other end portions of said contacts;   said second section having its inner surface comprising at least one inclined plane extending longitudinally along said plate; and   an actuator means comprising an elongated flat strip with a major surface formed into at least one inclined plane configured to mate with the inclined plane surface of said plate;   said flat strip being insertable in between said main portion of said housing and said second section of said plate, and movable longitudinally in a first direction to cause said mated inclined plane surfaces to move with respect to each other and thereby pivot the said plate about said hinge-like means to cause said first section to press down upon said other end portions of said contacts and thereby actuate said other end portions of said contacts down into said slot and against mating contacts on the edge of said circuit board inserted therein. .Iadd. 14. A zero entry force connector for connecting to a plurality of external terminals positioned on the edge of a supporting member comprising:   a housing having an elongated base portion;   a plurality of contacts each having a first portion having a supporting member engaging portion, and a housing engaging portion connected to said first portion and arranged in first and second parallel rows to form a single row of pairs of said contacts with the housing engaging portions of each pair being mounted in said base portion and with their first portions extending out of said housing base and having their supporting member engaging portions facing each other;   said housing comprising first and second strip means pivotally connected to said elongated base portion and bearing against said first portion of said contacts;   said first and second strip means attached to said housing base portion on opposite sides thereof and parallel to said first and second rows of contacts, and having formed on facing surfaces thereof first and second rods of ramps of similar first slope and separated by first shoulders; and   actuator means comprising third strip means supported by said first and second strip means and said housing base portion and having third and fourth rows of ramps of slope similar to said first slope and separated by second shoulders, formed on surfaces thereof which face away from each other;   said actuator means being positioned between said first and second rows of ramps with said third and fourth rows of ramps mating with said first and second rows of ramps, respectively;   said actuator means further constructed to move longitudinally with respect to said rows of ramps to cause the ramps of said mated rows of ramps to ride up and down each other to pivot said first and second strip means about their pivotal connections to said housing base portion to increase or decrease the distance between the contacts of each pair of contacts. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A zero entry force connector as in claim 14 in which the length of each ramp is greater than the distance between adjacent contacts in said rows of contacts. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A zero entry force connector as in claim 15 in which said housing has a slot formed therein for receiving said second external terminals between the contacts of each pair of contacts in said rows of contacts, with said slot being continuous through at least one end of said housing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A connector for connecting a plurality of first external terminals to a plurality of second external terminals on the edge of a substrate comprising:   an insulative housing having an elongated base portion;   a plurality of contacts each having a bowed portion and a center portion connected to said bowed portion;   said plurality of contacts arranged in a row of pairs of said contacts with the contacts of each pair having their center portions mounted in said housing base and with the convex sides of their bowed portions facing each other;   said insulative housing comprising first elongated strip means pivotally secured along the length of said elongated base portion and having at least a portion thereof bearing against a portion of the bowed portions of the contacts of each row of contacts;   said first elongated strip means having first similarly formed first inclined planes separated by shoulders spaced apart a given distance, formed on each of two facing surfaces thereon and extending along the length thereof; and   actuator means comprising second elongated strip means having a series of protuberances spaced apart said given distance formed on each of two surfaces thereon which face away from each other and extending along the length thereof;   said actuator means being positioned between said two surfaces containing said first inclined planes, with said series of protuberances mating with said first inclined planes;   said actuator constructed to be moveable along its longitudinal direction to cause said protuberances to ride up and down said first inclined planes to increase or decrease the distance between the contacts of each pair of contacts. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A connector as in claim 17 in which said series of protuberances comprise second inclined planes formed on said two surfaces which face away from each other every given distance with said second inclined planes being similar to said first inclined planes. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. A connector as in claim 18 in which the length of each inclined plane is greater than the distance between adjacent contacts in said rows of contacts..Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A connector as in claim 19 in which said insulative housing means has a substrate edge receiving slot formed therein along the length thereof between the contacts of each pair of contacts and being continuous through at least one end of said insulative housing means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. A zero entry force connector for connecting to a plurality of external terminals secured on a supporting member in at least one row and comprising:   a housing comprising an elongated base portion;   a plurality of contacts each having a first portion having an external terminal engaging section, and a second portion for engaging said housing base portion connected to said first portion, and arranged in a row on said housing base portion with the second portions of each pair being mounted in said housing base portion, and having their first portions extending from said housing base portions with their external terminal engaging sections facing in a first direction;   said housing further comprising first elongated strip means flexibly secured along the length of said elongated base portion and bearing against said first portions of said contacts;   said first elongated strip means having formed thereon and along the length thereof a row of raised areas spaced apart a given distance; and   actuator means comprising second elongated strip means having formed thereon and along the length thereof a first row of inclined surfaces and separated by shoulders spaced apart said given distance;   said actuator means being supported by said elongated base portion and said first elongated strip means to have its said row of inclined surfaces matably engaged with said row of raised areas;   said actuator means further constructed to be moveable longitudinally along its length to cause said row of inclined surfaces to ride up and down said row of raised areas to move the second external terminal engaging portions of said contacts transversely to the longitudinal movement of said actuator means..Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. A zero entry force connector as in claim 21 in which said row of raised areas comprise a second row of inclined surfaces substantially the same as said first row of inclined surfaces and matably engageable with said first row of inclined surfaces. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A zero entry force connector for connecting to a plurality of external terminals secured on a supporting member in at least one row and comprising:   a housing comprising an elongated base portion and side walls;   a plurality of contacts each having a first portion having an external terminal engaging section, and a second portion for engaging said housing base portion connected to said first portion and arranged in a row on said housing base portion;   the second portions of each pair of contacts being mounted in said housing base portion with their external terminals engaging sections extending from said housing base portions and facing in a first direction;   said housing further comprising first elongated strip means flexibly secured along its length to the length of said elongated base portion with a first surface thereof facing a first of said side walls and which further bears against said first portions of said contacts;   said first surface of said elongated strip means or said first side wall having formed thereon and along the length thereof a first row of similarly shaped inclined surfaces separated by first shoulders spaced apart a given distance to collectively form a sawtooth-like profile along the length of said first elongated strip means; and   actuator means comprising second elongated strip means having formed thereon and along the length thereof a row of raised areas spaced apart said given distance;   said actuator means being supported by said elongated base portion and said first elongated strip means to have its said row of raised areas matably engaged with said first row of inclined surfaces;   said actuator means further constructed to be moveable longitudinally along its length to cause the said inclined surfaces to ride up and down said raised areas to move the external terminal engaging portions of said contacts transversely to the longitudinal movement of said actuator   
     
     
        means..Iaddend..Iadd. 24.  A zero entry force connector as in claim 23 in which said row of raised areas comprise a second row of inclined surfaces similar to the inclined surfaces of said first row of inclined surfaces and matably engageable with said first row of inclined surfaces..Iaddend.