Contact spring assembly

Claim 2

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices of either the tandem or parallel blade type comprising: first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base to constitute a U-shaped female contact for receiving a tandem male blade; a third contact arm connected to said common base and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a parallel male blade; and means integral with said contact spring assembly arranged to be engaged by said first and second contact arms to restrict their deflection upon their receiving a tandem male blade therebetween.

Claim 3

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices of either the tandem or parallel blade type comprising: a first contact comprising integral first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base and constituting a U-shaped female contact for receiving a tandem male blade; and a second contact comprising a third contact arm connected to said U-shaped contact and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a parallel male blade; said common base includes an upright portion directed upwardly therefrom which, in turn, has portions projecting laterally therefrom to positions in which said projecting portions flank said first and second contact arms and are arranged to be engaged by said first and second contact arms to restrict the deflection of said first and second contact arms upon inserting a tandem male blade between said first and second contact arms.

Claim 4

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices of either the tandem or parallel blade type comprising: a first contact comprising integral first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base and constituting a U-shaped female contact for receiving a tandem male blade; and a second contact comprising a third contact arm connected to said U-shaped contact and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a parallel male blade; said common base includes an upright portion directed upwardly therefrom which, in turn, has portions projecting laterally therefrom to positions in which said projecting portions flank said first and second contact arms and are arranged to be engaged by said first and second contact arms to restrict the deflection of said first and second contact arms upon inserting a tandem male blade between said first and second contact arms.

Claim 5

The assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said third contact arm is fixed to said upright portion.

Claim 6

The assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said third contact arm is riveted to said upright portion.

Claim 7

The assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said third contact arm includes a terminal portion having a binding screw attached thereto.

Claim 8

An electrical female connector device comprising a housing of electrical insulating material; a pair of female contact assemblies as defined in claim 2 mounted within said housing; and a pair of T-slots formed in said housing and oriented relative to said assemblies to permit selective insertion of either parallel or tandem male blades through said slots into saId housing into proper electrical engagement with said female contact assemblies.

Claim 9

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices comprising: first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base to constitute a U-shaped female contact for receiving a straight male blade in one direction; a third contact arm connected to said common base and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a straight male blade in one direction; and means integral with said contact spring axially arranged to be engaged by said first and second contact arms to restrict their deflection upon their receiving a male blade therebetween.

Claim 10

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices comprising: first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base to constitute a U-shaped female contact for receiving a straight male blade in one direction; a third contact arm connected to said common base and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a straight male blade in one direction; and means integral with said contact spring axially arranged to be engaged by said first and second contact arms to restrict their deflection upon their receiving a male blade therebetween.

Claim 11

An electrical female connector device comprising a housing of electrical insulating material; a pair of female contact assemblies as defined in claim 7 mounted within said housing and arranged to receive either a pair of tandem male blades or a pair of parallel contact blades or a pair of any combination of such blades; and a pair of slots formed in said housing; said slots configured so as to selectively admit a pair of either tandem or parallel male blades or a combination of them; and said slots being oriented relative to said assemblies to permit selective insertion of said pair of male blades through said slots into said housing into proper electrical engagement with said assemblies.

Claim 12

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices of either the tandem or parallel blade type comprising: a first contact comprising integral first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base and constituting a U-shaped female contact for receiving a tandem male blade; and a second contact comprising a third contact arm connected to said U-shaped contact and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a parallel male blade; said third contact arm includes a bent-in portion extending parallel with said common base; and a nib is provided on said common base for engaging said bent-in portion to bias said third contact arm against said first and second contact arms to restrict deflection of said third contact arm relative to said first and second contact arms upon insertion of a male parallel blade between the sides of said first and second contact arms and said third contact arm.

Claim 13

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices of either the tandem or parallel blade type comprising: a first contact comprising integral first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base and constituting a U-shaped female contact for receiving a tandem male blade; and a second contact comprising a third contact arm connected to said U-shaped contact and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a parallel male blade; said third contact arm includes a bent-in portion extending parallel with said common base; and a nib is provided on said common base for engaging said bent-in portion to bias said third contact arm against said first and second contact arms to restrict deflection of said third contact arm relative to said first and second contact arms upon insertion of a male parallel blade between the sides of said first and second contact arms and said third contact arm.

Claim 14

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices of either the tandem or parallel blade type comprising: a first contact comprising integral first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base and constituting a U-shaped female contact for receiving a tandem male blade, said common base includes an upright portion from which lugs project laterally; and a second contact comprising a third contact arm connected to said upright portion of said common base and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a parallel male blade; said lugs projecting from said upright portion are arranged to be engaged by said first and second contact arms to restrict their deflection upon insertion of a male tandem blade therebetween; said third contact arm includes a bent-in portion extending parallel with said common base; and a nib formed on said common base and arranged to engage said bent-in portion and bias said third contact arm against the side of said first and second contact arms to restrict deflection of said third contact arm relative to said first and second contact arm upon insertion of a male parallel blade between the sides of said first and second contact arms and said third arm.

Claim 15

A female contact spring assembly for use with straight-bladed male devices of either the tandem or parallel blade type comprising: a first contact comprising integral first and second contact arms interconnected by a common base and constituting a U-shaped female contact for receiving a tandem male blade, said common base includes an upright portion from which lugs project laterally; and a second contact comprising a third contact arm connected to said upright portion of said common base and abutting one side of each of said first and second contact arms and cooperating therewith for receiving a parallel male blade; said lugs projecting from said upright portion are arranged to be engaged by said first and second contact arms to restrict their deflection upon insertion of a male tandem blade therebetween; said third contact arm includes a bent-in portion extending parallel with said common base; and a nib formed on said common base and arranged to engage said bent-in portion and bias said third contact arm against the side of said first and second contact arms to restrict deflection of said third contact arm relative to said first and second contact arm upon insertion of a male parallel blade between the sides of said first and second contact arms and said third arm.