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US3845236A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Wire connector

Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1974-03-04
•
Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1994-03-04
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Abstract

Abstract A wire-connector adapted particularly for connecting tap wires to run wires, e.g., in strip lighting applications, employs a folded slotted spring compression reserve contact element in a wire-supporting grooved covered insulating body having an open inspection port and provided with a ribbed outer surface permitting final closure using either parallel jaw or angular jaw pliers.

Inventors

  • 👤 G Anderson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 03:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/01; H01R43/015; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/2445; H01R4/245; H01R4/2454

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 124 words
A wire-connector comprising a folded slotted spring compression reserve contact element slidably retained within an insulating body having upper and lower body sections opposingly channeled to receive a pair of insulated electrical conductors, said sections being hingedly interconnected along their back edges, and a cover member hingedly connected to said body for fitting beneath said lower section and across the free front edges of said upper and lower sections, and wherein said lower section has a flat base defining a first plane, said upper section having a top surface defining a pair of planes intersecting at a peak midway above said channels, the one of said planes extending toward the free edge of said section being at an acute angle with said first plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 124 words
A wire-connector comprising a folded slotted spring compression reserve contact element slidably retained within an insulating body having upper and lower body sections opposingly channeled to receive a pair of insulated electrical conductors, said sections being hingedly interconnected along their back edges, and a cover member hingedly connected to said body for fitting beneath said lower section and across the free front edges of said upper and lower sections, and wherein said lower section has a flat base defining a first plane, said upper section having a top surface defining a pair of planes intersecting at a peak midway above said channels, the one of said planes extending toward the free edge of said section being at an acute angle with said first plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
Wire-connector of claim 1 wherein said pair of planes is defined by a plurality of raised ribs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
Wire-connector of claim 1 wherein said channeled bottom section has two parallel channels, a rectangular opening transversely of said two parallel channels receiving said contact element, and said opening extending along the inner of said channels to provide inspection access to said inner channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
Wire-connector of claim 3 wherein said inner channel has a wire-stop therein in line with the edge defining said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
Wire-connector of claim 4 wherein said channeled upper section has two parallel channels corresponding to those of said lower section and a series of transverse slots for receiving the ends of the lobes of said folded slotted contact element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
Wire-connector of claim 5 wherein the inner ones of said channels and the corresponding slots of said contact element are smaller than the outer ones of said channels and the corresponding slots of said contact element.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3012219A Cited
US3656088A Cited
US3718888A Cited
US3793611A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-10-28 1978-04-29 1978-10-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-10-28 1982-04-29 1982-10-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-10-28 1986-04-29 1986-10-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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