US3820058A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Insulation pierce type connector
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 1972-10-04
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A pierce type connector for a ribbon cable or the like having a body and a pair of contact tines extending from the body. The tines diverge laterally of each other away from the body. The tines have insulation pierce tips at the free ends and include conductor engaging corners diverging outwardly of the body. The terminals pierce the ribbon cable insulation and expose the conductors therein for contact with the conductor engaging corners.
Inventors
- 👤 L Friend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/65; H01R12/67; H01R12/675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable or the like, comprising a support for a ribbon cable, recess means in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover, and two-sided pierce type terminals mounted in said cover for piercing the cable, engaging the conductors therein and extending into said recess means, each terminal including a base, a slot extending between the sides of the terminal to define a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover for engagement with a conductor in the cable and into said recess means, each tine including an outer side on one side of the terminal, an inner side on the other side of the terminal, an edge joining said sides at the slot, and a contact corner at the junction of the edge and the inner side, said corners extending along opposite terminal sides away from the bottom of the slot and defining the minimum width of the slot, such minimum width increasing away from the bottom of the slot so that the corners diverge outwardly from the bottom of the slot, and insulation pierce means on the ends of the tines for piercing the cable and forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, whereby upon positioning of a ribbon cable between said cover and support the tines of each terminal pierce the cable insulation to either side of a conductor and extend into said recess means and said corners wipe along opposite sides of the conductor to form an electrical connection therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable or the like, comprising a support for a ribbon cable, recess means in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover, and two-sided pierce type terminals mounted in said cover for piercing the cable, engaging the conductors therein and extending into said recess means, each terminal including a base, a slot extending between the sides of the terminal to define a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover for engagement with a conductor in the cable and into said recess means, each tine including an outer side on one side of the terminal, an inner side on the other side of the terminal, an edge joining said sides at the slot, and a contact corner at the junction of the edge and the inner side, said corners extending along opposite terminal sides away from the bottom of the slot and defining the minimum width of the slot, such minimum width increasing away from the bottom of the slot so that the corners diverge outwardly from the bottom of the slot, and insulation pierce means on the ends of the tines for piercing the cable and forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, whereby upon positioning of a ribbon cable between said cover and support the tines of each terminal pierce the cable insulation to either side of a conductor and extend into said recess means and said corners wipe along opposite sides of the conductor to form an electrical connection therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A connector block as in claim 1 wherein sAid tines are generally flat and extend away from the base in diverging directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable, recess means in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover, and pierce-type terminals mounted in said cover for piercing the cable engaging the conductors therein and extending into said recess means, each terminal including a base, a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover for engagement with a conductor in the cable and into a said recess means, said tines diverging away from the terminal base to define a diverging slot therebetween, said tines being twisted in opposite directions along the slot, insulation pierce points on the ends of the tines away from the slot for forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, lead-in surfaces extending from pierce points to the slot, contact surfaces on opposing edges of the slot for forming an electrical connection with one conductor in the cable and slit spreading means for opening the slit and exposing a portion of the conductor to the contact surfaces free of the insulation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
190 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable, recess means in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover, and pierce-type terminals mounted in said cover for piercing the cable engaging the conductors therein and extending into said recess means, each terminal including a base, a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover for engagement with a conductor in the cable and into a said recess means, said tines diverging away from the terminal base to define a diverging slot therebetween, said tines being twisted in opposite directions along the slot, insulation pierce points on the ends of the tines away from the slot for forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, lead-in surfaces extending from pierce points to the slot, contact surfaces on opposing edges of the slot for forming an electrical connection with one conductor in the cable and slit spreading means for opening the slit and exposing a portion of the conductor to the contact surfaces free of the insulation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
207 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable or the like comprising a support for a ribbon cable, a ribbon cable on the support, recesses in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover on the cable, and two-sided pierce-type terminals mounted in said cover engaging the conductors in the cable and extending into said recesses, each terminal including a base, a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover and into a recess, said tines diverging outwardly of the terminal base in opposite directions along a conductor to define a diverging slot therebetween, insulation pierce points on the ends of the tines away from the slot and spaced along the conductor and on opposite sides thereof for forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, contact surfaces on diagonally opposing corners of the slot forming an electrical connection with the conductor in the cable, said corners diverging outwardly from the bottom of the slot and defining the minimum width of the slot, and slit spreading means for opening the slit and exposing the conductor to the contact surfaces free of insulation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
