Patent US3665600A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3665600A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of forming electrical connectors
Assignee: AUTO SWAGE PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-25
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1989-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for forming electrical connectors in individual and strip form. The connector is formed from a metal strip by punching from the strip two fingers which are integrally connected to the strip at the fingers'' base. The fingers are bent about their bases so that they overlie the material of the strip. The strip is then tubulated so that the fingers extend into the hollow of the tubulated strip. The tubulated strip is shaped by a die swaging technique to form a top connector portion and a bottom nose portion. Waste material is removed to form a finished electrical connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Bartley E Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/28; H01R4/48; H01R4/4809; H01R4/4846; H01R4/4848; H01R4/48185; H01R4/4819; H01R4/4821; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/49218
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of making an electrical connector from a strip of metallic material having longitudinal edges by forming from the strip at least one finger having a base substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the strip, the finger being integrally connected to the strip at the finger''s base and having a free end opposite and parallel to the finger''s base, bending the finger about its base so that the finger overlies the material of the strip and forms an acute angle with the material of the strip that it overlies, tubulating the strip so that the finger extends into the hollow of the tubulated strip and the longitudinal edges of the strip overlap, shaping the tubulated strip to form a top connector portion around the finger, a waste portion extending outwardly from the top connector portion and a bottom portion adjacent the top connector portion, and removing the waste portion to form the connector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of making an electrical connector from a strip of metallic material having longitudinal edges by forming from the strip at least one finger having a base substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the strip, the finger being integrally connected to the strip at the finger''s base and having a free end opposite and parallel to the finger''s base, bending the finger about its base so that the finger overlies the material of the strip and forms an acute angle with the material of the strip that it overlies, tubulating the strip so that the finger extends into the hollow of the tubulated strip and the longitudinal edges of the strip overlap, shaping the tubulated strip to form a top connector portion around the finger, a waste portion extending outwardly from the top connector portion and a bottom portion adjacent the top connector portion, and removing the waste portion to form the connector.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for making a plurality of electrical connectors from a strip of material having longitudinal edges comprising forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced fingers from the strip of material, said fingers being integrally connected to the strip at their base, bending all of the fingers in the same direction so that they overlie the material of the strip and form longitudinally spaced openings in the strip, tubulating the strip so that the fingers extend into the hollow of the strip, and the longitudinal edges of the strip approach each other, shaping the tubulated strip to form a top connector portion around said fingers, a bottom portion adjacent said top connector portion, and a waste portion, and removing the waste portion to form individual connectors.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for making a plurality of electrical connectors from a strip of material having longitudinal edges comprising forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced fingers from the strip of material, said fingers being integrally connected to the strip at their base, bending all of the fingers in the same direction so that they overlie the material of the strip and form longitudinally spaced openings in the strip, tubulating the strip so that the fingers extend into the hollow of the strip, and the longitudinal edges of the strip approach each other, shaping the tubulated strip to form a top connector portion around said fingers, a bottom portion adjacent said top connector portion, and a waste portion, and removing the waste portion to form individual connectors.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for making a plurality of electrical connectors from a strip of material having longitudinal edges comprising forming from the strip of material a first and second row of longitudinally aligned fingers, with the fingers of the second row being laterally aligned with the fingers of the first row, the fingers being integrally connected to the strip at their bases, bending all the fingers of both of the rows in the same direction so that they overlie the material of the strip and form adjacent pairs of laterally aligned openings in the strip; tubulating the strip so that the longitudinal edges of the strip overlap, shaping the areas longitudinally between the adjacent pairs of laterally aligned openings through the full width of the strip in said areas, to form adjacent connectors having a wide top connector portion around the fingers and a narrow bottom nose portion adjacent the top connector portion; forming a waste portion attaching the top connector portion of each connector with the bottom nose portion on an adjacent connector, and removing the waste portion to form individual connectors.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for making a plurality of electrical connectors from a strip of material having longitudinal edges comprising forming from the strip of material a first and second row of longitudinally aligned fingers, with the fingers of the second row being laterally aligned with the fingers of the first row, the fingers being integrally connected to the strip at their bases, bending all the fingers of both of the rows in the same direction so that they overlie the material of the strip and form adjacent pairs of laterally aligned openings in the strip; tubulating the strip so that the longitudinal edges of the strip overlap, shaping the areas longitudinally between the adjacent pairs of laterally aligned openings through the full width of the strip in said areas, to form adjacent connectors having a wide top connector portion around the fingers and a narrow bottom nose portion adjacent the top connector portion; forming a waste portion attaching the top connector portion of each connector with the bottom nose portion on an adjacent connector, and removing the waste portion to form individual connectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 3 which includes forming said laterally aligned fingers in identical size and configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the fingers are formed by a punching operation that punches the fingers from the strip of metal stock and bends the fingers upwarDly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein the upwardly bent fingers are further bent so that the fingers overlie the material of the strip by applying a rotary force to the free ends of the fingers that acts in a direction perpendicular to the base of the fingers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the strip is tubulated by rolling it through an arc exceeding 360* so that the edges of the strip overlap, the extent of said overlap being insufficient to cause the overlapped edges to overlie the fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the shaping step includes forming a shoulder portion in the outside wall of the tubulated strip between said narrower nose portion and said wider top connector portion, said shoulder portion providing a gradual expansion in the diameter of the connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the shaping includes the forming of a closed end on the bottom nose portion of each connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the shaping is a rotary die swaging operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |