US3675185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connectors for distribution plate and rack and panel applications
Assignee: Elco Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-03
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1991-02-03
Abstract
Abstract One family of connectors, having miniature size and close contact spacing, provides both an Input/Output (I/O) connector (i.e., a pluggable connector for connecting a plurality of leads to an automatically wire-wrappable electrical distribution plate or computer back panel) and a Rack-and-Panel (R/P) connector (i.e., a pluggable connector for connecting one plurality of leads to another plurality thereof, such as required for connecting an electrical equipment chassis to its mounting rack). The family comprises a R/P receptacle, an I/O receptacle, and a plug which can mate with either receptacle. The plug and both receptacles include flat, fork-like androgynous contacts, those in the plug being recessed in individual cavities and those in the receptacles having free-standing mating (nose) portions. The connectors have orientation keying in the form of side grooves in the plug arranged in an asymmetric pattern; these mate with complimentary integral ribs on (1) the inside of an upstanding upper wall of the R/P receptacle insulator, or (2) the insides of opposed upstanding short side walls of the I/O receptacle insulator. Connector keying is provided by an androgynous pin mounted at each side of the plug, the R/P, and the I/O receptacle ; each pin is asymmetric and is mountable in any of six different positions. The I/O receptacle comprises an assembly of flat modules (center, side, and keying) having cylindrical bottom bushings for holding each module to a foraminous metal plate and holding the module''s contacts. The center module contains, in addition to the aforementioned short side walls, bushings for holding a plurality of contacts and an opening to accommodate a socket for a connecting screw. The side modules, provided in pairs, hold sufficient additional contacts to mate with whatever size plug is used. The keying modules, also provided in pairs, hold the connector keying pins.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert E Ruehlemann
- 👤 Alexander Wontorsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/64; H01R13/73; H01R13/74; H01R13/748
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An input/output receptacle comprising a first insulator having opposed upper and lower major surfaces interconnected by an edge surface, the area of each of said major surfaces being greater than the entire area of said edge surface so that said first insulator consists of a substantially flat body except for (a) a plurality of integral cylindrical bushings protruding downwardly from said lower surface and (b) integral orientation keying means protruding upwardly from said upper surface for insuring that said receptacle can be connected to a mating plug in but one mutual orientation, an opening through each of such bushings extending to said upper surface such that said insulator has a corresponding plurality of through holes therein, each of said bushings having a tapered end portion remote from said lower surface and a non-tapered body portion adjacent said lower surface, thereby to permit said bushing to be inserted by force fit into respective apertures in a perforated plate, each of said holes having a contact mounted therein, each contact comprising a mating portion, a tail portion, and a body portion interconnecting said mating and tail portions, the body portion of each contact being mounted in a respective one of said through holes, the mating portion of each contact extending upwardly from said upper surface, and the tail portion of each contact extending downwardly from the end portion of each bushing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An input/output receptacle comprising a first insulator having opposed upper and lower major surfaces interconnected by an edge surface, the area of each of said major surfaces being greater than the entire area of said edge surface so that said first insulator consists of a substantially flat body except for (a) a plurality of integral cylindrical bushings protruding downwardly from said lower surface and (b) integral orientation keying means protruding upwardly from said upper surface for insuring that said receptacle can be connected to a mating plug in but one mutual orientation, an opening through each of such bushings extending to said upper surface such that said insulator has a corresponding plurality of through holes therein, each of said bushings having a tapered end portion remote from said lower surface and a non-tapered body portion adjacent said lower surface, thereby to permit said bushing to be inserted by force fit into respective apertures in a perforated plate, each of said holes having a contact mounted therein, each contact comprising a mating portion, a tail portion, and a body portion interconnecting said mating and tail portions, the body portion of each contact being mounted in a respective one of said through holes, the mating portion of each contact extending upwardly from said upper surface, and the tail portion of each contact extending downwardly from the end portion of each bushing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The receptacle of claim 1 wherein substantially each of said contacts is mounted a distance not greater than 100 mils from its adjacent contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The receptacles of claim 1 wherein said integral orientation keying means comprises a pair of integral walls projecting orthogonally upward from opposite sides of said upper surface of said insulator, each of said walls having at least one integral rib projecting from the surface of said wall which faces said other wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The receptacle of claim 3 further comprising a plug containing a plurality of contacts designed to mate, respectively, with said contacts of said receptacle, said plug comprising an insulator in which said contacts are mounted, said insulator having side walls containing a plurality of grooves designed to engage said integral ribs of said receptacle so as to permit mating of said plug and receptacle in but one mutual orientation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
The receptacle of claim 4 further including a rack-and-panel receptacle comprising an insulator having a plurality of contacts mounted therein which are designed to mate with said plurality of contacts in said plug and which each consist of a mating portion connected to a tail portion by a body portion, said rack-and-panel insulator being thick enough to contain the body and tail sections of said contacts and having means for mounting said rack-and-panel receptacle substantially on one side of a mounting plate, said rack-and-panel receptacle insulator having upstanding walls surrounding said mating portions of said contacts, thereby to form a cavity for receiving said plug, the inner surfaces of said upstanding walls having a plurality of integral keying ribs designed to mate with said grooves of said plug such that said plug and said rack-and-panel receptacle can mate in but one mutual orientation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The receptacle of claim 1 further including a perforated plate, the apertures of which are narrower than said body portions of said bushings, said receptacle being mounted on said plate with said bushings being mounted in said respective apertures in said plate by interference fit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The receptacle of claim 6 wherein said insulator is formed of a thermoplastic insulating materiAl, each through hole in said insulator having a portion adjacent said upper surface which has a greater cross-sectional area than any other portion thereof, the body portion of each contact having two portions with relatively wide and narrow cross-sectional areas, respectively, corresponding to the two different-sized areas of each through hole so that each of said contacts will seat firmly in a respective one of said through holes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the body portion of each of said contacts has a pair of integral barbs with shoulders facing the mating portion of each contact, said barbs being positioned such that said shoulders underly a lower surface of said plate, thereby to inhibit withdrawal of said contact from said receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The receptacle of claim 6 further including a pair of side modules on said plate on opposite sides of said flat insulator, thereby to form a larger receptacle, each of said side modules comprising a second flat insulator having major upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of integral cylindrical bushings protruding therefrom similar to those of said first insulator, and having a plurality of contacts mounted in said holes, the bushings of said second insulators being held in said apertures of said plate by interference fit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The receptacle of claim 9 further including a pair of keying modules mounted on said plate on opposite sides of said side modules, each of said keying modules comprising a body of insulating material having upper and lower surfaces with a plurality of integral bushings protruding from said lower surface thereof, said bushings of said keying modules being mounted in said apertures of said plate by interference fit, each of said keying modules having a keying member mounted therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
The receptacle of claim 10 wherein said integral orientation keying means comprises a pair of integral walls projecting orthogonally upward from opposite sides of said upper surface of said insulator, each of said walls having at least one integral rib projecting from the surface of said wall which faces said other wall, and further including a plug comprising a plurality of contacts designed to mate, respectively, with said contacts of said larger receptacle, said plug comprising an insulator having side walls containing a plurality of grooves designed to engage said integral ribs of said larger receptacle so as to permit mating of said plug and larger receptacle in but one mutual orientation, said plug also containing a plurality of keying members designed to mate, respectively, with said keying members of said keying modules of said receptacle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The receptacle of claim 10 wherein said keying member comprises a metal pin, at least a part of which has an asymmetric cross-section and wherein said keying module includes means for mounting said pin in any one of a plurality descrete positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The receptacle of claim 12 wherein said means for mounting said pin comprises a boss, integral with said keying module and having a hollow core, the internal surface of which comprises a plurality of flat sides and said metal pin also has at least two flat sides which mate with two corresponding flat sides of said core.
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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) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |