Electrical connector is described of zipper-like configuration, in which sequentially interlocking tines serve as electrical contacts or insulators

Levoe, C. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

insulator 
Wires	 Nonconducting Base 
.
December 1972	 B72-10159 
•	 NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Pasadena Office	 -4r 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Zipper-Type Electrical Connectors 
The problem: 
Multipin electrical connectors are quite bulky, and 
because they are made of small, precision parts, re-
liability of firm connection is not high. Moreover, since 
adequate pin-to-socket friction must be provided for 
proper electrical contact and all pins must release 
simultaneously, a great deal of force must be applied 
to separate a connector plug from its socket. Accord-
ingly, it was considered desirable to seek a design for 
a simple, reliable connector which can be separated 
by application of small forces.
The solution: 
An electrical connector of a zipper-like configura-
tion, in which sequentially interlocking tines serve as 
electrical contacts or insulators. 
How it's done: 
An ordinary zipper with metal tines can be con-
verted readily to an electrical connector by replacing 
every third metal tine in each row with a nonconduct-
ing tine. As indicated in the diagram, wires are at-
tached to both rows of metal tines; when the zipper 
is closed, the metal tines are meshed together and 
electrical circuits are completed. The force required 
to make or break a connection is relatively low because 
tines are sequentially locked or released as in a zipper; 
moreover, selected circuits can be energized or inter-
rupted in a desired sequence. 
Many types of zippers can be used to form con-
nectors; it is of interest to note that existing zipper-
forming machines can be modified readily to produce 
connectors of nearly any length. 
Patent status: 
NASA has decided not to apply for a patent. 
Source: Clarence E. Levoe of 
Caltech/JPL 
under contract to 
NASA Pasadena Office 
(NPO-11639) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
S
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000159 2020-03-17T03:31:52+00:00Z


Zipper-type electrical connectors

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server