US3665378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring receptacle contact and housing therefor
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-04
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A spring receptacle contact and a housing therefor, the contact including a pair of resilient cantilever spring fingers which cooperate to provide a receptacle. The fingers are each provided with a button compressibly engaged on opposed sides of a housing recess into which the spring contact is inserted. The contact is further provided with a tab in spaced relationship from a pair of flaps. Together, the tab and flaps are crimped over an electrical post which projects from the housing recess. The receptacle contact is further provided with an elongated embossed base which terminates in a generally T-shaped end portion which seats laterally within the housing recess. Such end portion additionally carries a tine which abuts against a shoulder in the housing to prevent withdrawal of the contact receptacle. A pair of diagonally projecting levers compressibly engage against a side of the housing recess for seating the longitudinal base of the receptacle contact laterally against an opposed side of the housing recess. Additionally, the levers abut against a shoulder provided in the housing recess to lock the recess to lock the receptacle contact therein. To remove the receptacle contact, a suitable tool is inserted into the housing recess for resiliently deforming the tine and disengaging it from the cooperating shoulder.
Inventors
- 👤 Kemper Martel Hammell
- 👤 Karl Lester Kaylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A resilient spring receptacle contact, comprising: an elongated base having an integral T-shaped end portion, a pair of elongated resilient fingers overlying said base and defining a contact receptacle, said resilient fingers extending generally longitudinally of said elongated base and being reversely bent in a direction generally longitudinally of said elongated base to define a flared entryway of said receptacle, said entryway overlying said T-shaped end portion, each of said elongated fingers including a generally elongated lever projecting generally forwardly of a longitudinal axis of a corresponding elongated finger and generally toward said flared entryway and said T-shaped end portion , each one of said levers being cantilever mounted on a corresponding spring finger, each of said spring fingers including a notch portion defining a corresponding projecting lever, a web joining said spring fingers with said base, said base and said T-shaped end portion and said web together defining a bottom wall of a generally U-shaped channel, one of said spring fingers defining a sidewall of said generally U-shaped channel, and the other of said spring fingers defining another sidewall of said generally U-shaped channel, said sidewalls being in mutual opposed relationship and connected to said bottom wall in order to form said generally U-shaped channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A resilient spring receptacle contact, comprising: an elongated base having an integral T-shaped end portion, a pair of elongated resilient fingers overlying said base and defining a contact receptacle, said resilient fingers extending generally longitudinally of said elongated base and being reversely bent in a direction generally longitudinally of said elongated base to define a flared entryway of said receptacle, said entryway overlying said T-shaped end portion, each of said elongated fingers including a generally elongated lever projecting generally forwardly of a longitudinal axis of a corresponding elongated finger and generally toward said flared entryway and said T-shaped end portion , each one of said levers being cantilever mounted on a corresponding spring finger, each of said spring fingers including a notch portion defining a corresponding projecting lever, a web joining said spring fingers with said base, said base and said T-shaped end portion and said web together defining a bottom wall of a generally U-shaped channel, one of said spring fingers defining a sidewall of said generally U-shaped channel, and the other of said spring fingers defining another sidewall of said generally U-shaped channel, said sidewalls being in mutual opposed relationship and connected to said bottom wall in order to form said generally U-shaped channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, and further including: a tine on said T-shaped end portion projecting from said bottom wall of said U-shaped channel, said bottom wall of said U-shaped channel generally overlying said tine, and said entryway overlying said bottom wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure as recited in claim 2, and further including: a raised elongated embossment extending longitudinally of said base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure as recited in claim 2, and further including: electrical post means projecting longitudinally of said base, and connection means on said web for electrically connecting said electrical post means to said spring receptacle contact at two spaced locations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein, said connection means includes: a tab partially severed from said web and engagable on said post means, and a pair of flaps in spaced relationship with respect to said tab and wrappingly engaged on said post means, said post means being secured at one of said locations by said tab and at another of said locations by said flaps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
The combination of a spring receptacle contact as recited in claim 1, lockingly secured in a recess provided in a housing, comprising: a housing including a recess receiving said spring receptacle contact, a first sidewall of said housing recess including a first shoulder internally of said housing recess, a second sidewall of said housing recess including a second shoulder internally of said housing recess, said contact being insertable in said housing recess between said first and said second sidewalls of said housing recess, said tine in abutment against said first shoulder, at least one of said levers in abutment against said second shoulder, said base seated against said first sidewall of said recess, and at least one of said levers in compression against said second sidewall of said recess and forcing said base in seated relationship on said first sidewall of said recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure as recited in claim 6, and further including: a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall of said housing recess, said T-shaped end portion of said spring receptacle contact extending between said third sidewall and said fourth sidewall to laterally support and align said spring receptacle contact in said housing recess.
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) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |