Patent US3701082A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3701082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1971-03-25
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1991-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A connector has a dielectric body with hollow parallel body sections each containing a female terminal for receiving a male terminal of a switch. The body sections are joined together such that the body sections may be independently flexed where they are joined. This flexure permits variation in the spacing of the front end openings in the connector, thereby to accommodate in the connector switch terminals of varying spacing.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruno Baumanis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
An electrical connector comprising a flexible dielectric body having body sections, each body section having a longitudinal opening extending therethrough, the body sections being juxtaposed and each having means in its opening for retaining an electrically conductive terminal therein such that each terminal may be presented to an entrance end of the body for receiving from said entrance end an elongated terminal adapted for engagement with the first-mentioned terminal, said means including transverse shoulder means adjacent to the entrance end of the body section for limiting the insertion of the firstmentioned terminal into the body section from the opposite end, said body sections being spaced apart along portions of their lengths and being integrally joined by body material along other portions of their lengths, a first portion of joining body material forming a common longitudinal wall portions between first and second adjacent body sections, said common wall portion longitudinally separating the openings of said first and second body sections, a second portion of joining body material comprising a tongue that connects a wall of a third body section to a wall of said second body section, said tongue being bent to project toward said wall of the second body section, said entrance ends of said first and second body sections being substantially aligned and said entrance ends of said second and third body sections being longitudinally offset, the joining body material portions constituting zones of flexure for adjacent body sections that operate to vary the spacing of their entrance ends for accommodation of elongated terminals of varying spacing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
An electrical connector comprising a flexible dielectric body having body sections, each body section having a longitudinal opening extending therethrough, the body sections being juxtaposed and each having means in its opening for retaining an electrically conductive terminal therein such that each terminal may be presented to an entrance end of the body for receiving from said entrance end an elongated terminal adapted for engagement with the first-mentioned terminal, said means including transverse shoulder means adjacent to the entrance end of the body section for limiting the insertion of the firstmentioned terminal into the body section from the opposite end, said body sections being spaced apart along portions of their lengths and being integrally joined by body material along other portions of their lengths, a first portion of joining body material forming a common longitudinal wall portions between first and second adjacent body sections, said common wall portion longitudinally separating the openings of said first and second body sections, a second portion of joining body material comprising a tongue that connects a wall of a third body section to a wall of said second body section, said tongue being bent to project toward said wall of the second body section, said entrance ends of said first and second body sections being substantially aligned and said entrance ends of said second and third body sections being longitudinally offset, the joining body material portions constituting zones of flexure for adjacent body sections that operate to vary the spacing of their entrance ends for accommodation of elongated terminals of varying spacing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A connector according to claim 1 in which the body sections are substantially parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
219 words
An electrical connector comprising a flexible dielectric body having parallel body sections each with a longitudinal opening and entrance and rear ends, two adjacent body sections having corresponding ends respectively juxtaposed and being joined by body material that constitutes a common longitudinal wall portion betwEen the openings of said two body sections, said two body sections being spaced apart from said wall portions to provide a slot extending from said wall portion to one set of corresponding ends of the body sections, an additional body section having a longitudinal opening that extends from an entrance end to a rear end of said additional body section, said additional body section being longitudinally displaced from one of said body sections such that the entrance end of said one body section is longitudinally intermediate the entrance and rear ends of said additional body section, said additional body section being secured to said one body section by a tongue of body material that provides a slot between said additional body section and said one body section, said additional body section having a wall and said tongue projecting rearwardly of said wall and being bent to project toward said one body section for connection therewith, said slots permitting flexing of the body sections relative to one another at the joining regions of body material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
219 words
An electrical connector comprising a flexible dielectric body having parallel body sections each with a longitudinal opening and entrance and rear ends, two adjacent body sections having corresponding ends respectively juxtaposed and being joined by body material that constitutes a common longitudinal wall portion betwEen the openings of said two body sections, said two body sections being spaced apart from said wall portions to provide a slot extending from said wall portion to one set of corresponding ends of the body sections, an additional body section having a longitudinal opening that extends from an entrance end to a rear end of said additional body section, said additional body section being longitudinally displaced from one of said body sections such that the entrance end of said one body section is longitudinally intermediate the entrance and rear ends of said additional body section, said additional body section being secured to said one body section by a tongue of body material that provides a slot between said additional body section and said one body section, said additional body section having a wall and said tongue projecting rearwardly of said wall and being bent to project toward said one body section for connection therewith, said slots permitting flexing of the body sections relative to one another at the joining regions of body material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical connector according to claim 3 in which said additional body section wall has a thickened portion at one end and said tongue projects from said thickened portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
An electrical connector comprising a dielectric body having hollow juxtaposed body sections with entrance openings facing in the same direction, terminals in the body sections and presented to the respective openings for reception of companion terminals, and means formed by resilient connections of body material between the body sections for providing a modicum of flexing of the body sections to accommodate variations in the spacings of said companion terminals, one of said body sections having a tongue formed by an extension of a wall thereof, said extension being bent remote from said one body section to project toward and join a wall of an adjacent body section to form one of said resilient connections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
An electrical connector comprising a dielectric body having hollow juxtaposed body sections with entrance openings facing in the same direction, terminals in the body sections and presented to the respective openings for reception of companion terminals, and means formed by resilient connections of body material between the body sections for providing a modicum of flexing of the body sections to accommodate variations in the spacings of said companion terminals, one of said body sections having a tongue formed by an extension of a wall thereof, said extension being bent remote from said one body section to project toward and join a wall of an adjacent body section to form one of said resilient connections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination according to claim 5 in which the connector includes three parallel body sections, one of said body sections being longitudinally offset from the other two body sections.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |