US3633149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector and assembly for baseless electric light bulbs
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1969-10-08
•
Granted: 1972-01-04
•
Expires: 1989-10-08
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector and a housing assembly therefor for mounting ''''baseless'''' electric light bulbs of the type having filament terminals formed of a simple loop of wire at each end. The connector has an upstanding spring contact portion which supports at its free end one of the loop terminals of the bulb and retains the loop terminal thereon against spring tension by a catch projection. In the assembly two such connectors are sprung towards one another to electrically engage and mechanically support the bulb suspended therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Jean Maltais
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R33/00; H01R33/02; F; F21; F21S; F21S43/00; F21S43/10; F21S43/19; F21S43/195; F21V; F21V19/00; F21V19/0005; F21V19/0075; F21V19/008; F21V19/009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An electrical connector formed of flat conductive metal stock comprising a base, a crimp-type wire-terminating portion formed at one end of said base, an upstanding contact member formed at the opposite end of said base, locking legs formed out of each side of said base in a downwardly and slightly outwardly direction relative to said contact member, a tongue formed out of the free end of said contact member which free end is opposite from the end adjoining said base, said tongue being narrowed and centered relative to the remainder of said contact member, said tongue being slightly undercut creating abrupt shoulders which serve as stops on said contact member spaced immediately below said tongue, the sides of said tongue being bent to form ears which ears extend slightly out from one face of said contact member and are shaped to form small angled catch projections each with a gradual lead-in angled from said free end of the contact member and with a more abrupt catch angle from the direction opposite said free end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An electrical connector formed of flat conductive metal stock comprising a base, a crimp-type wire-terminating portion formed at one end of said base, an upstanding contact member formed at the opposite end of said base, locking legs formed out of each side of said base in a downwardly and slightly outwardly direction relative to said contact member, a tongue formed out of the free end of said contact member which free end is opposite from the end adjoining said base, said tongue being narrowed and centered relative to the remainder of said contact member, said tongue being slightly undercut creating abrupt shoulders which serve as stops on said contact member spaced immediately below said tongue, the sides of said tongue being bent to form ears which ears extend slightly out from one face of said contact member and are shaped to form small angled catch projections each with a gradual lead-in angled from said free end of the contact member and with a more abrupt catch angle from the direction opposite said free end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said terminating portion, said base, and said contact member are in line and further the latter is set at slightly more than a right angle to the two former.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein said base and said contact member have a continuous strengthening and stiffening rib each, and the corners of the free end of said tongue are beveled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gradual lead-in is angled approximately 15* and said catch angle is approximately 45*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shoulders are formed at substantially right angles to the upstanding length of said contact member and the undercut portion of said tongue is radiused to approximate the average radius of the wire to be contacted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising a housing, two electrical connectors as claimed in claim 1, said housing having a platform with two spaced parallel slots with the upstanding contact members of each connector extending through a respective slot and oriented therein so that said ears of each of said contact members face away from the ears of the other contact member and said respective bases lie flat against said platform, two pairs of L-shaped anchor legs on said housing with each pair being proportioned, spaced, and positioned to grip securely within the L-shape a respective connector by its locking legs thereby to hold each of said connectors in place.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said contact members are positioned slightly angled away from one another and further comprising a stress stop on said housing adjacent a long side of each slot extending up directly beside each contact member and angled to permit movement of said contact member toward said stop and also prevent movement to an overstressed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stress stop extends higher than its respective tongue and further comprise sidewalls to afford mechanical and electrical protection to said contact members, and wherein said locking legs in being lanced out from the sides of said base leave retaining projections on either side of each locking leg which projections together grasp their respective L-shaped anchoring leg thus preventing said connectors from shifting position between pairs of said anchoring legs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a baseless light bulb having loop terminals at either end being mounted with each loop making spring contact around a respective tongue of a connector and captured between said ears and said stop of the contact member, said bulb being suspended between said tongues above said platform.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 8 for baseless light bulbs having loop terminals at either end wherein said connectors further comprise lead-in tongue extensions shaped with the free ends of the tongues extending back towards one another to a spacing slightly less than the spacing between the loop terminals of said bulbs while maintaining the natural spacing of the respective bases of said tongues at a spacing slightly greater than the spacing between said loop terminals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrical connector assembly for an electrical component having wire loop terminals at opposing ends comprising a housing; two electrical connectors, each comprising means on said connector for positioning the connector, terminating means on said connector for affixing a wire lead to the connector, a spring tab on said connector having an externally directed catch projection flaired outwardly from the direction of the free end of said tab to form a lead-in and ending with an angled cutback of said projection and further having a stop projection adjacent the cutback of said catch projection, said catch projection and its cutback being shaped relative to said stop projection to retain a respective wire loop terminal therebetween; said spring tabs being oriented substantially parallel with each other, and said catch projections of the respective tabs extending away from each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrical connector assembly for an electrical component having wire loop terminals at opposing ends comprising a housing; two electrical connectors, each comprising means on said connector for positioning the connector, terminating means on said connector for affixing a wire lead to the connector, a spring tab on said connector having an externally directed catch projection flaired outwardly from the direction of the free end of said tab to form a lead-in and ending with an angled cutback of said projection and further having a stop projection adjacent the cutback of said catch projection, said catch projection and its cutback being shaped relative to said stop projection to retain a respective wire loop terminal therebetween; said spring tabs being oriented substantially parallel with each other, and said catch projections of the respective tabs extending away from each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A connector as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a tongue formed out of the free end of said spring tab, said tongue being narrowed to create shoulders at the base thereof where it joins the remainder of said spring tab, said shoulders being said stop projection, the sides of said tongue being bent to form ears which ears extend slightly out from one face of said spring tab and each ear being shaped to form an aforementioned catch projection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
An assembly as claimed iN claim 12, wherein said spring tabs are positioned slightly angled away from one another and further comprising a stress stop on said housing adjacent a long side of each slot extending up directly beside each spring tab and angled to permit movement of said spring tab toward said stop and also prevent movement to an overstressed position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein said spring tab has a strengthening and stiffening rib in its portion opposite the free end of said tab.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the catch projection flares outwardly at an angle of approximately 15* and cuts back at an angle of approximately 45*.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein said shoulders are formed at substantially right angles to the length of said spring tab and further comprising an undercut portion where said tongue joins said shoulders which undercut is radiused to approximate the average radius of the wire to be contacted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said stress stop extends higher than its respective tongue and further comprises sidewalls to afford mechanical and electrical protection to each respective spring tab.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |