IP Library Granted Patent US 12,413,004
Granted Patent B2
US 12,413,004 · App. 17/725,484 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Piston assembly and spring-loaded contact

Inventors: Tanguy Tronel (Delémont, CH); Didier Guelat (Delémont, CH)
Assignee: PRECI-DIP SA
H01R13/2421H01R12/714H05K7/1069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,413,004
App. No.
17/725,484
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A piston assembly for a spring-loaded contact, comprising a piston body, arranged to be received into a guiding cylinder of the spring loaded contact, a piston head, with a contacting surface arranged for contacting an external part, a clip arranged to mate with a conductive portion of the spring loaded contact, wherein the piston body comprises a through hole, the clip being arranged into the through hole, and wherein the piston head is attached to the piston body by an ultrasonic welded portion.

Claims (24)

1. A piston assembly for a spring-loaded contact, comprising:

a piston body, arranged to be received into a guiding cylinder of the spring-loaded contact,

a piston head, with a contacting surface arranged for contacting an external part, and

a clip configured to support an end of a conductive portion of the spring-loaded contact,

wherein an end face of the piston head abuts an end face of the clip, such that the clip is axially supported within the piston body;

wherein the piston body comprises a through hole, the clip being disposed within the through hole,

wherein the piston head is attached to the piston body by an ultrasonic welded portion, and

wherein the spring-loaded contact further comprises a coil spring configured to move the piston assembly within the guiding cylinder.

2. The piston assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the clip comprises:

a flexible contacting end arranged to mate with the end of the conductive portion of the spring-loaded contact,

a base end, opposite to the flexible contacting end,

wherein the base end is disposed within the through hole, on a piston head side.

3. The piston assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the base end comprises a tubular wall arranged to withstand a press fit force applied to the clip to insert the clip into the through hole.

4. The piston assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the clip comprises a clipping portion opposite to the piston head.

5. The piston assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the piston body, the piston head, or the clip is plated before the piston head is ultrasonically welded to the piston body as a welded portion.

6. The piston assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the welded portion is free of Heat Affected Zone, or wherein the welded portion is comprising a Heat Affected Zone having a thickness lower than 0.01 mm.

7. The piston assembly according to claim 2 , wherein a wall thickness (Lw) at a position where the piston body and the piston head is welded is less than 0.2 mm.

8. The piston assembly according to claim 2 , wherein a mating length (Lm) along a longitudinal axis of the piston assembly at a position where the piston head is mating with the piston body is less than 0.5 mm.

9. A spring-loaded contact, comprising;

the piston assembly according to claim 1 , and

a housing.

10. The spring-loaded contact according to claim 9 , wherein the end of the conductive portion comprises a pin portion for mating with the clip.

11. The spring-loaded contact according to claim 9 , wherein the conductive portion comprises a base portion for connecting an electronic or electric circuit.

12. The piston assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the piston body comprises a flange that is pushed by the coil spring until the flange abuts an end wall of the guiding cylinder.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2022
From: TRONEL, TANGUY; GUELAT, DIDIER
To: PRECI-DIP SA
Reel/Frame 059840/0988 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 21169349 · Apr 20, 2021 · regional
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63282674 · Nov 23, 2021
Related Publication 20220336988A1 · Oct 20, 2022
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