A compliant pin for preferable insertion into a multi-layer backpanel is disclosed. The pin includes a wire-wrap area, a pin stop, and a connector area. Between the connector area and the stop there is located the compliant area which forms the critical function of pin support and electrical connection. The compliant area includes first and second legs spreading out to define an eye from the pin stop adjacent the wire-wrap area of the pin. Similarly, the paired legs come together at a symmetrically defined eye adjacent the connector area. In between the eyes, along the compliant portions of the leg, are formed opposing offset wedges. The opposing offset wedges are defined by a stamping process which process does not deform the sheet of material out of which the pin is made from its original planar disposition. Looking at the pin in section, paired and offset wedges are formed at an approximate 45.degree. angle to the plane of the material from which the pin is formed. These wedges are offset so that when the legs are urged towards one another the apexes of the wedges move to contact the surface of the opposing wedge. Upon such contact, a sliding interface occurs. Exteriorly of the wedge area the pin at each wedge is provided with a broad area of contact at the hole, preferably spaced apart shoulders. These shoulders bear upon the surface of the cylindrical apertures into which the pin is placed. In insertion, the compliant legs come in contact with the cylindrical holes. They are urged one towards the other until contact is made. Thereafter, the compliant legs are urged against another and form a sliding interface which interface for the first time functions to deform the pin members out of the plane of the material from which they were formed. A pin with adequate electrical connection to a large range of hole diameters with structural rigidity results.
A press-fit electrical connector has a compliant portion formed of two, opposed, T shaped segments. The facing legs of the segments are offset from one another and their interior surfaces do not make contact when the segments are compressed by insertion into a hole.
An electrical contact pin has a compliant part to be fitted into a plated aperture having a diameter of no more than about 0.94 mm (0.037 inch). the compliant part consists of a pair of elongated legs coming together at opposite shear ends and having generally straight inside walls which are not offset with respect to each other along a shear plane and define a thin slot. The thin slot has a length and a width which are greater than the shear ends.
A press-in contact to be pressed into a throughplated hole of a printed circuit board includes a contact spring or a contact pin, a middle shaft portion connected to the contact spring or pin, and a connecting pin forming an extension of the middle shaft portion. The contact spring or the contact pin has in the transition area to the shaft portion a press-in shoulder. The shaft portion is provided with a slot-shaped opening whose sides are formed by legs. Each end of the slot-shaped opening has an approximately parabolic configuration. The slot-shaped opening is conically shaped and the end of the slot-shaped opening facing the contact spring or the contact pin extends into the area of the contact spring or the contact pin.
A pin-shaped contact element that can be fixed in printed circuit board boreholes, preferably in metallized printed circuit board boreholes, has a fastening section with two parallel side parts that can move elastically towards one another and a gradually tapering insertion region, the elasticity of the insertion region being increased by providing in the insertion region an opening which runs transversely to the connecting web of the side parts and interrupts this connecting web in the transition or connecting region to the lower end of the pin.
Press fit pins for use with printed circuit board substrates must maintain pressure with through holes of wide displacement range and a pin with symmetrical mounting portions, each with an arm to engage the inner periphery of the opposite portion elastically, increases range of permissible fabrication deviation.
