Adapter for contact with crimp tail

Claim 2

In an electrical contact of the type comprising a forward mating section, a rearward lead grasping section, and an intermediate mounting Section joining said mating section with said lead grasping section, said lead grasping section of said contact comprising relatively small crimpable means for grasping leads of a first predetermined range of sizes, an improvement comprising an adapter for enabling leads of greater than said predetermined range of sizes to be electrically and mechanically connected to said contact, said adapter comprising an elongated member having an attachment section at a forward end thereof which can be electrically and mechanically attached by said relatively small crimpable means to said grasping section of said contact and having a lead grasping section at the rear end thereof comprising relatively large crimpable means for grasping leads of a second predetermined range of sizes which includes leads of sizes greater than said any size within said first range of sizes.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said lead grasping means of said adapter comprises a first pair of crimp tabs of relatively large size for crimping about an insulated portion of a lead and a second pair of crimp tabs adjacent said first pair of crimp tabs and of a relatively small size for crimping about the conductor of said lead.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said lead grasping section of said contact comprises a first pair of crimp tabs of a relatively large size for normally crimping about an insulated portion of a lead and a second pair of crimp tabs forward of said first pair of crimp tabs and of a relatively small size for normally crimping about the conductor of said lead, and wherein said attachment section of said adapter comprises a first secton of a size which can be grasped by said relatively small pair of crimp tabs of said contact, and a second section, adjacent said first section and of a larger size then said first section, which can be grasped by said relatively large pair of crimp tabs of said contact.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said first and second sections of said adapter are coplanar and substantially flat.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes an intermediate section interconnecting said attachment section and said grasping section, said intermediate section comprising a substantially flat member which has been twisted such that said lead grasping section of said adapter faces a different direction than said attachment section of said adapter.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 wherein said lead grasping section of said contact comprises: a first pair of crimp tabs of a relatively large size and spacing therebetween, and joined by a first bridging section, for normally crimping about the insulated portion of a lead; and a second pair of crimp tabs, forward of said first pair of crimp tabs of a relatively small size and spacing therebetween, and joined by a second bridging section which is not coplanar with said first bridging section, for normally crimping about the conductor of said lead, and wherein said attachment section of said adapter comprises a substantially flat elongated portion having a first section of a relatively small width for being grasped by said second pair of crimp tabs of said contact, and a second section, rearward of said first section and of a relatively large width greater than said first width, for being grasped by said first pair of crimp tabs of said contact, said second section having a first pair of shoulders adjacent said first section, said first pair of shoulders being wider than the spacing between said second pair of crimp tabs of said contact, said adapter having a portion, rearward of said second section and wider than said second section, which has a second pair of shoulders adjacent said second section, said second pair of shoulders being wider than the spacing between said first pair of crimp tabs, whereby said first and second pair of shoulders can engage the sides of said second and first pair of crimp tabs, respectively, to position said adapter accurately in said contact.