CA1063688A - Connector assembly for printed wiring board - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure An improved connector assembly for use with a printed wiring board is provided, composed of at least two segments which are initially separate from each other and which are assembled together with contact elements carried thereon. The contact elements are preferably produced from an initially unitary blank having an excess portion which is removed, upon com-pletion of assemblage of the segments, from these portions of the blank which constitute the contact elements. The connector assembly is compatible with both single-sided and double-sided printed wiring boards.

Description

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The pre~ent invention relate~ to a connector assembly for a printed wiring board having electrical contActs printed or otherwise formed on a-t lea~t one surface of it~ edge portion. The pre~ent invention ~ i~ also concerned with a method of manufacturing such a connector assembly.
A conventionAl connector assembly for a printed wiring board compri~qes a unitary hou~ing structure having ~ pair of spaced parallel side walls forming therebetween an elongated groove with an open top end and a bottom wall located at the bottom Or the elongated groove. Each of the side wall~ of the housing structure . i9 formed with a plurality o~ parallel grooves or re-cesses extending between the upper and lower ends of ~ the inner face thereof while the bottom wall of the housing structure i3 formed with ~pertures which are ; disposed in parallel with the inner f~ces of the side ; walls and which are located re~pectively in alignment with the grooves or rece~se~ in each of the side walls.
Ela3tic electrical contact elements are received, each in part, ln~th~ grooves or rece~3es in at least one of the ~ide walls of the hou~ing ~tructure and have lower portions or limbs projecting outwardly from the bottom wall of the hou~ing structure through the apertures in -the bottom wall. The hou~ing structure thus arranged ~.'.` ~ '.

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'~ ~ '. ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '' '`'' '. `'I' ' "' " ~`'','. , ~LU~3~8~3 is fixedly mounted on a mother board carrying various circuit components thereon ~o that the contact elements projecting from the bottom wall of the housing structure are connected to the circuit component~ on the mother board. When a printed wiring board is inserted into the elongated groo~e in the housing structure and is held in a predetermined ~ixed position relative to the housin$ ~tructure, the contact elements are respectively ~in pressing contact with the contacts on the printed wiring board by re~son of the elAsticity of the contact C t~ G~ 0~
B elements 90 that electrical cur~ i9 e~tablished between each of the contacts on the printed wiring board and esch o~ the contact elements on the housing ~tructure.
For the Assemblage of the connector assembly thus con~tructed, the contact elements are fitted one by one ~ec e SScS
~ into the individual groove~ or reoo~ed in the s~de wall ,~ 't~oU,9~
or walls and~the individual apertures in the bottom wall .
1 of the unitary housing ~tructure by manual operation.
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Not only laboriou~ and time-consuming procedures are .1 - .
therefore required during a~sembla$e but a difficulty is encountered in controlling the quality of the products ` ; especial1y where the products are manufactured on a - ~ large-scaled commercial basi3. The present inventio contemplAtes elimination of these drawbacks inherent in ~u} prior art connector assemblieq for printed ,: ' ~
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wirlng hoard~.
In ~ccorddnce with one ;mportant aspect of the presen-t invention, there is provided a connector assembly for a printing wiring board, corlprising a housing structure comprising t~o longitudinal segr!lents which are substantially i~entical in shd~e with each o-ther and which have respective inner side edges in contact witn each other, said segments being substan-tially inseparably conjoined together -to form as portions of the housing structure a pair of spaced parallel side walls forming tberebetween an e]ongated groove having an open top end, a bottom end substantially parallel with .
the open top end and opposite longitudinal ends, end walls having inner faces at the opposite ]ongitudinal ends, respectively, of the elongated groove, and a bottom wall which has a substantially flat inner face defining the bottom end of the elongated groove and which is formed with at least one opening arranged longitudinally in the housing structure, ~, and a plurality of electrical contact elements each of which is in part positloned within said elongated groove and in part projects outwardly from the~bottom wall of the housing structure -tnrough said opening.
n accordance witll another important aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a connector assembly for a printed wiring board, comprising forming two longitudinal segments which are substantially identical in shape with each other and which are shaped to form in combination a housing struc-ture comprising a pair ,~ . .
of spaced parallel side walls forming therebetween an elongated groove having an open top end, a bottom end substantially parallel with the open top end and opposite longitudinal ends, end walls having inner faces at said opposite longiLudinal ends, respectively, of said elongated groove, and a bottom 1_ ~
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wall ~hich has a subst.-1nlially flat inner ~ace ~lefining the hottom end of the elongated groove and which is for~ed with at least one opening arranged longitudinally in the housing structure, said segments having bo-ttom wall portions which form in combination at least part of said bottom wall of the housing structure and having respective inner side edges which are to be in contact with each other when the housing ~: structure is assembled, formillg a unitary blank having a ; plurality of spaced parallel elongated portions each shaped to constitute a respective electrical contac-t element and at least one longitudinal strip portion with which said elongated ~ portions are integral in their respective portions to project outwardly from the bottom wall of the housing s-tructure, positioning said blank on at least one of said longitudinal .` segments so that the elongated portions of the blank are each in part carried on that portion of the segment in such a manner that the longitudinal strip portion of the blank is located below the inner side edge of the segment, substantially :
~inseparably conjoining t'ne longitudinal segments together for forming said housing structure having said inner side edges of the segments lleld. in contact with each other with .: .
;;~; the elongated portions of the blank projecting each in part ; .
outwardly from the bottom wall of the housing structure through said opening, and severing the longitudinal strip ~- portion of the blank from the elongated portions of the blank so that the elongated portions are separate from each other and form said contact elements.
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The features and advantages of -the connector assembly and the method of manufacturing the connector assernbly in accordance with the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals and characters designate corresponding members, portions and structures throughout the figures and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a representative example of a prior art connector assembly for a printed wiring board;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a pre-ferred embodiment of the connector assembly according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line III - III
` of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V - V of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective vlew showing : 20 ,.' ;"' . , .:

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another modification of the embodiment illu~trated in Figs. 2 and 3;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII
: of Fig~ 6;
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing ~still another modification of the embod:iment illu3trated - ~in Figs. 2 a~d 3;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 8; ~ :~
10 ~: Fig, 10 i9 an-exploded perspective view showing . .
another preferred embodiment of the connector assembly according to the present invention; : :
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Fig. 11 i8 an exploded per~pective view showing ~till another preferred embodiment of the connector Is ~ assembly according to the-pre~ent invention;
; ~ Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing an assambled . , .
condition of the embodiment illustrated in F.ig. 11;
Fig. 13 ls an exploded perspective view showing till another preferred embodiment of tha ~onnector .
20~ a~sembly according to the present invention;
Fig.~14 is a crosY sectional view t~ken on line . ~ XIV-XIV of Fig. 13; ~nd Flg. 15 i~ ~ partly cUt-AWay perspective view showing a conductive bla~k ~l~ed to form electrical n b~dl m e ht Z5 contact elemehts forming part of the e~
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: illu~trated in Figq. 13 and 14.
Reference will now be made to the drawings, first to Fig. 1 which illustrate~ a representative example of ~ prior art connector assembly to which the present invention Appertains. The prior art connector assembly : herein shown i3 as3umed to be adapted for use with a ~ .. . .
double-~ided yrinted wiring board a portion of which is `. indicated by reference numeral 20. The printed wiring ~.
board 20 is~ thus~ formed with a pattern of a plurality 10 ~ of contacts 22 on each of the surfaces of its edge portion~ although the contactY 22 on only one face of the wiring board 20 are seen in Fig. ~ The contacts 22 on each ~urfaoe of the printed wiring boArd 20 are ` u~ually equidistantly spaced apart from each other. : .
15 : The connector assembly iA used for providing:electrical connections fro~ these contacts 22 of the printed ,~
wiring board 20 to various external circuit component~
(not 3hown) Or an electric equipment or instrumentAtion and is largely composed of a unitary housing structure . ~ :
20 . 2~ constructed of an electrically insula-ting material and A mother board 26 which carries thereon a p.Lurality of circuit elements such as l.eads. The housing struc-.~ -~ ture 24 is made up of a pair of spaced paral.:Lel side ~. :
: WAll portion~ 2a and 28~ forming therebetwe~n an elongated grooue 30 having An open top end~ end walls :,;
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32 and 32' respectively located at the opposite longitudin~l end~ of the elongated groove 30, a bottom wall portion 34 located at the bottom of the elon~ated groove 30, and A pair of longitudinal e~-tensions 36 and 36~ which project longitudinally outwardly from the resp~ctive lower end~ of` the end wall portions 32 and 32~, respectively. The , . ~ , :~ ' longitudinal extensions 36 and 36~ are for~ed with ~ ,:~ ~
i~ ~ screw ~ r}~p hole~ 38 and 38~, respectively. On 10~ the other hand, the mother board 26 i~ formed with ;~ : screw holes 40 and 40l which are located to be in alignment with the screw holes 38 and 38', respectively, when the housing structure 24 And the mother board 26 are held in predetermined positions relative to each other. The housing structure 24 is fixedly mounted , . on one face of the mother board 26 by means of screws ~ 42 and 42~ which are respectively passed through the :` ~ screw hola~ 38 and 38~ in the extensions 36 and 36~ of the h~using ~tructure 24 and through the screw holes ~-20 ~ 40 and 40~ in the mother board 26.
The s1de wall portions 28 and 28~ o.f thc hou~ing ~.
structure 24 ~re formed with verticAl grooves or recesse~ 44 and 44 ', respectively, WiliCIl extend between the upper and lower ends of the respective inner ~f~ces of the ~ide wall portions 28 and 28'. The vertical . ~ .~ ~, , '-' ' : ' : ' '' ' ,''', '' ' '' :' ' . ' '' ' , :. . . . : , . . .

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grooves or recesses 44 and 44i are located respectively in alignment with the contacts 22 on the opposite surfaces of the printed wiring board 20. The bottom , wall portion 34 is for~ed with a longitudinal slot 5 ~ ~extending in parallel with the inner face~ of the side , wall portion3 28 and 28' or a plurality of apertures located l~terally in alignment with the grooves or rece~e~ 44 and 44~ in the side wall portions 28 and ~ 28~, though not shown in Fig. 1. Likewise, the mother ; lo ~: board 26 i~ formed with apertures 46 and 46' which are dispo3ed in arrays parallel with the longitudinal slot in the bottom wall portion 34 of the housing ; structure 24 or respectively in alignment with the ; ~ Aperture~ in the bottom wall portion 34 as the case 15 ~ m~y be.~ In the illustration of Fig. 1~ it is assumed that the aperture3 46 dispo~ed in one array in the mother board 26 are respectively laterally aligned with the vertical grooves or recesses 44 on the inner ~ face of one side wall portion 28 of the hou~ing ; 20~ structure 24 and the aperture~ 46~ disposed in another rr~y in the mother bo~rd 26 are ra~pectively laterally aligned with the vertical ~roove~ or recesses 44' ln the other side wall 28' of the housin~ struct~lre 24.
~ Pluralities of elastic electrical contact elements 48 ,~ 25 and 48~ haYe respective upper portions fi~edly received , .. .
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in the vertical groove~ or rece~se~ 44 and 44', respectively, and respective lower portion~ or limbs projecting outwardly from the bottom wall 34 of the hou~ing structure 24 through the ~ngi~udinal 61ct or 5~ apertures (not shown) formed in the bottom wall ~ portion 34 of the housing structure 24. When the -- ~housing ~tructure 24 and the mother board 26 are , ; . :
a~3embled together, the limb~ or lower portions of ; ;the individ~al contact elements 48 and 48~ projecting ~ 10 ~ from the outer face of the bottom wall portion 34 of the housing structure 24 are passed through the -:
apertures 46 and 46'~ respectiYely, in th~ mother board 26 and thus project downwardly from the lower ~ face of the~mother board 26 for connection to the :- 15 circuit element~ carried on the mother board.
.~ . . . .
~;~ The printed wiring board 20 i~ pres~ fitted into the elongated groove 30 in the housing struc ture Z4 and i~ thus elastically gripped between the two set~ :
~ of contact elements 48 and /t8~ on the inner face~ of 20~ ~ the side wall portion~ 28 ~nd Z8~ of the hou~ing structure-24 ~o that the contact elements 48 and 48~ ~-` are in pres~ing en~agement with the contact-carrying edge portion of the printed wiring board 26, e~tabli~h-~:~ ing electrical connection betw0en each of the contact 25 ~ elementY 48 and 48~ on the hou~ing structure 24 anù

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each of the contacts 22 on the printed wiring board 26.
To have the contact elements 48 and 48' mounted on the housing structure 24 during a~semblage of the connector as~embly thus constructed, it is necessary ~5 to have the contact element~ 48 ~nd 48' retained one by one to the .inner faces of the side wall portions 28 and 287 of the housing structure 24 with the upper r`"' portion~ of the contact elements 48 and 48~ fitted ~ into the individual vertical grooves or recesses 44 ;.
10 ~ and 44l in the side wall portions 28 and 28~ by manual operation. If the bottom wall portion 34 of the :: ~:
hou~ing structure 24 i~ formed with the apertures to ~- pass the contact elements therethrough as previously mentioned~ it is further neceYsary to have the contact .~ : .
- 15 eIements inserted through such apertures also by ~': manual operation 80 that the lower portions or limbs :
:~ of the contact elements project downwardly from the under~ide of the bottom wall portion 34 of the housing structure 24 for alignment with the apertures 46 and :-20 ~ 46l in the mother board 26. A~ previously pointed out, such manual operations require laboriou~ and time-consuming steps and result in difficulty of controlling the performance quality of the connector assemblies .
manufactured on a large-scaled commercial basis. The embodiments of the connector a~sembly according to the . ~: ., , , .
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present inventio'n as hereinafter described with reference to Figs. 2 to 15 are cle~red of the~e draw-; backs of the prior art connector as~embly. The connector a4sembly according to the present invention 5~ i9 thus churacterized, among other things, by thesimplicity of operation to manufacture the connector assembly and by the adaptability to production on a ~~ ' large-~cale cammercial basis because of the ease of '~~ quality control. ,,,~
~10 ~ While each Or the embodiments of the connector '~~ a~sembly according to the present invention as here-inafter descrlbed will be assumed to be adapted for u~e with a single-sided printed wiring board having ~a printed conductive pattarn on only one of it~ face~, :
it should be borne in mind that the essential feature~
of each of the embodiments can be applied, either without modification or with a minor l~odiflcation, to a connector a~e~bly for use with a double-~ided ~ printed wiring board having a pattern of printed 20 "~'contacts on each of its surface~.
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; ~ Refsrring to Fig~. 2 and 3, a first preferred embodiment of the connector as~embly according to the present invention compri~es a two-piece hou~ing ~truc- '' ture 50 which i~ compo~ed of fir~t and second longitudinal segments 52 and 52l which are initially ~ ~/3-~B; ~ ~
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separate from each other. The first longitudinal ~egment 52 has a ~4ide wall portion 54, end wall portion~ 56 and 58 located at the opposite longitudinal ~-~end3 of the side wall portion 54, and a bottom wall 5~ !, portion 60 having a pair of longitudinal extension~
62 and 64 projecting in opposite directions to each other from the end wall portions 56 ~nd 58, respectively.
The qecond longitudinal segment 52 7 i8 shaped e~sentially rly to the first longitudinal segment 52 and is thuq made up of a side wall portion 54', end wall ~ portions 56~ and 50~, and a bottom wall portion 60 , ~;~ having longitudinal extensions 62' ~nd 64' projecting in opposite direction4 from the end wall portions 56~
~ and 58', respectively. The side wall portlons 54 and 15~ 54' of the fir~t and second longitudinal ~e$ments 52 ; ~ and 521 are ~or~ed with pluralities of vertical groove~
or rece~se~ 66 and 66' 9 respectively, which extend between the ~pper and lower end3 of the resperti-ve ~; inner face~ of the side wall portion~ 54 and 54' and 20 ~;~ which are ~ub~tantially normal to the respective inner faces of the bottom wall portion~ 60 and 60~ of the segments 52 and 52'~ respectively. A plurality of . . .
elastic electrical contact element~ 68 are respectively received, each in part, in the vertical grooves or - 25 rece~se~ 66 in the side wall portion 5It of the firAt J5_ ,' ~. ` ' ' ~ ~ .
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longitudin~l segment 52. Each of the contact elements ~ 68 haq a turned upper portion 68a spaced apart from : the inner face of the ~ide wall portion 54, an inter-B ` med:Late portion~received on the inner face of the ~i 5 : ~bottom wall portion 60, and a lower end portion or limb 68c projecting downwardly from the longitudinal ~edge nf the bottom wall portion 60, a~ shown~ On the other hand, the second longitudinal segment 52' ha~
formed in the longitudinal edge of its bottom wall 10;- portion 60' either A longitudinal reces~ or a ~umber of receYse~ a~ indicAted at 70 in Fig. 3, the recesses being located to be respectively in ~lignment with the ; ~ertical grooves or reces~e~ 66 in the first longitudi- . :
~ nAl Yegment 52. The longitudinal extension~ 62 and 64 of the bottom WAll portion 60 of the first longitudinal :
.~ ~ segment 52 are formed with screw holes 72 and 74, : respectiYely, through which the housing qtructure 50 to be con~tructed of the two longitudinal segme.nts 52 ~ and 52' i~ to be fixedly ~ecured to a mother board (not 20~ sho~n~ A~ previously discu~sed with reference to Fig.
.1~ The vertical grooves or reces~e~ 66i in the s~de wall portion 541 of the second longitudinal segment 52~
are provided ror the purpo~e that the connector assembly ~, , .
:.. comprislng the housing structure 50 may be used not 'l, : . .
only with a ~ingle-~ided printed wiring board but~a . ' : ... .. . .

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double-sided wiring board and that the connector assembly may be manufactured on a large-~caled stan(lardized com~ercial basis. The side wall portion i 54~ of the second longitudinal segment 52' may there-fore be left plain, viz., void of the vertical grooves Dr recesses 66' whero such considerations are not important.
The first ~nd second longitudinal 3egments 52 ~nd :
~ ~ 52' thu~ ~haped have respective inner side edge3 con-; 10 ~ sistin$ of longitudinal qections 76 and 76' constituting the re~pective inner longitudinal edges of the bottom wall portlons 60 and 60'~ first vertical sections 78 and 78' const~tuting the respective inner vertical ~ edge~ of the end wall portions 56 and 56', and second vertical sections 80 and 80' constituting the respective inn~r ~ertical edges of the end wall portions 58 and 58~, rc3pectively. When the first and second longitudi-nal ~e$ments 52 and 52' are fitted to each other with the contact elements 68 carried on the first longitudinal segment 52, the ~ections 76, 78 and 80 of the inner side .~ :
edge of the fir~t longitudinAl segment 52 are brought into contact with the ~ections 76~, 78~ and 80', ~ i, respectively, of tho inner side ed~e of the second longitudinal section 52lwith the lower portions or limbs

2; 68c of the cont~ct elements ~8 pro~jecting downwardly ~/~~

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~L~36~6~8 from the longitudinal reces~ or spaced recesses 70 in the longitudinal section 76' of the side edge of the second longitudinal segment 52~. The segments 52 and 52~ thus fitted to each other are in~eparab:ly : S conjoined or united by bo.nding the respective inner ide edges of the segments together with a che~ical adhe~ive or by ultrasonic welding. The housing tructure 50 thus constructed hAs, though not shown in the:dr~wings~ a pair of spaced parallel side walls lO ~ re~ulting respectively from the side wall portions 54 ~ and 54~ and formin~ therebetween an elongated groove .. with an open top end, an end wall resulting from the end wall. portions 56 and 56~ and having a junction ~ between the first vertical ~ections 78 and 78' of the `~ 15 ~ respective inner side edges of the segments 52 and ,~ , ~ 52', an end w~ll re~ulting fro~ the end wall portions : ~ 58 and 58' and having a junction between the second .
vertical:~ection~ ao and 80' of the respective inner side ed$es of the ~egments 58 and 58~, and a bo-ttom 20 ~ wall re~ultin~ from the respective bottom wall portio.ns 60 ~nd 60~ and h~ving a continuous junction between ~i : ,, .
the longitudinaI ~ection~ 76 and 76' of the respective ~ Inner ~ide ed~es of the ~egments 52 and 52'. When the " `: printed wiring boa~d 20~ which is a~sumed to carry the .~ 25 contact~ 22 on only one of its surfAces, i~ in~erted : _/7~

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into the elongated groove in -the housing structure and i~ brought into a predetermined fixed position relative to the housing structure 50, the individual contact elements 68 received each in part in the vertical grooves or receqses 66 in the side wall 54 of the first longitudinal ~egment 52 have their upper e~d B~ turned~portionq 68a re~pectively in ~ontact with the contact~ 22 on the printed wiring board 20, which i8 con~equently forced against the inner face of the side wall 54' of the second longitudinal segment 5Z'.

~ Electrical connection i~ thus provided between each oP
; the contacts 22 on the single-sided printed wiring board 20 and each of the contact elements 66 on the housing structure 50. The hou~ing structure 50 is then fixedly mounted on a mother board by means of screws passed through the scr~w hole~ 72 and 74 in the extensions 62 and 64,~respective1y, of the first longLtlldinal seg-ment 52 so that the lower portions or limbs ~ c of the oontAct element~ 68 project outwardly from the under-,r, 20 ~ gide of the mother board.
. ~ .
` ~ The inner ~ide edges oP the segments 52 and 5Z' s - constituting the housing qtructure 50 of the embodiment .: ~;: .
shown in Fig~ 2 and 3 have been a~sumed to have flat rAceq to form a butt joint therebetween in ttle housing structure. If de~ired, however, the inner side edge~

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of the segments 52 and 52' may be ~haped otherwise so ~s to enable the segments to be fitted to each other more securely, examples of such an arrangement being B il.l.ustrated in Figs. 4 to -~4k Each of the embodi~ents ill.ustrated in Figs. 4 to ~ i8 a modification of the embodiment thus far described with reference to Figs.
2 and 3 and, thus, comprises a two-piece housing : structure 50 comprising first and second longitudinal segments 52 and 52' which are shaped essentially 1.0 similarly to thelr counterpart~ of the embodiment shown in Fig~. 2 and 3.
.. The em~odiment ~hown in Figs. 4 and 5 are distinct . . .
over the em~odiment of Figs. 2 And 3 in that the f~rst : ver-tical sections 78 and 78' and the second vertical .sections 80 and 80' of the respective inner side edges ~ . of the .longitudin~l segments~52 and 52~ are shaped .in : such a manner as to form therebetween straight halved joints in the end WAllS of the housing structu.re 50 -~" :
`- constructed of the segments 52 and 52~. More specifi- ... -cal.ly~ one of the flrst and second longitudinal ~.
. segments, herein shown a~ being the first ~egment 52, ~:
is formed with lateral projection~ 82 and 84 on the i ~Lrst and .~eco.nd vertical sections 78 and 80 of the ~ : :
inner side edge of the segment, viz., on the inner vertical edge~ of the end wall portions 56 and 58, .
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respectively~ of the segment 52 and the other of the ~ir~t and second longitudinal qegments, viz., the ~econd segment 52' as as~umed in this context, is formed with lateral reces~es 82' and 84' in the first and ~econd verticul sections 78~ and 80' of the inner ~ide edge of the segment 52', viz~, in the vertical edges of the end walls 56' and 58', respectively, of the seg~ent 52~. When the fir~t ~nd second longitudi-nal ~egments 52 and 52' are assembled together in a L0 manner e~sentially si0ilar to that previo~sly described : wlth reference to Figs. 2 ~nd 3, the outwardly ~tepped vertical edges 78 and 80 of the end wall po.rtions 56 and 58 of the firit longitudinal ~egment 52 are respectively in mating engagement with the inwardly ~5 ~tepped vertical edges 78~ and 80~ of the end wall `~ portion~ 56~ and 58~ of the second longitudinal segment - 52~ and~ thus~ form ~ straight h~lved joint in euch of the end wulls of the hou~ing structure 50 constructed of the ~egments 52 and 52~. The configurations of the : verticul edge~ of the end wall portion~ of the ~e$ments : : : 52 and 52' qhown in Figq. 4 und 5 are merely by way of :~
example and ~ay therefore be modified in numerous manner~ if, at all, the edge~ of the end wall portion~
to be joined together are qtepped in directions opposite : 25 to each other in the longitudinal dlrections of the . ' ~

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~egments 52 and 52~ and are adapted to form a straight .. ...
halved joint in each of the end walLs of the housing ~tructure constructed of the ~egments.
T\lrning to Figs. 6 a~d 7, the end wall portion~
56 and 58 of the fir~t longitudinal segment 52 and : the end w~ll portion~ 56~ and 58' of the ~acond long.itud.inal qegment 52' are ~haped in such a manner as to form a forked-mortice-and-tenon ~oint in each of the end walls of the housing structure 50 to be con : 10 structed of the segment~ 52 and 52~. One of the first and second longitudinAl segments, h~rein as~umed as being the first longitudinal ~egment 52 as shown, has protrusions or teno.ns 86 and 88 on the first and second vertical ~ections 78 and 80 of the inner side edge of . .. : -the segment~ viz., on the inner vertical edge~ of the .
end wal.l portions 56 and 58, respectively, of the seg-ment 52 and the other of the rirst and second 3e~ments~
viz., the second segment 521 a herein assumed, has grooves or mortices 86' and 88~ in the first and second : 20 vertical ~ections 78' and 80' of the inner ~ide edge . of the segment 52'j viz.~ in the inner vertical edges ~.
-~- of ~he end wall portions 56~ and 58~ respectively, of the ~egment 52'. When the first and second longitudinal ,~ ~eglnents 52 and 52~ thll~ confi$ured are as~embled ~; together in ~ manner es~entially Yimilar to th~t ..

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previously described with reference to Fig~. 2 and 3, the protruded or tenoned vertical edges 78 and 80 of the end wall portions 56 and 58 of the first longi-tudinal segment 52 are respectively in mating engagement with the mortised vertical edges 78' and 80' of the end wall portions 56~ and 58' of the second lo.ngitudinal segments 52 and 52~ with each of the protrusionq o.r tenon~ 86 and 88 closely received in ;. the grooves or mortices 86~ and 88', re~pectivel~, .L0 thereby for~ing a forked-mortice-and-tenon Joint in each of the end walls of the housing ~tructure 50 constructed of the two segmants 52 and 52' though not shown in the drawings. .
`The configuration~ thus far described and ~hown .15 in Flgs. 6 and 7 are merely by way of example and may .:
.. therefore be modifled, if de~ired, in numerous manners :
insofar AS one of the end wall portions 56 and 56' or 38 and 58' 1~ formed with e protrusion or tenon and the other of the end wall portions is formed with R
groove or mortice adapted to rec~ive therein the above-mentioned protrusion so as to for~ a forkad-mortice- :-~:~ and-tenon joint in each of the end w~lls of the resultant housing structure.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an arrangement in which ~ 25 the first and second longitudinal segments 52 and 52' :,~
' :

', ~ C

:: . ' ' .. , ' ' , , ' : :, ,:, gL~3~3~

are con~joined together by means of ~ plurality of projections formed on the inner side adge of one of the segmentq 52 and 52' and rece~se~ formed in the inn~r side edge of the other of the segments 52 and 52'. In Figs. 8 and 9, ~uch projections are assumed to consi~t of projections 90a on the longitudinal ; section 76~ projection~ 90b on the flrqt ~ertical section 78 and projections 90c on the second vertical section 80 of the inner side edge of the first ` :
.
:Longitudinal segment 52. In other word~ the projec-tions 90a are formed on the inner ~ide edge of the bottom ~all portion 60 of the $ir~t longitudin~
se~yment 52, whilst the pro~ection~ 90b and 90c are f`ormed on the respective inner vertical edges of the end wa.Ll portions 56 and 58, re~pectively, of the , segment 52. Though not seen in Fig. 8, the second longitudinal segment 52' has formed in the inner slde .~ edge thereof a plurality of recesse~ which are located respectively conformingly to the above-mentioned projection~ 90a, 90b and ~Oc on the inner side edge of the first longltudinal segm0nt 52. In Fig. 9~ one ~r- of such recesses is de~ignated by reference numeral . ~ .
9Z, the recess 92 being aqsumed to be formed in the inner vertical edge 78' of the and wall portion 56' o-f`

~, the second longitudinal ~egment 52' and accordingly -, -~3-.'`
., , ' :, ~ , , , : - ` : ' ~;3~88 located to be laterally in alignment with one of the projection~ 90a on the inner vertical edge 78 of the en~ wall portion 56 of the first longitudinal segment 52. When the first and second longitudinal segments 52 and 52~ are conjoined together a~ in the manner de~cribed wlth reference to ~igs. 2 and 3, the projec-tions 90a, 90b and 90c of the first longitudinal segment 52 are respectively fitted into the recesses in the second longitudinal segment 52~ and hold the segmént~ 52 and 52~ in fixed position~ relative to each other.
The configuration~ ~hown in Figs. 8 and 9 are aLso subject to ~odification if desired. For example, the proJectiOns And recesses m~y be formed in the second and fir~t longitudinal ~egments 52~ and 52, respectively,~ conversely to the configurations shown in Figs.8 and 9. As an alternative, the projections may be formed on both of the fir~t and second longi-.;, , .
tudinAl segments 52 and 52~ with the corre~ponding rece~es formed also in the two segments..
The combinations Or the projections or protrusions and the race~se~ or grooves ~s provided in each of the .~
~ ~ embodiments thu~ far described with reference to Fig~.
.,~ .

4 to 9 are conducive not only to ~ecurely retalninS

~ 25 the first and ~econd segment~ 52 and 52~ to each other ~ ~ ;
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' :
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B ~
. ~.

,. ~ .
- ... . . .. . . ... .. . . . .
- . ..... . .
- .. .. . .. . . . . . .. ... .... . . . . .. ..
,, .. ... .. ., , ~ . ... . .. . .... . ~
- . . .. . .. ., . . . ... . . ~ , , , .. . . . . . .. . . . .

~1()6;~

but to ea~ily and accurately po~itioning the segments relAtive to each other and will therefore contribute to rai~ing the production efficiency of the connector as~embly provided by the present invention.
Fig. 10 illuYtr~te~ still another preferred embodiment of the connector asse~bly according to the present invention. While the housing structure in each of the embodiment thus far described with refer-ence to Figs. 2 to 9 iB made up of the segments which ci, v e. r t ~ c c~ I
1~ a~e initially separate from each other in t~
t~h~ direction of the hou~ing ~tructure, the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10 is characterized by a two-piece hou~ing Ytructure 94 which i9 composed of first and second or upper and lower se~ment~ 96 ~nd 98 which are initially sepArate from each other with a continuous junction formed therebetween on A plane : .
substanti~lly parallel with the bottom of the housing structure. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the fir~t or :. .
upper segment 96 ha~ a pair of ~paced parallel ~ide `` 20 waLl portlons 100 and 100~ for~ing therebetween an ~ elongated slot 102 And end wall portions 104 and 104' ... .
- which are located ~t the opposite longitudinal ends of the elongated ~lot 102. One of the ~ide w~ll portlon~, herein assumed to be the side wRll portion 100 as Z5 shown~ i~ formed with a plurality of spaced paraLlel . ~,__ .
.,, ~ . ~; ' :` :
.`,, ' .

. . .

., . , . ~ . . . ..

~636~8 ::

vertical groove~ or reces~es 66 extending between the upper and lower end~ of the inner face of the side wall portion 100. If the connector ~s~embly is to be used with a double-sided printed wiring board or if the connector a~sembly i8 manufactured on a standardized commercial ba~is, ~imilar grooves or rece~se~ may also be formed in the other of the ~ide wall portion~ 100 and 100'. On the other hand, the ~econd or lower ~egment 98 has a fl~t elongAtad wall po.rtion 106 which i~ sub~tantially coextensi~e with the lower end of the fir~t or upper segment 96 and which is for~ed with a numbRr of apertures (not numbered) arranged in parallel with the side edge~ of the wall portion 106. The .
aperture~ thu~ formed in the elongated wall portion 106 are re~pectively in allgnment with the vertical grooves or rece~ses 66 in the side wall portion 100 of the first or upper segment 96 and are adapted to pass therethrough the lower portions or limbs of electrical contact elements 68 as will be dcscribed later. The :
elongated wall portion 106 of the second or lower .seg~ent 98 has a pair of long.itudinal extan~ions 108 and .~ ~
108' which project longltudinally outwa.rdly from the longitudinAl ends of the elongated wall portion 106. :.

The extension~ 108 and 108' are formed with ~crew holes : 25 llO and llO~, respectivaly, through which the second or ~ ' '.
.~ .

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~ ~.

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~)63~

lower ~egment 98 ii to be fi~edly mounted together with the fir~t or upper segment 96 on a mother board (not shown) by mean~ of ~crewq aY in the prior art connector a~embly shown in Fig. 1.
; 5 The fir~t and ~econd or upper and lower segments 96 and 98 thu~ configured are conjoined together by ; bonding the lower edge~ of the ~ide and end wall portions 100, 100l~ 104 and 104' of the fir~t or upper segment ~-96 to the upper face of the flat elongated wall portion 106 of the second or low0r ~egment 98 by mean~ of an . . . .
adhe~ive or by an ultra30nic welding proce~s. In this in~tance, the contact elements 68 may be mounted on the combination of the segment~ 96 and 98 in two methods.
In one method, the cont~ct elements 68 are mounted on ~.
the ~econd or lower segment 98 before the segment 98 is fitted to the fir~t or upper segment 96 so that e~ch of the contact element~ 68 ha~ it~ turned llpper end portion ~68a and intermediate portion 68b extencling over the upper f~ce or the flat elongated wall portion 106 . 20 and it~ lower portion or limb 68c projecting downwardly f`rom the lower face of the elongated wall portion 106 a~ ~een in Fig. 10. The ~econd or lower ~egmerlt 98 is . thsn fitted to the first or upper ~egment 96 together .~ with the contAct element~ 68 90 that the intermediate :;
portions 68b of the individual connector element~ 68 :, ~Y-., " ~
:' :
. , , B

: , . . . . .... .. . . . . .
, ,, ,,.,, ., . , . . ~ .
, . . .. .

~636~38 sl1pported by the flat elongated wall portion 106 of the former ~eg~ent are respectively received in the vertical grooves or reces~es 66 in the ~ide wall portion lO0 of the latter segment. In ths other method, the first and second segments 96 ~nd 98 Rre first joined together without the contact element~ 68 supported thereon and then th~ contect elements are mounted on the combin~tion of the two segments 96 and 98 in such A mann~r that the respect~ve intermediat~
: 10 portions 68b of the contact elem0ntq 68 are rec~ived in the vertic~l grooves or reces~es 68 in th~ side wall portion 100 of the fir~t segment 96 and the respective lowsr portions or.li~bs 68c of the cont~ct elemsnts 68 are pas~ed through the apertures in the:~
flat elongated portion 106 of the ~cond segment 98 . .
and project downwardly from the lower face of the : e~ongated wall portion 106 of the s~$ment 98. Though not ~hown in the drawingo, the housing structure 94 thll~ constructed of the first And second segmsnt~ 96 : :

and 98 has a pair of spaced parallel side wall~
re~ulting respectively from the side wall portions lO0 :; and lO0' of the first segment 96, end WAllY resulting re~pectively from the e~d wall portions 104 and 104 ; of th~ fir~t segment 96~ and a bottom wall resulting : 25 from the fl~t elongated wall portion 106 of the second ," : ~': : ' "

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segment 98 and having an inner face con~tituted by the upper face of the elongated wall portion 106.
When a printed wiring board ~not ~hown) is inserted into the elongated groove 102 in the housing ~tructure 94 thus constructed and i9 held in a predetermined fixed position relative to tHe hou~ing structure 94, the contact-c~rrying edge portion of the printed wiring board is pres~ed upon between the inner face of the ~ide w~ll portion 100' of the fir~t or upper segment 96 and:the turned upper end portions 68a of the contact element~ 68 received on the inner face of the side wall portion 100 of the segment 96,.~ EIectrical connection is~thus provided between each of the contact elements : 68 and e~ch of the contact3 on the printed wiring board.
~ 15 The housing structure 94 is then mounted on a mother .~ .
board by means of screw~ which are pas3ed through the screw hole~ 110 and 110~ in the 0~tensions 108 and 108 .~ of the second or l.ower segment 98 qo that the contacts ~ on the printed wiring board are electric~lly connected . ~, ;.
~ 20 to the circuit elementq on the mother board through the .. ~: .
. ` .
;~ electric~l contact~ 68 havlng their respecti~e lower ~:
portions or limb~ projecting downwardly from the under-side of the mother bo~rd, though not 3hown.
In order to en~ble the firYt ~nd second ~egments ~,~ 25 96 and 98 to be more securely joined together and to .

~ .:
".', ':

:, :
:
: B ~
: .

.. , .~,,. , ~, .. - ,. ~ , . . . .

f`acilitate accurately po~sl~tionlng the segments 96 and 98 relative to each other, the first or upper segment 96 is formed with a plurality of recesses (not shown) in -the lower edge~ of its end wall portions 104 and 1041 and the second or lower Yegment 98 i~, in turn, formed with projections 112 on the upper face of it3 elongated wall portion lO6~ as ~hown. The pro~ections llZ are located to be respectively in alignment with the recesses in the lower edges of the end wall portions 114 and lI4~ of the first segment 96 and are thuY
-` clo~ely fitted into the reces~e~ when the first and second segments 96 And 98 are conjoined together. If de~ired, the recesses may be formed in the lower edges .
of the side wall portions lO0 and lO0' of the fir~t or . ~ .
upper segment 96 with the projection~ on the elongated ., ':
~ wall portion 106 of the second or lower segment 98 , .
1ocated conformingly to ~uch recc3se~. A~ an alter-native, the projections may be formed on the first or . ~
`~ upper segment 96 and the recesses formed in the second zo or lower segment 98.

~ Figs. ll and 12 illustrate still another pre~erred -~ em~odiment of the connector ~sembly according to the pre.~ent invention. The connector assembly comprises ::
a three-piece housing structure 114 consisting of first n~ ~ d /'~ c.l ~: 25 B and 4econd ~ A~ ~r~ segment~ 116 and 116 3 / ~

`.,` . , ~ : -~ .
.

, - , - , . . . . . .: ..
.. . . . .
. i . ~ , . .
, ~636~
`
and an outer segment 118. The first and second longi-tudinal segments 116 and 116' are configured essentially similarly to the longitudinal segments 52 and 52' of the embodiment shown in Figs.
8 and 9 except that the segments 116 and 116' are void of the longitudinal extensions 62, 62', 64 and 64' of the segments 52 and 52' of the housing structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Those portions of the segments 116 and 116' of the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 and 12 which correspond to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9 are thus designated by the same reference numerals and characters as those of the segments 52 and 52' of the housing structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The outer segment 118 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is constructed of a pair of spaced parallel side wall portions 120 and 120' forming therebetween an elongated slot 122, and end wall portions 124 and ~- 124' located at the opposite longitudinal ends of the elongated slot 122. The side wall portions 120 and 120' are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the total width of the combina-1 :
tion of the longitudinal segments 116 and 116' and the end wall portions 124 and 124' are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of the longitudinal seyments 116 and 166' so that the elongated slot 122 defined by the inner laces of the .-.... ' ' . .
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side wall portions 120 and 120' and the end wall portions 124 and 124' of the outer segment 118 is substantially identical witl the section of the combination of the longitudinal segments 116 and 116' on a plane parallel with the coplanar upper faces of the bottom walls 60 and 60' of the segments 116 and 116'. The outer segment 11~ has a pair of longitudinal extensions 126 and 126' projecting in opposite directions from the longitudinal end wall portions 124 and 124', respectively, of the outer segment 11~. The longitudinal extensions 126 and 126' are formed ~ith screw holes 128 and 128'! respectively. :
The first and second longitudinal segments 116 and 116' are conjoined together so that the respec-tive inner side edges thereof are in contact with each other with the projections 90a, 90b and 90c on the inner side edge of the first longitudinal segment 116 fitted into the recesses (not shown) in the inner side edge of the second ~:
longitudinal segment 116' as previously described with .~ .
reference to Figs. 8 and 9. The combination of the first ~ :
. 20 and second longitudinal segments 116 and 116' thus conjoined , is then inserted into the elongated slot 122 in the outer `~ segment 118 in such a manner that the subassembly of the ` first and second longitudinal segments 116 and 116' has its ~:
lower portion projecting downwardly from the lower end :~
of the outer .

' . :
...
.' 30 . _3~ _ : ~ -... ..

.
~-,- ','' ' ~' ' ' '.' ,' ' ' - ,' ,: : , -segment 118 and that the i~ner faces of the side wall portions 120 and 120' and the end wall portions 124 and 12~' of the outer segment 118 are respectively in close contact with the outer faces of the side walls 54 and 54' and the end walls 56, 58, 56' and 58' of the first and second longitudinal segments 116 and 116', as illustrated in Fig. 12. The segments 116, 116' and 118 may be bonded to each other hy an adhesive or by means of ultrasonic welding. Because, however, of the sufficiently close 10 engagement between the segments 116, 116' and 118, especially the first and second longitudinal segments ; 116 and 116' which are firmly gripped by the outer segment 118, the segments 116, 116' and 118' or at least the segments 116 and 116' may be left split from each other without bonding them together. Contact elements (not shown) , may be mounted on either the subassembly of the first and second segments before the subassembly is fitted to the outer segment 118 or on the combination of the first and second longitudinal segments 116 and 116' 20 which have been assembled to the outer segment 118.
The housing structure 11~ thus complete with the contact elements is mounted on a mother board by means of screws which are passed through the screw holes 128 and 123' in the longitudinal extensions 126 and 126' o the outer .', ' .

1 .

-3~-. . .

, . . . .
- , - ~ , .,. . . ~ , . . .
. . .

8~

segment 118, though not Yhown in the drawing~.
Fig_. 13 to 15 illuqtrate still another preferred embodiment of the connsctor as~embly according to the present invention. The connector assembly herein ~hown : 5 ha~ a housing structure which i8 con~tructed and arranged eRsentially similarly to the housing ~tructure 50 in the embodiment of Fig~. 2 and 3 and which i~
therefore designated in its entiret~ by referance ;~
numeral 50. The housing structure 50 shown in Fig~.
`:~ 10 13 and 14 i~ thu~ compo~ed o~ ~ fir~t~e ~ent 52 `
~ consisting of a side wall 54 formed with ~ertical ..
~, grooves or rece~es 66, end wall~ 56 and 58 ha~ing ~
respective longitudinal extensions 62 and 64 and a ~ -~Oh ,t~J,~¦
bottom wall 60~ and a second~eSgment 52' consi~ting :
f a ~ide wall 54~ formed with ver~ical grooves or .. ~ . : , , .
reces~es 66~, end walls 56i and 58~ having respective :Longitudinal 0xtensions 62~ ~nd 64~ and A bottom WQll -,: :
60l. The embodiment ~hown in Figs. 13 to 15 is characterized from the embodiment of Fig~. 2 and 3 ~ : .
by the method in which the contact elements are pro-duced and mounted on the hou~ing structure 50 thu~
constructed. While the elastic electrical contact elements 68 forming part of the connector asqembly !'~: . ' ' hown in Figs. 2 and 3 have been as~umed to be initlally formed a8 ~eparate member~, the embodiment shown in :~ ~3 -~3 : : .
. , .
., .
"".

' .

, , - .. ,. ~ ., , . , ,, . ., . .. , .: ; , . : , . .

~ 36~3~

: ~igs. 13 to 15 use~ electrical cont~ct element~ 68 which are produced from a unitary blank 130 of ela~tic and electrically conductive metal. A~ will be best seen from Fig. 15, the unitary blank 130 of the e~astic conductive metal is compo~ed of a number of spaced parallel elongated portions 132, a first longi- -tudinal strip portion 134 e~t~nding at right angles to the elongated portions 132 and integrally joining the lower end~ of the elongated porti~ns 132 together~ And a ~econd longitudinal portion 136 extending in par~llel wlth the first longitudinal Atrip portion 134 and ::?
integr~lly joint to the fir~t longitudinal trip por- :
tion 134 by a number of ~paced parallel Qtrip portion 138 respectively extending in line w~th the elongated portions 132. The elongated portions 132 are shaped ,. to constitute the contAct elements 68 having the previously described configurations each having a ~.
: tu~rned upper end portion 68a~ a ~ubstantially strai~ht :~ -intermediate portion 68b and ~ ~ub~tantially straight lower portion or limb 68c. The blAnk 130 i~ preferably formed with an aperture 140 in the lower end portion or limb 68c of each of the elongatad portions 132 and, consollantly therewith, the ~ide wAll 54 of the first :longitudinal segment 52 has formed on ths inner ~ide .
~ 25 edse 76 of it~ bottom w~ll 60 a number of projections : -35--., ~ .
' ~ .
~'' "~
:,. ., :
, . .. .,,, . , . ., , , , ,:

368~

l42 (Fig. 14) which are located respectively laterally aLigned with the vertical groove~ or rece~se~ 66 in the side wall 54.
The blank 130 thus configured is mounted on the firYt longitudlnal ~egment 52 in ~uch a mann0r that the individual elongated portions 132 ther~of are respec-tively received each in part in the vertical grooves or recesses 66 in the side wall 54 and at the same time the projections 142 on the inner side edge 76 of the bottom wall 60 of the ~eg~ent 52 are re~pectively :. fitted into the apertureY 140 in the individual - elongated portion~ 132 of the~blank 130. A3 will be ::
seen from Fig~. 13 und 14, the blank 130 thus carried : on the fir~t longitudinal segment 52 hAs it~ ~ir~t and ~ :
second longitudinal 4trip portion~ 134 and 136 and lower portion~ of its elon$ated portinns 132 projecting downwardly rrom the lower end of the bottom wull 60 of the fir~t longltudinal ~egm~nt 52. The second longi~ !'., ,.. '''., .
tudinal ~e~ment 52~ i9 then fitted and bonded to th0 fi.rst longitudlnal segment in a manner substantially similar to that pr~iou~ly described with regurd to the embodiment illustruted in Fig~. 2 and 3. The section of the blank 130 comprised of the first und ~econd l.ongitudinal ~trip portions 134 and 136 and the strip portion~ 138 interco~necting the longitudin~l ~trip _3~ -.: .
. ~
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~al63~s~
portion~ 134 and 136 is thereafter severed from the lowermo~t end~ of the elongated portions 132 of the blank 130. Each of the elong~ted portions 132 of the initial blank 130 thu~ constitutes a contact element 68 having a turned upper end portion 68a located within the elongAted groove bet~een the side wall~ 54 and 54 of the first and ~econd longitudinal segments 52 and 527, an intermediate portion 68b received in each of the vertical groove~ or recesse~ 66 in the side wall : L0 54 of the fir~t longitud.inAl segment 52~ and a lower end portion or limb 68c projscting downwardly from the outer face of the combined bottom wall~ 60 and 60 of the ~egments 52 and 52~ through the slot or aperture~
formed by the elongated recess or spaced recesse~ 70 in the inner side edge Or the bottom wall portion 60 ~ of the second longitudinal segment 52'.
`` From the roregoing descriptlon lt will now be appreciated that the connector aYYembly produced in . accordance with the pre~ent invention from ~egment~
which are initially sepArate from each other i9 adapted to be manufactured by an automated in-line operation including the ~teps of punching and bending the con-tact elements, fo.rming the component segments of the assembly and conjoining the ~egment~ together and mount--~ ing the resultant hou~ing structure on a mother board. ~ ~
:~ -37- ~ :
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~ ~ .

, :, " . , . . ~ , . . . . . .

~o~

The present inYention ia, therefore, expected to contribute to reducing the nu~ber of ~tepa for pro-dllction~ standardizing the production achemes~ and providlng assurance of quality control eYpecially :
where the connector as~embly i~ to be produced on a large-scAled com~erci~l b~ai~.

: ,: - .

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Claims (17)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A connector assembly for a printing wiring board, comprising a housing structure comprising two longitudinal segments which are substantially identical in shape with each other and which have respective inner side edges in contact with each other, said segments being substantially inseparably conjoined together to form as portions of the housing structure a pair of spaced parallel side walls forming therebetween an elongated groove having an open top end, a bottom end substan-tially parallel with the open top end and opposite longitudinal ends, end walls having inner faces at the opposite longitudinal ends, respectively, of the elongated groove, and a bottom wall which has a substantially flat inner face defining the bottom end of the elongated groove and which is formed with at least one opening arranged longitudinally in the housing structure, and a plurality of electrical contact elements each of which is in part positioned within said elongated groove and in part projects outwardly from the bottom wall of the housing structure through said opening.

2. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said inner side edges of said longitudinal segments are shaped to form a straight halved joint in each of said end walls of the housing structure.

3. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said inner side edges of said longitudinal segments are shaped to form a forked-mortice-and-tenon joint in each of said end walls of said housing structure.

4. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the inner side edge of one of said longitudinal segments is formed with at least one recess and the inner side edge of the other longitudinal segment is formed with at least one projection fitting in said recess.

5. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which said recess and said projection are formed in at least one of said end walls of said housing structure.

6. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said housing structure further comprises an outer segment formed with an elongated slot having the combination of said longitudinal segments closely received therein along the outer faces of the longitudinal segments.

7. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 6, in which said outer segment has a pair of spaced parallel side wall portions respectively in contact with the outer faces of the side walls of the longitudinal segments and end wall portions respectively in contact with the outer faces of the end walls of the longitudinal segments.

8. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said two longitudinal segments consist of a first segment having a pair of spaced parallel side walls respectively forming said side walls of said housing structure and a pair of end walls respectively forming said end walls of said housing structure, and a second segment having a substantially flat wall portion forming said bottom wall of said housing structure, said side walls and said end walls of the first segment having respective edges in contact with the inner face of said flat wall portion of the second segment.

9. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 8, in which said first segment has at least one recess in at least one of said edges of the side and end walls thereof and said second segment has formed on said flat wall portion thereof at least one projection closely fitting in said recess.

10. A connector assembly as set forth in claim 8, in which said first segment has formed at least one projection on at least one of said edges of the side and end walls thereof and said second segment has formed in said flat wall portion at least one recess having said projection closely fitted therein.

11. A method of manufacturing a connector assembly for a printed wiring hoard, comprising forming two longitudinal segments which are substantially identical in shape with each other and which are shaped to form in combination a housing structure comprising a pair of spaced parallel side walls forming therebetween an elongated groove having an open top end, a bottom end substantially parallel with the open top end and opposite longitudinal ends, end walls having inner faces at said opposite longitudinal ends, respectively, of said elongated groove, and a bottom wall which has a substantially flat inner face defining the bottom end of the elongated groove and which is formed with at least one opening arranged longitudinally in the housing structure said segments having bottom wall portions which form in combination at least part of said bottom wall of the housing structure and having respective inner side edges which are to be in contact with each other when the housing structure is assembled, forming a unitary blank having a plurality of spaced parallel elongated portions each shaped to constitute a respective electrical contact element and at least one longitudinal strip portion with which said elongated portions are integral in their respective portions to project outwardly from the bottom wall of the housing structure, positioning said blank on at least one of said longitudinal segments so that the elongated portions of the blank are each in part carried on that portion of the segment in such a manner that the longitudinal strip portion of the blank is located below the inner side edge of the segment, substantially inseparably conjoining the longitudinal segments together for forming said housing structure having said inner side edges of the segments held in contact with each other with the elongated portions of the blank projecting each in part outwardly from the bottom wall of the housing structure through said opening, and severing the longitudinal strip portion of the blank from the elongated portions of the blank so that the elongated portions are separate from each other and form said contact elements.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, in which said segment to carry said blank thereon when in mounting said contact elements on the housing structure has formed on the inner side edge thereof a plurality of projections respectively disposed in alignment with the contact elements to be mounted on the housing structure and in which said blank has formed in each of said elongated portions thereof an aperture aligned with each of said projections, said blank being carried on at least one of said segments with said projections received in the respective apertures in the individual elongated portions of the blank.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 or 12, in which said longitudinal segments are joined together by a straight halved joint formed between the inner side edges of the segments.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 or 12, in which said longitudinal segments are joined together by a forked-mortice-and-tenon joint between the inner side edges of the segments.

15. A method as set forth in claim 11 or 12, in which said longitudinal segments are joined together by at least one recess formed in the inner side edge of one of said segments and at least one projection formed on the inner side edge of the other segment and closely fitting in said recess.

16. A method as set forth in claim 11 or 12, in which said segments are conjoined together by an adhesive.

17. A method as set forth in claim 11 or 12, in which said segments are conjoined together by ultrasonic welding.