United States Patent [191 [t t] Patent Number: 4,938,702
English [45] Date of Patent: Jul. 3, 1990
[54] CONNECTOR CLAMP FOR A'ITACHING 4,846,709 7/1989 Kobayashi et al .................... 439/67
FLAT ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR LEADS
TO PRINTED WIRING BOARDS Primary Examiner-P. Austin Bradley
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wells, St. John & Roberts
[75] Inventor: George P. English, Hayden Lake, Id.
[57] ABSTRACT
[73] Assignee: Key Tronic Corporation, Spokane,
Wash. A connector clamp for attaching conductive surface
pads on a flexible sheet to a printed wiring board having
[21] Appl. No.: 410,911 complementary conductive surface pads is bent from an
[22] Filed: Sep. 22, 1989 elongated precut pattern. The resulting clamp member
includes a series of transverse fingers along one leg of a
[51] Int. Cl. 5 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
HOlR 9/09 U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The fingers are
[52] U.S. Cl•........................................ 439/67; 439/77; opposed by a continuous leg joined to them by a contin-
439/329;439/493; 439/835; 439/844
uous central base that completes the U-shaped cross-
[58] Field of Search ................... 439/67, 77, 492, 493,
sectional configuration. The internal width across the
439/329, 828, 834, 835, 844
central base exceeds the combined thickness of the sheet
[56] References Cited and board secured by the clamp. It exerts clamping
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS force along a line extending across both clamp legs to
assure both mechanical and electrical connection be-
3,492,538 1/1970 Fergusson ............................. 439/67
4,019,798 4/1977 Fielinski ................................ 439/67 tween the joined elements.
4,111,510 9/1978 Zurcher ................................ 439/67
4,824,391 4/1989 Ti .......................................... 439/67 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
25
11
17
U.S. Patent Jul. 3, 1990 Sheet 1of4 4,938,702
/
24
,
I
- - -
!Ef
- - -
----- ---~
/---1----,
I I
I -!- 12 I
I I I
14
10
11
Jl..:a:.. gJ _]f_
18
~ __H__1::1_
~
'* 21
nnn \f0 nnn~
HHHH__ HHHHH_ * HH
n\@W nnnnn nn
17
H_ HHHHHij_HHH_
~ q
n
Jl: JI: 97 t2'
19
c 17
r!
1 1
.I•). •1•
I·
.1•
I•
.1 i'•
,..'11! .'11! .'11! I•
111!!'
( !·' 1' '!!111
22
U.S. Patent Jul. 3, 1990 Sheet 2 of 4 4,938,702
21 25
22
25
U.S. Patent Jul. 3, 1990 Sheet 3 of 4 4,938,702
25
23
17
22
U.S. Patent Jul. 3, 1990 Sheet 4 of 4 4,938,702
) '*
19
25
H H
21
nnn
HHHH
gjJ nnnnWJ n~n ~ nnnnn~ nn~
HHHHH
.
HH
17
H@ HHHHH@ HHH
23
19 17
~HnHnHnJJ2LnHnHnHnHn~~HnJinJBLnHn>inHnHnJLlbn8n~
25 21 23
..lt. .JI.. a:::::p ...ll.!l7l
25
23
17
23
..lt. .JI.. a:::::p ...ll....ll.
4,938,702
1 2
Patent Laws "to promote the progress of science and
CONNECTOR CLAMP FOR ATI'ACHING FLAT useful arts" (Article 1, Section 8).
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR LEADS TO PRINTED As seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, the present invention is
WIRING BOARDS designed to connect a flexible sheet 10 having conduc-
5 tive traces 11 that lead to conductive surface pads 12
TECHNICAL FIELD arranged across one of its edges to a printed wiring
This disclosure relates to connector clamps for effect- board 14 having traces 15 leading to complementary
ing mechanical and electrical connections between elec- conductive surface pads 16 similarly positioned across
trical leads on a flexible sheet and a printed wiring one of its edges. The flexible sheet 10 can be a "tail"
board. 10 integral with a printed circuit assembly, such as a mem-
brane switch assembly, or can be a flat conduit for elec-
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
tronic signals directed between separate printed wiring
In many electronic environments, it is necessary to boards. .
