US3836947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical contact receptacle with helper spring
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-23
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1993-02-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a female electrical receptacle for receiving and making electrical contact with a male electrical terminal. One side of the receptacle is in the form of a resilient leaf spring folded about a side margin thereof which is integral with the receptacle. The leaf spring resiliently engages against a male terminal received in the receptacle to make an electrical connection therewith. The receptacle is further provided with an elongated helper spring folded about a side margin thereof which is integral with the receptacle. The helper spring is shorter than the leaf spring and has a free end which overlies the leaf spring. Upon insertion of a male terminal into the receptacle, the male terminal will resiliently deflect the leaf spring contact against the helper spring. The helper spring thereby serves to stiffen the spring contact to provide a relatively high gripping pressure on the male terminals. The spring contact further is deflected by the male terminal into engagement with the helper spring along its folded edge margin which resists the tendency of the spring contact to unfold and further serves to limit the deflection of the leaf spring to prevent deformation thereof. The helper spring also distributes the stresses along a substantial length of the leaf spring to prevent deformation thereof due to overstressing. In a modification, the receptacle may be provided with a folded tab portion overlying the free end of the spring contact against which the free end of the contact will engage to limit the deflection thereof when a male terminal is received in the receptacle.
Inventors
- 👤 M Yeager
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/10; H01R13/11; H01R13/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
An electrically conducting receptacle having an open end for receiving a male electrical terminal therein comprising: a generally channel shaped portion defining sidewalls of said receptacle, a cantilever spring contact portion having a free end and a free side margin and another side margin joined integrally with said channel portion, said spring contact portion being folded about its said another side margin to form an elongated, electrically conducting spring contact defining a resilient sidewall of said receptacle, said spring contact having an outwardly flared end portion to define a funnel entry adjacent said open end of said receptacle, said spring contact being curved along its longitudinal dimension to project generally internally of said channel portion to define a reduced throat area internally of said channel portion, said spring contact being resiliently deflected when a male contact is initially received in said reduced throat area, a helper spring having a side margin thereof integral with said channle poriton, said helper spring being folded along said side margin to overlie said spring contact, said helper spring having a free end thereof terminating adjacent a medial portion of said spring contact, with said spring contact being resiliently deflected into engagement against said helper spring upon insertion of a male terminal within said receptacle, said helper spring having its folded side margin adjacent to said free side margin of said spring contact such that the free side margin of said contact will engage and stop against said helper spring adjacent to its folded side margin and thereby prevent the tendency of said spring contact to unfold upon the resilient deflection thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
An electrically conducting receptacle having an open end for receiving a male electrical terminal therein comprising: a generally channel shaped portion defining sidewalls of said receptacle, a cantilever spring contact portion having a free end and a free side margin and another side margin joined integrally with said channel portion, said spring contact portion being folded about its said another side margin to form an elongated, electrically conducting spring contact defining a resilient sidewall of said receptacle, said spring contact having an outwardly flared end portion to define a funnel entry adjacent said open end of said receptacle, said spring contact being curved along its longitudinal dimension to project generally internally of said channel portion to define a reduced throat area internally of said channel portion, said spring contact being resiliently deflected when a male contact is initially received in said reduced throat area, a helper spring having a side margin thereof integral with said channle poriton, said helper spring being folded along said side margin to overlie said spring contact, said helper spring having a free end thereof terminating adjacent a medial portion of said spring contact, with said spring contact being resiliently deflected into engagement against said helper spring upon insertion of a male terminal within said receptacle, said helper spring having its folded side margin adjacent to said free side margin of said spring contact such that the free side margin of said contact will engage and stop against said helper spring adjacent to its folded side margin and thereby prevent the tendency of said spring contact to unfold upon the resilient deflection thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said helper spring is elongated with its free end extending toward the free end of said spring contact, and further including: a flap portion folded along an integral side margin thereof with said side margin of said flap portion being adjacent said free end of said spring contact whereby said free end of said spring contact engages and stops against said flap portion upon the resilient deflection of said spring contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said helper spring has its folded side margin adjacent the free end of said spring, whereby, upon deflection of said spring contact, said free end of said spring contact will engage and stop against said helper spring adjacent its folded side margin to prevent unfolding of said spring contact and to prevent excessive deflection of said spring contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
217 words
An electrically conducting receptacle adapted to receive a male terminal therein, said receptacle being formed by a folded metal blank comprising: An elongated channel-shaped portion folded from said metal blank and having first and second side portions, A first resilient contact spring forming a third side portion of said receptacle, said contact spring being folded on a side margin thereof which is connected integrally with said first side portion of said receptacle, And a helper spring being folded on a side margin thereof which is connected integrally with said second side portion of said receptacle, Said contact spring having a free end protruding outwardly from said helper spring and being located adjacent an open end of said elongated channel-shaped portion, Said helper spring being shorter than said contact spring and having a free end projecting longitudinally in overlying relationship with respect to said contact spring, said free end of said helper spring being engagable on said contact spring Upon resilient deflection of said contact spring toward said helper spring, Said contact spring being initially deflected by receipt of a male terminal into said receptacle, and said helper spring being deflected together with said contact spring upon further insertion of said male terminal into said receptacle, thereby providing a receptacle with an effective spring rate which is variable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
217 words
An electrically conducting receptacle adapted to receive a male terminal therein, said receptacle being formed by a folded metal blank comprising: An elongated channel-shaped portion folded from said metal blank and having first and second side portions, A first resilient contact spring forming a third side portion of said receptacle, said contact spring being folded on a side margin thereof which is connected integrally with said first side portion of said receptacle, And a helper spring being folded on a side margin thereof which is connected integrally with said second side portion of said receptacle, Said contact spring having a free end protruding outwardly from said helper spring and being located adjacent an open end of said elongated channel-shaped portion, Said helper spring being shorter than said contact spring and having a free end projecting longitudinally in overlying relationship with respect to said contact spring, said free end of said helper spring being engagable on said contact spring Upon resilient deflection of said contact spring toward said helper spring, Said contact spring being initially deflected by receipt of a male terminal into said receptacle, and said helper spring being deflected together with said contact spring upon further insertion of said male terminal into said receptacle, thereby providing a receptacle with an effective spring rate which is variable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein, said helper spring is elongated with its free end extending toward the free end of said contact spring, and further including: A flap portion folded along an integral side margin thereof which is connected to said second side portion of said receptacle, said side margin of said flap portion being adjacent said free end of said contact spring, whereby said free end of said contact spring engages and stops against said flap portion adjacent the side margin thereof upon resilient deflection of said contact spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein, said helper spring has its folded side margin adjacent the free end of said contact spring, whereby upon deflection of said contact spring, said free end of said contact spring engages and stops against said helper spring adjacent its folded side margin to prevent unfolding of said contact spring and to prevent excessive deflection of said contact spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3058091A
Cited
US3369212A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |