US3646500A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector having a contact spring mounted in a housing cavity
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1969-09-25
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector, of the type having a contact spring for unilaterally clamping a conductive contact member and being mounted within the cavity formed in a housing having a guide aperture intersecting the cavity and defining an insertion axis along which the contact member may be inserted for engagement with the contact spring, is characterized by the contact spring comprising an elastic contact portion normally biased toward the insertion axis for contacting an inserted conductor member with a predetermined unilateral contact force and a resilient portion attached to the contact portion and having a free end normally held in a deflected position by engagement with abutment means for outwardly biasing the contact to present an initial plugging force approaching zero and being deflectable to a position out of contact with the projection for presenting a sharply increasing plugging force and a gradually increasing contact force.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann Wessely
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/10; H01R13/11; H01R13/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
An electrical connector for receiving a contact member comprising: means forming a housing having a cavity formed therein and a guide aperture intersecting the cavity and defining an insertion axis along which a contact member may be inserted; a generally U-shaped contact spring having a medial base portion clamped to a cavity wall portion disposed opposite said guide aperture and a pair of generally upstanding elastic leg portions disposed on opposite sides of the insertion axis, elastic contact portions disposed on said pair of elastic leg portions and converging toward the insertion axis for engagement by the contact member to form an electric connection, said contact portions including substantially rectangular tabs punched along three sides from said elastic leg portions and being inwardly bent along a fourth side; abutment means attached to said housing means and extending inwardly of said cavity, said abutment means having a pair of oppositely disposed projections attached at peripheral edge portions of said guide aperture for guiding the contact member, upper free end portions of said elastic leg portions being outwardly deflected and engaging side surfaces of said projections disposed oppositely of said guide aperture for outwardly biasing said contact portions in a manner to provide a minimum resistance to insertion of the contact member, and said upper free end portions of said elastic leg portions being deflectEd out of engagement with said abutment means as the contact member approaches a fully inserted position, thereby to provide a contact spring presenting a sharply increasing plugging force until the contact member approaches the fully inserted position and presenting a gradually increasing contact force subsequent to said upper free end portions moving out of engagement with said abutment means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
An electrical connector for receiving a contact member comprising: means forming a housing having a cavity formed therein and a guide aperture intersecting the cavity and defining an insertion axis along which a contact member may be inserted; a generally U-shaped contact spring having a medial base portion clamped to a cavity wall portion disposed opposite said guide aperture and a pair of generally upstanding elastic leg portions disposed on opposite sides of the insertion axis, elastic contact portions disposed on said pair of elastic leg portions and converging toward the insertion axis for engagement by the contact member to form an electric connection, said contact portions including substantially rectangular tabs punched along three sides from said elastic leg portions and being inwardly bent along a fourth side; abutment means attached to said housing means and extending inwardly of said cavity, said abutment means having a pair of oppositely disposed projections attached at peripheral edge portions of said guide aperture for guiding the contact member, upper free end portions of said elastic leg portions being outwardly deflected and engaging side surfaces of said projections disposed oppositely of said guide aperture for outwardly biasing said contact portions in a manner to provide a minimum resistance to insertion of the contact member, and said upper free end portions of said elastic leg portions being deflectEd out of engagement with said abutment means as the contact member approaches a fully inserted position, thereby to provide a contact spring presenting a sharply increasing plugging force until the contact member approaches the fully inserted position and presenting a gradually increasing contact force subsequent to said upper free end portions moving out of engagement with said abutment means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an electric contact device having a contact spring mounted on one of its sides in a spring housing in a manner to form a detachable electric contact engageable with a contact pin which determines an insertion axis, the improvement comprising said contact spring being divided into at least two parts which extend substantially in longitudinal directions of said contact spring, one of said parts being bent toward the insertion axis, and the other of said parts being supported by means forming a support in a manner so that the last-mentioned one of said parts is only lifted from said support means whenever the contact pin is partially inserted into the contact device, said first mentioned part including a substantially rectangular tab punched along three sides from said contact spring and being bent toward the insertion axis along a side of said tab.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an electric contact device having a contact spring mounted on one of its sides in a spring housing in a manner to form a detachable electric contact engageable with a contact pin which determines an insertion axis, the improvement comprising said contact spring being divided into at least two parts which extend substantially in longitudinal directions of said contact spring, one of said parts being bent toward the insertion axis, and the other of said parts being supported by means forming a support in a manner so that the last-mentioned one of said parts is only lifted from said support means whenever the contact pin is partially inserted into the contact device, said first mentioned part including a substantially rectangular tab punched along three sides from said contact spring and being bent toward the insertion axis along a side of said tab.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electric contact device as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said rectangular tab being bent toward the insertion axis along a side of said tab furthest from the point of insertion of the contact pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electric contact device as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said rectangular tab being bent toward the insertion axis along a side of said tab nearest the point of insertion of the contact pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |