US3885850A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controlled retention force connector with detent
Assignee: Globe Motors Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-05
•
Granted: 1975-05-27
•
Expires: 1993-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A connector assembly with male and female elements in assembly to define electrical contact between predetermined circuits the female element having one element of a detent securing means thereon in the insulating body thereof with the contact elements of the male element having a mating detent securing means to join with the detent securing means of the female element to secure said elements in assembled relation with a force sufficiently high to prevent unintended separation.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy Witte
- 👤 Edward Kirby
- 👤 George Mack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/20; H01R13/26; H01R13/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
An improved electrical connector device adapted to define electrical contact between pre-determined electrical circuits wherein high retention forces are defined between the mating connector units of said device securing them in assembled relation to prevent unintended separation, the device comprising: a female connector unit defined in part by an insulating body with said body having walls defining a row of spaced apart contact receiving recesses therein for receiving a male contact element in each recess along an insertion axis; an electrical contact element mounted within each recess in said insulating body of the female connector unit; the insulating body having associated with one of its walls which extends longitudinally of the row a plurality of discrete locking means in each contact receiving recess which are spaced apart theron along the insertion axis and adapted to interengage with locking means on a mating male contact element of the device, and a mating male connector unit defined in part by an insulating body having at least one male contact element mounted within said body, said male connector unit adapted for mating operative engagement with said female connector unit by insertion along the insertion axis of a male contact element into a recess in the female insulating body to bring the contact elements of each of said units into physical contact to define electrical engagement therebetween, a plurality of discrete locking means on the male contact element spaced apart along the insertion axis to interengage with the locking means on the insulating body of the female connector unit to define interlocking engagement therebetween and between said male and female units to secure them in assembled, mating relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
274 words
An improved electrical connector device adapted to define electrical contact between pre-determined electrical circuits wherein high retention forces are defined between the mating connector units of said device securing them in assembled relation to prevent unintended separation, the device comprising: a female connector unit defined in part by an insulating body with said body having walls defining a row of spaced apart contact receiving recesses therein for receiving a male contact element in each recess along an insertion axis; an electrical contact element mounted within each recess in said insulating body of the female connector unit; the insulating body having associated with one of its walls which extends longitudinally of the row a plurality of discrete locking means in each contact receiving recess which are spaced apart theron along the insertion axis and adapted to interengage with locking means on a mating male contact element of the device, and a mating male connector unit defined in part by an insulating body having at least one male contact element mounted within said body, said male connector unit adapted for mating operative engagement with said female connector unit by insertion along the insertion axis of a male contact element into a recess in the female insulating body to bring the contact elements of each of said units into physical contact to define electrical engagement therebetween, a plurality of discrete locking means on the male contact element spaced apart along the insertion axis to interengage with the locking means on the insulating body of the female connector unit to define interlocking engagement therebetween and between said male and female units to secure them in assembled, mating relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein the male and female units of the connector are held in locked, mating relation by the locking means with a predetermined retention force in the range of about 5-10 pounds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 1 wherein gates are adapted to be slidably inserted into slots within the female unit to define means for isolating the assembly wherein insertion of the male connector unit may be made in relation to said gates and in a predetermined manner to provide for the desired interconnection between circuits associated with the connector units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein each of the locking means of the femAle unit is a locking recess opening into each contact receiving recess to receive and capture the locking means on the mating male contact element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The connector of claim 4 wherein each of the locking means on the male element is defined in the form of a projection adapted to be received within the locking recess of the female unit to hold the units in assembled relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the locking means of the male contact element are defined by smoothly contoured projections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The connector device of claim 5 wherein the female connector unit is provided with an electrical contact element in each contact receiving recess which has a portion in close spaced proximity to the locking recesses of the female unit for maintaining the male contact element toward the wall of the female insulating body which carries the locking recesses to cause the locking means of the male contact element to reside in the locking recesses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of locking recesses are defined by openings which extend through the wall of the insulating body of the unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of projections on the male contact element are shaped to present an angled detent surface adapted to be received within the locking recess in the insulating body of the female unit to be captured therein with a pre-determined force to assure maintenance of the assembly during use.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the locking means of the male contact element are defined by hemispherical projections extending outwardly from one wall of the contact element and in spaced apart relation to be received within the locking recesses of the female connector unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the locking means of the male contact element are defined by assymetrical projections having a smooth, flowing contour and extending outwardly from one wall of the contact element and in spaced apart relation to be received within the openings of the female connector unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the portion of the female contact element in close spaced proximity to the recessed portion of the female unit is provided by defining an arcuate section in the female contact element extending within said recesses and wherein the apex of the arcuate section is disposed substantially at the midpoint between the recessed portions of the female unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the arcuate section is pressed against the mating face of the male contact element when the elements are in assembled relation to define a normal force to hold the projections of the male element within the recessed portions of the female unit thereby defining a component of a predetermined retention force to hold the units in assembled relation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 5 further comprising means for urging the male contact element toward the wall of the female insulating body which carries the locking recesses to cause the projections of the male contact element to reside in the locking recess of the female insulating body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the means for urging the male contact element toward the wall of the female insulating body comprises a portion of the female contact element being in close proximity to the locking recess of the female unit and bearing against the male contact element which is between it and the wall of the female body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the projections on the male contact element are assymetrical presenting, relatively, fowardly a less steeply sloped surface and rearwardly a more steeply sloped surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 14 further comprising a skirt depending from the body of the male connector unit toward the female insulating body and along the outside thereof, in a plane parallel to the male contact element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 17 wherein the male insulating body has a plurality of male contact elements mounted therein each for engagement with a female contact rEceiving recess, at least one of the male contact elements carrying the projections and wherein the skirt carries a rib engageable with a groove in the female insulating body whereby assembly is polarized.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the locking means of the male contact element of the assembly is defined by recessed portions defined therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 19 wherein the locking means of the female connector unit is defined by projections extending from the body of the unit and adapted to be in mating interlocking relating with the recessed portions in the contact elements of the male unit when the units are in assembled relation to lock said units in assembled relation with a predetermined force.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 20 wherein the locking means of the female connector unit are defined by smoothly contoured projections.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 20 wherein the female connector unit is provided with electrical contact elements which have a portion in close spaced proximity to the projections of the female unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
120 words
The device of claim 22 wherein the portion of the female contact element in close spaced proximity to the projections of the female unit is provided by defining an arcuate section in the female contact element extending within said recesses and wherein the apex of the arcuate section is disposed at a point between the projections of the female unit, the arcuate section adapted to be pressed against the mating face of the male contact element when the elements are in assembled relation to define a normal force to hold the projections of the female unit within the recessed portions of the male unit thereby defining a component of a predetermined retention force to hold the units in assembled relation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 20 wherein the recessed poritons are defined by openings which extend through the male contact element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 24 wherein the locking means on the female contact unit are shaped to present an angled detent surface adapted to be received within the recessed portions in the male contact element to be captured therein with a pre-determined force to assure maintenance of the assembly during use.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
214 words
An improved electrical connector device adapted to define electrical contact between pre-determined electrical circuits wherein high retention forces are defined between the mating connector of said device securing them in assembled relation to prevent unintended separation, the device comprising: a female connector unit defined in part by an insulating body with said body having walls defining a row of elongated recesses therein, an elongated electrical contact element mounted in each recess, a mating male connector unit defined in part by an insulating body having at least one elongated male contact element mounted on the male connector unit, said male connector unit adapted for mating operative engagement with the female connector unit by insertion of the male contact into the recess in the female insulating body to bring the contact elements of each of said units into physical contact to define electrical engagement therebetween, at least two projections extending from at least one of the male contact elements spaced apart along the axis of elongation and extending toward a wall of the recess of the female insulating body, recesses in a longitudinally extending wall of the female insulating body, spaced apart for receiving therein the projections when the units are in engagement to define interlocking engagement therebetween to secure the units in assembled, mating relationship.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
214 words
An improved electrical connector device adapted to define electrical contact between pre-determined electrical circuits wherein high retention forces are defined between the mating connector of said device securing them in assembled relation to prevent unintended separation, the device comprising: a female connector unit defined in part by an insulating body with said body having walls defining a row of elongated recesses therein, an elongated electrical contact element mounted in each recess, a mating male connector unit defined in part by an insulating body having at least one elongated male contact element mounted on the male connector unit, said male connector unit adapted for mating operative engagement with the female connector unit by insertion of the male contact into the recess in the female insulating body to bring the contact elements of each of said units into physical contact to define electrical engagement therebetween, at least two projections extending from at least one of the male contact elements spaced apart along the axis of elongation and extending toward a wall of the recess of the female insulating body, recesses in a longitudinally extending wall of the female insulating body, spaced apart for receiving therein the projections when the units are in engagement to define interlocking engagement therebetween to secure the units in assembled, mating relationship.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the projections on the male contact element are assymetrical, presenting a more steeply sloped surface rearward of the direction of insertion for resisting disassembly by engagement with the recess in the wall of the female insulating body and a less steeply sloped surface forward of the direction of assembly to facilitate assembly.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 26 further comprising; polarizing means on the male connector unit and on the female connector unit cooperating to permit assembly in only one orientation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 28 wherein the polarizing means on the male connector unit is a rib extending toward the female unit for operative contact therewith in the assembled condition and on the female connective unit, a groove for receiving the rib.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 29 wherein the rib extends from a depending skirt.
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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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |