IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,527,532
Granted Patent B2
US 7,527,532 · App. 11/748,596 · Granted May 5, 2009

Battery contact

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,527,532
App. No.
11/748,596
Granted
May 5, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A compressible electrical contact is disclosed. The compressible electrical contact may include a nose portion, a corrugated portion and a tail portion. The tail portion may extend from a first end of the corrugated portion and the nose portion may extend from an opposite end of the corrugated portion. The corrugated portion may define a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first and second surfaces may have a width. The corrugated portion may also have a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. A plurality of corrugations may be formed in the third and fourth surfaces of the corrugated portion wherein a first corrugation may extend at least partially between an upper portion and a lower portion of the nose portion.

Claims (46)

1. A compressible electrical contact comprising:

a corrugated portion defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a tail portion extending from the first end of the corrugated portion; and

a nose portion extending from the second end of the corrugated portion, the nose portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein (i) the corrugated portion defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, (ii) the corrugated portion defines a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, and a fourth surface, opposite the third surface, also extending between the first and second surfaces, (iii) a plurality of corrugations are formed along the third and fourth surfaces, and (iv) a first corrugation of the plurality of corrugations extends at least partially between the upper and lower portions of the nose portion.

2. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact is stamped from a sheet of electrically-conductive material, the sheet having a thickness, and wherein the widths of the first and second surfaces are defined by the thickness of the sheet.

3. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein the tail portion defines a surface mounting end that extends in a direction from the first end of the corrugated portion toward the nose portion.

4. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein the tail portion defines a surface mounting end that extends in a direction from the first end of the corrugated portion away from the nose portion.

5. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein (i) the tail portion comprises a first planar portion that defines a first plane and a second planar portion that defines a second plane (ii) the second plane is offset from the second plane, and (iii) the tail portion comprises a transition portion extending between the first and second planar portions.

6. The electrical contact of claim 5 , wherein the second planar portion extends from the transition portion in a direction toward the nose portion.

7. The electrical contact of claim 5 , wherein the second planar portion extends from the transition portion in a direction away from the nose portion.

8. The electrical contact of claim 2 , wherein (i) the tail portion comprises a planar portion that extends from the first end of the corrugated portion, and (ii) the planar portion has a thickness defined by the thickness of the sheet of electrically conductive material.

9. The electrical contact of claim 8 , wherein the planar portion of the tail portion is perpendicular to the third surface of the corrugated portion.

10. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein the nose portion has a distal end that is adapted to engage a battery.

11. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein (i) the corrugated portion defines a first longitudinal axis, and (ii) the nose portion defines a second longitudinal axis that is offset from the first longitudinal axis.

12. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing that defines an aperture; and

a compressible electrical contact disposed in the aperture of the housing, the contact comprising (i) a corrugated portion defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end; (ii) a tail portion extending from the first end of the corrugated portion; and (iv) a nose portion extending from the second end of the corrugated portion, the nose portion having an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein (i) the corrugated portion defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, (ii) the corrugated portion defines a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, and a fourth surface, opposite the third surface, also extending between the first and second surfaces, (iii) a plurality of corrugations are formed along the third and fourth surfaces, and (iv) a first corrugation of the plurality of corrugations extends at least partially between the upper and lower portions of the nose portion.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein the electrical contact is stamped from a sheet of electrically-conductive material, the sheet having a thickness, and wherein the widths of the first and second surfaces are defined by the thickness of the sheet.

14. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein the tail portion of the contact defines a surface mounting end that extends in a direction from the first end of the corrugated portion toward the nose portion.

15. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein the tail portion of the contact defines a surface mounting end that extends in a direction from the first end of the corrugated portion away from the nose portion.

16. The electrical connector of claim 13 , wherein (i) the tail portion of the contact comprises a planar portion that extends from the first end of the corrugated portion, and (ii) the planar portion has a thickness defined by the thickness of the sheet of electrically conductive material.

17. The electrical connector of claim 16 , wherein the planar portion of the tail portion is perpendicular to the third surface of the corrugated portion.

18. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein the nose portion of the contact has a distal end that is adapted to engage a battery.

19. A method for making a compressible electrical contact, the method comprising:

(a) stamping a shaped piece from a sheet of electrically-conductive material;

(b) forming a corrugated portion defining a first end and a second end;

(c) forming a tail portion at the first end of the corrugated portion; and

(d) forming a nose portion at the second end of the corrugated portion, the nose portion having an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein (i) the corrugated portion defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, (ii) the corrugated portion defines a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, and a fourth surface, opposite the third surface, also extending between the first and second surfaces, (iii) a plurality of corrugations are formed along the third and fourth surfaces, and (iv) a first corrugation of the plurality of corrugations extends at least partially between the upper and lower portions of the nose portion.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sheet of electrically conductive material has a thickness, and wherein the widths of the first and second surfaces are defined by the thickness of the sheet.

21. The method of claim 20 , further forming the tail portion of the contact such that the tail portion comprises (i) a planar portion that extends from the first end of the corrugated portion, and (ii) the planar portion has a thickness defined by the thickness of the sheet of electrically conductive material.

22. The method of claim 21 , further forming the corrugated portion such that the planar portion of the tail portion is perpendicular to the third surface of the corrugated portion.

23. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends are disposed between the nose portion and the tail portion.

24. The electrical contact of claim 23 , wherein the first corrugation of the plurality of corrugations is disposed proximal to the second end of the corrugated portion.

25. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein the nose portion further comprises an end portion, and the upper portion and a lower portion each extend in a direction from the end portion toward the tail portion.

26. The electrical contact of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second surfaces has a respective width, and each of the third and fourth surfaces has a width that is greater than the widths of the first and second surfaces.

27. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein the first and second ends are disposed between the nose portion and the tail portion.

28. The electrical contact of claim 27 , wherein the first corrugation of the plurality of corrugations is disposed proximal to the second end of the corrugated portion.

29. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein the nose portion further comprises an end portion, and the upper portion and a lower portion each extend from the end portion toward the tail portion.

30. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second surfaces has a respective width, and each of the third and fourth surfaces has a width that is greater than the widths of the first and second surfaces.

31. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first and second ends are disposed between the nose portion and the tail portion.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the first corrugation of the plurality of corrugations is disposed proximal to the second end of the corrugated portion.

33. The method of claim 19 , wherein the nose portion further comprises an end portion, and the upper portion and a lower portion each extend in a direction from the end portion toward the tail portion.

34. The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second surfaces has a respective width, and each of the third and fourth surfaces has a width that is greater than the widths of the first and second surfaces.

Assignments (1)
CONVERSION TO LLC Recorded Mar 14, 2011
From: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 025957/0432 →