207 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable or the like comprising a support for a ribbon cable, a ribbon cable on the support, recesses in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover on the cable, and two-sided pierce-type terminals mounted in said cover engaging the conductors in the cable and extending into said recesses, each terminal including a base, a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover and into a recess, said tines diverging outwardly of the terminal base in opposite directions along a conductor to define a diverging slot therebetween, insulation pierce points on the ends of the tines away from the slot and spaced along the conductor and on opposite sides thereof for forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, contact surfaces on diagonally opposing corners of the slot forming an electrical connection with the conductor in the cable, said corners diverging outwardly from the bottom of the slot and defining the minimum width of the slot, and slit spreading means for opening the slit and exposing the conductor to the contact surfaces free of insulation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A connector block as in claim 4 wherein said slit spreading means comprises the outer side surfaces of said tines located on opposite sides of the terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
211 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable or the like comprising a support for a ribbon cable, a ribbon cable on the support, recess means in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover on the cable, and pierce-type terminals mounted in said cover engaging the conductors in the cable and extending into said recess means, each terminal including a base, a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover and into a recess, said tines diverging outwardly of the terminal base in opposite directions along a conductor to define a diverging slot therebetween, insulation pierce points on the ends of the tines away from the slot and spaced along the conductor and on opposite sides thereof for forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, contact surfaces on opposing edges of the slot forming an electrical connection with the conductor in the cable and slit spreading means for opening the slit and exposing the conductor to the contact surfaces free of insulation, the conductors including curved shallow S-shapes adjacent the terminals with the tines engaging the conductors at the centers of the curved shapes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
211 words
A pierce-type connector block for forming electrical connections with elongate conductors confined within a ribbon cable or the like comprising a support for a ribbon cable, a ribbon cable on the support, recess means in said support located beneath conductors in the cable, a cover on the cable, and pierce-type terminals mounted in said cover engaging the conductors in the cable and extending into said recess means, each terminal including a base, a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base outwardly of the cover and into a recess, said tines diverging outwardly of the terminal base in opposite directions along a conductor to define a diverging slot therebetween, insulation pierce points on the ends of the tines away from the slot and spaced along the conductor and on opposite sides thereof for forming a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor as the terminal is pushed into the cable, contact surfaces on opposing edges of the slot forming an electrical connection with the conductor in the cable and slit spreading means for opening the slit and exposing the conductor to the contact surfaces free of insulation, the conductors including curved shallow S-shapes adjacent the terminals with the tines engaging the conductors at the centers of the curved shapes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A connector block as in claim 6 whErein the tines are flat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A connector block as in claim 6 wherein the tines are twisted along the slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A terminal as in claim 16 wherein said tines are generally flat and extend away from the base in diverging directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
A terminal for piercing an insulating body and forming an electrical connection with an elongate conductor within the body comprising a base, contact means joining the base, and a pair of tines extending from the base and defining a slot therebetween, pierce points on the free ends of the tines away from the slot, contact surfaces on the tines adjacent the slot for engaging the conductor, said surfaces diverging from each other away from the bottom of the slot, and spreading surfaces for spreading open a slit formed in the insulation extending across the conductor whereby upon insertion of the terminal into the insulating body with the tines to either side of a conductor the pierce points form a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor and, with further movement of the terminal, the spreading surfaces open the slit and contact surfaces engage the conductor free of the insulating body, said tines being twisted in opposite directions along the slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
A terminal for piercing an insulating body and forming an electrical connection with an elongate conductor within the body comprising a base, contact means joining the base, and a pair of tines extending from the base and defining a slot therebetween, pierce points on the free ends of the tines away from the slot, contact surfaces on the tines adjacent the slot for engaging the conductor, said surfaces diverging from each other away from the bottom of the slot, and spreading surfaces for spreading open a slit formed in the insulation extending across the conductor whereby upon insertion of the terminal into the insulating body with the tines to either side of a conductor the pierce points form a slit in the insulation extending across the conductor and, with further movement of the terminal, the spreading surfaces open the slit and contact surfaces engage the conductor free of the insulating body, said tines being twisted in opposite directions along the slot.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
152 words
The method of forming an electrical connection between an insulating conductor and a pierce-type terminal having a pair of tines comprising the steps of: a. Positioning the terminal to one side of an elongate insulated conductor with the free ends of the tines to either side of the conductor and spaced apart in a direction along the axis of the conductor, b. Moving the terminal toward the conductor and forcing the ends of the tines in the insulation to form a slit in the insulation extending between the ends of the tines and diagonally across the conductor, c. Continuing to move the terminal toward the conductor while at the same time spreading open the slit so that the portion of the conductor between the tines is exposed free of the insulation, and then d. Forming an electrical connection between the tines and the exposed portion of the conductor free of the insulation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
152 words
The method of forming an electrical connection between an insulating conductor and a pierce-type terminal having a pair of tines comprising the steps of: a. Positioning the terminal to one side of an elongate insulated conductor with the free ends of the tines to either side of the conductor and spaced apart in a direction along the axis of the conductor, b. Moving the terminal toward the conductor and forcing the ends of the tines in the insulation to form a slit in the insulation extending between the ends of the tines and diagonally across the conductor, c. Continuing to move the terminal toward the conductor while at the same time spreading open the slit so that the portion of the conductor between the tines is exposed free of the insulation, and then d. Forming an electrical connection between the tines and the exposed portion of the conductor free of the insulation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
147 words
The method of forming an electrical connection between an insulating conductor and a pierce-type terminal having a pair of tines comprising the steps of: a. Positioning the terminal to one side of the insulated conductor with the free ends of the tines to either side of the conductor, b. Moving the terminal toward the conductor and forcing the ends of the tines in the insulation to form a slit in the insulation extending between the ends of the tines and across the conductor, c. Continuing to move the terminal toward the conductor while at the same time spreading open the slit so that the portion of the conductor between the tines is exposed free of the insulation, d. Forming an electrical connection between the tines and the exposed portion of the conductor, and e. Wiping the tines in a longitudinal direction along opposite sides of the conductor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
147 words
The method of forming an electrical connection between an insulating conductor and a pierce-type terminal having a pair of tines comprising the steps of: a. Positioning the terminal to one side of the insulated conductor with the free ends of the tines to either side of the conductor, b. Moving the terminal toward the conductor and forcing the ends of the tines in the insulation to form a slit in the insulation extending between the ends of the tines and across the conductor, c. Continuing to move the terminal toward the conductor while at the same time spreading open the slit so that the portion of the conductor between the tines is exposed free of the insulation, d. Forming an electrical connection between the tines and the exposed portion of the conductor, and e. Wiping the tines in a longitudinal direction along opposite sides of the conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A connector block as in claim 1 wherein said tines are twisted in opposite directions along the slot.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A connector block as in claim 1 wherein said tines are generally flat and the outer tine surfaces are spaced further away from each other than the inner tine surfaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A connector block as in claim 1 wherein said recess means comprises an opening in the support beneath each terminal having side walls free of said tines so that the tines extend into the opening without engaging said side walls.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A connector block as in claim 15 wherein said tines are generally rectangular in cross section and said recess means comprises an opening beneath each terminal having a pair of generally rectangular sections overlaping at adjacent corners.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
120 words
A two-sided terminal for piercing an insulating body and forming an electrical connection with an elongate conductor confined within the body, said two-sided terminal comprising a base, a slot extending between the sides of the Terminal to define a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base for engagement with the conductor, each tine including two sides, an edge joining said sides at the slot, and a contact corner at the junction of the edge and one side, the contact corners of said tines being located on opposite terminal sides and defining the minimum slot width and diverging apart from each other outwardly from the bottom of the slot, and insulation pierce means at the ends of the tines.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
120 words
A two-sided terminal for piercing an insulating body and forming an electrical connection with an elongate conductor confined within the body, said two-sided terminal comprising a base, a slot extending between the sides of the Terminal to define a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base for engagement with the conductor, each tine including two sides, an edge joining said sides at the slot, and a contact corner at the junction of the edge and one side, the contact corners of said tines being located on opposite terminal sides and defining the minimum slot width and diverging apart from each other outwardly from the bottom of the slot, and insulation pierce means at the ends of the tines.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
107 words
A two-sided terminal for piercing an insulating body and forming an electrical connection with an elongate conductor confined within the body, said two-sided terminal comprising a base, a slot extending between the sides of the terminal to define a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base for engagement with the conductor, a contact corner extending along the tines at each side of the slot and defining the minimum slot width, said corners diverging apart from each other outwardly from the bottom of the slot, one side of each corner being located on opposite terminal sides, and insulation pierce means at the ends of the tines.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
A two-sided terminal for piercing an insulating body and forming an electrical connection with an elongate conductor confined within the body, said two-sided terminal comprising a base, a slot extending between the sides of the terminal to define a pair of spaced contact tines extending from the base for engagement with the conductor, a contact corner extending along the tines at each side of the slot and defining the minimum slot width, said corners diverging apart from each other outwardly from the bottom of the slot, one side of each corner being located on opposite terminal sides, and insulation pierce means at the ends of the tines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |