US3879099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat fexible cable connector assembly including insulation piercing contacts
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-04
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A connector assembly is disclosed for terminating multiconductor flat flexible cable with contacts which pierce the cable insulation to make good electrical and mechanical engagement with all types of cable conductors, in particular round wire and stranded wire. Each contact is die stamped from sheet material and has a body portion with a pin or socket electrical termination means extending from one side and a pair of spaced arms extending from another side in cantilever fashion. Forked projections extend from the free end of each arm and are angularly offset with respect to both the plane of the contact and to one another in order to engage in an interdigitated fashion. The connector assembly includes a multi-part housing including a contact block mounted in a housing shell and two mating housing members pivotally mounted in the housing shell and adapted close the contacts on an associated cable and provide strain relief for the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Richard Shaffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/65; H01R12/67; H01R12/675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An insulation piercing contact for making good electrical and mechanical engagement with an associated insulated conductor, comprising: a planar body portion, a matable electrical connection member extending from one side of said body portion; a pair of cantilever arms extending from another side of said body portion and lying substantially in the plane of said body portion; a forked projection on the free end of each of said arms, each said forked projection including at least two tines defining a plane, said forked projections being directed towards one another with their respective planes intersecting by being angularly offset with respect to both each other and to the plane of said body portion whereby bringing said arms together causes said tines of said forked projections to come together in interdigitated fashion to pierce the insulation of an insulated conductor and entrap the conductor therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An insulation piercing contact for making good electrical and mechanical engagement with an associated insulated conductor, comprising: a planar body portion, a matable electrical connection member extending from one side of said body portion; a pair of cantilever arms extending from another side of said body portion and lying substantially in the plane of said body portion; a forked projection on the free end of each of said arms, each said forked projection including at least two tines defining a plane, said forked projections being directed towards one another with their respective planes intersecting by being angularly offset with respect to both each other and to the plane of said body portion whereby bringing said arms together causes said tines of said forked projections to come together in interdigitated fashion to pierce the insulation of an insulated conductor and entrap the conductor therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The contact according to claim 1 wherein said cantilever arms diverge from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The contact according to claim 1 wherein said forked projections are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the conductor engaged thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The contact according to claim 3 wherein said cantilever arms have a bent configuration in the plane of said body portion and intermediate the ends thereof whereby said forked projections follow a substantially straight path as said arms are brought together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The contact according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one locking lance extending from said body portion transversely of the plane thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The contact according to claim 1 wherein said matable electrical connection member is a socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The contact according to claim 1 wherein said matable electrical connection member is a pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
A connector assembly for terminating flat flexible cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprising: a contact block having a plurality of through passages therein, a like plurality of contacts each positioned in a respective one of said passages, each said contact including a planar body portion, an electrical connection terminal extending from one side of said body portion, a pair of cantilever arms extending from another side of said body portion and lying substantially in the plane thereof, a forked projection at the free end of each said arm, each said forked projection including at least two tines defining a plane, said forked projections being directed towards one another with their respective planes intersecting by being angularly offset with respect to each other and the plane of said body portion, and a pair of mating housing members pivotally attached to said contact block and adapted to act against said arms to bring said projections into interdigitated engagement with conductors of said flat flexible cable entrapped and engaged by said tines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
171 words
A connector assembly for terminating flat flexible cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprising: a contact block having a plurality of through passages therein, a like plurality of contacts each positioned in a respective one of said passages, each said contact including a planar body portion, an electrical connection terminal extending from one side of said body portion, a pair of cantilever arms extending from another side of said body portion and lying substantially in the plane thereof, a forked projection at the free end of each said arm, each said forked projection including at least two tines defining a plane, said forked projections being directed towards one another with their respective planes intersecting by being angularly offset with respect to each other and the plane of said body portion, and a pair of mating housing members pivotally attached to said contact block and adapted to act against said arms to bring said projections into interdigitated engagement with conductors of said flat flexible cable entrapped and engaged by said tines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
171 words
A connector assembly for terminating flat flexible cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprising: a contact block having a plurality of through passages therein, a like plurality of contacts each positioned in a respective one of said passages, each said contact including a planar body portion, an electrical connection terminal extending from one side of said body portion, a pair of cantilever arms extending from another side of said body portion and lying substantially in the plane thereof, a forked projection at the free end of each said arm, each said forked projection including at least two tines defining a plane, said forked projections being directed towards one another with their respective planes intersecting by being angularly offset with respect to each other and the plane of said body portion, and a pair of mating housing members pivotally attached to said contact block and adapted to act against said arms to bring said projections into interdigitated engagement with conductors of said flat flexible cable entrapped and engaged by said tines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
A connector assembly for terminating flat flexible cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprising: a contact block having a plurality of through passages therein, a like plurality of contacts each positioned in a respective one of said passages, each said contact including a planar body portion, an electrical connection terminal extending from one side of said body portion, a pair of cantilever arms extending from another side of said body portion and lying substantially in the plane thereof, a forked projection at the free end of each said arm, each said forked projection including at least two tines defining a plane, said forked projections being directed towards one another with their respective planes intersecting by being angularly offset with respect to each other and the plane of said body portion, and a pair of mating housing members pivotally attached to said contact block and adapted to act against said arms to bring said projections into interdigitated engagement with conductors of said flat flexible cable entrapped and engaged by said tines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A connector assembly according to claim 8 further comprising: a housing shell surrounding said contact block, said shell including a hood portion having a forwardly directed flange encompassing and protecting said electrical connection terminals, a rear portion, and means securing said two portions together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A connector assembly according to claim 9 wherein said rear portion of said housing shell and said contact block define upper and lower channels, each said mating housing member having an arcuate flange adapted to engage in a respective one of said channels whereby said members are pivotally attached to said connector block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein said mating housing members are of different transverse widths, further comprising keying means on the arcuate flange of the wider of said members and the associated channel preventing the insertion of the narrower member into the keyed channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A connector assembly according to claim 11 wherein said keying means comprises: a slot formed in the arcuate flange of said wider member, and a fixed stud formed in said wider channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A connector assembly according to claim 8 further comprising: a plurality of grooves in adjacent faces of said mating housing members, each groove adapted to frictionally engage respective arms of said contacts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A connector assembly according to claim 13 wherein each said groove has an enlarged portion at the blind end adapted to receive the angled forked projection of the associated contact.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A connector assembly according to claim 8 further comprising: strain relief means on said mating housing members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A connector assembly according to claim 15 wherein said strain relief means comprises a plurality of interfitting transverse ridges on mating surfaces of said mating housing members forming a tortous path therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A connector assembly according to claim 8 further comprising: locking means adapted to secure said mating housing members together in a closed condition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A connector assembly accoRding to claim 17 wherein said locking means are integral with said mating housing members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A connector assembly according to claim 18 wherein at least a portion of said locking means is profiled to serve as guide means for the cable.
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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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |