US3858159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Round conductor flat cable connector
Assignee: Continental Wirt Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-10
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A connector for a multi-conductor flat cable having a plurality of insulated round wire conductors wherein contact elements nested in the connector are respectively connected to selected conductors of the cable, each contact element having a circuit connecting terminal and a bifurcated part nested within the connector. The bifurcated part provides a pair of pointed prongs the inner edges act to slice through the conductor insulation to electrically engage opposite sides of the conductor wire when the prongs are clinched together. The bifurcated part is so twisted or skewed relatively to the longitudinal axis of the insulated conductor as to provide the prongs with sharp cutting edges which respectively bite into and make contact with opposite sides of the conductor wire at two points spaced lengthwise of the wire. Means are provided in the connector for clinching the contact prongs into engagement with the conductor wire, which means act also to effectively maintain this clinched engagement. The twist or skew of the bifurcated part of the contact places the clinched conductor under tension in the region of its connection to the contact, the force of which tension serves additionally to hold the contact securely clinched to the conductor.
Inventors
- 👤 S Worth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/65; H01R12/67; H01R12/675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
An electrical connector for an insulated flat cable having a plurality of insulated round wire conductors disposed in coplanar side by side relation within an enveloping film of plastic or other penetrable insulating material comprising an insulated structure secured to the cable in transversely extending relation to the conductors thereof and a plurality of electrically conductive metal contact members respectively mounted in said structure crosswise of the longitudinally extending axes of the cable conductors, each of said contact members having a terminal part for connection to an electrical circuit or component thereof and a retention part internally nested in said structure, said retention part having an end thereof bifurcated to provide a pair of spaced-apart sharply-pointed prongs for piercing the cable in straddling relation to an insulated conductor thereof, said prongs having opposed sharply cornered cutting edges for slicing through the insulation and electrically engaging the wire of said insulated conductor, said conductor-straddling prongs of each of said contact members being disposed in a common plane so angularly oriented relatively to the longitudinal axis of the conductor wire engaged thereby that said sharply cornered cutting edges of the prongs engage and bite into the conductor wire at points offset from one another lengthwise of the conductor wire for imparting a bend thereto whereby to place it under tension in the immediate region of its engagement by said prongs, the end portions of said conductor-straddling prongs Of each of said contact members being extended beyond the conductor embraced therebetween for conjoint clinching of said prongs against said conductor-wire engaged thereby, and means in said structure for camming said prongs into their said clinched condition about said conductor wire, said camming means being operative to establish a force which reacts against the restrained tendency of the conductor to assume its straightened condition to thereby hold said prongs tightly engaged with the conductor wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
An electrical connector for an insulated flat cable having a plurality of insulated round wire conductors disposed in coplanar side by side relation within an enveloping film of plastic or other penetrable insulating material comprising an insulated structure secured to the cable in transversely extending relation to the conductors thereof and a plurality of electrically conductive metal contact members respectively mounted in said structure crosswise of the longitudinally extending axes of the cable conductors, each of said contact members having a terminal part for connection to an electrical circuit or component thereof and a retention part internally nested in said structure, said retention part having an end thereof bifurcated to provide a pair of spaced-apart sharply-pointed prongs for piercing the cable in straddling relation to an insulated conductor thereof, said prongs having opposed sharply cornered cutting edges for slicing through the insulation and electrically engaging the wire of said insulated conductor, said conductor-straddling prongs of each of said contact members being disposed in a common plane so angularly oriented relatively to the longitudinal axis of the conductor wire engaged thereby that said sharply cornered cutting edges of the prongs engage and bite into the conductor wire at points offset from one another lengthwise of the conductor wire for imparting a bend thereto whereby to place it under tension in the immediate region of its engagement by said prongs, the end portions of said conductor-straddling prongs Of each of said contact members being extended beyond the conductor embraced therebetween for conjoint clinching of said prongs against said conductor-wire engaged thereby, and means in said structure for camming said prongs into their said clinched condition about said conductor wire, said camming means being operative to establish a force which reacts against the restrained tendency of the conductor to assume its straightened condition to thereby hold said prongs tightly engaged with the conductor wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said insulated structure is provided with a plurality of contact-receiving pockets arranged in at least one row thereof extending transversely across the width of the cable to which said connector is secured, said pockets being disposed in spaced end to end relation substantially in a plane extending normal to the plane of the cable with said pockets respectively in vertical registry with the conductors of said cable to which said contacts are secured, said contacts being individually nested in said pockets and electrically connected to the conductor wires in registry therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein each said contact member is provided with means for frictionally retaining the same nested within each of said pockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said contact-receiving pockets is provided with an upper portion having an opening through which externally projects said terminal part of a single contact member and with a lower portion having a closed bottom in which is received the bifurcated end of said single contact member and wherein the wire conductors of said cable are clamped in said connector flatwise between the said upper and lower portions of said pockets with the bifurcated ends of the several contact members respectively spanning the several conductors of the cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said insulated structure includes a multi-slitted base member and a mating multi-recessed cover member adapted to be secured together with the slits of said base member in vertical alinement respectively with the recesses of said cover member, wherein the opposed end walls of each of said recesses of said cover plate member are provided with oppositely tapered surfaces which respectively cam the prongs of each contact member nested in each of said recesses into clinched engagement with the conductor wire which extends transversely across each said recess, and wherein a multi-round wire conductor flat cable is clamped between said base and cover members with the several conductor wires of said cable each having clinched thereto one of said contact members nested in said slits and their respectively alined recesses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said cover plate member is provided with a plurality of grooves extending transversely thereof in respective alinement with the insulated wire conductors of the cable to which said connector is secured, each of said grooves having associated therewith one of said contact-receiving recesses, whereby, when said cable is clamped between said mating base and cover members with the insulated wire conductors thereof respectively disposed in said grooves and extending across the recesses respectively associated therewith, the prongs of said contact members clinched to said wire conductors are respectively nested in said recesses of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein the extremities of the bifurcated end of each contact member are respectively turned inwardly of the cover plate recess in registry with the contact prongs to facilitate nesting of said prongs in said recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein one of said mating members of said insulating structure is provided along one side thereof with a flange disposed in spaced parallel relation to the corresponding side of the other of said mating members to form an angularly shaped space between proximate surfaces of tHe mating members in which to compressively receive a correspondingly shaped section of the cable and thereby provide a strain relief means for the cable clamped in said structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said base and cover plate members of said insulating structure are complementally shaped lengthwise along one side thereof to protectively enclose a square-cut end of the cable clamped between said members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
An electrical contact element in combination with insulated round wire conductor of a multi-conductor flat cable comprising a stamping of thin sheet metal which includes a bifurcated body portion having a pair of coplanar spaced apart pointed prongs angularly oriented relatively to the longitudinal axis of said insulated conductor and respectively engaging opposite sides of the conductor wire at two points relatively offset from one another along said axis, the opposed inner edges of said prongs having relatively sharp cutting edges which penetrate the conductor insulation and bite into opposite sides of the conductor wire whereby to place the latter under tension in the region of its engagement by said prongs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
An electrical contact element in combination with insulated round wire conductor of a multi-conductor flat cable comprising a stamping of thin sheet metal which includes a bifurcated body portion having a pair of coplanar spaced apart pointed prongs angularly oriented relatively to the longitudinal axis of said insulated conductor and respectively engaging opposite sides of the conductor wire at two points relatively offset from one another along said axis, the opposed inner edges of said prongs having relatively sharp cutting edges which penetrate the conductor insulation and bite into opposite sides of the conductor wire whereby to place the latter under tension in the region of its engagement by said prongs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said conductor is disposed within the kerf of said bifurcated body portion of the contact element with the end portions of its said prongs extending freely beyond the periphery of the wire conductor and wherein said freely projecting end portions of said prongs are pinched together to force said prongs into firm and positive engagement with the conductor wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein the points of said prongs pierce the flat cable and slice through the conductor insulation in conductor spanning relation whereby to effect a mechanical secure and positive electrical connection between said prongs and the wire connector nested in the kerf of said bifurcated body portion of said contact element and wherein the pointed extremities of said prongs are oppositely bent to provide curved surfaces for leading said prongs into a receiving recess therefor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |