Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing having first and second passageways; an electrically conductive contact member being disposed within said first passageway for receiving an electrically conductive pin inserted into the passageway in a given direction; an electrically conductive solder tail member being disposed within said second passageway and being electrically connected to said contact member; resilient planar spring means intermediate said contact member and said solder tail member, said spring means having at least two leg members oriented generally transverse to said given direction and a base member intermediate said leg members, said spring means permitting said contact member to move relative to said solder tail member during insertion of a pin into said contact member; and means for preventing over-stressing of said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing having first and second passageways; an electrically conductive contact member being disposed within said first passageway for receiving an electrically conductive pin inserted into the passageway in a given direction; an electrically conductive solder tail member being disposed within said second passageway and being electrically connected to said contact member; resilient planar spring means intermediate said contact member and said solder tail member, said spring means having at least two leg members oriented generally transverse to said given direction and a base member intermediate said leg members, said spring means permitting said contact member to move relative to said solder tail member during insertion of a pin into said contact member; and means for preventing over-stressing of said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing over-stressing comprises a mechanical stop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical connector as in claim 2 wherein said first passageway is sufficiently larger than said contact member so that said contact member can move transversely relative to said passageway in order to compensate for misalignment of said contact member relative to a pin to be inserted therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electrical connector comprising: a male plug having at least one electrically conductive pin; a female receptacle having first and second dielectric housings, each having passageways therein; and at least one electrically conductive female terminal, said female terminal having a contact section disposed within said passageway of said first housing for receiving an electrically conductive pin inserted into the passageway of said first housing in a given direction; a solder tail section being electrically connected to said contact section and disposed within said passageway of said second housing; and a resilient planar spring section intermediate sai<i contact section and said solder tail section; said spring section having at least two leg members oriented generally transverse to said given direction and a base member intermediate said leg members, said spring section permitting said first housing and said contact section disposed therewithin to move relative to said second housing and said solder tail section deposed therewithin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electrical connector comprising: a male plug having at least one electrically conductive pin; a female receptacle having first and second dielectric housings, each having passageways therein; and at least one electrically conductive female terminal, said female terminal having a contact section disposed within said passageway of said first housing for receiving an electrically conductive pin inserted into the passageway of said first housing in a given direction; a solder tail section being electrically connected to said contact section and disposed within said passageway of said second housing; and a resilient planar spring section intermediate sai<i contact section and said solder tail section; said spring section having at least two leg members oriented generally transverse to said given direction and a base member intermediate said leg members, said spring section permitting said first housing and said contact section disposed therewithin to move relative to said second housing and said solder tail section deposed therewithin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical connector as in claim 4 which further comprises means for preventing over-stressing of the resilient spring section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical connector as in claim 1 or claim 5 wherein said contact section, said solder tail section, and said resilient spring section are formed from a single piece of conductive sheet metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical connector as in claim 6 wherein said resilient spring setion is "U"-shaped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical connector as in claim 6 wherein said resilient spring section is "V"-shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical connector as in claim 6 wherein said resilient spring section is "W" or "M"-shaped.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical connector as in claim 1 or claim 7 wherein said means for preventing over-stressing comprises a mechanical stop located on at least one of said first and second housings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical connector as in claim 10 wherein said mechanical stops are opposed projections from said housings dimensioned to abut against each other in order to prevent additional relative movement of the housings prior to said resilient spring section being over-stressed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electrical connector as in claim 7 wherein said passageway in said first housing and said contact section are substantially larger in the vertical direction to permit proper mating of an electrically conductive pin with said contact section in the event that said pin and said contact member are not in the same horizontal plane.