Device for making an electrical connection

Claim 1

A plug device which cooperates with a receptacle for making an electrical connection between an elongated flexible conductor connected to the plug device and an internal contacting component within the receptacle, which comprises: a dielectric portion having an input end for receiving an elongated flexible conductor and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, an electrically conductive terminal having one end thereof connected electrically to the conductor, and having a free end opposite the one end, the one end and the free end lying along a substantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductor inserted into the input end of the dielectric portion and reversely bent around the free end thereof, the one end of the terminal oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminal oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectric portion, the terminal caused to engage electrically the internal contacting component when the plug device is assembled to the receptacle; means connected to the dielectric portion for engaging the terminal to restrict relative movement between the terminal and the dielectric portion; and means connected to the dielectric portion for engaging the conductor adjacent the free end of the dielectric portion to lock conductor to the dielectric portion.

Claim 3

A device for making an electrical connection which comprises: a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having a conductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and a substantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectric portion; a flexible grommet portion, and a grommet-securing aperture extending through the dielectric portion, wherein the grommet portion is formed in surrounding relationship with a portion of the dielectric portion, and the material from which the grommet is formed substantially fills the aperture in the dielectric portion so that the material in the aperture is in communication with the remainder of the material of the grommet portion at both ends of the aperture to form an integral connection between the grommet portion and the dielectric portion.

Claim 4

A device for making an electrical connection which comprises: a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having a conductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and a substantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectric portion; a flexible grommet portion, and a grommet-securing aperture extending through the dielectric portion, wherein the grommet portion is formed in surrounding relationship with a portion of the dielectric portion, and the material from which the grommet is formed substantially fills the aperture in the dielectric portion so that the material in the aperture is in communication with the remainder of the material of the grommet portion at both ends of the aperture to form an integral connection between the grommet portion and the dielectric portion.

Claim 8

A device for making an electrical connection which comprises: a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having a conductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and a substantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward the free end of the dielectrical portion and with the free end of the terminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectric portion; at least one elongated conductive element; a jacket formed over the element, the jacket having an expanded end, wherein the conductive element is formed into a knot which combines with the expanded end of the jacket to form a strain-relief system; and a member that is engageable with the knot to maintain the knot and the expanded end of the jacket securely against the dielectric portion so that a potential for twisting of the conductive elements with respect to the dielectric portion is reduced.

Claim 9

A device for making an electrical connection which comprises: a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having a conductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and a substantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward the free end of the dielectrical portion and with the free end of the terminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectric portion; at least one elongated conductive element; a jacket formed over the element, the jacket having an expanded end, wherein the conductive element is formed into a knot which combines with the expanded end of the jacket to form a strain-relief system; and a member that is engageable with the knot to maintain the knot and the expanded end of the jacket securely against the dielectric portion so that a potential for twisting of the conductive elements with respect to the dielectric portion is reduced.

Claim 11

A device for making an electrical connection, which comprises: a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having a conductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and a substantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectric portion; the dielectric portion including at least one opening therein, the opening being large enough to accommodate the free end of the at least one terminal portion so that the material of the dielectric portion adjacent the opening will substantially encompass a portion of the free end of the associated terminal portion to limit lateral motion of the free end; the dielectric portion including at least one groove therein, the longitudinal axis of the groove being aligned with the desired orientation for the axis of the at least one terminal portion, and wherein at least portions of the walls of the groove engage with with associated terminal portion to limit lateral movement of said terminal portion; and the groove is closed on at least one of its ends and the opening is spaced from the closed end of the groove so that a portion of the material of the dielectric portion between the closed end of one of the grooves and one of the openings forms a supporting surface for a portion of the at least one terminal portion.

Claim 12

A device for making an electrical connection, which comprises: a dielectric portion having a conductor-input end and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, at least one electrically conductive terminal portion having a conductor-input end, a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and a substantially straight longitudinal axis, the device being assembled with the conductor-input end of the terminal portion oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end of the terminal portion oriented toward the conductor-input end of the dielectric portion; the dielectric portion including at least one opening therein, the opening being large enough to accommodate the free end of the at least one terminal portion so that the material of the dielectric portion adjacent the opening will substantially encompass a portion of the free end of the associated terminal portion to limit lateral motion of the free end; the dielectric portion including at least one groove therein, the longitudinal axis of the groove being aligned with the desired orientation for the axis of the at least one terminal portion, and wherein at least portions of the walls of the groove engage with with associated terminal portion to limit lateral movement of said terminal portion; and the groove is closed on at least one of its ends and the opening is spaced from the closed end of the groove so that a portion of the material of the dielectric portion between the closed end of one of the grooves and one of the openings forms a supporting surface for a portion of the at least one terminal portion.

Claim 13

A device which cooperates with a receptacle for making an electrical connection between insulated conductors and internal contacting components within the receptacle, which comprises: a dielEctric portion having an input end for receiving an insulated conductor and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and having a cavity intermediate the input end and the free end; the dielectric portion further having a terminal-supporting side and a conductor-guiding side; the free end being formed with a plurality of free-end grooves which communicate with associated ones of a plurality of terminal-orienting grooves formed on an underside of the dielectric portion, the free end further formed with conductor-retaining teeth for retaining the conductors within the associated free-end grooves, the free-end grooves connected to the cavity through associated ones of a plurality of conductor-guiding grooves; the underside of the dielectric portion being formed with terminal-captivating teeth traversing substantially a portion of the associated free-end groove, the terminal-captivating captivating teeth extending outwardly into the associated ones of the free-end grooves and inwardly from the free-end of the dielectric portion a sufficient distance to partially occlude the opening of the associated terminal-orienting groove, the free end further being formed with terminal-retaining teeth, each of the terminal-retaining teeth projecting outwardly into the associated free-end groove along the depth of the free-end groove from the innermost side of the associated terminal-captivating tooth to the bottom of the free-end groove, each terminal-retaining tooth also extending inwardly from the end of the associated free-end groove which faces the terminal supporting side; and a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having facilities at one end thereof for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection with associated ones of the insulated conductors and having a free end opposite the one end, the one end and the free end lying along a substantially straight longitudinal axis; the device being assembled with the insulated conductors inserted into the input end of the dielectric portion and received in associated ones of the conductor-guiding grooves and through the associated ones of the free-end grooves, reversely bent around the free end of the dielectric portion, and connected to the one end of the associated terminal, each terminal being received in an associated one of the terminal-orienting grooves with the one end oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end thereof oriented toward the input end of the dielectric portion, the terminal positioned in the associated terminal-orienting groove so as to be caused to engage electrically the internal contacting component when the device is assembled to the receptacle; the conductor-retaining teeth providing a locking force on the conductors to secure the conductors within the associated ones of the conductor-guiding grooves, the terminal-captivating teeth preventing undesired longitudinal motion of the associated ones of the terminals; and the terminal-retaining teeth securing the conductor-receiving portion of the associated terminal within the associated one of the terminal-orienting grooves.

Claim 14

A device which cooperates with a receptacle for making an electrical connection between insulated conductors and internal contacting components within the receptacle, which comprises: a dielEctric portion having an input end for receiving an insulated conductor and a free end opposite the conductor-input end, and having a cavity intermediate the input end and the free end; the dielectric portion further having a terminal-supporting side and a conductor-guiding side; the free end being formed with a plurality of free-end grooves which communicate with associated ones of a plurality of terminal-orienting grooves formed on an underside of the dielectric portion, the free end further formed with conductor-retaining teeth for retaining the conductors within the associated free-end grooves, the free-end grooves connected to the cavity through associated ones of a plurality of conductor-guiding grooves; the underside of the dielectric portion being formed with terminal-captivating teeth traversing substantially a portion of the associated free-end groove, the terminal-captivating captivating teeth extending outwardly into the associated ones of the free-end grooves and inwardly from the free-end of the dielectric portion a sufficient distance to partially occlude the opening of the associated terminal-orienting groove, the free end further being formed with terminal-retaining teeth, each of the terminal-retaining teeth projecting outwardly into the associated free-end groove along the depth of the free-end groove from the innermost side of the associated terminal-captivating tooth to the bottom of the free-end groove, each terminal-retaining tooth also extending inwardly from the end of the associated free-end groove which faces the terminal supporting side; and a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having facilities at one end thereof for establishing an electrical and mechanical connection with associated ones of the insulated conductors and having a free end opposite the one end, the one end and the free end lying along a substantially straight longitudinal axis; the device being assembled with the insulated conductors inserted into the input end of the dielectric portion and received in associated ones of the conductor-guiding grooves and through the associated ones of the free-end grooves, reversely bent around the free end of the dielectric portion, and connected to the one end of the associated terminal, each terminal being received in an associated one of the terminal-orienting grooves with the one end oriented toward the free end of the dielectric portion and with the free end thereof oriented toward the input end of the dielectric portion, the terminal positioned in the associated terminal-orienting groove so as to be caused to engage electrically the internal contacting component when the device is assembled to the receptacle; the conductor-retaining teeth providing a locking force on the conductors to secure the conductors within the associated ones of the conductor-guiding grooves, the terminal-captivating teeth preventing undesired longitudinal motion of the associated ones of the terminals; and the terminal-retaining teeth securing the conductor-receiving portion of the associated terminal within the associated one of the terminal-orienting grooves.