Self-locking insertion-type connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector formed initially out of flat conductive stock material comprises: at least two parallel extending planar leg portions interconnected by an intermediate planar portion, each of said leg portions having a substantially oT-shaped resilient section partially blanked out of the planar surface thereof, with each T-section comprising a vertically extending center segment and a horizontal segment, the center segment being bent outwardly such that the upper horizontal segment of the T-section is spaced a sufficient distance from the adjacent planar surface of said leg portion so as to allow a spade-tip terminal to be frictionally secured therebetween when inserted from either the top or bottom of the T-section.

Claim 3

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions and positioned relative to said T-section also formed therein so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of the common leg portion of said connector.

Claim 4

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein a fastening detail is formed in said intermediate planar portion thereof so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-shaped sections in said leg portions.

Claim 5

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions and positioned relative to said T-section also formed therein so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of and wherein a fastening detail is formed in said intermediate planar portion of said connector so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-shaped sections.

Claim 6

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein are positioned in space quadrature and are integral with and extend from said intermediate planar portion.

Claim 7

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises a single die-formed threaded opening formed in said intermediate planar portion.

Claim 8

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises an outwardly extending lug partially blanked out of said intermediate planar portion to facilitate the completion of a wire connection to said connector.

Claim 9

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises a T-shaped section partially blanked out of said intermediate planar portion to accommodate a spade-tip terminal in the same manner as said T-sections in said planar leg portions.

Claim 10

An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein a plurality of said connectors are constructed with a common intermediate planar portion to form an integral strip of connectors.

Claim 11

An electrical terminating assembly comprising: A support member having at least one pair of spaced apertures formed therein, and at least one electrical connector formed initially out of flat conductive stock material supported by said support member, said connector having at least two parallel extending planar leg portions respectively aligned with and inserted through said apertures in said support member, each of said apertures having a width dimension sufficient to also accommodate a spade-tip terminal, said leg portions being interconnected by an intermediate planar portion, each of said leg portions having a substantially T-shaped section partially blanked out of the planar surface thereof, with each T-section comprising a vertically extending center segment and an upper horizontal segment, the center segment being bent outwardly such that the upper horizontal segment of the T-section is spaced a sufficient distance from the adjacent planar surface of said leg portion so as to allow a spade-tip terminal to be frictionally secured therebetween when inserted from the top of the T-section after having been inserted through the aPerture associated therewith, or directly from the bottom of the T-section, the upper free edge of said horizontal segment of each T-section also being positioned below the underside of said intermediate planar portion of said connector such that when the leg portions thereof are inserted through said aligned apertures in said support member, the T-sections are slightly spring biased inwardly until having passed through the apertures, whereupon they spring back so that the horizontal segments of the T-sections are offset form the respective apertures through which they passed, thereby positioning the upper free edges of the horizontal segments adjacent the underside of said apertured support member to lock said connector reliably to the associated support member.

Claim 12

An electrical terminating assembly comprising: A support member having at least one pair of spaced apertures formed therein, and at least one electrical connector formed initially out of flat conductive stock material supported by said support member, said connector having at least two parallel extending planar leg portions respectively aligned with and inserted through said apertures in said support member, each of said apertures having a width dimension sufficient to also accommodate a spade-tip terminal, said leg portions being interconnected by an intermediate planar portion, each of said leg portions having a substantially T-shaped section partially blanked out of the planar surface thereof, with each T-section comprising a vertically extending center segment and an upper horizontal segment, the center segment being bent outwardly such that the upper horizontal segment of the T-section is spaced a sufficient distance from the adjacent planar surface of said leg portion so as to allow a spade-tip terminal to be frictionally secured therebetween when inserted from the top of the T-section after having been inserted through the aPerture associated therewith, or directly from the bottom of the T-section, the upper free edge of said horizontal segment of each T-section also being positioned below the underside of said intermediate planar portion of said connector such that when the leg portions thereof are inserted through said aligned apertures in said support member, the T-sections are slightly spring biased inwardly until having passed through the apertures, whereupon they spring back so that the horizontal segments of the T-sections are offset form the respective apertures through which they passed, thereby positioning the upper free edges of the horizontal segments adjacent the underside of said apertured support member to lock said connector reliably to the associated support member.

Claim 13

An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said apertures in said support member are formed as rectilinear slots with at least one wall portion defining each of said slots being tapered inwardly from at least one side of said support member so as to define a cam surface to bias slightly inwardly the T-section of said connector when forced through said associated slot.

Claim 14

An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions of said connector and positioned relative to said associated T-seciton so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of the common leg portion of said connector.

Claim 15

An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein a fastening detail is formed in the intermediate planar portion of each of said connectors so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-sections in said leg portions.

Claim 16

An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least four of said apertures are formed in said support member and arranged in space quadrature so as to accommodate one of said connectors formed with four of said leg portions arranged in space quadrature.

Claim 17

An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least two of said connectors are interconnected through an extension of said intermediate planar portion so as to form an integral strip of said connectors.