Telecommunications connector with spring assembly and method for assembling

Abstract

An electrical connector including a spring mounting body having a clip receiving structure. A plurality of contact springs are mounted on the spring mounting body. A clip is inserted within the clip receiving structure to stabilize the contact springs. Portions of the contact springs are captured between the clip and the spring mounting body. A method for assembling the electrical connector is also disclosed.

1. An electrical connector comprising:
 a spring mounting body having a top side, a bottom side, and a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the spring mounting body including a clip receiving structure positioned at the bottom side of the spring mounting body;  
 a plurality of contact springs mounted on the spring mounting body, the contact springs including upper portions defining contact regions positioned above the top side of the spring mounting body, lower portions positioned under the spring mounting body, and bends interconnecting the upper side and lower portions, the bends being positioned to curve around the first end of the spring mounting body;  
 a clip inserted within the clip receiving structure for stabilizing the contact springs, the clip including a lip that abuts against the first end of the spring mounting body and covers an outer radius of the bends of the contact springs; and  
 at least portions of the lower portions of the contact springs being captured between the clip and the bottom side of the spring mounting body.  
 
     
     
       2. An electrical connector comprising:
 a spring mounting body having a top side, a bottom side, and a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the spring mounting body including a clip receiving structure positioned at the bottom side of the spring mounting body;  
 a plurality of contact springs mounted on the spring mounting body, the contact springs including upper portions defining contact regions positioned above the top side of the spring mounting body, and lower portions positioned under the spring mounting body;  
 a clip inserted within the clip receiving structure such that at least portions of the lower portions are captured between the clip and the bottom side of the spring mounting body for stabilizing the contact springs, the clip further including post retaining structures that engage and position the posts; and  
 a circuit board positioned under the bottom side of the spring mounting body, wherein the springs include posts that project downwardly from the spring mounting body to provide electrical connectors with the circuit board.  
 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector of  claim 2 , wherein the post retaining structures are notched to receive the posts. 
     
     
       4. An electrical connector comprising:
 a spring mounting body including a front end and a rear end, the spring mounting body also including a top side and a bottom side, the spring mounting body defining at least one through-slot that extends through the mounting body from the bottom side to the top side, the spring mounting body further including a clip receiving structure located at the bottom side of the spring mounting body;  
 a plurality of contact springs mounted on the spring mounting body;  
 the plurality of contact springs including a forwardly extending contact spring having a lower portion located below the spring mounting body and an upper portion that extends through the through-hole to provide a contact region located above the top side of the spring mounting body;  
 the plurality of contact springs including a rearwardly extending contact spring positioned next to the forwardly extending contact spring, the rearwardly extending contact spring including a lower portion connected to an upper portion by a bend, the bend being positioned to curve around the front end of the spring mounting body such that the upper portion of the rearwardly extending spring is located above the top side of the spring mounting body and the lower portion of the rearwardly extending spring is located below the spring mounting body; and  
 a clip inserted within the clip receiving structure for stabilizing the contact springs, the lower portions of the contact springs being captured between the clip and the bottom side of the spring mounting body.  
 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of contact springs include six rearwardly extending springs and two forwardly extending springs, and wherein lower portions of all of the springs are captured between the clip and the bottom side of the spring mounting body. 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector of  claim 4 , further comprising a circuit board positioned under the bottom side of the spring mounting body, wherein the springs include posts that project downwardly from the spring mounting body to provide electrical connectors with the circuit board. 
     
     
       7. The electrical connector of  claim 6 , wherein the clip includes post retaining structures that engage and position the posts. 
     
     
       8. The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein the post retaining structures are notched to receive the posts. 
     
     
       9. The electrical connector of  claim 4 , wherein the clip is snap-fit within the clip receiving structure. 
     
     
       10. The electrical connector of  claim 4 , wherein the clip includes spring support structures corresponding to each of the springs. 
     
     
       11. The electrical connector of  claim 10 , wherein the spring support structures are contoured to complement contours of the springs. 
     
     
       12. The electrical connector of  claim 10 , wherein the spring support structures include support surfaces that press the springs against the bottom side of the spring mounting body. 
     
     
       13. The electrical connector of  claim 12 , wherein selected ones of the support surfaces have different elevations. 
     
     
       14. The electrical connector of  claim 10 , wherein the forwardly extending spring includes a bend, and wherein a corresponding one of the spring support structure has a rounded portion that corresponds to the bend of the forwardly extending spring. 
     
     
       15. The electrical connector of  claim 4 , wherein the clip includes a front lip that abuts against the front end of the spring mounting body and covers the bend of the rearwardly extending spring. 
     
     
       16. A method for mounting telecommunication contact springs, the method comprising:
 providing a dielectric spring mounting body;  
 positioning the contact springs at desired locations on the spring mounting body, the contact springs including termination posts;  
 stabilizing the contact springs by capturing first portions of the contact springs between the spring mounting body and a dielectric clip;  
 stabilizing the termination posts by engaging the termination posts with post retainers of the clip; and  
 connecting the clip to the spring mounting body with the captured first portions of the contact springs remaining captured and the termination posts remaining stabilized after the clip has been connected to the spring mounting body.  
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the spring mounting body includes a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the clip is connected to the spring mounting body by inserting the clip into a clip receiving structure located at the bottom side of the spring mounting body. 
     
     
       18. The spring method of  claim 16 , further comprising connecting the springs to a printed circuit board having though-holes for receiving the posts, the through-holes being aligned with the predetermined positions of the posts. 
     
     
       19. A method for connecting contact springs to a circuit board, the method comprising:
 providing a dielectric spring mounting body;  
 positioning the contact springs at desired locations on the spring mounting body, the contact springs including posts that project outwardly from the spring mounting body;  
 stabilizing the posts at predetermined locations corresponding to through-holes defined by the circuit board by engaging the posts with post retaining portions of a clip that is connected to the spring mounting body after the springs have been positioned at the desired locations; and  
 after the clip has been connected to the spring mounting body, inserting the posts into the through-holes defined by the circuit board.  
 
     
     
       20. A method for mounting telecommunication contact springs, the method comprising:
 providing a spring mounting body having a top side, a bottom side, and a front end opposite a rear end;  
 positioning the contact springs in a forwardly extending orientation such that a bend of the contact springs curves around the front end of the spring mounting body;  
 inserting a clip from the end of the spring mounting body toward the rear end of the spring mounting body; and  
 stabilizing the contact springs by capturing portions of the contact springs between the spring mounting body and the clip.  
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of inserting a clip includes inserting the clip along a direction from the bends of the contact springs towards posts of the contact springs. 
     
     
       22. A jack assembly comprising:
   a spring mounting body having a first side and a second side, the spring mounting body including a clip receiving structure;        a plurality of contact springs mounted within the spring mounting body, the contact springs including first portions and termination posts, wherein the termination posts are adjacent the second side of the spring mounting body; and        a clip having a plurality of spring retaining structures, the clip being inserted within the clip receiving structure for stabilizing the contact springs, wherein the first portions of the contact springs are captured between the clip and the spring mounting body, and wherein the clip and the spring mounting body also capture the contact springs adjacent the termination posts.     
     
     
       23. The jack assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the termination posts are captured by the clip adjacent to the second side of the spring mounting structure. 
     
     
       24. The jack assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the termination posts extend through the second side of the spring mounting body. 
     
     
       25. The jack assembly of  claim 24 , further including a circuit board, wherein the termination posts are connected to the circuit board. 
     
     
       26. The jack assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the clip contacts the first portion of the contact springs. 
     
     
       27. A jack assembly comprising:
   a spring mounting body having a first side and a second side;        a plurality of contact springs mounted within the spring mounting body, the contact springs including first portions and second portions, wherein the second portions are adjacent the second side of the spring mounting body; and        a clip inserted within the spring mounting body for stabilizing the mounted contact springs, the clip including a plurality of retaining structures that retain the plurality of contact springs, wherein the first and second portions of the contact springs are positioned between the clip and the spring mounting body.     
     
     
       28. The jack assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the second portions of the contact springs include termination posts that project outward from the second side of the mounting body.  
     
     
       29. The jack assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the clip includes post retaining structures that engage the second portions to stabilize the contact springs.  
     
     
       30. The jack assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the post retaining structures are notched to receive the second portions.  
     
     
       31. The jack assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising a circuit board positioned under the second side of the spring mounting body, wherein the termination posts engage the circuit board to provide electrical connections with the circuit board.  
     
     
       32. A jack assembly comprising:
   a spring mounting body including a clip receiving structure;        a plurality of contact springs mounted at the spring mounting body, the contact springs including termination posts; and        a clip inserted within the clip receiving structure, the contact springs being captured between the clip and the spring mounting body, the clip including a plurality of spaced - apart retainers that engage the contact springs adjacent the termination posts, the plurality of spaced - apart retainers including at least one separate retainer corresponding to each of the contact springs;        wherein the spring mounting body includes a plurality of slots, and wherein at least some of the retainers fit within the slots;        wherein the retainers are spaced apart from one another along a first dimension, and wherein at least some of the retainers are also offset from one another along a second dimension, the second dimension being perpendicular to the first dimension.      
     
     
       33. The jack assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of contact springs includes  8  contact springs, and wherein the plurality of spaced- apart retainers includes at least separate  8  retainers.    
     
     
       34. The jack assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising a circuit board, wherein the termination posts of the contact springs are terminated to the circuit board.  
     
     
       35. The jack assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the clip is secured to the spring mounting body by a snap- fit connection.    
     
     
       36. The jack assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the spaced- apart retainers of the clip include notches that receive the terminations posts.    
     
     
       37. A jack assembly comprising:
   a spring mounting body including a clip receiving structure;        a plurality of contact springs mounted at the spring mounting body, the contact springs including termination posts; and        a clip inserted within the clip receiving structure, the contact springs being captured between the clip and the spring mounting body, the clip including a plurality of spaced - apart retainers that engage the contact springs adjacent the termination posts, the plurality of spaced - apart retainers including at least one separate retainer corresponding to each of the contact springs;        wherein the retainers are spaced apart from one another along a first dimension, and wherein at least some of the retainers are also offset from one another along a second dimension, the second dimension being perpendicular to the first dimension.