Ball and socket electrical connector means

Claim 2

An electrical connector means comprising: a female terminal and a male terminal which is adapted to be connected to the female terminal; said female terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead and an annular, hollow forward portion, said forward portion having a spherically shaped section adjacent its forward end whose inner surface is of a given diameter and a tapered entry section whose taper progressively decreases proceeding from the forward end toward the spherical section of said forward portion, a male terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead and a forward portion, said forward portion including a pair of spaced, flexible forwardly extending arms and a pair of spaced hemispherical sections integral with the arms at their forward ends, said hemispherical sections being aligned and together defining a generally spherical forward end section having an outer diameter slightly larger than said given diameter when in its free state, said hemispherical sections each having an integral finger at its forward end extending toward the other hemispherical section, said fingers substantially preventing entry of foreign material into the generally spherical end section of said male terminal, said male terminal being connectable to said female terminal by inserting its forward end into the forward end of said female terminal until said spherical forward end section of said male terminal is seated in the spherical section of said female terminal, said arms and said hemispherical sections of said male terminal being flexed toward each other from their free state position by said tapered entry section of said female terminal when being inserted in said female terminal until said hemispherical sections clear the tapered entry section whereupon they return toward their free state position and with the hemispherical sections of the male terminal engaging the spherical section of the female terminal over a large area to provide both an electrical and mechanical connection between the male and female terminals.

Claim 3

An electrical connector means comprising: a female terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead and an annular, hollow forward portion, said forward portion having a spherically shaped section adjacent its forward end whose inner surface is of a given diameter, said female terminal also having a slot in its side between its opposite ends, a male terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead, an intermediate portion and a forward portion which is adapted to be connected to the forward portion of the female terminal, said intermediate portion including a base and a pair of spaced wings extending transversely of the base, said forward portion including a pair of spaced, flexible forwardly extending arms and a pair of hemispherical sections at the forward ends of the arms which together define a generally spherical forward end whose outer diameter is slightly larger than said given diameter when in its free state, said forward portion also having a transversely extending flange portion integral with the base of the intermediate portion and said arms, a female insulator body for housing said female terminal, said female insulator body including first and second portions which are integrally connected together by a hinge means, said first and second portions each having at least one semi-circular recess therein said first and second portions being adapted to be folded along said hinge means between an open position in which said female terminal can be inserted in the recess of said second portion and a closed position in which said recesses define a generally circular cross-sectionally shaped compartment for housing the female terminal, releasable latching means for latching the first and second portions of said female insulator body together in their closed position, said second portion including a transverse abutment extending within the recess and which is adapted to be received within the slot in the female terminal to retain the latter within the female insulator body; said female insulator body also including forwardly projecting fingers, a male insulator body for housing the male terminal, said male insulator body including first and second portions integrally hinged by a hinge means and with each portion having a semicircular recess therein, said first and second portions of the male insulator body being adapted to be folded about the hinge means between an open position in which said male blade terminal can be inserted in the recess of the second portion and a closed position in which the recesses together define a generally circular shaped compartment for containing the male terminal, releasable latching means for latching the portions of the male insulator body together in their closed position, said second portion of said insulator body including a pair of spaced abutments extending into the recess thereof which define a space therebetween, said transversely extending flange portion of said male terminal being received within said space whereby the male blade terminal is securely retained within the male insulator body and with said wings straddling said second abutment, said first and second portion of said male insulator body having forwardly extending portions provided with spaced grooves which are adapted to slidably receive the fingers of the female insulator body when the latter is inserted therein, said male terminal and male insulator body being connectable to the female terminal and female insulator body by inserting the fingers within the grooves of the forwardly projecting portions of the male insulator body, said fingers as they are being inserted therein causing the hemispherical sections of the male terminal to be deflected upon engagement with the female terminal until the latter seats within the spherical socket section of the female terminal, said male terminal engaging said spherical socket section of the female terminal over a large area to provide both an electrical and mechanical connection therebetween as well as a mechanical connection between the male and female insulator bodies.

Claim 4

An electrical connector means comprising: a female terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead and an annular, hollow forward portion, said forward portion having a spherically shaped section adjacent its forward end whose inner surface is of a given diameter, said female terminal also having a slot in its side between its opposite ends, a male terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead, an intermediate portion and a forward portion which is adapted to be connected to the forward portion of the female terminal, said intermediate portion including a base and a pair of spaced wings extending transversely of the base, said forward portion including a pair of spaced, flexible forwardly extending arms and a pair of hemispherical sections at the forward ends of the arms which together define a generally spherical forward end whose outer diameter is slightly larger than said given diameter when in its free state, said forward portion also having a transversely extending flange portion integral with the base of the intermediate portion and said arms, a female insulator body for housing said female terminal, said female insulator body including first and second portions which are integrally connected together by a hinge means, said first and second portions each having at least one semi-circular recess therein said first and second portions being adapted to be folded along said hinge means between an open position in which said female terminal can be inserted in the recess of said second portion and a closed position in which said recesses define a generally circular cross-sectionally shaped compartment for housing the female terminal, releasable latching means for latching the first and second portions of said female insulator body together in their closed position, said second portion including a transverse abutment extending within the recess and which is adapted to be received within the slot in the female terminal to retain the latter within the female insulator body; said female insulator body also including forwardly projecting fingers, a male insulator body for housing the male terminal, said male insulator body including first and second portions integrally hinged by a hinge means and with each portion having a semicircular recess therein, said first and second portions of the male insulator body being adapted to be folded about the hinge means between an open position in which said male blade terminal can be inserted in the recess of the second portion and a closed position in which the recesses together define a generally circular shaped compartment for containing the male terminal, releasable latching means for latching the portions of the male insulator body together in their closed position, said second portion of said insulator body including a pair of spaced abutments extending into the recess thereof which define a space therebetween, said transversely extending flange portion of said male terminal being received within said space whereby the male blade terminal is securely retained within the male insulator body and with said wings straddling said second abutment, said first and second portion of said male insulator body having forwardly extending portions provided with spaced grooves which are adapted to slidably receive the fingers of the female insulator body when the latter is inserted therein, said male terminal and male insulator body being connectable to the female terminal and female insulator body by inserting the fingers within the grooves of the forwardly projecting portions of the male insulator body, said fingers as they are being inserted therein causing the hemispherical sections of the male terminal to be deflected upon engagement with the female terminal until the latter seats within the spherical socket section of the female terminal, said male terminal engaging said spherical socket section of the female terminal over a large area to provide both an electrical and mechanical connection therebetween as well as a mechanical connection between the male and female insulator bodies.

Claim 5

An electrical connector means comprising: a female terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead and an annular, hollow forward portion, said forward portion having a spherically shaped section adjacent its forward end whose inner surface is of a given diameter; a male terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead, an intermediate portion, and a forward portion which is adapted to be connected to the forward portion of the female terminal, said male terminal including a pair of spaced flexible forwardly extending arms and a pair of hemispherical sections at the forward ends of said arms which together define a generally spherical forward end whose outer diameter is slightly larger than said given diameter when in its free state; a female insulator body for housing said female terminal and including first and second portions integrally connected together by a hinge means, said first and second portions each having at least one recess therein, said first and second portions being adapted to be folded along said hinge means to a closed position when said female terminal has been inserted in the recess of one of said portions, said female insulator body having means for retaining said female terminal therein, releasable latching means for locking first and second portions in their closed position; a male insulator body for housing the male terminal, said male insulator body including first and second portions integrally connected by hinge means and each having at least one recess therein, said first and second portions of said male insulator body being adapted to be folded about the hinge means to a closed position when the male terminal has been inserted into the recess of one of said portions, said male insulator body having means for retaining the male terminals therein, releasable latching means for locking the portions of the male insulator body in their closed position, said male terminal and male insulator body being connectable to the female terminal and female insulator body by inserting the forward end of the male terminal into the forward end of the female terminal until the spherical forward end of the male terminal is seated in the spherical forward end of the female terminal, said male terminal engaging said spherical socket section of the female terminal over a large area to provide both an electrical and mechanical connection therebetween as well as a mechanical connection between the male and female insulator bodies.

Claim 6

An electrical connector means comprising: a female terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead and an annular, hollow forward portion, said forward portion having a spherically shaped section adjacent its forward end whose inner surface is of a given diameter; a male terminal having a rearward portion which is adapted to be connected to an electrical lead, an intermediate portion, and a forward portion which is adapted to be connected to the forward portion of the female terminal, said male terminal including a pair of spaced flexible forwardly extending arms and a pair of hemispherical sections at the forward ends of said arms which together define a generally spherical forward end whose outer diameter is slightly larger than said given diameter when in its free state; a female insulator body for housing said female terminal and including first and second portions integrally connected together by a hinge means, said first and second portions each having at least one recess therein, said first and second portions being adapted to be folded along said hinge means to a closed position when said female terminal has been inserted in the recess of one of said portions, said female insulator body having means for retaining said female terminal therein, releasable latching means for locking first and second portions in their closed position; a male insulator body for housing the male terminal, said male insulator body including first and second portions integrally connected by hinge means and each having at least one recess therein, said first and second portions of said male insulator body being adapted to be folded about the hinge means to a closed position when the male terminal has been inserted into the recess of one of said portions, said male insulator body having means for retaining the male terminals therein, releasable latching means for locking the portions of the male insulator body in their closed position, said male terminal and male insulator body being connectable to the female terminal and female insulator body by inserting the forward end of the male terminal into the forward end of the female terminal until the spherical forward end of the male terminal is seated in the spherical forward end of the female terminal, said male terminal engaging said spherical socket section of the female terminal over a large area to provide both an electrical and mechanical connection therebetween as well as a mechanical connection between the male and female insulator bodies.