US3760335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pre-loaded electric connector
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-27
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-05-27
Abstract
Abstract Multi-contact electrical connector comprises an insulating body having a plurality of electrical contact terminals therein. The rearward ends of the terminals are provided with slotted platetype contact means which are adapted to receive insulated wires to form electrical and mechanical connections between the terminals and the wires. The arrangement of the contact terminals in the connector housing is such that a plurality of wires can be connected to the individual terminals in a single operation so that the connector can be quickly applied to the end of a multiconductor cable at a work site.
Inventors
- 👤 L Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/01; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/2445; H01R4/2462; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/26; H01R13/58; H01R13/595; H01R2107/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A multi-contact electrical connector which is adapted to be applied to the ends of a plurality of electrical conductors, said connector comprising: an insulating housing having a conductor receiving side and a mating side, a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending from said conductor receiving side to said mating side, said cavities being arranged in a row on spaced-apart parallel axes, electrical contact terminals in said cavities, each of said contact terminals having contact means at its forward end proximate to said mating side and having a plate-like portion at its rearward end, said plate-like portions being arranged in a common plane which is spaced from, and parallel to, one surface of said conductor receiving side of said housing, each of said plate-like portions having a free end and having a wire-receiving slot extending therein from said free end and cover means removably mounted on said housing, said cover means extending at least partially over said conductor receiving side and having internal surface portions which are adjacent to said plate-like portions of said terminals whereby, upon removal of said cover means and positioning said conductors in a plane which extends transversely of said common plane with the axes of said conductors in alignment with said slots, and upon movement of said conductors laterally of their axes into said slots, said conductors are electrically and mechanically connected to said contact terminal, and upon replacement of said cover means on said housing, said cover means will maintain said conductors in said slots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A multi-contact electrical connector which is adapted to be applied to the ends of a plurality of electrical conductors, said connector comprising: an insulating housing having a conductor receiving side and a mating side, a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending from said conductor receiving side to said mating side, said cavities being arranged in a row on spaced-apart parallel axes, electrical contact terminals in said cavities, each of said contact terminals having contact means at its forward end proximate to said mating side and having a plate-like portion at its rearward end, said plate-like portions being arranged in a common plane which is spaced from, and parallel to, one surface of said conductor receiving side of said housing, each of said plate-like portions having a free end and having a wire-receiving slot extending therein from said free end and cover means removably mounted on said housing, said cover means extending at least partially over said conductor receiving side and having internal surface portions which are adjacent to said plate-like portions of said terminals whereby, upon removal of said cover means and positioning said conductors in a plane which extends transversely of said common plane with the axes of said conductors in alignment with said slots, and upon movement of said conductors laterally of their axes into said slots, said conductors are electrically and mechanically connected to said contact terminal, and upon replacement of said cover means on said housing, said cover means will maintain said conductors in said slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover means has a groove on its internal surface, said plate-like portions being received in said groove, the sides of said groove constituting said internal surface portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A multi-contact connector as set forth in claim 1 including a rib extending from said conductor receiving side of said housing in supporting relationship to said rearward ends of said terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has a second row of contact receiving cavities, said second row being parallel to, and spaced from said first row, electrical contact terminals in said second row of cavities, said contact terminals in said second row being reversely oriented with respect to said first row.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 including a rib extending from said conductor receiving side of said housing between said rows of terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
246 words
A multi-contact electrical connector adapted to be applied to the end of a cable having a plurality of pairs of electrical conductors and adapted to be mated with a complementary connector on the end of a similar cable having a like number of pairs of electrical conductors therein, said connector comprising: an insulating housing having a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending therethrough from the rearward side to the mating side thereof, said cavities being arranged in two parallel rows extending between the ends of said housing, rib means integral with said housing on said rearward side, said rib means extending medially on said rearward side between said ends of said housing and between said rows, said rib means defining surfaces which face laterally in opposite directions, said cavities opening onto said surfaces, separator fins extending normally from said surfaces, said separator fins being between said cavities, an electrical contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said terminals having a contact portion at the forward end thereof proximate to said forward end of said housing and a wire connecting poRtion on its rearward end, said wire connecting portion extending over said surface and laterally between adjacent ones of said separator fins, said wire connecting portion of each of said terminals having a wire-receiving slot extending inwardly therein and laterally towards the axis of said housing whereby said conductors of said cable can be connected to said terminals by forcing said conductors into said slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
246 words
A multi-contact electrical connector adapted to be applied to the end of a cable having a plurality of pairs of electrical conductors and adapted to be mated with a complementary connector on the end of a similar cable having a like number of pairs of electrical conductors therein, said connector comprising: an insulating housing having a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending therethrough from the rearward side to the mating side thereof, said cavities being arranged in two parallel rows extending between the ends of said housing, rib means integral with said housing on said rearward side, said rib means extending medially on said rearward side between said ends of said housing and between said rows, said rib means defining surfaces which face laterally in opposite directions, said cavities opening onto said surfaces, separator fins extending normally from said surfaces, said separator fins being between said cavities, an electrical contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said terminals having a contact portion at the forward end thereof proximate to said forward end of said housing and a wire connecting poRtion on its rearward end, said wire connecting portion extending over said surface and laterally between adjacent ones of said separator fins, said wire connecting portion of each of said terminals having a wire-receiving slot extending inwardly therein and laterally towards the axis of said housing whereby said conductors of said cable can be connected to said terminals by forcing said conductors into said slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 6 wherein said wire connecting portion of each of said terminals comprises a generally U-shaped formation on the end of said terminal, the bight portion of said U-shaped formation being spaced from the one of said surfaces on which the terminal is located, said U-shaped formation of each terminal being spaced from said rearward side of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 7 including cover means removably secured to said rearward side of said housing, said cover means having a groove therein, said U-shaped formations of said contact terminals being received in said groove whereby upon application of said connector to a cable, said cover means serves to maintain the conductors of said cable in said wire-receiving slots.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
An electrical device which is adapted to have a plurality of electrical conductors connected thereto, said device comprising: an insulating housing, said housing having a conductor-receiving side, a plurality of metallic terminal devices, each of said devices having at least one plate-like portion, said plate-like portions being arranged in side-by-side relationship in a common plane, said plane being substantially parallel to, and spaced from, said conductor-receiving side of said housing, each of said plate-like portions having a shank portion extending from one side thereof towards, and into, said conductor receiving side, each of said plate-like portions having a wire-receiving slot extending into the side thereof which is opposite to said one side whereby, a conductor can be connected to each of said terminal devices by locating said conductor with its axis extending transversely of said common plane and in alignment with the wire-receiving slot of said terminal device, and moving said conductor laterally of its axis and into said slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
An electrical device which is adapted to have a plurality of electrical conductors connected thereto, said device comprising: an insulating housing, said housing having a conductor-receiving side, a plurality of metallic terminal devices, each of said devices having at least one plate-like portion, said plate-like portions being arranged in side-by-side relationship in a common plane, said plane being substantially parallel to, and spaced from, said conductor-receiving side of said housing, each of said plate-like portions having a shank portion extending from one side thereof towards, and into, said conductor receiving side, each of said plate-like portions having a wire-receiving slot extending into the side thereof which is opposite to said one side whereby, a conductor can be connected to each of said terminal devices by locating said conductor with its axis extending transversely of said common plane and in alignment with the wire-receiving slot of said terminal device, and moving said conductor laterally of its axis and into said slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device as set forth in claim 9 including cover means removably mounted on said conductor receiving side of said housing, said cover means having recess means therein, said plate-like portions extending into said recess means, and said cover means having portions extending between said common plane and said conductor receiving side whereby said cover means maintains conductors in said wire-receiving slots.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical device as set forth in claim 10, said recess means comprising a groove in said cover means.
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) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |