US3867005A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Insulation-piercing contact member and electrical connector
Assignee: Amphenol Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-10
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector is provided with one or more contact members, each having an insulation-piercing terminal element of sheet metal construction to electrically receive an insulationcovered conductor. Each terminal element includes an elongated open channel of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration with side and bottom walls, the sidewalls including opposite portions dimpled in to provide inner folded flanges or detents forming and separated by a conductor-receiving notch for piercing the insulation of the conductor and electrically engaging the underlying exposed conductor, each detent including multiple wall sections integrally joined to and spaced apart at the portion of the adjacent sidewall and converging inwardly therefrom to a lower curved surface of thickened construction as a wiping and engaging surface for the conductor and an upper outwardly diverging tapered surface with an exposed thin cutting edge on at least one wall section to pierce the insulation of the conductor.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Paul Peter Hoppe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/2445; H01R4/2466; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In an electrical contact member for electrical connection to circuit element including an insulation-covered electrical conductor, a terminal element of thin sheet metal construction including at least one notch for cutting the insulation of said conductor and electrically engaging the underlying conductor, said terminal element comprising an elongated channel of U-shaped, cross-sectional configuration with opposite sidewalls having opposite facing portions dimpled inwardly to provide at least one pair of inner detents, the space between said detents constituting said notch, said space between said detents being less than the distance between said sidewalls, each of said detents comprising a pair of wall sections, each of said wall sections having one end integrally joined to the adjoining sidewall, the other ends of said sections joined together by a curved portion at said notch to provide an enlarged wiping surface for said conductor, said curved portion having a free edge and a slit along said free edge, said slit including at least one tapered cutting edge to form an insulation-cutting surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In an electrical contact member for electrical connection to circuit element including an insulation-covered electrical conductor, a terminal element of thin sheet metal construction including at least one notch for cutting the insulation of said conductor and electrically engaging the underlying conductor, said terminal element comprising an elongated channel of U-shaped, cross-sectional configuration with opposite sidewalls having opposite facing portions dimpled inwardly to provide at least one pair of inner detents, the space between said detents constituting said notch, said space between said detents being less than the distance between said sidewalls, each of said detents comprising a pair of wall sections, each of said wall sections having one end integrally joined to the adjoining sidewall, the other ends of said sections joined together by a curved portion at said notch to provide an enlarged wiping surface for said conductor, said curved portion having a free edge and a slit along said free edge, said slit including at least one tapered cutting edge to form an insulation-cutting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical contact member of claim 1 wherein said wall sections at said curved portion of each of said detents are separated to form said slit in a ''''V'''' shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical contact member of claim 2 wherein said ''''V'''' shape is symmetrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrical contact member of claim 2 wherein said ''''V'''' shape is non-symmetrical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical contact member of claim 1 wherein each of said detents include a medial portion shaped to spread said insulation away from the conductor prior to said conductor entering said wiping surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
206 words
An electrical connector unit for use in interconnecting a plurality of electrical circuits including insulationcovered conductors and comprising a contact mount formed of molded dielectric material having a plurality of contact-mounting passages with outer ends each being of elongated U-shaped configuration a plurality of contact members mounted in said contact passages of said contact mount, each contact member including an active contact element and a terminal element disposed within the outer end of the contact passage, the terminal element of each contact member comprising an elongated channel of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration with opposite sidewalls having opposite facing portions dimpled inwardly to provide at least one pair of inner detents having a space therebetween constituting said notch, said space between said detents being less than the distance between said sidewalls, each of said detents comprising a pair of wall sections, each of said wall sections having one end integrally joined to the adjoining sidewall, the other ends of said sections joined together by a curved portion at said notch to provide an enlarged curved wiping surface for said conductor, said curved portion having a free edge and a slit along said free edge, said slit including at least one tapered cutting edge to form an insulation-cutting surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
206 words
An electrical connector unit for use in interconnecting a plurality of electrical circuits including insulationcovered conductors and comprising a contact mount formed of molded dielectric material having a plurality of contact-mounting passages with outer ends each being of elongated U-shaped configuration a plurality of contact members mounted in said contact passages of said contact mount, each contact member including an active contact element and a terminal element disposed within the outer end of the contact passage, the terminal element of each contact member comprising an elongated channel of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration with opposite sidewalls having opposite facing portions dimpled inwardly to provide at least one pair of inner detents having a space therebetween constituting said notch, said space between said detents being less than the distance between said sidewalls, each of said detents comprising a pair of wall sections, each of said wall sections having one end integrally joined to the adjoining sidewall, the other ends of said sections joined together by a curved portion at said notch to provide an enlarged curved wiping surface for said conductor, said curved portion having a free edge and a slit along said free edge, said slit including at least one tapered cutting edge to form an insulation-cutting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical connector unit of claim 6 wherein said wall sections at said curved portion of said detents are separated to form said slit in a ''''V'''' shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical connector unit of claim 6 wherein each of said detents include a medial portion shaped to spread said insulation away from said conductor prior to said conductor entering said wiping surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector unit of claim 6 wherein said contact mount includes strain relief means for said conductors.
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) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |