US3887259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector retaining adapter
Assignee: Amphenol Corp
•
Filing: 1973-10-17
•
Granted: 1975-06-03
•
Expires: 1993-10-17
Abstract
Abstract An adapter for mechanically connecting an electrical connector to a terminal block having an apertured conductor-receiving ridge and a related recess; the adapter includes a base for receiving the electrical connector, including an opening for the individual conductors from the electrical connector to pass, a flexible arm on each end of the base shaped to pass through an aperture in the terminal block ridge, and a stabilizing flange on each end of the adapter base with upper and lower portions shaped to abut against the ridge and recess, respectively, of the terminal block.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Ayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R9/00; H01R9/22; H01R9/24; H01R9/2416; H01R2107/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A connector retaining adapter for mechanically joining an electrical connector and a wiring terminal block, said electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion connected to a plurality of individual conductors, said terminal block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures therethrough normally receiving individual conductors, and an elongated recess of constant width extending below the apertures and parallel to said row, said adapter comprising: a base for rEceiving the mounting flange of the electrical connector, said base including an opening for conductors from the electrical connector; at least one flexible arm extending from each end of said base in a direction perpendicular thereto, each arm being shaped to pass through an aperture of the terminal block when flexed and with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm, which latching portion abuts against the back portion of the ridge when passed through an aperture; and at least one stabilizing flange extending from each end of said base in the same direction as said flexible arms and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion of such dimensions from said base that when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block, said upper portion of the stabilizing flange abuts the opposite side of the ridge, and a lower portion of such dimension from said base as to project beyond said upper portion and to the bottom of said elongated recess in said terminal block when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
A connector retaining adapter for mechanically joining an electrical connector and a wiring terminal block, said electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion connected to a plurality of individual conductors, said terminal block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures therethrough normally receiving individual conductors, and an elongated recess of constant width extending below the apertures and parallel to said row, said adapter comprising: a base for rEceiving the mounting flange of the electrical connector, said base including an opening for conductors from the electrical connector; at least one flexible arm extending from each end of said base in a direction perpendicular thereto, each arm being shaped to pass through an aperture of the terminal block when flexed and with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm, which latching portion abuts against the back portion of the ridge when passed through an aperture; and at least one stabilizing flange extending from each end of said base in the same direction as said flexible arms and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion of such dimensions from said base that when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block, said upper portion of the stabilizing flange abuts the opposite side of the ridge, and a lower portion of such dimension from said base as to project beyond said upper portion and to the bottom of said elongated recess in said terminal block when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
294 words
A connector retaining adapter for mechanically joining an electrical connector and a wiring terminal block, said electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion connected to a plurality of individual conductors, said terminal block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures therethrough normally receiving individual conductors, and an elongated recess of constant width extending below the apertures and parallel to said row, said adapter comprising: a base for rEceiving the mounting flange of the electrical connector, said base including an opening for conductors from the electrical connector; at least one flexible arm extending from each end of said base in a direction perpendicular thereto, each arm being shaped to pass through an aperture of the terminal block when flexed and with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm, which latching portion abuts against the back portion of the ridge when passed through an aperture; and at least one stabilizing flange extending from each end of said base in the same direction as said flexible arms and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion of such dimensions from said base that when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block, said upper portion of the stabilizing flange abuts the opposite side of the ridge, and a lower portion of such dimension from said base as to project beyond said upper portion and to the bottom of said elongated recess in said terminal block when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
294 words
A connector retaining adapter for mechanically joining an electrical connector and a wiring terminal block, said electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion connected to a plurality of individual conductors, said terminal block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures therethrough normally receiving individual conductors, and an elongated recess of constant width extending below the apertures and parallel to said row, said adapter comprising: a base for rEceiving the mounting flange of the electrical connector, said base including an opening for conductors from the electrical connector; at least one flexible arm extending from each end of said base in a direction perpendicular thereto, each arm being shaped to pass through an aperture of the terminal block when flexed and with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm, which latching portion abuts against the back portion of the ridge when passed through an aperture; and at least one stabilizing flange extending from each end of said base in the same direction as said flexible arms and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion of such dimensions from said base that when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block, said upper portion of the stabilizing flange abuts the opposite side of the ridge, and a lower portion of such dimension from said base as to project beyond said upper portion and to the bottom of said elongated recess in said terminal block when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
An adapter as in claim 1 which includes two pair of flexible arms, one pair on each end of said base, each arm being shaped to pass through one of the apertures of the terminal block when flexed together; and two pair of stabilizing flanges, one pair on each end of said base and in juxtaposition on each side of a pair of said flexible arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
293 words
An adapted connector for mechanical interconnection to a wiring terminal block, said block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures therethrough normally receiving individual conductors and an elongated recess of constant width extending below the apertures and parallel to said row, said adapted connector comprising: an electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion for connection to a plurality of individual conductors; a base upon which the mounting flange of the electrical connector is mounted, said base including an opening for conductors from the electrical connector; at least one flexible arm extending from each end of said base in a direction perpendicular thereto, each arm being shaped to pass through an aperture of the terminal block when flexed and with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm, which latching portion abuts against the back portion of the ridge when passed through an aperture; and at least one stabilizing flange extending from each end of said base in the same direction as said flexible arms and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion of such dimension from said base that when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block, said upper portion of the stabilizing flange abuts the opposite side of the ridge, and a lower portion of such dimension from said base as to project beyond said upper portion and to the bottom of said elongated recess in said terminal block when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
293 words
An adapted connector for mechanical interconnection to a wiring terminal block, said block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures therethrough normally receiving individual conductors and an elongated recess of constant width extending below the apertures and parallel to said row, said adapted connector comprising: an electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion for connection to a plurality of individual conductors; a base upon which the mounting flange of the electrical connector is mounted, said base including an opening for conductors from the electrical connector; at least one flexible arm extending from each end of said base in a direction perpendicular thereto, each arm being shaped to pass through an aperture of the terminal block when flexed and with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm, which latching portion abuts against the back portion of the ridge when passed through an aperture; and at least one stabilizing flange extending from each end of said base in the same direction as said flexible arms and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion of such dimension from said base that when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block, said upper portion of the stabilizing flange abuts the opposite side of the ridge, and a lower portion of such dimension from said base as to project beyond said upper portion and to the bottom of said elongated recess in said terminal block when the latching portion of the juxtaposed flexible arm abuts the back portion of the ridge of said terminal block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
212 words
An electrical connector adapted terminal block, comprising: an electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion connected to a plurality of individual conductors; a terminal block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures normally receiving individual conductors and an elongated recess below the apertures and parallel to said row; a base upon which the mounting flange of the electrical connector is mounted, said base including an opening through which the Individual conductors from the rear contact portion of the electrical connector pass, said conductors extending through the apertures in the ridge and electrically connected to the desired terminals of the terminal block; at least one flexible arm on each end of said base, each arm passing through an aperture of the terminal block with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm which abuts against the back portion of the ridge; and, at least one stabilizing flange on each end of said base and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion abutting against the raised ridge of the terminal block and a lower portion abutting against the recess of the terminal block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
An electrical connector adapted terminal block, comprising: an electrical connector having a mounting flange and a rear contact portion connected to a plurality of individual conductors; a terminal block having a foundation supporting a plurality of electrical terminals and at least one side with a raised ridge having a row of apertures normally receiving individual conductors and an elongated recess below the apertures and parallel to said row; a base upon which the mounting flange of the electrical connector is mounted, said base including an opening through which the Individual conductors from the rear contact portion of the electrical connector pass, said conductors extending through the apertures in the ridge and electrically connected to the desired terminals of the terminal block; at least one flexible arm on each end of said base, each arm passing through an aperture of the terminal block with a latching portion extending laterally from the end of each arm which abuts against the back portion of the ridge; and, at least one stabilizing flange on each end of said base and in juxtaposition with each of said flexible arms, each stabilizing flange having an upper portion abutting against the raised ridge of the terminal block and a lower portion abutting against the recess of the terminal block.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3091679A
Cited
US3234498A
Cited
US3273104A
Cited
US3651446A
Cited
US3705377A
Cited
US3777223A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |