Connector receptacle with wire deforming means

Claim 2

A conductor and receptacle apparatus for establishing a releasable mechanical and electrical connection comprising in combination a unitary unstranded conductor wire having an elastic limit, and a tubular member having an open end capable of generally axially receiving said wire and having a segment spaced from said open end and defining a tortuous path for said wire extending inwardly of said open end, said segment being constructed and arranged relative to said elastic limit of said wire to be effective upon insertion and removal of the wire into and out of said tubular member to cause the elastic limit of the wire to be exceeded, thereby to produce sequential deformation of successive portions of the wire, said segment including a plurality of axially spaced protuberances defined on the inner wall of the tubular member, said protuberances being offset from one another around the periphery of the tubular member to form said tortuous path.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, said protuberances being integral portions of the tubing wall.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, each said protuberance including an inclined guiding surface for guiding the inserted wire over the protuberance.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, said open end of the tubular member being flared outwardly to guide the wire into the tubular member.

Claim 6

In combination, an elongated receptacle having an open end, and an unstranded metal wire having a relatively low elastic limit insertable into and withdrawable from said receptacle through said open end, said receptacle comprising a generally cylindrical straight tube having an inner diameter throughout most of its length substantially greater than the diameter of the wire, the wall of said tube spaced from said end being offset inwardly at least at two spaced regions to define at least a pair of obstructions, each said obstruction blocking a portion of the tube and leaving open a passage larger than the cross-sectional area of the wire, said passages being angularly offset from one another an amount such that the wire is deformed beyond its elastic limit as it is inserted and as it is withdrawn past said protuberances, and an obstruction-free segment of the tube of substantial length relative to the distance between said protuberances extending inwardly of said protuberances for permitting a substantial length of wire to be successively deformed as it is inserted past said protuberances into said segment and as it is withdrawn past said protuberances.

Claim 7

In combination, an elongated receptacle having an open end, and an unstranded metal wire having a relatively low elastic limit insertable into and withdrawable from said receptacle through said open end, said receptacle comprising a generally cylindrical straight tube having an inner diameter throughout most of its length substantially greater than the diameter of the wire, the wall of said tube spaced from said end being offset inwardly at least at two spaced regions to define at least a pair of obstructions, each said obstruction blocking a portion of the tube and leaving open a passage larger than the cross-sectional area of the wire, said passages being angularly offset from one another an amount such that the wire is deformed beyond its elastic limit as it is inserted and as it is withdrawn past said protuberances, and an obstruction-free segment of the tube of substantial length relative to the distance between said protuberances extending inwardly of said protuberances for permitting a substantial length of wire to be successively deformed as it is inserted past said protuberances into said segment and as it is withdrawn past said protuberances.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5, said prOtuberances comprising a pair of indentations at opposite sides of the tube spaced axially from one another.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6, the distance between the obstructions normal to the tube axis being substantially less than the wire diameter.

Claim 10

A readily attachable and releasable conductor and connector receptacle combination comprising: a single wire conductor having a predetermined elastic limit; and a tubular member having a wall substantially in the form of a tube and having at least one open end; said wall throughout a substantial portion of the length of said tubular member having an inside diameter substantially larger than the wire diameter freely to receive said wire upon generally axial insertion and withdrawal of said wire into and out of said open end; the wall of said tubular member including means for deforming successive portions of the wire beyond said elastic limit of the wire during both said insertion and said withdrawal; said deforming means including protuberance means in said wall spaced from both ends of said tubular member; said protuberance means including a pair of protuberances spaced from one another both axially and radially in the tube wall.

Claim 11

A readily attachable and releasable conductor and connector receptacle combination comprising: a single wire conductor having a predetermined elastic limit; and a tubular member having a wall substantially in the form of a tube and having at least one open end; said wall throughout a substantial portion of the length of said tubular member having an inside diameter substantially larger than the wire diameter freely to receive said wire upon generally axial insertion and withdrawal of said wire into and out of said open end; the wall of said tubular member including means for deforming successive portions of the wire beyond said elastic limit of the wire during both said insertion and said withdrawal; said deforming means including protuberance means in said wall spaced from both ends of said tubular member; said protuberance means including a pair of protuberances spaced from one another both axially and radially in the tube wall.