Plug and socket connectors and sockets therefor

Claim 2

A socket for an electrical plug and socket assembly comprising: a first part having at least two spaced apart cavities for entry of terminals projecting from a package body; a second part having at least two spaced apart openings in axial alignment with said cavities; guide means between said first and second parts to permit movement between them in the axial direction of said cavities; a resilient socket contact in each cavity extending between said first and second parts each having one end connected in a cavity at a point distal from the second part and the other end engaging the second part, the cavities being of a size to permit lateral movement of the contact so that upon movement of the first and second parts toward each other the resilient socket contact will flex; said second part being normally biased away from the first part by said resilient contact means; and said second part having an abutment surface between said openings for engagement with a package body so that when the package body and second part abut during the insertion of terminals into the cavities, further movement of the package body in the axial direction of the cavities wil cause the resilient contacts to flex and establish an electrical connection between the terminals and the resilient contacts.

Claim 3

A socket as claimed in claim 1, including retaining means for releasably holding the first and second parts in a first apart position and a second closed position in which the electrical connection is made between the terminals and the resilient contacts.

Claim 4

A socket for an electrical plug and socket assembly comprising: a first part having at least one cavity for entry of a terminal projecting from a package body; a second part having an opening in axial alignment with said cavity; guide means between said first and second parts to permit movement between them in the axial direction of said cavity; a resilient socket contact extending between said first and second parts having one end connected in a cavity at a point distal from the second part and the other end engaging the second part, the cavity being of a size to permit lateral movement of the contact so that upon movement of the first and second parts toward each other the resilient socket contact will flex; retaining means for releasably holding the first and second parts in a first apart position and in a second closed position in which the electrical connection is made between the terminal and the resilient contact; saId second part being normally biased away from the first part by said resilient contact means; said second part having an abutment surface for engagement with a package body so that when the package body and second part abut during the insertion of the terminal into the cavity, further movement of the package body in the axial direction of the cavity will cause the resilient contact to flex and establish an electrical connection between the terminal and the resilient contact; and said second part has latch members which engage with notches in the first part to maintain the second part in either the first or second positions.

Claim 5

A socket for an electrical plug and socket assembly comprising: a first part having at least one cavity for entry of a terminal projecting from a package body; a second part having an opening in axial alignment with said cavity; guide means between said first and second parts to permit movement between them in the axial direction of said cavity; a resilient socket contact extending between said first and second parts having one end connected in a cavity at a point distal from the second part and the other end engaging the second part, the cavity being of a size to permit lateral movement of the contact so that upon movement of the first and second parts toward each other the resilient socket contact will flex; retaining means for releasably holding the first and second parts in a first apart position and in a second closed position in which the electrical connection is made between the terminal and the resilient contact; saId second part being normally biased away from the first part by said resilient contact means; said second part having an abutment surface for engagement with a package body so that when the package body and second part abut during the insertion of the terminal into the cavity, further movement of the package body in the axial direction of the cavity will cause the resilient contact to flex and establish an electrical connection between the terminal and the resilient contact; and said second part has latch members which engage with notches in the first part to maintain the second part in either the first or second positions.

Claim 6

A socket as claimed in claim 3, in which the socket contact comprises two opposed portions arranged to approach each other during said further movement of the package body in the axial direction so as to engage opposite sides of the terminal contact.

Claim 7

A socket as claimed in claim 4, in which the opposed portions have opposed convex faces.