connect electrical leads printed on thin flexible sheets of The present connector clamp comprises an elongated
insulating material to related electrical leads on printed 15 member made of spring material. In the preferred em-
wiring boards. The present invention arose from a de- bodiment, it is bent from a stainless steel sheet that is
sire to simplify such connections with respect to the precut as shown in FIG. 7.
construction and fabric~tion of computer key1?<'ar.ds. The formed clamp member has a continuous U-
Such k~yboards. often !11clude membrane s_witching 20 shaped cross-section along its length. This cross-sec-
assemblies associated with manually depressible key- tion, illustrated in FIG. 6, includes a central base 17
tops. The electrical leads from the thin flexible mem- joined integrally with first and second opposed legs 18
brane switch assembly must be connected to a printed
wiring board containing control electronic devices as- and 19. The legs 18 and 19 are yieldably urged toward
sociated with the keyboard. The electrical leads are one another along a line (indicated at 20) spaced from
carried to the circuit board by a "tail" comprising a 25 the central base 17 of the cross-sectional configuration.
sheet of flexible insulating material having traces The two legs 18 and 19 are biased toward one another
printed on one side that lead to conductive surface pads for exerting clamping force along the line 20 when
across one of its edges. The pads on the tail must se- clamped across opposite outer surfaces of the printed
curely engage a printed wiring board having traces that wiring board 14 and flexible sheet 10 as shown in FIGS.
lead to complementary conductive surface pads along 30 1 and 8.
one of its edges. To assure that the designed clamping force of the
Conventional connectors for printed wiring boards elongated member is effectively exerted along the line
are both bulky and relatively expensive. They require a 20, the interior separation across the central base 17 of
number of fabrication steps to mount them on a printed the U-shaped cross-section is greater than the combined
wiring board and attach to the flexible membrane and 35 thicknesses of sheet 10 and board 14 (see FIG. 8).
switch. The present connector clamp, installable in a One leg of the U-shaped cross-section, illustrated in
single step and presented as a unitary product, replaces the drawings as the first leg 18, includes a row of identi-
as many as 34 parts in a typical connector as presently cal transverse-fingers 21. Each finger 21 has a free end
used in this industry. By reducing the number of parts adapted to overlay the sheet 10 when installed. The
requiring fabrication and control, higher reliability in 40 fingers 21 are parallel to one another and are arranged
the desired electrical connections can be assured. perpendicular to the length of the elongated member on
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS which they are formed. They are spaced along the elon-
gated member to individually correspond to the posi-
The preferred embodiment of the invention is illus- tions of the conductive pads 12 and 16 along the respec-
trated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 45 tive sheet and board adapted to be secured by the
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the installed connector clamp.
clamp; . . The remaining leg of the U-shaped cross-section,
FIG. 2 18 an enlarged plan Vlew of the connector illustrated by the second leg 19, is uninterrupted and
clamp;
FIG. 3 is a rear plan view; 50 continuous throughout the length of the clamping mem-
ber (see FIG. 3). Thus, the individual clamping force
FIG. 4 is an edge view as seen from the top of FIG. exerted at line 20 by each finger 21 is backed by the
2
; FIG. 5 is an edge view as seen from the bottom of solid clamping element presented along the continuous
FIa~ leg 19 at the back of the printed wiring board
. 14. .
FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view; 55 The basic clamp arrangement just descnbed provides
FIG. 7 is a pattern of the sheet from which the con- a yieldable clamp that can be readily attached along the
nector clamp is bent; edge of a printed wiring board to hold a complementary
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line conductive sheet in place with their respective conduc-
8-8 in FIG. 1; tive pads in direct engagement with one another. The
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a second form of the clamp; 60 spring member can be bent and designed to exert sufli-
FIG. 10 is a rear plan view; and cient force along line 20 to assure effective electrical
FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line connections between the engaged pads 12 and 16.
11-11 in FIG. 10. While the basic clamp structure as described above
can be forced transversely over the mating sheet 10 and
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 65 printed wiring board 14, it is desirable to provide an
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT arrangement for spreading the fingers 21 apart from the
The following disclosure of the invention is submit- opposed continuous surface of leg 19 to facilitate appli-
ted in compliance with the constitutional purpose of the cation of the clamp to a sheet 10 and board 14. This is
4,938,702
3 4
accomplished by providing extensions 22, 23 across In compliance with the statute, the invention has been
both legs 18 and 19, respectively. described in language more or less specific as to struc-
The extensions 22 and 23 are directed back toward tural features. It is to be understood, however, that the
the central base 17 at opposite sides of the U-shaped invention is not limited to the specific features shown,
cross-section (see FIG. 6). Extensions 22, 23 are spaced 5 since the means and construction herein disclosed com-
outward from the respective legs 18 and 19 to form prise a preferred form of putting the invention into
elongated openings along the full length of the clamp effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its
member for reception of tool elements designed to forms or modifications within the proper scope of the
spread the legs 18, 19 apart from one another. These appended claims appropriately interpreted in accor-
tool elements are generally illustrated at 24 in FIGS. 1 10 dance with the doctrine of equivalents.
and 6. They are shown as rigid pivoted plates having a I claim:
width spanning the full length of the spring member. 1. A connector clamp for securing a flexible sheet
They are freely received within the elongated openings with traces leading to conductive surface pads across
between extensions 22, 23 and legs 18; 19, respectively. one of its edges to a printed wiring board having traces
The pivot mounting of the tool elements 24 is not mate- 15 leading to complementary conductive surface pads
rial to an understanding of the present invention. They across one of its edges, comprising:
are mounted so as to exert forces (indicated by arrows an elongated member made of spring material and
26 in FIG. 6) which counteract the spring force of the having a continuous U-shaped cross-section along
elongated clamping member to selectively spread legs its length which includes a central base joined inte-
18 and 19 apart. 20 grally with first and second opposed legs, the legs
To install the connector clamp, the tool elements 24 being yieldably urged toward one another along a
are inserted along its length, legs 18, 19 are momentarily line spaced from the base for exerting clamping
spread as the clamping element is placed about the sheet force across opposite outer surfaces of a printed
10 and board 14. The spreading force is released as the wiring board and flexible sheet having aligned
tool elements 24 are removed. 25 rows of conductive surface pads in contact with
To further protect the free ends of fingers 21, particu- one another;
larly during insertion of tool elements 24, the leg 18 of the central base of the U-shaped cross-section having
the U-shaped cross-sectional configuration along the an interior separation greater than the combined
clamp member is completed by an elongated guard edge thicknesses of the sheet and board to be secured by
25 aligned across and spaced from the outer ends of the 30 it; and
fingers 21 (see FIG. 4). The continuous guard edge 25 one leg of the U-shaped cross-section in the elongated
facilitates formation of the fingers from the pattern member being adapted to overlie the sheet and
shown in FIG. 7 by bending, and serves as a protective including a row of identical transverse fingers
extension of the free fingers 21 in the installed connec- spaced apart from one another, the fmgers each
tor clamp. 35 including a free end adapted to be aligned with the
The specific bending details illustrated in the drawing positions of corresponding conductive pads along a
are not intended to limit the cross-sectional configura- sheet and board;
tion beyond the general discussion contained in this the cross section of the spring clamp further includ-
text. The form of the cross-sectional configuration is ing extensions of both legs directed back toward its
subjeet to alteration in order to allow the member to be 40 base at opposite sides of the U-shaped cross-section
set by bending to achieve a desired clamping force and spaced outward from the respective legs to
along the line 20. form elongated openings along the spring clamp
FIGS. 9-11 show a two-sided version of the connec- for reception of tool elements designed to spread
tor clamp which has fingers 21 on both sides, rather the legs of the spring clamp apart from one an-
than one. It is usable in situations where the printed 45 other.
wiring board has conductive pads on opposed surfaces 2. The connector clamp of claim 1, wherein the fm-
along one edge, and connection is required to separate gers included in the one leg are extended into the outer
flexible sheets having corresponding conductive pads. extension associated with it.
The reference numbers used in FIGS. 9-11 are identical 3. The connector clamp of claim 2, wherein the one
with those used in conjunction with FIGS. 1-8 in re- so leg is completed by an elongated continuous guard
gard to similar elements. The only change in structure aligned across and spaced from the outer ends of the
involves duplication of fingers 21 and guard edge 25 fmgers.
along both sides of the elongated members. • • • • •
55
60
65
