US3746777A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compression connector for electrical conductors with tabs in series
Assignee: Anderson Electric Corp
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Filing: 1972-08-30
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1992-08-30
Abstract
Abstract The compression connector has a metal body with a conductorreceiving recess opening outwardly laterally of the body and defined by spaced side walls extending endwise of the body. The outer edge of one of the side walls carries a plurality of tabs which can be folded into stacked face to face relation to each other, and, in the stacked relation, can be swung into the recess through the open side of the recess so as to close its open side and provide a filler partially filling the recess around a conductor disposed therein. The side walls and tabs can be distorted into tight embracing relation to the conductor by die crimping forces applied toward the base of the recess. The tabs can be detached from the body, selectively, so as to change the overall size of the filler in an inverse relation to the cross section of the conductor to be connected.
Inventors
- 👤 V Peek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/10; H01R4/18; H01R4/183; H01R4/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A compression connector comprising: an elongated compressible metal body having at one of its lateral edges a pair of spaced arms providing a conductorreceiving recess which extends lengthwise of, and opens outwardly edgewise of, the body; and metal tab means hingedly connected to the outer edge of one of said arms and supported normally in an open position relative to the recess and such that a conductor can be moved transversely of its length past the tab means into the recess, and the tab means can be swung inwardly into the recess into a recess-closing and filling position overlying the conductor when the body is subjected to a crimping force applied to the tab means and arms in a direction generally toward the bottom of the recess; characterized in that: said tab means include a plurality of individual tabs, each extending endwise of the body; and hinge means connect the tabs to the body so that the tabs can be swung about parallel axes into stacked relation to each other and into the recess in said stacked relation; and said hinge means for each tab are readily destructible so that selected tabs can be detached and removed for reducing the amount of tab material disposed in the recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A compression connector comprising: an elongated compressible metal body having at one of its lateral edges a pair of spaced arms providing a conductorreceiving recess which extends lengthwise of, and opens outwardly edgewise of, the body; and metal tab means hingedly connected to the outer edge of one of said arms and supported normally in an open position relative to the recess and such that a conductor can be moved transversely of its length past the tab means into the recess, and the tab means can be swung inwardly into the recess into a recess-closing and filling position overlying the conductor when the body is subjected to a crimping force applied to the tab means and arms in a direction generally toward the bottom of the recess; characterized in that: said tab means include a plurality of individual tabs, each extending endwise of the body; and hinge means connect the tabs to the body so that the tabs can be swung about parallel axes into stacked relation to each other and into the recess in said stacked relation; and said hinge means for each tab are readily destructible so that selected tabs can be detached and removed for reducing the amount of tab material disposed in the recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The connector according to claim 1 wherein the tabs are concavo-convex in cross section and contoured so that they are in nested relation when in said stacked relation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
The connector according to claim 1 wherein said tabs are arranged in edge to edge series relation in a row extending transversely of their length; the hinge means include hinges between the adjacent edges of adjacent ones of the tabs and about which the tabs can be swung into said stacked relation to each other; and the tab at one end of the row is a basal tab and is hingedly connected to said outer edge of said one of the arms and provides the hInge connection of said tab means to said one of the arms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector according to claim 3 wherein the tab adjacent to the basal tab is of less width than the basal tab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The connector according to claim 3 wherein said tabs are concavo-convex in cross section, respectively, and, in said stacked relation, said basal tab in closing position relative to the recess has its concavo-side positioned to face the base of the recess; the next adjacent tab has its convex face facing the concave face of the basal tab, and the next successive tab in the series has its convex face facing the concave face of said next adjacent tab.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector according to claim 3 wherein each successive tab of the series, beginning with the tab connected to said basal tab, is less in width than its predecessor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure according to claim 6 wherein the series comprises three tabs and the intermediate tab is thicker than each of the other tabs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The connector according to claim 1 wherein the hinge means are webs of metal integral with the tabs and of less thickness than their associated tabs, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3408855A
Cited
US3354517A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |