US3697935A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Terminal junction
Assignee: KULKA ELECTRIC CORP
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Filing: 1970-12-04
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A terminal junction being provided with a housing of rigid dielectric material enclosing flexible triangularly shaped female sockets. A male pin-type connector having a radial shoulder portion is inserted in a respective female socket making electrical contact therewith while end-play movement of the connector is prevented by a spring tang and tab assembly bearing against the front and rear surfaces of the radial shoulder portion when the connector fully engages the socket.
Inventors
- 👤 William B Drapkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
An electrical connector assembly for receiving a contact pin having a radially projecting collar thereon, said assembly comprising an insulating body having a bore extending inwardly from at least one end thereof, an electrical contact member mounted within the interior of said bore and adapted to receive and make electrical contact with a contact pin inserted within said bore from said one end of said body, and a pin locking member mounted in said bore between said contact member and said one end of said body, said pin locking member constituting a unitary assembly comprising a general cylindrical tubular body having a circular end member, a pair of diametrically opposed and parallel arms formed integrally with said end member and extending perpendicularly from the periphery theReof, curved arm extensions extending laterally from said arms, a pair of spring tangs formed integrally with the ends of the respective arm extensions, said spring tangs being inclined inwardly toward the central axis of said bore with their free ends normally spaced apart by a distance smaller than the diameter of said pin collar, and a pair of spring tabs spaced from said tangs and located between said tangs and said contact member, said tabs being inclined outwardly away from the central axis of said bore, said tangs and tabs being spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bore by a distance less then the thickness of the collar on said pin, whereby when said contact pin is inserted into said bore into engagement with said contact member, said collar is received under spring tension between said tangs and tabs and said pin is locked in inserted position by said pin locking member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
An electrical connector assembly for receiving a contact pin having a radially projecting collar thereon, said assembly comprising an insulating body having a bore extending inwardly from at least one end thereof, an electrical contact member mounted within the interior of said bore and adapted to receive and make electrical contact with a contact pin inserted within said bore from said one end of said body, and a pin locking member mounted in said bore between said contact member and said one end of said body, said pin locking member constituting a unitary assembly comprising a general cylindrical tubular body having a circular end member, a pair of diametrically opposed and parallel arms formed integrally with said end member and extending perpendicularly from the periphery theReof, curved arm extensions extending laterally from said arms, a pair of spring tangs formed integrally with the ends of the respective arm extensions, said spring tangs being inclined inwardly toward the central axis of said bore with their free ends normally spaced apart by a distance smaller than the diameter of said pin collar, and a pair of spring tabs spaced from said tangs and located between said tangs and said contact member, said tabs being inclined outwardly away from the central axis of said bore, said tangs and tabs being spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bore by a distance less then the thickness of the collar on said pin, whereby when said contact pin is inserted into said bore into engagement with said contact member, said collar is received under spring tension between said tangs and tabs and said pin is locked in inserted position by said pin locking member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said tabs are formed integrally with the circular end member of said tubular body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
An electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 in which the free ends of said spring tangs are located to be engaged and spread apart by the circumferential surface of the collar of an inserted contact pin as said collar approaches said spring tabs, said spring tabs being positioned to be engaged and compressed by the forward surface of said collar as the free ends of said spring tangs clear the circumferential surface of said collar and snap into engagement with the body of said pin and the rear surface of said collar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector assembly according to claim 3 in which the free ends of said spring tangs are curved to prevent twisting when said free ends are in engagement with the rear surface of said collar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said circular end member has an aperture of sufficient size to permit the tip of an inserted contact pin to pass therethrough into engagement with said contact member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 in which said bore has a first section sized to receive said pin locking member snugly therein, and a second bore section communicating with said first bore section and located between the latter and said one end of said body, said second section being of smaller diameter than said first section and forming therebetween a shoulder engaging the end of said pin locking member and preventing rearward movement thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A terminal junction according to claim 1 in which said contact member comprises a split tube of springy metal having a triangular cross-section defined by a pair of flat, elongated leg members connected by a flat base member, the free ends of said leg members being spaced from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A terminal junction according to claim 7 in which said leg members are inclined toward each other to provide with said base member a generally triangular passageway through said contact member, said passageway being normally of lesser dimension than the diameter of a contact pin to be received therein, said leg members spreading apart when said contact pin is inserted therebetween to enlarge said passageway, whereby said legs and said base each make line contact with said inserted pin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A terminal junction according to claim 8 in which the free ends of said leg members and the junctures of said leg members with said base engage the surface of said body bore to maintain said contact member concentrically mounted in said bore.
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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) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |