Integrated wire termination system with integral retainer

Claim 2

An integrated wire termination system with integral retainer comprising: an elongated socket member having a bore extending thereinto from the rear end thereof adapted to receive an annular shouldered terminal pin attached to a wire; an aperture in the side of said socket member; a spring biased retainer extending through said aperture partly into said bore for engaging the annular shoulder of the terminal pin when the latter is pressed into said bore and to bias the terminal pin against the inner wall of said socket member; and abutment means for holding said retainer fixed on said socket member; said retainer comprising: a split sleeve of spring material having a generally inverted Ushaped cut sheared across the split near the forward end thereof to provide two forwardly extending tabs one on each side of said split; said split sleeve being assembled around said socket member and fixed thereon by said abutment means; and the portion of said split sleeve adjacent said tabs being formed partly through said aperture to cause the forward edges of the tabs to serve as a catch for the terminal pin shoulder and to provide an inclined inner surface behind said tabs for engagement by a release tool to bias said catch clear of the terminal pin shoulder for release.

Claim 3

The invention defiNed in claim 1, wherein: said aperture is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with a pair of notches on opposite sides of said tabs generally in alignment therewith to provide clearance to allow spreading of said catch when the release tool is inserted.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein: said elongated socket member comprises a generally cylindrical electrically conducting member having said bore extending from the open rear end almost to the front end.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 3, wherein: said abutment means comprises a smaller external diameter section providing a larger diameter collar at the rear end and a shoulder at the forward end for fixing said split sleeve retainer in place.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 4, wherein: said split sleeve retainer comprises a tab at one end thereof; and a notch in said socket member for receiving said tab to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein: the part of said split sleeve retainer ahead of said tabs is formed to apply a lateral force on the annular shoulder of the terminal pin to afford a good electrical contact between the opposite side of the annular shoulder and the inner wall of said socket member whereby the terminal pin axis remains parallel with the socket axis.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein: said tabs are provided with a configuration affording large angle, long arcuate distance contact with the surface of the terminal pin.

Claim 9

An integrated wire termination system with integral retainer comprising: a generally cylindrical socket member having a bore extending thereinto from the rear end thereof adapted to receive an annular shouldered terminal pin; a reduced external diameter section on said socket member between an enlarged collar at the rear end thereof and a shoulder at the forward end thereof; an aperture in the side of said reduced external diameter section; and a spring biased retainer extending through said aperture partly into said bore for engaging the annular shoulder of the terminal pin when the latter is pressed into said bore and to bias the terminal pin against the internal wall of said socket member; said retainer comprising: a split sleeve of spring material having a generally inverted U-shaped cut sheared across the split therein near one end thereof; said split sleeve being assembled on and substantially coextensive with said reduced external diameter section with the split overlying said aperture; and the portion of said split sleeve adjacent the split and cut thereof being formed partly through said aperture to cause the forward edges of the tabs formed by said split and said cut to serve as a catch for the terminal pin shoulder and to provide an inclined inner surface that may be engaged by a release tool to bias said catch clear of the terminal pin shoulder for release of the terminal pin for disconnection.

Claim 10

An integrated wire termination system with integral retainer comprising: a generally cylindrical socket member having a bore extending thereinto from the rear end thereof adapted to receive an annular shouldered terminal pin; a reduced external diameter section on said socket member between an enlarged collar at the rear end thereof and a shoulder at the forward end thereof; an aperture in the side of said reduced external diameter section; and a spring biased retainer extending through said aperture partly into said bore for engaging the annular shoulder of the terminal pin when the latter is pressed into said bore and to bias the terminal pin against the internal wall of said socket member; said retainer comprising: a split sleeve of spring material having a generally inverted U-shaped cut sheared across the split therein near one end thereof; said split sleeve being assembled on and substantially coextensive with said reduced external diameter section with the split overlying said aperture; and the portion of said split sleeve adjacent the split and cut thereof being formed partly through said aperture to cause the forward edges of the tabs formed by said split and said cut to serve as a catch for the terminal pin shoulder and to provide an inclined inner surface that may be engaged by a release tool to bias said catch clear of the terminal pin shoulder for release of the terminal pin for disconnection.