EP0632546A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector shorting spring
Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
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Filing: 1994-05-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A conductive spring device (46, Fig. 8) is described, which shorts a pair of connector terminals (14, 16) when the connector (12) is not mated to a second connector device (18). The spring device (46) is of the type having a fixed anchor end (50) connected to a first terminal (14) and an opposite contacting end portion (44) which can pivot in a shorting direction (S) to move outwardly (O) and also sidewardly (A) against the second terminal (16), and which can be forced to pivot in an unshorting direction (U) to move inwardly (I) and sidewardly away (B) from the second terminal (16). An isolator (92) of in sulative material surrounds an inner portion of the second terminal (16), so when the contacting end portion (44) is in its unshorting position, it cannot move sidewardly against the second terminal (16). The spring device (46) is formed of a piece of sheet metal with its anchor end (50) having a hole that closely receives the first terminal (14), the spring device (46) also having a tab (100) which projects inwardly into a slot (102) in the insulative base (28) of the connector (12) to limit pivoting of the spring device (46) about the first terminal (14).
Inventors
- 👤 Stevenzoltan Muzslay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/08; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031; H01R13/7032; B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A connector system that includes a connector (12) and a connector device (18) that can mate, said connector device (18) having an insulative housing (42) and a pair of terminal devices (20, 22), and said connector (12) having an insulative base (28, 194) and first and second terminals (14, 16) that have anchored parts anchored to said base (28, 194) and free end portions (30, 32) that extend outwardly from said base (28, 194), wherein said connector (12) includes an electrically conductive spring device (46, 170, 200) having an anchor end portion (50, 212) connected to said first terminal (14) and having a contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) which can pivot in opposite shorting and unshorting directions (S, U), wherein when said contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) pivots in said shorting direction (S) it moves both outwardly (O) and toward (A) said second terminal (16) until a contact location (54) on said contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) engages said second terminal (16), and wherein said housing (42) pushes inwardly (I) against said contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) when said connector (12) and connector device (18) mate, to force said contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) to pivot in said unshorting direction (U) wherein said contact location (54) moves both inwardly (I) and away (B) from said second terminal (16), characterized by: an isolator (92, 196) of insulative material which lies largely around an inner part (94) of said second terminal free end portion (32) to prevent said contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) of said spring device (46, 170, 200) from touching said second terminal (16) when said connector (12) and connector device (18) are fully mated and said contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) has been fully pivoted in said unshorting direction (U).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
Connector system as described in claim 1 wherein: said isolator (92, 196) has an inner location (96) that lies beside said contact location (54) when said contacting end portion (44, 176, 230) has been fully pivoted in said un shorting direction (U), said isolator inner location (96) having a thickness (T) less than the width (W) of said second terminal (16) at said inner location (96).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 or 2 wherein: said isolator (92, 196) is tapered in width, with said isolator (92, 196) having an outer end of least width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 3 wherein: said spring device (46, 200) comprises a piece of sheet metal, with said anchor end portion (50, 212) having a hole (90, 214) which closely receives said first terminal (14); said base (28) has a slot (102), and said spring device (46, 200) has a tab (100, 224) which projects inwardly into said slot (102), to limit pivoting of said spring device (46, 200) about said first terminal (14).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 4 wherein: said spring device (46,200) is formed of sheet metal, and said contacting end portion (44, 230) has an aperture and forms opposite arms (60, 62; 202, 204) that lie on laterally opposite sides of said second terminal (16) and also forms a largely laterally extending leg (64, 230) that connects said arms (60, 62; 202, 204) and that lies on a side of said second terminal (16) that is opposite to said first terminal (14); said leg (64, 230) having an elongated depression (112) extending in a direction along the length of said leg, to resist bowing of the contact end portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 5 wherein: said spring device (46, 200) comprises a piece of sheet metal, and said anchor end portion (50, 212) has a hole (90, 214) which closely receives said first terminal (14); said anchor end portion (50, 212) having a plurality of slots (126, 128; 216, 218) extending from said hole (90, 214) and forming a plurality of separate terminal abutments (123, 124; 220, 222) spaced about said hole (90, 214) each having inner and outer faces (134) and each having an end (123E, 124E) that engages said first terminal (14), with said end of each abutment forming a rounded corner portion (130,132) at said inner face(134), and with at least one of said abutments (123, 124; 220, 222) having a sharp corner (136) at said outer face which penetrates into said first terminal (14).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 6 wherein: said spring device (46) includes outer and inner parts (206, 208) connected at a substantially 180° fold which lies on a side of said first terminal (14) which is opposite said second terminal (16), said inner part (208) forming said anchor end portion (212) and said outer part forming said contacting end portion (44) and being free of restraint except of said fold to thereby provide a long beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The connector system described in claim 7 wherein: said inner part (208) includes an opening forming opening walls that lie on opposite sides of said isolator (92).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 3 wherein: said spring device (46) comprises a length of spring wire, with a portion of said wire forming said contacting end portion (176) extending in a loop around said second terminal (16), with said wire portion biased in said shorting direction (S) but being pivotal in said unshorting direction (U) to a position substantially against said base (28).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 3 wherein: said spring device (46) comprises a length of spring wire which has at least one turn that forms said anchor end portion and that is tightly wound about said first terminal (14) to anchor said wire to said first terminal (14), said wire extending in a loop about second terminal (16), with said loop being pivotable to pivot in said shorting and un shorting directions (S, U).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
Connector system as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 10 wherein: said base (28) of said connector (12) has an outer surface portion (42) forming a key with opposite side locations on opposite sides of said second terminal (16), and said housing (42) of said connector device (18) having a recess forming a keyway (80) that closely receives said key as said connector (12) and connector device (18) mate; said contact end portion (44,176) of said spring device (46, 170, 200) has opposite edges that lie near enough to said opposite side locations of said key, that each of said spring device edges will overhang a corresponding one of said key side locations if said spring device (46, 170, 200) is turned more than 10° from a desired position wherein said spring device edges (106) are equally spaced from said key opposite side locations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
194 words
A connector (12) which has an insulative base (28) and first and second terminals (14, 16) that project outwardly from a surface of said base (28) and which are constructed to mate with terminal devices (20, 22) of a mating connector device (18) which has a housing (42) that will closely approach said base surface when said connectors (12, 18) mate, wherein said terminals (14,16) must be continually shorted except when said connector (12) is mated to said connector device (18), comprising: a spring device (46) which is formed of sheet metal and which has an anchor end (50) with a hole (90) that closely receives said first terminal (14), said spring device (46) having a contacting end portion (44) which can move partially in said outer direction (O) and against said second terminal (16), but which is pressed by said housing (42) of said connector device (18) in said inner direction (I) and out of contact with said second terminal (16) when said connector device(18) mates with said connector (12); said base (28) has a slot (102), and said spring device (46) has a tab (100) that extends inwardly into said slot (102).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
Connector described in claim 12 including: an isolator (92) of dielectric material lying about a portion of said second terminal (16), which said contacting end portion (44) substantially lies about when said contacting end portion (44) is in its innermost position (64A) when said connector (12) and connector device (18) are mated, said isolator (92) having an outer end lying rearward of the location where said contacting outer end moves against said second terminal (16).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
275 words
A connector (12) which has an insulative base (28) and first and second terminals (14, 16) that are longitudinally spaced apart and that project outwardly from a surface of said base (28) and which are constructed to mate with terminal devices (20, 22) of a mating connector device (18) which has a housing (42) that will closely approach said base (28) when said connectors (12, 18) mate, wherein said longitudinal and outward directions are normal to each other and to a lateral direction, wherein said terminals (14, 16) must be continually shorted except when said connector (12) is mated to said connector device (18), comprising: a spring device (46) which is formed of sheet metal, said spring device (46) having an anchor end (50) with a hole (90) that closely receives and is anchored to said first terminal (14), said spring device (46) also having a contacting end portion (44) which has an aperture through which said second terminal (16) extends and which forms a pair of opposite arms (60, 62) that extend largely in said longitudinal direction and which lie on laterally opposite sides of said second terminal (16), said contacting end portion (44) having a laterally extending leg (64) that connects said arms (60, 62), with each arm extending from near said anchor end (50) to said leg (64), said contacting end portion (44) being biased to pivot in a shorting direction (S) so said leg (64) moves outwardly (O) and against second terminal (A), with said pair of arms (60, 62) stabilizing the orientation of said leg (64), but said contacting end portions (44) being pivotable in an opposite unshorting direction (U).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
Connector as claimed in claim 14 including: an isolator (92) of dielectric material surrounding a portion of said second terminal (92) that lies beside said leg (64) of said contact end portion (44) when said contact end portion (44) is pivoted in said unshorting direction (U) to an unshorting position (64A), said isolator (92) having an outer end that lies inward of where said leg moves against terminal (16) when said contact end portion (44) pivots in said shorting direction (S).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
Connector as claimed in at least one of claims 14 or 15 wherein: said leg (64) has an elongated portion (112) extending parallel to said leg (64) and deformed out of the plane of the sheet metal of said leg (64), to avoid warping of said contact end portion (44).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
Connector as claimed in at least one of claims 14 or 16 wherein: said base (28) has a slot (102) extending inwardly therein, and said spring device (46) has a tab (100) which is received in said slot (102).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
Connector as claimed in at least one of claims 14 to 17 comprising: a spring device (46) which includes inner and outer parts (206, 208) connected by a fold, said inner part (208) being anchored to said first terminal (14) and said fold lying on a side of said first terminal (14) which is opposite said second terminal (16), said outer part (206) being free of restraint except at said fold and being biased to move largely outwardly but being positioned to be deflected inwardly by said second connector device (18) during mating, with said outer part (206) having a contact location (54) lying on a side of said second terminal (16) opposite said first terminal (14), said contact location (54) moving outwardly (O) and toward (A) said second terminal (16) and eventually against said second terminal (16), as said outer part (206) moves outwardly (O).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
144 words
A connector (12) comprising: an insulative base (28); a plurality of terminals (14, 16) mounted in said base (28) and having free end portions (30, 32) extending in an outward direction from said base (28); a spring device (46) which is formed of sheet metal and which has an anchor end portion (50) anchored to a first of said terminals and a contact end portion (44) which can engage a second of said terminals; said anchor end portion (50) having a plurality of slots (126, 128) extending from said hole (90) and forming a plurality of separate terminal abutments spaced about said hole (90) each having inner and outer faces (134) and each having an end (123E, 124E) that engages said first terminal (14), with said end of each abutment (123, 124) forming a rounded corner portion (1340, 132) at said inner face (134).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
Connector described in claim 19 wherein: at least one of said abutments (123, 124) has a terminal engaging end that forms a sharp corner (136) at said outer face and that penetrates into said first terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
Connector as claimed in at least one of claims 19 or 20 wherein: said base (28) has a slot (102), and said spring device (46) has a tab (100) which projects inwardly into said slot (102), and which limits pivoting of said spring device (46) about said first terminal.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for constructing a connector (12) that has an insulative base (28) and a pair of terminals (14, 16) mounted in the base (28) and having free end portions (30, 32) that extend outwardly from the base (28), and that includes a spring device (46) connected to said first terminal (14) and having a contacting end portion (44) that can move outwardly (O) and also in a sideward direction that is perpendicular to said outward direction (O) toward said second terminal (16) to a shorting position (S) to engage a location on said second terminal (16), and wherein said contact end can move inwardly (I) and also sidewardly away (B) from said terminal (16) to an unshorted position (64A), wherein the method safeguards against said contacting end portion (44) touching said second terminal (16) when it has moved to said unshorted position (64A), characterized by: forming said base (28) with an isolator (92, 196) that extends around an inner portion (94) of said terminal free end portion (32), but which has a thickness (T) no more than the width (W) of said second terminal (16), to form a barrier that prevents said contacting end portion (44) in said unshorted position (64A) from moving sidewardly but not outwardly (O) and touching said second terminal (16), while avoiding interference with movement of said contact end (44) to said unshorting position (64A).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method described in claim 22 including: forming said base (28) with an inwardly extending slot (102); forming said spring device (46) of sheet metal, with walls forming a hole (90) and with a tab (100) that extends at substantially a right angle from an adjacent portion of said sheet metal; moving said spring device (46) so the walls of said hole (90) receive said first terminal (14) to connect to said first terminal (14) and to prevent sideward translation of said spring device (46), and moving said tab (100) inwardly into said slot (102), to limit pivoting of said spring device (46) about said first terminal (14).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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