US3708780A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple wire electrical connector
Assignee: Microdot Inc
•
Filing: 1970-02-11
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Granted: 1973-01-02
•
Expires: 1990-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A connector assembly incorporating a plurality of contact elements on the ends of a corresponding plurality of wires for mating with a similar complementary connector assembly includes insulating means forming a plurality of longitudinal passages to confine and retain the plurality of contact elements, the insulating means being divided into a rear section and a separate front section. The rear section has rear entrances to the longitudinal passages that are large enough to clear the contact elements and means cooperates with the front section to lock the contact elements in the longitudinal passages in response to assembling of the front section to the rear section. This arrangement permits the plurality of contact elements with the wires attached thereto to be inserted into the longitudinal passages of the insulating means from the rear thereby to avoid the necessity of threading the wires through the rear section of the insulating means before attaching the contact elements to the wires.
Inventors
- 👤 R Pierce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
395 words
In a connector assembly incorporating a plurality of contact elements on the ends of corresponding conductors for mating with a complementary connector assembly incorporating complementary contact elements wherein the connector assembly includes a housing shell confining insulating means, with the insulating means, in turn, forming a plurality of passages confining said plurality of contact elements, wherein the imProvement comprises: a front insulating section and a rear insulating section in contiguous relationship with portions thereof defining said passages; said rear insulating section forming rear entrances to the passages large enough to permit the contact elements with the conductors attached thereto to be inserted through the rear insulating section when the front insulating section is separated from the rear insulating section, said contact elements being peripherally recessed to form reduced neck portions that provide rearwardly directed locking shoulders; resilient sleeves anchored to said rear insulating section and extending forward therefrom to engage the contact elements respectively, said resilient sleeves having first portions and forward resilient fingers extending from the first portions and biased in their free state radially inwardly of the sleeves to enter said neck portions of the contact elements and to provide yielding engagement with said locking shoulders of the contact elements to resist rearward retraction of the contact elements, said first portions of the resilient sleeves being disposed in the passages in the rear insulating section and said rearwardly directed shoulders of the contact elements and the forward ends of said fingers being normally in the passages of said front insulating section and the passages of the front insulating section being dimensioned in cross section to confine the fingers only to their inwardly biased position in contiguous relationship with said rearwardly directed shoulders of the contact elements thereby to positively lock the contact elements in their normal positions, whereby with the front insulating section spaced from the forward end of the rear insulating section, the contact elements may be inserted through the rear insulating section and beyond into engagement with said fingers and then the front insulating section may be assembled to the rear insulating section to confine the fingers and thus lock the contact elements in their assembled positions; and said fingers and rearwardly directed shoulders being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the fingers outward to release the contact elements in response to axial withdrawal force on the contact elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
395 words
In a connector assembly incorporating a plurality of contact elements on the ends of corresponding conductors for mating with a complementary connector assembly incorporating complementary contact elements wherein the connector assembly includes a housing shell confining insulating means, with the insulating means, in turn, forming a plurality of passages confining said plurality of contact elements, wherein the imProvement comprises: a front insulating section and a rear insulating section in contiguous relationship with portions thereof defining said passages; said rear insulating section forming rear entrances to the passages large enough to permit the contact elements with the conductors attached thereto to be inserted through the rear insulating section when the front insulating section is separated from the rear insulating section, said contact elements being peripherally recessed to form reduced neck portions that provide rearwardly directed locking shoulders; resilient sleeves anchored to said rear insulating section and extending forward therefrom to engage the contact elements respectively, said resilient sleeves having first portions and forward resilient fingers extending from the first portions and biased in their free state radially inwardly of the sleeves to enter said neck portions of the contact elements and to provide yielding engagement with said locking shoulders of the contact elements to resist rearward retraction of the contact elements, said first portions of the resilient sleeves being disposed in the passages in the rear insulating section and said rearwardly directed shoulders of the contact elements and the forward ends of said fingers being normally in the passages of said front insulating section and the passages of the front insulating section being dimensioned in cross section to confine the fingers only to their inwardly biased position in contiguous relationship with said rearwardly directed shoulders of the contact elements thereby to positively lock the contact elements in their normal positions, whereby with the front insulating section spaced from the forward end of the rear insulating section, the contact elements may be inserted through the rear insulating section and beyond into engagement with said fingers and then the front insulating section may be assembled to the rear insulating section to confine the fingers and thus lock the contact elements in their assembled positions; and said fingers and rearwardly directed shoulders being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the fingers outward to release the contact elements in response to axial withdrawal force on the contact elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which said locking sleeves and rearwardly facing shoulders are shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the locking sleeves outward to release the contacts in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which said locking shoulders of the contact elements are sloping shoulders to cam the resilient fingers out of engagement therewith in response to rearward retraction of the contact elements when the resilient fingers therein are not confined by the front insulating section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 3 in which the outer ends of the resilient fingers are turned outward less than 90* from the longitudinal axes of the passages to facilitate the cam action of the locking shoulders on the fingers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which the resilient sleeves are normally positioned in the portions of said passages that are in the rear insulating section; in which the resilient sleeves have circumferentially continuous cylindrical walls, said cylindrical walls having an unrestrained non circular cross-sectional configuration of greater cross dimension than the cross sections of said portions of the passages whereby the locking sleeves are constricted by said portions of the passages for frictional resistance to forward displacement of the resilient sleeves by insertion by the contacts into the sleeves, said sleeves being made of thin material to avoid destructive outward pressure of the sleeves on the surrounding passage walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 5 in which the resilient sleeves are mounted in the passages in the rear insulating section and The sleeves have at least one forwardly and outwardly directed tongue at the forward ends of the forward resilient fingers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
382 words
In a connector assembly incorporating a plurality of contact elements on the ends of corresponding conductors for mating with a complementary connector assembly incorporating complementary contact elements wherein the connector assembly includes a housing shell, wherein the improvement comprises: a front insulating section and a rear insulating section defining insulating means, the front insulating section and the rear insulating section having a plurality of passages for receiving and confining said plurality of contact elements; the rear entrance portions of said passages formed by the rear insulating section being shaped and dimensioned to clear the contact elements thereby to permit the contact elements to be installed by insertion into the passages from the rear end of the rear insulating section; said contact elements having forwardly facing shoulders; said insulating means having rearwardly facing shoulders cooperative with the forwardly facing shoulders of said contact elements to limit the forward movement of the contact elements in said passages; said rearward section of said insulating means providing forwardly facing shoulders in said passages; said contact elements having rearwardly facing peripheral shoulders in said passages located forwardly of said forwardly facing shoulders of the passages; and locking sleeves surrounding the contact elements in said passages with forward portions of the locking sleeves abutting the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements and with rear portions of the locking sleeves abutting the forwardly facing shoulders of the passages to prevent rearward withdrawal of the contact elements from the passages, said forward portions of the locking sleeves being biased in their free state radially inwardly to abut said rearwardly facing shoulders and being radially expansible upon the exertion of a force to permit said rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements to pass forwardly through the locking sleeves, the passages in said front insulating section, at the assembled position of the front insulating section and the locking sleeves, embracing the forward portions of the installed locking sleeves to prevent radial expansion of the forward portions of the locking sleeves from their inwardly biased position in contiguous relationship to the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements, and the fingers and the rearwardly facing shoulders being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the fingers outward to release the contacts in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
382 words
In a connector assembly incorporating a plurality of contact elements on the ends of corresponding conductors for mating with a complementary connector assembly incorporating complementary contact elements wherein the connector assembly includes a housing shell, wherein the improvement comprises: a front insulating section and a rear insulating section defining insulating means, the front insulating section and the rear insulating section having a plurality of passages for receiving and confining said plurality of contact elements; the rear entrance portions of said passages formed by the rear insulating section being shaped and dimensioned to clear the contact elements thereby to permit the contact elements to be installed by insertion into the passages from the rear end of the rear insulating section; said contact elements having forwardly facing shoulders; said insulating means having rearwardly facing shoulders cooperative with the forwardly facing shoulders of said contact elements to limit the forward movement of the contact elements in said passages; said rearward section of said insulating means providing forwardly facing shoulders in said passages; said contact elements having rearwardly facing peripheral shoulders in said passages located forwardly of said forwardly facing shoulders of the passages; and locking sleeves surrounding the contact elements in said passages with forward portions of the locking sleeves abutting the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements and with rear portions of the locking sleeves abutting the forwardly facing shoulders of the passages to prevent rearward withdrawal of the contact elements from the passages, said forward portions of the locking sleeves being biased in their free state radially inwardly to abut said rearwardly facing shoulders and being radially expansible upon the exertion of a force to permit said rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements to pass forwardly through the locking sleeves, the passages in said front insulating section, at the assembled position of the front insulating section and the locking sleeves, embracing the forward portions of the installed locking sleeves to prevent radial expansion of the forward portions of the locking sleeves from their inwardly biased position in contiguous relationship to the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements, and the fingers and the rearwardly facing shoulders being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the fingers outward to release the contacts in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 7 in which said rearwardly facing shoulders of the insulating means are formed by the rear end of the rear insulating section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 2 in which the rear ends of the contact elements are flanged to abut the rear end of the rear insulating section when the contact elements are correctly positioned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improvement set forth in claim 7 in which the outer ends of the locking sleeves are turned outward to facilitate the cam action.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 10 in which the portions of the passages in the front insulating section into which the sleeves extend are of uniform cross section and said turned ends of the fingers define a larger cross section than the uniform cross section when the fingers are in their release positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
319 words
In a connector assembly incorporating a plurality of contact elements on the ends of corresponding conductors for mating with a complementary connector assembly incorporating complementary contact elements wherein the connector assembly includes a housing shell, the contact elements having rearwardly directed shoulders, wherein the improvement to permit the plurality of contact elements with the conductors attached therEto to be inserted into the rear of the rear insulating section thereby to avoid the necessity of threading the conductors through the rear insulating section prior to attachment of the contact elements to the conductors, insulating means divided into a plurality of sections positioned in end to end relationship and including at least a front insulating section and a rear insulating section; said rear insulating section having a plurality of passages and the passages having rear entrances large enough to permit the contact elements with the conductors attached thereto to be inserted through the passages in the rear insulating section to their assembled positions when the front insulating section is separated from the rear insulating section; the front insulating section having passages to permit the contact elements with the conductors attached thereto to be inserted through the passages, detent means carried by the rear insulating section and having forward portions yieldingly biased inwardly in their free state to engage the contact elements to effectively hold the contact elements in their assembled positions after the contact elements have been advanced through the rear insulating section to their assembled positions with the front insulating section spaced from the rear insulating section; and the passages in the front insulating section having dimensions to accommodate the detent means at the forward end only in the radially inwardly biased position; the forward portions of the detent means and the rearwardly directed shoulders being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the fingers outward to release the contacts in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
319 words
In a connector assembly incorporating a plurality of contact elements on the ends of corresponding conductors for mating with a complementary connector assembly incorporating complementary contact elements wherein the connector assembly includes a housing shell, the contact elements having rearwardly directed shoulders, wherein the improvement to permit the plurality of contact elements with the conductors attached therEto to be inserted into the rear of the rear insulating section thereby to avoid the necessity of threading the conductors through the rear insulating section prior to attachment of the contact elements to the conductors, insulating means divided into a plurality of sections positioned in end to end relationship and including at least a front insulating section and a rear insulating section; said rear insulating section having a plurality of passages and the passages having rear entrances large enough to permit the contact elements with the conductors attached thereto to be inserted through the passages in the rear insulating section to their assembled positions when the front insulating section is separated from the rear insulating section; the front insulating section having passages to permit the contact elements with the conductors attached thereto to be inserted through the passages, detent means carried by the rear insulating section and having forward portions yieldingly biased inwardly in their free state to engage the contact elements to effectively hold the contact elements in their assembled positions after the contact elements have been advanced through the rear insulating section to their assembled positions with the front insulating section spaced from the rear insulating section; and the passages in the front insulating section having dimensions to accommodate the detent means at the forward end only in the radially inwardly biased position; the forward portions of the detent means and the rearwardly directed shoulders being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the fingers outward to release the contacts in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 12 in which said detent means and contact elements are shaped for release of the contact elements, prior to the positioning of the front insulating section, by cam action of the contact elements on the detent means in response to axial withdrawal force on the contact elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 12 in which the contact elements have peripheral recesses and the locking means comprise resilient detent elements biased to contract radially into engagement with said peripheral recesses whereby an incorrectly positioned contact element expands the corresponding locking means; and in which the passages in the front insulating section are dimensioned to clear the contracted detent elements but not the expanded detent elements whereby a detent element that is expanded by an incorrectly positioned contact element blocks correct positioning of the front insulating section to call attention to the incorrect positioning of the contact element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 14 in which the passages in the front insulating section are shaped and dimensioned to confine the locking means in their contracted state at the assembled position of the front insulating section thereby to lock the contact elements in their correct positions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 12 in which said detent means are mounted in the passages in the rear insulating section; in which each detent means has a portion with a continuous cylindrical wall; and in which the unrestricted configuration of said cylindrical wall is out of round with a cross-sectional dimension exceeding the cross-sectional dimension of the passage in which it is mounted whereby the cylindrical wall is compressed by the passage for frictional retention of the detent element in the passage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 16 in which the unrestricted configuration of said cylindrical wall of each detent means is oval so that each installed detent means exerts radially outward pressure against the surrounding passage along a given diameter of the passage; and in which the detent means are positioned at random in the rear insulating section with respect to the orientation of said diameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
353 words
In a connectOr assembly for providing electrical continuity with the ends of a plurality of conductors, a plurality of contact elements constructed to be attached to the ends of the individual conductors in the plurality, the contact elements having forwardly facing shoulders and having rearwardly facing shoulders, first insulating means having a plurality of passages for individually confining the contact elements in the plurality and having at least one shoulder in each of the passages, second insulating means having a forward disposition relative to the first insulating means and having a plurality of passages with a configuration for individually confining the contact elements in the plurality and providing for the insertion of the contact elements, with the conductors attached to the contact elements, through the rear ends of the passages, and having a plurality of shoulders for contiguous disposition with the forwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements, means including a housing shell for confining the first and second insulating means in contiguous relationship to each other, locking sleeves surrounding the contact elements in the passages of the first insulating means and the rearward portions of the passages in the second insulating means, said locking sleeves having additional portions inwardly biased in their free state to abut the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements and having rear portions abutting the shoulders in the first insulating means to prevent rearward withdrawal of the contact elements from the passages, the additional portions of the locking sleeves being capable of outward expansion to provide for a passage of the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements forwardly through the locking sleeves, the first and second insulating means in their contiguous relationship confining the installed locking sleeves to prevent outward expansion of the additional portions of the locking sleeves out of engagement with the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements, and the additional portions of the locking sleeves and the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements being shaped to cooperate for cam action to fix the additional portions outwardly to release the contact elements in response to axial withdrawal force on the contact elements.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
353 words
In a connectOr assembly for providing electrical continuity with the ends of a plurality of conductors, a plurality of contact elements constructed to be attached to the ends of the individual conductors in the plurality, the contact elements having forwardly facing shoulders and having rearwardly facing shoulders, first insulating means having a plurality of passages for individually confining the contact elements in the plurality and having at least one shoulder in each of the passages, second insulating means having a forward disposition relative to the first insulating means and having a plurality of passages with a configuration for individually confining the contact elements in the plurality and providing for the insertion of the contact elements, with the conductors attached to the contact elements, through the rear ends of the passages, and having a plurality of shoulders for contiguous disposition with the forwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements, means including a housing shell for confining the first and second insulating means in contiguous relationship to each other, locking sleeves surrounding the contact elements in the passages of the first insulating means and the rearward portions of the passages in the second insulating means, said locking sleeves having additional portions inwardly biased in their free state to abut the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements and having rear portions abutting the shoulders in the first insulating means to prevent rearward withdrawal of the contact elements from the passages, the additional portions of the locking sleeves being capable of outward expansion to provide for a passage of the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements forwardly through the locking sleeves, the first and second insulating means in their contiguous relationship confining the installed locking sleeves to prevent outward expansion of the additional portions of the locking sleeves out of engagement with the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements, and the additional portions of the locking sleeves and the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements being shaped to cooperate for cam action to fix the additional portions outwardly to release the contact elements in response to axial withdrawal force on the contact elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
In the connector assembly set forth in claim 18, the first and second insulating means being individually removable and the forward portions of the locking sleeves extending through the passages in the first insulating means to become exposed with the second insulating means removed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
In the connector assembly set forth in claim 19, the rearwardly facing shoulders of the contact elements having a gradual taper inwardly with progressive positions toward the front of the contact elements; the taper and the additional portions of the locking sleeves combining in a cam action when the contact elements are displaced rearwardly; and the contact elements having a flange capable of engaging the first insulating means to lock the contact elements, in the assembled relationship with the locking sleeves, against forward movement in the passages of the first and second insulating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
In the connector assembly set forth in claim 19 the locking sleeves being provided with a configuration relative to the passages for retention in the passages and for removal from the passages and for insertion into the passages without damaging the first and second insulating means and without the use of special tools.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The connector assembly defined in claim 18 wherein: said inwardly biased additional portions of said locking sleeves are capable of being expanded radially outwardly in response to the rearward movement of said contact elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a connector assembly for providing electrical continuity with the ends of a plurality of electrical conductors, first insulating means defining a plurality of passages, second insulAting means defining a plurality of passages having a mating configuration with the first passages, the first insulating means being disposed rearwardly of and in contiguous relationship to the second insulating means, a plurality of contact elements for individual connection with the ends of the electrical conductors, the contact elements having a configuration for insertion through the passages in the first and second insulating means from the rear ends of such passages, the contact elements being provided a particular portion having a configuration for a cam action, and a plurality of detent means carried by the first insulating means and yieldingly biased inwardly in the free state at their forward ends to individually engage the particular portions of the contact elements, the forward ends of the detent means being disposed at exposed positions at the front ends of the first insulating means with the second insulating means displaced from the first insulating means to facilitate the holding of the contact elements by the holding means, the forward portions of the detent means and the particular portions of the contact elements being shaped to cooperate for cam action to release the contact elements in response to axial withdrawal force on the contact elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a connector assembly for providing electrical continuity with the ends of a plurality of electrical conductors, first insulating means defining a plurality of passages, second insulAting means defining a plurality of passages having a mating configuration with the first passages, the first insulating means being disposed rearwardly of and in contiguous relationship to the second insulating means, a plurality of contact elements for individual connection with the ends of the electrical conductors, the contact elements having a configuration for insertion through the passages in the first and second insulating means from the rear ends of such passages, the contact elements being provided a particular portion having a configuration for a cam action, and a plurality of detent means carried by the first insulating means and yieldingly biased inwardly in the free state at their forward ends to individually engage the particular portions of the contact elements, the forward ends of the detent means being disposed at exposed positions at the front ends of the first insulating means with the second insulating means displaced from the first insulating means to facilitate the holding of the contact elements by the holding means, the forward portions of the detent means and the particular portions of the contact elements being shaped to cooperate for cam action to release the contact elements in response to axial withdrawal force on the contact elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the connector assembly set forth in claim 23 means including a housing shell for confining the first and second insulating means in contiguous relationship to each other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a connector assembly as set forth in claim 24, the forward ends of the detent means and the particular portions of the contacts being shaped for release of the contacts by cam action of the contact element on the detent means in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a connector assembly as set forth in claim 25, the contacts having peripheral recesses and the detent means comprising at their forward ends resilient detent elements normally biased into engagement with the peripheral recesses whereby an incorrectly positioned contact expands the corresponding detent elements, the passages in the second insulating means being dimensioned to clear the contracted detent elements but not the expanded detent elements whereby a detent element expanded by an incorrectly positioned contact blocks correct positioning of the contact element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a connector assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein the passages in the second insulating means are shaped and dimensioned to confine the detent elements in their contracted state with the first and second insulating means in contiguous relationship and with the contacts properly positioned in the passages in the first and second insulating means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a connector assembly as set forth in claim 27, the detent means being provided with a configuration relative to the passages in the first insulating means which permit the detent means to be retained in the passages at a fixed position in the passages but to be removed from the passages after disposition in the passages.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a connector assembly as set forth in claim 28, the unrestricted configuration of each detent means being oval with a cross-sectional dimension exceeding the cross-sectional dimension of the passage in which it is mounted, and the detent means being positioned at random in the passages in the first insulating means with respect to the orientation of the cross-sectional dimensions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
229 words
In an electrical connector having a receptacle section and a plug section and a housing around each of said sections, a plurality of contacts having circumferential recesses disposed within each of said sections being capable of assuming a contiguous relationship wherein the contacts in one of said sections unite with the contacts of the other of said sections wherein at least one of said sections comprises: first and second insulating means disposed in contiguous relationship to each other for separating and insulating said contacts whereIn portions of said first and second insulating means respectively define first and second passages which extend longitudinally within said housing, said contacts being disposed within said first and second passages; and locking means inwardly biased in their free states with respect to said contacts and at least partially disposed within said first and second passages, said locking means engaging the circumferential recesses in said contacts in the assembled relationship of the first and second insulating means and the contacts resisting the withdrawal of said contacts from said passages whereby said holding force can be overcome by rearward force on said contacts to enable the removal of said contacts, said locking means and said circumferential recesses in said contacts being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the locking means outwardly to release the contacts in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
229 words
In an electrical connector having a receptacle section and a plug section and a housing around each of said sections, a plurality of contacts having circumferential recesses disposed within each of said sections being capable of assuming a contiguous relationship wherein the contacts in one of said sections unite with the contacts of the other of said sections wherein at least one of said sections comprises: first and second insulating means disposed in contiguous relationship to each other for separating and insulating said contacts whereIn portions of said first and second insulating means respectively define first and second passages which extend longitudinally within said housing, said contacts being disposed within said first and second passages; and locking means inwardly biased in their free states with respect to said contacts and at least partially disposed within said first and second passages, said locking means engaging the circumferential recesses in said contacts in the assembled relationship of the first and second insulating means and the contacts resisting the withdrawal of said contacts from said passages whereby said holding force can be overcome by rearward force on said contacts to enable the removal of said contacts, said locking means and said circumferential recesses in said contacts being shaped to cooperate for cam action to flex the locking means outwardly to release the contacts in response to axial withdrawal force on the contacts.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
117 words
The electrical connector as defined in claim 30 wherein said section further comprises: locking fingers at the forward end of said locking means, said locking fingers being biased inwardly and disposed in contiguous relationship with said recesses in said contacts; said passages in said second insulating means being dimensioned to accept said locking fingers when said locking fingers are disposed within said recesses and to reject said locking fingers when said locking fingers are not disposed within said recesses wherein the rejection of said locking fingers prevents said second insulating means from assuming said contiguous position with said first insulating means and thereby provides an indication that the locking fingers are not properly seated in said recess.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
66 words
The connector as defined in claim 30 wherein: said contacts are cammed relative to said locking fingers to expand said locking fingers radially outwardly from said recesses in response to the rearward movement of said contacts so that said locking fingers engage said second insulating means prior to the complete withdrawal of the contacts from said recesses whereby further rearward movement of said contacts are prohibited.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The connector as defined in claim 32 wherein said camming by said contacts is provided by: a rearwardly facing taper extending outwardly from said recess, said locking fingers expanding radially outwardly by the camming action from said taper in response to the rearward movement of said contacts.
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) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |