Terminal block connectors

Claim 2

An electrical connector for receiving a male contact, a dielectric body having an internal cavity and a rear end with a hole therein communicating with said cavity, said cavity having an internal sidewall including a forward portion and a rearward portion, said cavity also defined in part by slot means at one side thereof, a substantially flat combination element carried in said slot means, said element constructed of resilient and conductive sheet stock and including contact means and retainer means, said retainer means comprising a finger struck outwardly from said element and sloping forwardly and interferingly inwardly into said rearward portion of the cavity, said contact means comprising a finger struck outwardly from said element and sloping interferingly inwardly into the forward portion of the cavity, and other means covering and enclosing said combination element in said dielectric body, whereupon insertion of said male contact into said cavity cams said retainer means and contact means laterally and causes them to bear back against the male contact which is supported on its opposite side by the dielectric internal sidewall of the cavity.

Claim 3

An electrical connector for receiving a male contact, a dielectric body having an internal cavity and a rear end with a hole therein communicating with said cavity, said cavity having an internal sidewall including a forward portion and a rearward portion, said cavity also defined in part by slot means at one side thereof, a substantially flat combination element carried in said slot means, said element constructed of resilient and conductive sheet stock and including contact means and retainer means, said retainer means comprising a finger struck outwardly from said element and sloping forwardly and interferingly inwardly into said rearward portion of the cavity, said contact means comprising a finger struck outwardly from said element and sloping interferingly inwardly into the forward portion of the cavity, and other means covering and enclosing said combination element in said dielectric body, whereupon insertion of said male contact into said cavity cams said retainer means and contact means laterally and causes them to bear back against the male contact which is supported on its opposite side by the dielectric internal sidewall of the cavity.

Claim 4

An electrical connector for receiving a male contact, a dielectric body having an internal cavity and a rear end with a hole therein communicating with said cavity, said cavity having an internal sidewall including a forward portion and a rearward portion, said cavity also defined in part by slot means at one side thereof, a substantially flat combination element carried in said slot means, said element constructed of resilient and conductive sheet stock and including contact means and retainer means, said retainer means comprising a finger struck outwardly from said element and sloping forwardly and interferingly inwardly into said rearward portion of the cavity, said contact means comprising a finger struck outwardly from said element and sloping interferingly inwardly into the forward portion of the cavity, and other means covering and enclosing said combination element in said dielectric body, whereupon insertion of said male contact into said cavity cams said retainer means and contact means laterally and causes them to bear back against the male contact which is supported on its opposite side by the dielectric internal sidewall of the cavity.

Claim 5

The connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dielectric body includes a plurality of individual cavities which are interconnected by said slot means, and wherein said combination element forms an electrical bridge therebetween.

Claim 6

The connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said dielectric body includes mounting means for receiving a screw to thereby affix the body to a mounting panel, said mounting means comprising a hole and a side-access slot permitting side entry into said hole, said side-access slot being narrower at its junction with the hole than said screw to permit the connector to be snapped over the screw and be captivated thereby.

Claim 7

The connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said dielectric body includes mounting means for receiving a screw to thereby affix the body to a mounting panel, said mounting means comprising a hole for receiving a screw having a screw head, the hole at one end being defined by a buildup of upstanding dielectric material which is crushed under the head of said screw upon a tightening thereof to maintain intimate contact with the screw and resist the loosening thereof.

Claim 8

An electrical connector, comprising: a connector body having a rear end and a front end, said body defined in part by an internal opening having a plurality of relatively large contact cavities interconnected by a thin and flat slot, each contact cavity having a fixed stop as well as a rear portion and a forward portion, a contact element retained in said slot and forming an electrical bridge therebetween, said contact element being substantially thin and flat and having two sets of prongs extending outwardly therefrom, one set of said prongs comprising a plurality of contacts, each contact of which extends inwardly into a different one of the forward portions of one of said contact cavities, the other set of said prongs comprising retainers, each one of which extends inwardly into a different one of the rearward portions of the contact cavities, a pin contact in each of said cavities, each pin contact including a shoulder for abutting said fixed stop, said pin contact also including means which interact with said retainers for preventing removal of said pin contact after insertion thereof into one of said cavities, and means enclosing said contact element in said slot to retain it therein.

Claim 9

An electrical connector, comprising: a connector body having a rear end and a front end, said body defined in part by an internal opening having a plurality of relatively large contact cavities interconnected by a thin and flat slot, each contact cavity having a fixed stop as well as a rear portion and a forward portion, a contact element retained in said slot and forming an electrical bridge therebetween, said contact element being substantially thin and flat and having two sets of prongs extending outwardly therefrom, one set of said prongs comprising a plurality of contacts, each contact of which extends inwardly into a different one of the forward portions of one of said contact cavities, the other set of said prongs comprising retainers, each one of which extends inwardly into a different one of the rearward portions of the contact cavities, a pin contact in each of said cavities, each pin contact including a shoulder for abutting said fixed stop, said pin contact also including means which interact with said retainers for preventing removal of said pin contact after insertion thereof into one of said cavities, and means enclosing said contact element in said slot to retain it therein.