Electrical connector and block

Claim 2

A bi-metal terminal including a body formed of relatively maleable strip metal stock and a spring formed of spring stock, said spring including a spring contact and a crimp contact, said body including a guard surrounding said spring contact and having a window formed therein with the contact surface of said spring contact projecting outwardly of the guard through said window, means forming a physical connection between the body and the spring, and a crimp barrel, said crimp contact extending into the crimp barrel for establishing a direct electrical connection with a wire positioned in said barrel.

Claim 3

A terminal as In claim 1 wherein said means comprises a crimp connection.

Claim 4

A bi-metal terminal including a body formed of relatively maleable strip metal stock and a spring formed of spring stock, said spring including a spring contact and a crimp contact, said body including a guard surrounding said spring contact and having a window formed therein with the contact surface of said spring contact projecting through said window, means forming a physical connection between the body and the spring, and a crimp barrel, said crimp contact extending into the crimp barrel for establishing a direct electrical connection with a wire positioned in said barrel, said guard comprising a reverse bend portion of said body and said spring contact comprising a reverse bend portion of the spring fitted within said body reverse bend portion with a knuckle projecting through said window.

Claim 5

A bi-metal terminal including a body formed of relatively maleable strip metal stock and a spring formed of spring stock, said spring including a spring contact and a crimp contact, said body including a guard surrounding said spring contact and having a window formed therein with the contact surface of said spring contact projecting through said window, means forming a physical connection between the body and the spring, and a crimp barrel, said crimp contact extending into the crimp barrel for establishing a direct electrical connection with a wire positioned in said barrel, said guard comprising a reverse bend portion of said body and said spring contact comprising a reverse bend portion of the spring fitted within said body reverse bend portion with a knuckle projecting through said window.

Claim 6

A terminal as in claim 3 wherein said contact portion includes a dimple on said knuckle.

Claim 7

A terminal as in claim 4 wherein said dimple is located on one side of the knuckle.

Claim 8

A terminal as in claim 3 wherein said body includes a pair of tabs for locating the terminal in a block, said crimp barrel being located between said means and said tabs along the length of the terminal.

Claim 9

A crimp type terminal for use in establishing an electrical connection between a conductor and a second element comprising a body formed of relatively maleable metal and a spring; said body including a wire crimp barrel, means for mechanically securing the spring to the body, and a U-shaped guard portion having an opening formed therethrough; said spring including a spring contact surrounded by said guard portion and having a contact projecting outwardly of said guard portion through said opening for forming an electrical connection with a circuit element, and a contact portion extending into said crimp barrel; whereby when the conductor is positioned in the barrel and the barrel is crimped closed, a high pressure metal to metal electrical connection is formed between the conductor and the spring.

Claim 10

A crimp type terminal for use in establishing an electrical connection between a conductor and a second element comprising a body formed of relatively maleable metal and a spring; said body including a wire crimp barrel, means for mechanically securing the spring to the body, and a U-shaped guard portion having an opening formed therethrough; said spring including a spring contact surrounded by said guard portion and having a contact projecting outwardly of said guard portion through said opening for forming an electrical connection with a circuit element, and a contact portion extending into said crimp barrel; whereby when the conductor is positioned in the barrel and the barrel is crimped closed, a high pressure metal to metal electrical connection is formed between the conductor and the spring.

Claim 11

A terminal as in claim 7 wherein said means comprises a second crimp barrel for mechanically securing the spring to the body.

Claim 12

A connector block comprising an insulating body having a series of terminal cavities therein and an outside wall with openings communicating with said cavities, a plurality of bi-metal terminals with each terminal confined in a cavity and including a body formed of relatively maleable strip stock having a spring guard with an opening therein and a wire crimp barrel, and a spring contact having a contact portion extending through said guard opening and the opening in the terminal cavity for establishing an electrical connection with a circuit element adjacent said wall and a crimp contact portion extending into said wire crimp barrel for establishing a direct electrical connection with a conductor crimped in said barrel, each of said terminals including means for physically securing said body and said spring contact together.

Claim 13

A connector block comprising an insulating body having a series of terminal cavities therein and an outside wall with openings communicating with said cavities, a plurality of bi-metal terminals with each terminal confined in a cavity and including a body formed of relatively maleable strip stock having a spring guard with an opening therein and a wire crimp barrel, and a spring contact having a contact portion extending through said guard opening and the opening in the terminal cavity for establishing an electrical connection with a circuit element adjacent said wall and a crimp contact portion extending into said wire crimp barrel for establishing a direct electrical connection with a conductor crimped in said barrel, each of said terminals including means for physically securing said body and said spring contact together.

Claim 14

A connector block as in claim 9 wherein said terminals are elongate and include means at each end thereof cooperable for snugly securing the terminals within the terminal cavities so as to prevent movement of the terminals within the insulating body.

Claim 15

A connector block as in claim 9 wherein in each terminal said means comprises a crimp barrel on said body crimped to said spring contact.

Claim 16

A connector block as in claim 9 wherein in each terminal said guard includes a reverse bend portion of said body surrounding said spring contact portion and said opening comprises a window in said reverse bend portion.